The best Microsoft laptops in 2022

Microsoft Corporation is a world leader in information technology. The company operates in more than 190 countries and supplies a wide range of software and electronics.

In the production of portable computers, Microsoft has focused on long-playing compact devices that combine a laptop and a tablet. Therefore, the range consists of devices equipped with a touch screen and a fixed or removable keyboard.

To date, only 4 models of Surface portable computers of a completely non-budget class can be found on sale. Microsoft is fiercely competing with the popular Apple MacBooks and is occupying the premium segment of the market. On October 2, 2018, a presentation of new developments of this corporation will take place, among which there may well be an innovative laptop.

Choosing a premium gadget is not an easy task. The rating of high-quality laptops will help you sort out the information and decide on the model.

What to pay attention to?

When buying a laptop, you need to carefully weigh all the pros and cons of the chosen device. Chasing after a brand name can empty your wallet and cause frustration in vain. High price does not mean perfect.

Microsoft portable computers have the same type of metal cases with a similar design. The rugged design reliably protects the hardware and prevents repairs due to the absence of any screws. In addition, the manufacturer found it necessary to solder some components, such as RAM. Such a laptop can not be called practical. Failure of the device, most likely, will cause its complete unusability. With careful operation, the gadget will last for several years, but in the event of a fall or flood, the device can be lost, since there are no official Microsoft service centers in Russia.

Ergonomics is an equally important selection criterion, and Surface laptops are renowned for their comfort. The lid is easy to open with one hand, no need to constantly hold the bottom base. Silent island-style backlit keyboard with wide keys in a standard QWERTY layout. Typing on it is a pleasure. The glass touchpad with two buttons is convenient for touch control.

Additionally, useful accessories are offered that expand the functionality of the device, however, for a fee. A stylus called the Surface Pen is suitable for drawing and quick access to OneNote, and the buttons on the pen replace the mouse buttons. The Surface Dial adjusts contextual setting values ​​such as brightness and volume.This cylinder-shaped accessory can be placed on the display or next to the gadget.

Features of Microsoft laptops

A distinctive feature of Microsoft products is the IPS screen. The 3:2 aspect ratio touch display is ideal for images, text documents and web surfing, but videos and games can be distorted. The manufacturer prefers a glossy screen with an anti-reflective coating, but visibility is reduced in the sun.

The type of hard drive in all devices is SSD. A solid state drive is much faster than its HDD counterpart. With a powerful SSD processor, you can quickly open files and load programs.

Laptops support only one Internet network - Wi-Fi. They do not provide 3G or 4G modules, and there is also no built-in network card. If necessary, you will have to buy a USB modem or an external network adapter.

To reduce the thickness, the manufacturer abandoned the DVD drive, which is not available in any model.

The devices are equipped with a power supply with a USB 2.0 output, which is used to charge other electronics. A specific charger connector will make it difficult to find an analogue in the event of a breakdown.

touch screen laptop

The best-selling model from the Surface lineup for 2018 was a touchscreen laptop. Such a gadget can be controlled without the help of a mouse and keyboard, even the touchpad remains out of work. Although the usefulness of the touch screen is still a controversial issue, devices with it are in demand. The secret is simple: choose laptops based on hardware and quality. The "buns" of the display are just additions.

• Touch control.

• High price;
• Large battery consumption;
• Control on weight, you have to reach through the keyboard;
• The viewing angle is smaller than that of a conventional device.
• Fingerprints on the screen.

Microsoft Surface Laptop

The compact ultrabook is presented in several modifications. You can choose the processor, the amount of RAM and internal memory according to your needs and the final price. Intel i5 is suitable for photo processing and video editing. To run 3D applications and demanding games, it is better to prefer the Intel i7. The integrated graphics card handles 2K video playback and runs some games. Advanced gamers who value detailed graphics will only be disappointed by such a gadget. 8 Gb of RAM is enough if you do not need to run a large number of applications at the same time and edit high-resolution videos.

Technical characteristics of all modifications for convenience are summarized in the table below.

Characteristic	Modifications
CPU	Intel Core i5-7200U	Intel Core i5-7200U	Intel Core i7-7660U	Intel Core i7-7660U	Intel Core i7-7660U
Number of cores/threads	2/4	2/4	2/4	2/4	2/4
CPU frequency	2.5 Ghz	2.5 Ghz	2.5 Ghz	2.5 Ghz	2.5 Ghz
RAM	8 GB	8 GB	8 GB	16 GB	16 GB
video card	Intel HD Graphics 620	Intel HD Graphics 620	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Video card type	built-in	built-in	built-in	built-in	built-in
Hard disk capacity	128 GB	256 GB	256 GB	512 GB	1000 GB
Operating system	Windows 10S	Windows 10S	Windows 10S	Windows 10S	Windows 10S
Screen	13.5 inches	13.5 inches	13.5 inches	13.5 inches	13.5 inches
Screen resolution	2256x1504	2256x1504	2256x1504	2256x1504	2256x1504
Screen backlight	LED	LED	LED	LED	LED
Net	WiFi 802.11ac	WiFi 802.11ac	WiFi 802.11ac	WiFi 802.11ac	WiFi 802.11ac
Bluetooth	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Dimensions	308.1x223.27x14.48 mm	308.1x223.27x14.48 mm	308.1x223.27x14.48 mm	308.1x223.27x14.48 mm	308.1x223.27x14.48 mm
The weight	1.25 kg	1.25 kg	1.25 kg	1.25 kg	1.25 kg
autonomy	Up to 14.5 hours	Up to 14.5 hours	Up to 14.5 hours	Up to 14.5 hours	Up to 14.5 hours
average price	RUB 58,890	RUB 85,990	RUB 87,700	RUB 119,990	RUB 205,990

The flagship ultrabook was released in 2017. The aluminum case is made in a minimalist style. Straight lines, rounded corners and beveled edges on the bottom look strict and impressive. The ultrabook is available in four colors: red, grey, gold and blue.

The keyboard, with the exception of the keys, and the area around it is covered with artificial suede - Alcantara. This material with a dense texture is practical and pleasant to the touch. Alcantara does not pass water well, therefore it serves as additional protection against damage.

There are only four connectors on the case: a USB 3.0 port, mini DisplayPort, a combined headphone output and a 3.5 mm microphone input, and a power jack. There are also built-in stereo speakers hidden under the keyboard and a microphone.

The 13.5-inch touchscreen display is protected by glass. Resolution 2256×1504 pixels. The screen brightness is adjustable up to 322 cd / m2, the contrast ratio is 1526 to 1. The image looks clear with rich colors.

Under load, the case heats up a little, but the almost silent cooling system prevents the hardware from overheating.

The Windows 10S operating system limits the download of programs from the Internet. The user has one browser with a fixed search engine. You can only download apps from the Microsoft Store. True, an OS upgrade to Windows 10 Pro is available, but now this option is paid.

Unlocking the ultrabook is carried out by the Windows Hello program, which instantly recognizes the owner's face.

The battery holds a charge for quite a long time. Video without sound at maximum screen brightness drains the battery in 14 hours, with sound in 5 hours. If you actively use the ultrabook for work or study, then the charge will last for 8 hours.

The average price of Microsoft Surface Laptop is 92,500 rubles.

• Loud stereo sound;
• Sensitive microphone;
• Quality assembly;
• Long battery life.

• Limited OS version;
• Few connectors on the case;
• There is no slot for a memory card;
• The stylus is not included.

Notebook-transformer

A convertible laptop is a device that can be used as a tablet and as a laptop. As a rule, the diagonal of the matrix in hybrids does not exceed 15 inches. The designs of such devices are of two types:

• with detachable keyboard
• with a hinged display unit, when the screen can be rotated 360 degrees.

Microsoft uses the first technology in its hybrids. True, here the tablet and keyboard are connected at the mechanical and hardware levels. To gracefully turn off the display, you must close all demanding graphic applications, since the discrete graphics card remains in the keyboard module. To avoid accidental disconnection, the Book 2 switches to tablet mode by pressing two keys at the same time.

Transformers have a classic design with straight lines and rounded corners, but the gap between the lid and the keyboard spoils the look a bit. The Furcrum hinge connects the tablet to the bottom and allows you to open the laptop up to 130 degrees or quickly remove the display.

• Entering information on the screen;
• Comfortable to use while traveling
• Compact dimensions;
• Capacious battery;
• Performs the tasks of two devices.

• Sometimes there are malfunctions when attaching a tablet;
• The tablet battery is not being charged by the keyboard module;
• There are no USB connectors on the tablet;
• High price.

Notebook Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5 inches

The Book 2 is flexible in price. According to your preferences, you can choose a processor, RAM and internal storage capacity. The technical characteristics of the five varieties of the model are presented in the table.

Characteristic	Modifications
CPU	Intel Core i5-7300U	Intel Core i5-7300U	Intel Core i7-8650U	Intel Core i7-8650U	Intel Core i7-8650U
Number of cores/threads	2/4	2/4	4/8	4/8	4/8
CPU frequency	2.6GHz	2.6GHz	1.9 Ghz	1.9 Ghz	1.9 Ghz
RAM	8 GB	8 GB	8 GB	16 GB	16 GB
video card	Intel HD Graphics 620	Intel HD Graphics 620	GeForce GTX 1050 and Intel HD Graphics 620	GeForce GTX 1050 and Intel HD Graphics 620	GeForce GTX 1050 and Intel HD Graphics 620
Video card type	built-in	built-in	Discrete and built-in	Discrete and built-in	Discrete and built-in
Hard disk capacity	128 GB	256 GB	256 GB	512 GB	1000 GB
Operating system	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Pro
Screen	13.5 inches	13.5 inches	13.5 inches	13.5 inches	13.5 inches
Screen resolution	3000x2000	3000x2000	3000x2000	3000x2000	3000x2000
Screen backlight	LED	LED	LED	LED	LED
Net	WiFi 802.11ac	WiFi 802.11ac	WiFi 802.11ac	WiFi 802.11ac	WiFi 802.11ac
Bluetooth	4.1	4.1	4.1	4.1	4.1
Dimensions	312x232x23 mm	312x232x23 mm	312x232x23 mm	312x232x23 mm	312x232x23 mm
The weight	1.53 kg	1.53 kg	1.53 kg	1.53 kg	1.53 kg
autonomy	Up to 17 hours	Up to 17 hours	Up to 17 hours	Up to 17 hours	Up to 17 hours
average price	RUB 92,990	RUB 97,990	RUB 149,990	RUB 179,990	RUB 205,990

The 13.5-inch Book 2 is the most popular 2-in-1 device. The hybrid laptop went on sale in 2017. The body is made of magnesium alloy with a metallic finish.

On the bottom of the device are a USB Type-C port, two USB 3.0 connectors, a charging socket and docking stations. Also pleased with the presence of a card reader. The tablet retains the 3.5mm combo jack and charging port. In addition, the laptop's lid is equipped with mid-range speakers and two cameras that need good lighting: 8 MP (rear) and 5 MP (additional). The front camera is used to unlock the device via Windows Hello. Face recognition is reliable, but slow at times.

The touch display with a resolution of 3000 × 2000 pixels and a density of 267 ppi provides a high-quality detailed image. Brightness is adjustable up to 455 cd/m2.

The assembly of such a device is not without flaws. The powerful processor installed in the lid loses its performance as passive cooling forces the clock speed to be reduced to avoid overheating. As a result, instead of the declared characteristics, 1.5 - 1.8 Ghz remains at the output. The temperature of the tablet part can rise above 40 degrees. Nevertheless, the device copes well with demanding tasks, if they do not keep the processor under constant load.

For office work, video and simple games, a laptop with an integrated graphics card is enough. For more serious graphics tasks and advanced games, you should choose a discrete video chip.The GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card is located under the keyboard and is equipped with an active cooling system. Switching between video chips occurs automatically.

When disconnected from the keyboard, the tablet loses performance and autonomy, since two batteries are built into the laptop: one is in the lid, the other is under the keyboard. When working with the classic form of a laptop, the battery in the display module is the first to discharge, which is inconvenient during operation. You can control the duration of battery life by choosing a mode from energy saving to maximum performance. True, in the latter case, the battery will be discharged even when connected to charging. With various loads, the transformer can last from 3.5 to 15 hours without recharging, and the tablet - from 1 to 4 hours.

The average price of Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5 is 153,990 rubles.

• Convenient mechanism for attaching the tablet to the keyboard block;
• One of the best screens for 2018;
• Decent level of performance;
• Long battery life;
• Quality assembly;
• Installed slot for reading memory cards.

• Reduced processor performance under load;
• The stylus is not included;
• Fingerprints remain on the screen.

Notebook Microsoft Surface Book 2 15 inches

The manufacturer offers three modifications of this gadget, so you can save only due to the volume of the SSD. A discrete graphics card will delight gamers with good graphics for demanding games. The device will even pull the latest top games, however, at low or medium settings.

Characteristic	Modifications
CPU	Intel Core i7-8650U	Intel Core i7-8650U	Intel Core i7-8650U
Number of cores/threads	4/8	4/8	4/8
CPU frequency	1.9 Ghz	1.9 Ghz	1.9 Ghz
RAM	16 GB	16 GB	16 GB
video card	Intel HD Graphics 620 and GeForce GTX 1050	Intel HD Graphics 620 and GeForce GTX 1050	Intel HD Graphics 620 and GeForce GTX 1050
Video card type	Discrete and built-in	Discrete and built-in	Discrete and built-in
Hard disk capacity	256 GB	512 GB	1000 GB
Operating system	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Pro
Screen	15 inches	15 inches	15 inches
Screen resolution	3240x2160	3240x2160	3240x2160
Screen backlight	LED	LED	LED
Net	WiFi 802.11ac	WiFi 802.11ac	WiFi 802.11ac
Bluetooth	4,1	4,1	4,1
Dimensions	343x251x23 mm	343x251x23 mm	343x251x23 mm
The weight	1.91 kg	1.91 kg	1.91 kg
autonomy	Up to 17 hours	Up to 17 hours	Up to 17 hours
average price	RUB 179,990	RUB 205,990	RUB 239,990

This convertible laptop appeared on the electronics market in 2017. The body design is the same as the smaller version. The difference is only in size and weight.

The large-sized hybrid has a 15-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 3240 × 2160 pixels and a density of 260 ppi. The device supports two color spaces: sRGB and "improved". The second is intended for professionals in the field of graphic processing.

The battery life of the hybrid ranges from 5 to 16.5 hours, depending on the load. The tablet will last up to 3.5 hours. However, a 15-inch tablet computer is not very convenient to use due to its size.

The average price of Microsoft Surface Book 2 15 is 189,990 rubles.

The pros and cons of this hybrid are mostly the same as the smaller version, but they can be supplemented with a couple of points.

• Powerful iron.

• Big weight.

Notebook Microsoft Surface Book with Performance Base

Specifications

Characteristics	Meaning
CPU	Intel Core i7-6600U
Number of cores/threads	2/4
CPU frequency	2.6GHz
RAM	16 GB
video card	Intel HD Graphics 520 and GeForce GTX 965M
Video card type	Discrete and built-in
Hard disk capacity	512 GB
Operating system	Windows 10 Pro
Screen	13.5 inches
Screen resolution	3000x2000
Screen backlight	LED
Net	WiFi 802.11ac
Bluetooth	4.0
Dimensions	312.3x232.1x22.8 mm
The weight	1.65 kg
autonomy	Up to 16 hours
average price	RUB 169,990

The hybrid laptop was released in 2016 as an updated version of the first convertible in this Surface Book line. Design without any frills, and the body is made of aluminum.

The gadget has a modest set of connectors: a mini DisplayPort socket, two USB 3.0 ports and a charging socket. There is also a slot for a memory card. The tablet part is equipped with two cameras that can take high-quality pictures in good light, a combined headphone and microphone jack, and speakers with rather weak sound. Unlocking is done using the front camera through the Windows Hello app.

Various configurations of this model are offered. The flexibility of choice has RAM and SSD capacity.

The display with a resolution of 3000x2000 pixels supports up to five simultaneous touches. The response time is 61ms, so this laptop is not suitable for gaming. The matrix displays almost the entire spectrum of the sRGB color space, which is useful for image editing.

The hybrid is good at multitasking. The processor, even under constant load, does not reduce the frequency and is able to work in Turbo mode.In turn, the graphics chip cannot cope with the high requirements of programs and periodically reduces the frequencies from 924 MHz to 952 MHz. The components are cooled by two fans, one of which is located in the lid, the other under the keyboard. During prolonged operation, the transformer heats up very much, and the temperature of the tablet part is higher.

The hybrid is able to last up to 25 hours without load and recharging, up to 9 hours in operating mode, and 1.5 hours at maximum load.

This device is aimed at designers, photographers and other graphics-related professions. It is not positioned by the manufacturer as a game model.

It comes with a USB charger and pen-shaped Surface Pen that connects to your laptop via Bluetooth and recognizes up to 1024 pressure levels.

The average price of Surface Book with Performance Base is 142,495 rubles.

• Quality screen;
• Card reader installed;
• Long battery life;
• Stylus.

• Weak speakers;
• Big weight.

Outcome

When choosing a laptop, first of all, you should decide on your needs and purpose. For imaging, education, and graphics work, the Surface Laptop is fine. If tablet mobility is important, then you can stop at the compact Surface Book 2 model with a 13.5-inch screen. He will also prove to be a good gaming machine.

It is important to note that Microsoft laptops are not easy to get in Russia. For residents of most cities, only an online order is possible, but buying a “pig in a poke” for that kind of money is risky.

Microsoft laptops are business class and their price is prohibitive.Surface is a line of professional devices that most people don't need at all. For your tasks, you can find a reliable device from another manufacturer with an adequate price-quality ratio.