Best Microsoft Surface 2022: Find out which is the right Surface 2-in-1, laptop or all-in-one for you
Microsoft offers eight different devices within its Surface portfolio, which makes the task of picking the right laptop, 2-in-1 or all-in-one pretty daunting.
The good news is that it’s not as complicated as it first seems, and, to help you figure out the differences between them all, we’ve provided both a quick summary of the Surface devices and a bit more detail on our experiences testing them.
Just so you know, this lineup doesn’t include the business-orientated Surface Hub interactive whiteboard, or the Android-based Surface Duo 2.
Microsoft Surface lineup: Quick summary
• The Surface Pro 8 is a Windows 11 Pro 2-in-1 PC with a detachable keyboard, but it’s definitely not for people who want a conventional laptop. It retains the same design as the last few generations but the internals have been updated including Intel’s 11th generation Core processors.
• The Surface Pro X is a look at a more premium 2-in-1. It’s designed for always-on connectivity and includes cellular connectivity thanks to its platform developed by Microsoft alongside Qualcomm.
• The Surface Go 3 is a 10.5-inch touchscreen tablet that, at first glance, looks like a smaller Surface Pro, but it’s a little more portable and has less powerful processors – such as the Intel Core m3 and Pentium. Microsoft is targeting Apple iPad users and Chromebook users with this device, as it’s the smallest Surface available and the cheapest.
• The Surface Laptop 4 is a traditional clamshell laptop, still with a touchscreen. It’s available in 13.5 and 15-inch versions and is an upgraded version of the Laptop 3, with new internals including Intel’s 11th generation Core processors.
• The Surface Laptop Go is a more budget-oriented version of the Surface Laptop. It has a smaller 12.4-inch display and less powerful specs but still retains the premium design of its pricier sibling.
• The Surface Book 3 is a professional-grade laptop available in 13.5 or 15-inch sizes. What makes it stand out, however, is its detachable screen that can act as an independent tablet PC. There’s also the option of a discrete GPU. It’s bigger and more expensive than the Surface Laptop, but it offers more in terms of performance.
• The Surface Laptop Studio is Microsoft’s 2-in-1 for creatives, offering versatility for those on the go. It can be used in three distinct positions: as a standard laptop, as a thick tablet or at a tilted angle offering just the display and trackpad. You’ll need the Slim Pen 2 to make the most out of it, and perhaps some extra cash to opt for one of the higher-spec models.
• The Surface Studio 2 is the most expensive Surface device, and it’s primarily for creatives. It’s a gorgeous high-end all-in-one Windows PC with a Zero Gravity Hinge. With a light push, it can be pushed down to a desk position and then used with the included Surface Pen or even the optional Surface Dial to sketch. It’s long overdue for an updated model though.
