It's been almost 20 hours since I received this letter. Microsoft Surface LaptopOpening it up completely, I placed it in place of my trusty M3 MacBook Air. This morning, I used my usual apps and services just like any other day — only this time, on a Windows PC instead of a Mac.
Maybe it's the fact that the Surface Laptop line has always had a “MacBook for Windows users” vibe to it, since it has an aluminum unibody design. Maybe it's the fact that this year's Surface Laptop and MacBook Air both come in 13 and 15-inch sizes. Maybe it's the AI skills gap… for now.
Also read: Microsoft recently announced that it will compete with Apple's M3 MacBook
Regardless, this scenario is essentially the dream for Microsoft and its latest Copilot+ PC initiative, which standardizes a new wave of computers that offer advanced, on-device AI capabilities (with an NPU that should run at least 40 TOPS), improved battery life and efficiency, and ultraportable designs.
You'll hear and see a lot more about these branded laptops in the coming weeks, months, and maybe even years. But for now, here are three ways the Surface Laptop made switching from the MacBook Air more beneficial than I expected.
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1. More intuitive AI features on the device
I haven’t yet integrated any AI tools into my daily workflow, partly because the best chatbots and task services available require me to navigate to them (read: type in a URL, sign up for an account, or both) and not the other way around. That little bit of friction in the user journey, combined with past experiences of AI confusion, has kept me on my toes for the past two years.
That's why I was quite pleased with the current batch of AI features available on the Surface Laptop, most of which are seamlessly integrated into common apps like Microsoft Word, Paint, and Teams. Rather than forcing services upon me through pop-ups and automated behaviors, AI services for cleaning up text documents, compositing images, and applying video filters are always just a click away.
Also Read: Microsoft defers recall due to security concerns, asks Windows Insiders for help
Having a dedicated copilot key definitely adds to this cumbersome experience. As I'm re-learning Windows shortcuts and multitasking tricks and also figuring out which apps, benchmarking services and games are actually supported on the ARM platform (spoiler: still not enough to download anything), having an assistant accessible via keyboard, voice and taskbar has been helpful.
Perhaps the most important aspect of these new Copilot+ AI features is that they work on-device — based on local data, providing more private, secure, and faster processing capabilities. For everyday users, this may not be as important. But if keeping your personal data safe (and away from any remote cloud servers) is a priority, you'll feel a little better using these new Copilot+ AI features on PC.
2. Windows Hello feels faster than ever
When testing any laptop, phone or tablet I always look at how quickly the device wakes up and unlocks via face recognition. If a device like the MacBook Air or Pro doesn't support face recognition, I'll evaluate the speed based on the fingerprint sensor.
Also: I just ordered the cheapest Surface Pro option — so I (probably) won't regret it
It's not exactly easy to connect to my M3 MacBook Air compared to the Surface Laptop, but since setting up Windows Hello — which takes advantage of the laptop's infrared (IR) camera and front-facing camera — I feel like I'm experiencing a new level of convenience. It's much faster than waiting for the laptop to boot up and then tapping in your password or fingerprint.
The best part is that Windows Hello gets activated automatically when I open the laptop lid, and thanks to the IR camera it is able to scan my face even in low-light environments.
3. Touchscreen support
I know. Just like Windows Hello, touchscreen support has always been a major advantage the Microsoft Surface Laptop (and other Windows PCs) have had over MacBooks, but the feature makes a noticeable difference in the context of a Copilot+ PC.
Also: I demoed every new AI feature coming to Copilot+ PC, and I'm almost caught up in the hype
For example, the new Cocreator tool in Paint requires you to type the prompt to create an image And Create a base sketch for Copilot to work on. Normally, I have trouble drawing circles and straight lines on the trackpad, but I didn't have to do that on the Surface Laptop. Instead, I simply pulled the laptop closer to me and started sketching with my finger.
Although I've always found that touchscreen functionality is more beneficial on larger screens, smaller screens are more difficult to use. 13.8-inch Surface Laptop It feels like a 2-in-1 tablet. When my typing space is limited, like on a bus, plane or in a crowded cafe, being able to tap, swipe and drag elements on the screen by simply moving my hand is very helpful and intuitive.