Best Microsoft Laptops in 2026: 5 Surface Models Compared on Specs

By Paul Syverson · Last updated Oct 20, 2026

Our top pick is the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop (2026) with a Snapdragon X2 Elite: it is the newest chip in this list and pairs a 120Hz touchscreen with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage at 1.36 kg. The 15-inch version is the choice for a larger screen, and the Surface Laptop 5 is the only Intel model here. We compared all five from their stated specifications and Microsoft's published data, not from lab tests.

5 picks from 8 laptops that match this guide with a price we can quote today. Every price below is live and carries the moment it was read.

The picks at a glance

Which one should you buy?

• For most people: The 13.8-inch Surface Laptop (2026) has the Snapdragon X2 Elite, a 120Hz touchscreen and 1TB of storage at 1.36 kg. See pick 1
• For a bigger screen: The 15-inch Surface Laptop (2026) keeps the same X2 Elite chip, memory and storage on a larger display at 1.66 kg. See pick 2
• For older Windows software: The Surface Laptop 5 is the only Intel model here, so x64 apps run natively, and it carries 32GB of memory. See pick 3

The 5 picks

1 Best overall

Microsoft Surface Laptop

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite

RAM

16 GB

Storage

1000 GB

Screen

13.8 in

Refresh

120 Hz

Touchscreen

Yes

Weight

1.36 kg

OS

Windows 11

$1,689.00 (as of 10/20/2026 16:22 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

It uses the Snapdragon X2 Elite, the newest processor among these five, which Microsoft lists as a 12-core chip. The 13.8-inch touchscreen refreshes at 120Hz, and at 1.36 kg it weighs only slightly more than the lightest picks.

Pros

• Snapdragon X2 Elite, a 12-core chip per Microsoft
• 13.8-inch touchscreen at 120Hz
• 1TB of storage
• 1.36 kg

Cons

• 16GB of memory, half of the Surface Laptop 5's 32GB
• Arm processor: x86 and x64 apps run under emulation per Microsoft

Good fit if

• Students and office workers who want a light, current Windows laptop
• Buyers whose apps already run on Windows on Arm

Skip if

• You rely on an older Windows program that has no Arm version and has not been confirmed to work
• You want more than 16GB of memory

Verdict: The most current Surface in a size that is easy to carry every day.

2 Best large screen

Microsoft Surface Laptop

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite

RAM

16 GB

Storage

1000 GB

Screen

15 in

Touchscreen

Yes

Weight

1.66 kg

OS

Windows 11

$2,049.99 (as of 10/20/2026 16:22 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

It shares the Snapdragon X2 Elite, 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage with our top pick but moves to a 15-inch touchscreen, which Microsoft lists at 120Hz. At 1.66 kg it is the heaviest of the five, a modest cost for the extra screen area.

Pros

• 15-inch touchscreen, tied for the largest in this list
• Snapdragon X2 Elite
• 1TB of storage
• 120Hz display per Microsoft

Cons

• 1.66 kg, the heaviest pick
• 16GB of memory

Good fit if

• People who work in spreadsheets or side-by-side windows
• Buyers who mostly use the laptop at a desk but still move it around

Skip if

• You carry the laptop all day and want the lightest option
• You need apps that do not run on Arm

Verdict: The 2026 Surface Laptop for buyers who want more screen area.

3 Only Intel model

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 15" Touchscreen Notebook

CPU

Intel Core i7-1265U

RAM

32 GB

Storage

1000 GB

Screen

15 in

Touchscreen

Yes

Weight

1.56 kg

$1,999.99 (as of 10/20/2026 16:22 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

It is the only pick with an Intel processor, the Core i7-1265U, so x64 Windows apps run natively rather than under emulation. It also has 32GB of memory, the most in this list, on a 15-inch touchscreen with a 2496 x 1664 resolution per the listing.

Pros

• 32GB of memory, double every other pick
• Intel Core i7-1265U: no Arm emulation needed
• 15-inch 2496 x 1664 touchscreen per the listing
• 1.56 kg, lighter than the 15-inch 2026 model

Cons

• 12th-generation Intel chip, older than the Snapdragon processors here
• Operating system not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Users of older or specialized Windows software
• Buyers who keep many apps and browser tabs open

Skip if

• You want the newest processor
• You do not need x64 compatibility and prefer a newer design

Verdict: The compatibility-first Surface, with the most memory of the five.

4 Lightest in this list (tied)

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 AI Copilot+ PC for Business

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus

RAM

16 GB

Storage

1000 GB

Screen

13.8 in

Refresh

120 Hz

Touchscreen

Yes

Weight

1.34 kg

OS

Windows 11 Home

$1,049.99 (as of 10/20/2026 16:22 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

At 1.34 kg it ties for the lightest pick, and the listing states a 120Hz 13.8-inch touchscreen. It uses the Snapdragon X Plus, a step below the X2 Elite in the 2026 models.

Pros

• 1.34 kg, tied for the lightest pick
• 13.8-inch touchscreen at 120Hz
• 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage

Cons

• Snapdragon X Plus, the previous chip generation
• Title says for business while the listing states Windows 11 Home; confirm the edition

Good fit if

• Travelers who want the lightest Surface here
• Students who need 1TB for local files

Skip if

• You need Windows 11 Pro for company management
• You want the newest Snapdragon generation

Verdict: A light 13.8-inch Surface for buyers who do not need the 2026 chip.

5 Most storage

Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PC Laptop

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus

RAM

16 GB

Storage

1500 GB

Screen

13.8 in

Touchscreen

Yes

Weight

1.34 kg

OS

Windows 11

View on Amazon

It is close to the Surface Laptop 7 above: a Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB of memory and a 13.8-inch touchscreen at 1.34 kg. The difference is storage, stated as 1.5TB, the most in this list.

Pros

• 1.5TB of storage, the most among the picks
• 1.34 kg, tied for the lightest pick
• 13.8-inch touchscreen

Cons

• 1.5TB is an unusual drive size; confirm with the seller whether the drive was changed after leaving the factory
• Refresh rate not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Buyers who keep large photo or document libraries offline
• People who want a light Surface with more than 1TB

Skip if

• You want a factory configuration with a clear warranty path
• You want the newest Snapdragon generation

Verdict: The storage variant of the light 13.8-inch Snapdragon X Plus Surface.

Side by side

How we picked

How we picked: our catalogue lists 5 laptops under the Microsoft brand, and this guide includes all of them, since the brand has fewer than 12 models on offer. All five are Surface Laptop models with touchscreens. Two of them, the Surface Laptop 7 and the Surface Copilot+ PC Laptop, are very similar 13.8-inch Snapdragon X Plus configurations; we kept both because the pool has nothing else, and we point out where they differ. Processor and screen facts come from Microsoft's Surface Laptop page, and app compatibility facts from Microsoft Learn. Prices on this page are live: each one is read from the store listing and shown with the time it was read. Nobody at wikilaptop.org has tested these units; every comparison below is drawn from the stated specifications.

How to choose

Arm or Intel: check your apps first

Four of the five picks use Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, which are Arm chips. Microsoft states that Arm-native apps run without emulation, while x86 and x64 apps run under emulation, and it points buyers to a compatibility site for apps and games on Windows on Arm.

If you depend on an older program, a specialized driver or a particular game, look it up before buying. The Surface Laptop 5 is the only Intel model here and avoids the question.

Snapdragon X2 Elite versus X Plus

The two 2026 Surface Laptop picks use the Snapdragon X2 Elite, which Microsoft lists as a 12-core chip. The Surface Laptop 7 and the Surface Copilot+ PC Laptop use the earlier Snapdragon X Plus. If you want the newest processor, the two 2026 models are the ones to compare.

Memory: choose it at purchase

Four picks come with 16GB, and the Surface Laptop 5 has 32GB. 16GB suits office work, study and browsing with many tabs. Check Microsoft's specifications for your exact model before assuming you can add memory later, and buy the amount you expect to need for years.

Screen size and weight

Three picks have 13.8-inch screens and weigh 1.34 kg to 1.36 kg. The two 15-inch picks weigh 1.56 kg (Surface Laptop 5) and 1.66 kg (Surface Laptop 2026). Every pick has a touchscreen. The 13.8-inch models suit daily carrying; the 15-inch models give more room for side-by-side work.

Windows edition and warranty

The listings state Windows 11 or Windows 11 Home where they state an edition; none states Windows 11 Pro. If your employer manages devices, confirm the edition before buying. For any configuration that looks different from Microsoft's standard options, such as an unusual storage size, ask the seller how the warranty is handled.

Questions

Do Surface laptops with Snapdragon run all Windows apps?

Microsoft states that Windows 11 on Arm runs Arm-native apps directly and many unmodified x86 and x64 apps under emulation. Most everyday software works, but check older programs, drivers and games on the compatibility site Microsoft links before buying. The Surface Laptop 5 in this list uses an Intel processor, so it runs x64 apps natively.

Which Microsoft laptop is the lightest?

Two picks tie at 1.34 kg: the Surface Laptop 7 and the Surface Copilot+ PC Laptop, both 13.8-inch Snapdragon X Plus models. The 13.8-inch Surface Laptop (2026) with the Snapdragon X2 Elite weighs 1.36 kg. The heaviest pick, the 15-inch Surface Laptop (2026), weighs 1.66 kg.

Is 16GB of memory enough on a Surface laptop?

For office work, study, browsing and light photo editing, 16GB is a comfortable amount, and four of the five picks ship with it. If you run heavy creative apps or virtual machines, the Surface Laptop 5 with 32GB is the only pick here with more. Choose the amount you will need for years, since you should not count on upgrading later.

Did you test these laptops?

No. Nobody at wikilaptop.org has used these units. We compared them on the specifications stated in each listing, cross-checked with Microsoft's published Surface information. We do not describe keyboard feel, heat or battery runtime, because those claims need testing we have not done.

Why are there only five picks?

Our catalogue currently lists five Microsoft laptops, and this guide includes all of them. When more Surface models appear in the catalogue, the guide grows with them. Prices on this page are read live from the store listing and shown with the time they were read.

Recent updates

• 2026-09-29: First published.

Sources

• Microsoft Surface Laptop: models and specifications
• Microsoft Learn: Windows on Arm documentation
• Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite