I’ve been eagerly waiting to check out the new Windows laptop. As someone who’s taken a break from using Windows for a while, the buzz around this new matte black laptop caught my attention. I started wondering, is it really as good as everyone says? Have Windows laptops finally caught up to the huge advancements Apple made with their own computers a few years ago?
This new Microsoft Surface laptop is special because it doesn’t use the usual Intel or AMD chips. Instead, it has a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip, which means it’s using ARM technology. A few years back, Apple switched from Intel to ARM chips, and it was a huge success. Their laptops became super efficient and powerful, setting a new standard. Windows tried to do something similar with the Surface Pro X, but it didn’t go as smoothly. However, this new laptop seems to be a step in the right direction.
After using it for a couple of weeks, I’ve got a good sense of what’s great and what’s not so great about it. The biggest improvement is its efficiency. This laptop has much better battery life, which is a big deal. The previous Surface laptop with an Intel chip already had decent battery life, but this new one is even better. Microsoft claims it can last 23 hours, and in my experience, it’s true. I can use it all day for things like browsing the web, watching videos, and answering emails without worrying about charging it. That’s pretty impressive for a 14-inch laptop.
On paper, this laptop is often compared to the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip, and in some cases, it even outlasts the MacBook. So, if you’re looking for great battery life, this laptop definitely delivers.
The performance is also pretty solid. It’s not meant for high-end gaming, but for everyday tasks like photo editing and using Microsoft Office, it handles everything smoothly. The trackpad is responsive, and the overall experience is consistent, even when the battery is low. However, the switch to ARM does come with a few downsides, mainly when it comes to app compatibility.
When a computer changes its core technology, not all apps work perfectly on it. This was the case when Apple made the switch to ARM, and it’s true for Windows, too. Some apps are optimized for ARM and run smoothly, while others need to be emulated, which means they might not work as well. And then there are some apps that just don’t work at all on ARM yet.
Right now, most of the popular apps people use every day work well on this laptop. Apps like Photoshop, Chrome, Spotify, and Zoom run natively and are super smooth. But some apps that aren’t optimized for ARM, like Lightroom Classic and certain to-do list apps, don’t run as well. They might be a bit laggy or use more battery. And then there are apps that just don’t work at all, like certain browsers, Google Drive on desktop, and some VPNs.
So, if you’re thinking about getting a Windows ARM laptop, make sure to check if the apps you use are compatible. Depending on what you need, you could either be perfectly fine or run into some issues.
In terms of design, the build quality of this laptop is top-notch. It has an all-metal body, a solid keyboard, and a large trackpad with great haptics. The ports are decent, with a full-size USB-A, two USB-C ports, and a headphone jack. The only downside is that there’s no OLED display option, which would have provided deeper blacks and better contrast. Instead, it has a high-refresh-rate LCD screen, which is still pretty good.
While it’s not a high-end gaming laptop, it performs well in almost every other aspect. It can handle most tasks easily, but it’s not designed for super demanding games. It stays cool and quiet, which is a nice bonus.
Overall, this laptop is a solid start for Windows ARM devices. If you’re interested in buying one, the most important thing to consider is whether the software you need works well on ARM. That’s the key question to ask before making your decision.