Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) Review
Surface Laptop · 2025 · Released 2025-06-18 · Tested 2025-12-01 · Test Bench 1.2 · published
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)
8.3/10
Overall · Test Bench 1.2
- Best for
- School, business, travel
- Not ideal for
- Gaming and legacy software
- Tested config
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB, 512GB
- Current price
- $1,449
- MSRP
- $1,649
- Warranty
- 1-year limited
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BestLaptop.ca Test Team
Reviewed and tested in-house · Updated 2025-12-01 · Test Bench 1.2
How we test →Featured in our rankings: Best Student Laptops in Canada, Best Business Laptops in Canada, Best Windows Laptops in Canada, Best Laptops for Working From Home in Canada, Best 13-Inch Laptops in Canada, Best Laptops for University Students in Canada.
Quick Verdict
The Surface Laptop 7 is a polished Windows ultraportable with a tall 3:2 touchscreen and excellent battery life. It is a strong choice for students and office workers. As with other Snapdragon laptops, a few x86 apps still rely on emulation.
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- Tall, sharp 3:2 touchscreen
- Premium, compact build
- Quiet and cool
Cons
- Some apps need emulation
- No discrete graphics
- Touch adds glare
- Premium price for the specs
Score Breakdown
Each sub-score is weighted to produce the overall score. How scoring works.
Use-Case Scores
How this laptop performs for specific needs. Each score weights our test categories differently.
School8.8
Measures how well the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) suits school use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Business8.6
Measures how well the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) suits business use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Gaming3.4
Measures how well the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) suits gaming use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Multimedia7.6
Measures how well the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) suits multimedia use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Workstation6.0
Measures how well the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) suits workstation use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Programming7.6
Measures how well the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) suits programming use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Travel8.6
Measures how well the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) suits travel use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Battery9.0
Measures how well the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) suits battery use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Value7.6
Measures how well the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) suits value use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Design, Build & Portability
The Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) uses a aluminium chassis, weighs 1.34 kg, and measures 301 x 220 x 17 mm. It earned a build score of 8.8 and a portability score of 8.6 in our testing.
Students and professionals who want a refined Windows touchscreen ultraportable.
Display
The 13.8-inch IPS (PixelSense) panel runs at 2304 x 1536 (3:2) and 120Hz. We measured 596 nits of brightness, 100% sRGB and 82% DCI-P3 coverage, and a colour accuracy of Delta E 1.4.
It has a touchscreen. See full display measurements →
Keyboard, Touchpad, Webcam & Speakers
The keyboard scored 8.4 in our typing tests. The webcam, speakers, and microphone feed the multimedia score of 7.6, which matters most for video calls and media.
Ports & Connectivity
Ports: 2x USB-C 3.2, 1x USB-A 3.1, Surface Connect, 3.5mm audio. Wireless: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4. Connectivity earned a score of 6.6.
Performance, Gaming & Creative Work
With the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus and Qualcomm Adreno (integrated), the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) scored 7.6 for performance. It posted a Geekbench multi-core score of 13,200, a Cinebench multi-core score of 11,600, and averaged 16 FPS across our 1080p gaming suite. Our 4K video export test finished in 10.2 minutes.
SSD read/write speeds measured 5,800 / 4,400 MB/s.
Battery Life & Charging
In our fixed-brightness tests, the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) lasted 16 hours of web browsing and 19.2 hours of video playback, earning a battery score of 9.0. It charged to 80% in about 62 minutes.
Thermals & Noise
Under sustained load we measured 35 dB of fan noise (21 dB at idle), a CPU temperature of 83°C, and a keyboard surface temperature of 39°C. Thermals and noise scored 8.6.
Software, Configuration & Upgradeability
It runs Windows 11. RAM (16GB LPDDR5x) is soldered and not upgradeable, so size up at purchase. Storage (512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD) is user-replaceable.
Canadian Pricing & Availability
The Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) carries an MSRP of $1,649 and currently sells for around $1,449 in Canada. It represents solid value at current pricing.
Compared to Similar Laptops
| Laptop | Overall | Battery (web) | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) | 8.3 | 16 h | 1.34 kg | $1,449 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | 8.4 | 11.8 h | 1.09 kg | $2,199 |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) | 8.5 | 18.4 h | 1.51 kg | $1,649 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) | 8.1 | 8.6 h | 1.5 kg | $2,699 |
Final Verdict
The Surface Laptop 7 is a polished Windows ultraportable with a tall 3:2 touchscreen and excellent battery life. It is a strong choice for students and office workers. As with other Snapdragon laptops, a few x86 apps still rely on emulation.
Buy it if: Students and professionals who want a refined Windows touchscreen ultraportable. Skip it if: Gamers and users tied to niche x86 apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) worth it?
The Surface Laptop 7 is a polished Windows ultraportable with a tall 3:2 touchscreen and excellent battery life. It is a strong choice for students and office workers. As with other Snapdragon laptops, a few x86 apps still rely on emulation.
Who should buy the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)?
Students and professionals who want a refined Windows touchscreen ultraportable.
What is the battery life of the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)?
In our web browsing test at a fixed brightness, it lasted 16 hours; video playback lasted 19.2 hours.
How much does the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) cost in Canada?
It currently starts around $1,449 in Canada, down from an MSRP of $1,649.
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