Best Microsoft Surface Laptop (2026): Which Models to Buy and Avoid
Find out which current Surface devices deliver value and which you should skip.
Microsoft’s Surface lineup now includes the Laptop 7, Laptop 7 Studio, and Pro 9, but only the Laptop 7 and Pro 9 earn WIRED’s recommendation. The article notes that pricing is in flux, with discounts appearing and disappearing across retailers.
The Laptop 7 sticks with a 13‑inch 3K display, Intel 13th‑gen Core i5 or i7 CPUs, and a 10‑hour battery, matching its predecessor’s specs while shaving a few grams off the chassis. The Pro 9 upgrades to a detachable 12.3‑inch PixelSense Flow screen and adds optional 5G, but retains the same 8‑core processor options as the Laptop 7.
WIRED advises avoiding the Laptop 7 Studio and Pro 10 because they carry premium price tags without clear performance gains. The Studio’s OLED panel consumes more power, cutting battery life to under eight hours, and the Pro 10’s new ARM chip still lags in native Windows app compatibility.
If you’re budgeting for a new Windows laptop, target the Laptop 7 with an i5 configuration and look for sales that bring it under $1,200. For a tablet‑style device, the Pro 9’s base model offers a solid balance of screen quality and connectivity, especially if you need LTE or 5G.
TakeawayStick to the Surface Laptop 7 and Pro 9 for the best price‑performance mix in 2026.