A Month with the 15-Inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
Over the past month, I've had the pleasure of using the new 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, and I can confidently say that it's everything I've been looking for in a Windows laptop. From its performance and battery life to its sleek design and responsive trackpad, this laptop has made my daily computing tasks more enjoyable. However, while the new processor may not be ideal for every application, it excels in everyday use, making it a fantastic productivity machine.
A Productivity Powerhouse, Not a Creative Workhorse
This laptop isn't my go-to device for video editing, rendering with Blender, or handling massive photo editing tasks. Instead, it's my productivity machine—much like how I use my MacBook Air. Over the past month, I've used it extensively for web browsing, office applications, logging into servers, Citrix remote apps, emails, social media, and even some video streaming. It's my reliable office companion and my go-to device for working from the couch. However, as I'll mention in the performance section, this laptop wasn't built for high-performance tasks, and many apps aren't yet optimized for its new architecture.
Hardware Overview: Design, Ports, and Build Quality
The 15-inch Surface Laptop 7 is the 7th generation model, powered by the Snapdragon Elite X1E 80-100 processor. My specific configuration includes 16GB of RAM and a user-replaceable 512GB SSD, priced at $1499. For those interested, there are other configurations available, ranging from a 256GB version at $1299 to a fully loaded model with 64GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
On the left side, you'll find a headphone jack, a USB Type-A port, and two USB-C USB 4 ports. While these aren't Thunderbolt ports like on the Surface Laptop 6 or some Apple laptops, they still deliver up to 40Gbps for SSDs, docks, and displays. However, they don't support external PCIe enclosures like external GPUs. On the right side, there's a Surface Connect port and a microSD card slot—a feature I personally find less useful than a full-size SD card slot.
This year's model also brings some design changes. Gone are the Alcantara models, replaced with an all-aluminum build, starting with the Surface Laptop 6. While I appreciate the aluminum's durability, I do miss the warmth and uniqueness of the Alcantara material.
The 15-inch version comes in two colors: Platinum and Black. The Black model I have has done an excellent job resisting fingerprints and dust, making it look clean even after extended use. The bezels around the display have finally been reduced, giving the Surface Laptop a more modern look, although the top bezel is still slightly larger.
Keyboard and Trackpad: The Typing and Navigation Experience
The keyboard on the Surface Laptop 7 is similar to the Apple Magic Keyboard. I enjoy the layout and key travel, although the keys feel slightly mushier than Apple's. While I make a few more typing errors when switching between this and my MacBook Air, I believe I'd quickly adjust if I used this keyboard full-time.
The upgraded haptic trackpad is the best I've used on a Windows machine. Unlike traditional trackpads, this one doesn't physically click but instead uses haptics to simulate a click. You can click anywhere on the trackpad, which is a refreshing change from the "diving board" style found on many other laptops. While the trackpad is slightly smaller than the one on a MacBook Air, it still offers plenty of room for multi-finger gestures. However, there are some minor issues with the trackpad, such as occasional skipping or false clicks, which I expect Microsoft to address in future updates.
Display: A Crisp, Reflective Screen
The Surface Laptop 7 features a 15-inch, 201 PPI PixelSense display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Although it doesn't offer an OLED option, it boasts a peak brightness of 600 nits and covers 90% of the P3 color gamut, making it a vibrant and sharp display for most tasks. The 120Hz variable refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and fluid motion, and the touchscreen functionality is a nice bonus for those moments when you want to interact directly with the screen.
However, the display's reflectivity is a drawback. It easily catches glare, so positioning the laptop carefully is essential for optimal visibility. Additionally, while the display's color accuracy is generally good, there are some minor issues with contrast and color uniformity that may be noticeable during video playback.
Camera and AI Features: Mixed Results
The built-in camera on the Surface Laptop 7 delivers decent picture quality, although the white balance tends to be slightly warm. It includes some AI-powered features like automatic framing and portrait lighting effects, which are nice additions but not game-changers. However, the AI capabilities on this laptop aren't yet fully realized, and I wouldn't recommend purchasing it solely for these features.
Windows Hello works well for the most part, offering quick and convenient facial recognition. However, there are times when it struggles to recognize me or takes longer than expected to log in. While face recognition is convenient, I'm starting to think that fingerprint readers might be a more consistent option for laptops.
Performance and Battery Life: A Productivity Champ
Performance on the Surface Laptop 7 is solid, especially for productivity tasks. While the MacBook Air with the M3 chip is about 13% faster in single-core tasks, the Surface Laptop shines in multi-core tasks, thanks to its 12-core CPU. Graphics performance is where the MacBook Air pulls ahead, but for my day-to-day use, which includes opening apps, web browsing, and handling multiple tasks simultaneously, the Surface Laptop performs admirably.
One of the standout features is the battery life. I can easily get through a full workday, starting at 7:30 a.m. and ending around 5 p.m., with about 30% battery remaining. This is something I've never experienced with an Intel-based laptop.
Final Thoughts: A Solid Choice for Productivity
The 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable, well-designed Windows laptop that excels in productivity tasks. While it's not the best option for creative professionals who need high-performance capabilities, it's perfect for everyday use. The design, performance, and battery life make it one of the best Windows laptops I've ever used.
🛍️ Get the 15" Surface Laptop: https://geni.us/HC2IIF
🛍️ Get the 13" Surface Laptop: https://geni.us/L9xC4
👀 15" Surface Laptop 7 X Elite vs 15" MacBook Air M3 https://youtu.be/Z8CMMjm4f00
