Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (15-inch) review: Power-packed performer

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

For years now, the Surface laptop from Microsoft has been in the shadows of the MacBook. While a powerhouse in its right, the the Surface never emulated the cult of Mac. The Surface tablet still has a strong set of fan following and in the myriad of Windows laptops, the Surface stood out as Microsoft’s flagship hardware product.

This is the age of AI and Microsoft has been one of the torchbearers. Microsoft is hopeful that the flame of AI sparks a new era for Surface laptop with the Surface Laptop 7. A new Qualcomm processor, a host of AI features and the old familiarity of Surface make the Surface 7 quite an attractive package. But how does it fare in real-world usage? Read our review to find out more:

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 review: Design, display

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 maintains the familiar design elements of the Surface series, with a lightweight yet sturdy chassis and a sleek profile. Available in black and platinum, it’s crafted to appeal visually while being portable and practical.

The port selection includes two USB Type-C ports, one USB Type-A port, and a combo audio jack. However, it omits an HDMI port, Ethernet, and SD card reader (only available in the 15-inch version with a microSD slot), which could limit connectivity for some users. We had the 15-inch version, which included the SD card reader.

Microsoft has continued using the proprietary Surface Connect charging port, which could be more versatile.

Weighing about 1.6 kg, the Surface Laptop 7 doesn’t feel too heavy, making it quite portable. Lugging around a heavy laptop isn’t a pleasant experience and fortunately that’s not the case with the Surface Laptop 7.

The keyboard remains a high point, delivering a comfortable, responsive typing experience — something that a Surface laptop is known for. Typing on the Surface Laptop 7 is a satisfying experience though the touchpad takes time to get used to.

The Surface Laptop 7 features a 15-inch display with a 2496x1664 resolution and HDR support. A standout detail is its 120Hz refresh rate, impressive for a non-gaming laptop, making scrolling and animations appear smoother.

The 1080p webcam is adequate, although it lacks a physical shutter, and video call clarity is sufficient on the Surface Laptop 7.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 review: AI features, performance

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 includes notable features that enhance productivity and performance, such as the new AI Copilot+ integration and a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard.

The Copilot feature still operates effectively, assisting users with tasks through its chatbot capabilities. I tested the chatbot across creative, balanced, and precise modes, and it delivered reliable answers for various queries, from basic calculations to content generation. There are a host of plugins available which can further enhance the AI capabilities of Copilot.

Microsoft has been pushing hard on AI and the evidence is sprinkled all over the Surface laptop. The AI functionalities extend to Microsoft Paint, featuring Cocreator and Image Creator powered by DALL-E. Cocreator allows users to turn sketches into AI-generated images with customisable style options, balancing user input with AI creativity.

Bing, Edge, Office 365 — all have AI capabilities now and the experience of using them is rather nice. Having an AI assistant in the most-used apps and services is something that a lot of people can get easily used to.

Other features include Windows Studio Effects which brings AI-powered enhancements to webcam use, including background blur and automatic face framing to keep you centred in the frame. The Surface Laptop 7 also gets Portrait Light and Creative Filters. Portrait Light, designed to subtly illuminate your face, is almost imperceptible, making it rather gimmicky. The Creative Filters is another feature that I rarely used as it lacked value.

The Surface Laptop 7 introduces Live Captions, a standout AI feature available on Copilot Plus PCs. This tool generates real-time captions for any audio playing on your system and can translate 44 languages into English. Setting it up was simple, and it handled foreign-language YouTube videos smoothly, without noticeable lag.

The headline act — Windows 11’s AI Recall feature — was slated to launch alongside Windows AI PCs but Microsoft has been pushing it back. I did have a chance to test Recall at the launch of the Surface Laptop at Microsoft Build and my experience was rather good. Recall is designed to take periodic screenshots that users can search later through AI.

Understandably, there have been concerns related to storing the screenshot history, which is Microsoft has been continuously postponing its release. Until these concerns are resolved, Recall remains in the limbo but once it gets the green light, I can see a lot of people using it.

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X CPU, the Surface Laptop 7 feels significantly faster than previous models, addressing some common issues like system slowdowns and freezing. You can throw a lot of heavy-duty tasks at this laptop and it never wilts under pressure.

This chip delivers solid multitasking capabilities, ensuring a smooth experience for productivity tasks like document editing, web browsing, and video conferencing. Programs load swiftly, and switching between multiple applications is smooth, thanks to the processor’s ability to manage workloads efficiently.

Gaming on the Surface Laptop 7, however, is more of a mixed bag. While it’s not designed as a gaming laptop, casual and older titles perform well, particularly those optimised for ARM architecture. Games like Minecraft and Among Us run smoothly at medium settings. But with graphically demanding titles like Call of Duty: Warzone, even at reduced settings, you can see its limitations.

The laptop’s cooling system complements the Snapdragon X Elite, keeping temperatures in check during heavy workloads or extended gaming sessions.

Audio quality on the Surface Laptop 7 is solid, with distinct instrument clarity in music playback.

When it comes to battery life, Windows laptops are finally at par with Apple’s MacBooks. You can easily get close to 16-18 hours of regular usage on a single charge. It is as good as the MacBook Air but still slightly less than the newly-launched MacBook Pro.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 review: Verdict

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 starts at Rs 1,16,999 for the 13.8-inch variant whereas the 15-inch variant starts at Rs 1,42,999. The Surface Laptop 7 brings notable improvements in AI functionality and overall performance. It is a solid looking laptop that is quite portable. The Surface Laptop gets the MacBook battery life and the style quotient, making it an attractive option for those who don’t want a Mac and are happy with the Windows experience.
Microsoft has put its best foot forward with the Surface Laptop 7 and it shows in everyday use. Go for it if you are looking for a powerful and reliable premium Windows laptop.