Apple’s MacBook Air has long been a compact, passively cooled laptop for everyday use, so it runs silently without fan noise. There still isn’t a true Windows equivalent, but the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 13 comes close.
The Surface Laptop 13 uses a new, efficient Snapdragon X2 processor with 6 cores. You would need to push the chip hard for several minutes before you hear any fan noise, which is unlikely in normal use. However, while the Snapdragon X2 (X2P-42-100) handles everyday tasks well, it can’t match the Apple M5 in either processor or graphics performance.
Both devices are similar when it comes to features. The Surface Laptop stands out with a slightly better keyboard, a standard USB-A port, and a touchscreen. On the other hand, the MacBook Air’s display is less reflective and supports the wider P3 color gamut, though this doesn’t make much difference in daily use. Both screens are limited to 60 Hz.
The MacBook Air is a bit slimmer, but the Surface Laptop 13 offers a replaceable SSD and longer battery life. In our Wi-Fi test at 150 nits, the Surface Laptop lasted almost 19 hours, while the MacBook Air stopped about 3 hours sooner. Even at full brightness, the Surface Laptop lasts about 10.5 hours, while the MacBook Air doesn’t reach 7 hours.
Overall, the new Surface Laptop 13 is a strong alternative to the MacBook Air, especially since their prices are nearly the same.
