Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) vs Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) scores 8.3 versus 7.5 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option at $449. Choose based on the use cases below: the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (Geekbench multi 13,200 vs 6,000).
- Longer battery: Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) (16.2h vs 16h web).
- Lighter: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (1.34 kg vs 1.35 kg).
- Display: IPS (PixelSense) (Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)) vs IPS (Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025)).
- Cheaper: Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) (saves about $1,000 CAD).
Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) vs Chromebook Plus 514 (2025): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 13,200 against 6,000 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) — roughly 120% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) averaged 16 FPS versus 12 FPS. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) lasts longer away from a charger, running 16.2 hours in our web-browsing test versus 16 hours. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is also easier to carry at 1.34 kg versus 1.35 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) uses a 13.8-inch IPS (PixelSense) panel (2304 x 1536, 120Hz), while the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) has a 14-inch IPS panel (1920 x 1080, 60Hz). The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) measured brighter at 596 nits, and covered 82% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $1,000 less than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8). Weighed against our test scores (8.3 vs 7.5 overall), the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) offers the better value for the money, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the stronger laptop outright if budget is not the deciding factor.
For the complete testing data, read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) review and Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) and the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) | Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.3 ✓ | 7.5 |
| Price (CAD) | $1,449 | $449 ✓ |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus | MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) | Arm Mali (integrated) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x ✓ | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB ✓ | 128GB |
| Display | 13.8" IPS (PixelSense) | 14" IPS |
| Brightness | 596 nits ✓ | 316 nits |
| Battery (web) | 16 h | 16.2 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.34 kg ✓ | 1.35 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 13,200 ✓ | 6,000 |
| Gaming (1080p) | 16 fps ✓ | 12 fps |
| OS | Windows 11 | ChromeOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited |
Which Should You Buy?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) scores 8.3 versus 7.5 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option at $449. Choose based on the use cases below: the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) or the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025)?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) scores 8.3 versus 7.5 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option at $449. Choose based on the use cases below: the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Which is better for school?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for school.
Which is better for business?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for business.
Which is better for gaming?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for programming.
Which is better for travel?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better choice for travel.
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