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Surface Laptop 7 vs Surface Laptop 6: OVERVIEW
Last update on 2024-12-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Surface Laptop 7
The Snapdragon X series CPUs from Qualcomm power the new Surface Laptop 7, which is a Copilot+ PC. Its CPU is strong and effective, and its NPU boasts 45 TOPS of power. For the majority of consumers that desire a notebook Surface PC, it ought to be the best choice.
For
Against
Surface Laptop 6
Powered by Intel’s Core Ultra CPUs, the Surface Laptop 6 for Business boasts capabilities that may be more appealing to business or professional consumers. The majority of consumers in general, though, ought to start by looking at the updated Surface Laptop 7.
For
Against
Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop 7, one of the initial Copilot+ PCs, on May 20. This laptop, along with the previously revealed Surface Pro 11 2-in-1, uses an ARM processor to run Microsoft’s Windows operating system. These new Copilot+ PCs represent what Factic’s Editor calls a “Great Reset” of the Windows PC market.
With a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) powerful enough to manage the new Copilot+ AI features coming to Windows 11, the next generation AI PCs are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series CPUs. It was not only a performance makeover for the Surface Laptop 7. A haptic touchpad was added for better aiming, and the screen size was increased from smaller to larger to fit thinner bezels. The design was upgraded.
Let’s examine in detail how the recently released Surface Laptop 7 vs Surface Laptop 6 for Business, which ran on Intel earlier this year.
Surface Laptop 7 vs Surface Laptop 6: SPECS
Surface Laptop 7 Key Specs
Surface Laptop 6 Key Specs
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Surface Laptop 7 vs Surface Laptop 6: DESIGN & FEATURES
Finally receiving a facelift, the Surface Laptop 7 has gone through three revisions with substantially the same design. Notwithstanding its slightly smaller physical size, the Laptop 7 retains the features that distinguished it from earlier Surface versions. Compared to its predecessors, such as the Laptop 6 for Business, the Laptop 7 weighs marginally less overall, but being slightly thicker in both sizes.
Microsoft added Sapphire and Dune colors to the more conventional Black and Platinum finishes, and softened the corners of the Laptop 7 to make it more comfortable to handle. There are only two colors available: Platinum and Black, for the Surface Laptop 6 for Business and the 15-inch Surface Laptop 7.
Port selection fluctuates a little bit due to processor variances. The ARM-based Snapdragon X CPUs in the Laptop 7 do not support Thunderbolt 4, therefore they revert to USB 4. The Intel-powered Surface Laptop 6 for Business comes with Thunderbolt 4. According to Microsoft, external monitors can use DP 2.1 thanks to its USB4 connectors.
The bigger Surface Laptop 7 now contains a microSD card reader, and the 15-inch Surface Laptop 6 for Business has an optional Smart Card reader slot.
Windows Studio Effects is installed on both the Laptop 7 and Laptop 6 for Business, which share a 1080p webcam with an IR sensor for Windows Hello facial recognition. Though Microsoft lists twin Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos throughout generations, it doesn’t appear like the speakers have changed either.
Sensel provided haptic technologies to enhance the Surface Laptop 7’s touchpad. The typing experience is the same for all generations, but now you have more customization options and a larger pointing space to better fit your needs.
The Surface Laptop 7 has upgraded to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 in terms of wireless connectivity. Surface Laptop 6 for Business is compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E.
Surface Laptop 7 vs Surface Laptop 6: DISPLAY
A larger 13.8-inch display is one of the most notable upgrades to the smaller Laptop 7. Microsoft reduced the bezels to make room for the bigger screen, which also allowed it to somewhat reduce the PC’s overall footprint. In contrast, the dimensions of the 15-inch display remain the same.
Editor’s Choice
With a higher resolution of 2304×1536, the 13.8-inch display achieves the 201 pixels-per-inch (PPI) standard, which is preferred by the Surface Laptop lineup. The Laptop 7’s 15-inch display keeps the Surface Laptop 6 for Business’s 2496×1664 resolution.
The panels on the Surface Laptop 7 are now more aesthetically pleasing thanks to its 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. They still have compatibility for HDR and Dolby Vision IQ. Microsoft does not say how bright the screens get or what kind of finish is utilized. However, the Laptop 6 for Business does have an anti-reflective coating to lessen glare and a brightness of 400 nits SDR.
- [This is a Copilot+ PC] — A new AI era begins. Experience enhanced performance and AI...
- [Introducing Surface Laptop] — Power, speed, and touchscreen versatility with AI features....
- [Exceptional Performance] — Surface Laptop delivers faster performance than the MacBook Air...
Last update on 2024-12-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Surface Laptop 7 vs Surface Laptop 6: PERFORMANCE & BATTERY
Although Microsoft hasn’t yet formally revealed which Snapdragon X Elite chip(s) the Surface Laptop 7 is equipped with, it is mentioned as having one. Senior Editor Zac Bowden observed the X1E-80-100 in a Surface Laptop 7 during the PC demonstration; however, the X1E-78-100 is listed on Best Buy’s product listing, which may not be accurate. Both, however, feature a 45 TOPS Hexagon NPU for local AI acceleration.
A Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-64-100) SoC with 10 Oryon CPU cores, a 3.4GHz multithread frequency, an Adreno GPU with 3.8 TFLOPs, and the same Hexagon NPU at 45 TOPS is also an option for the Surface Laptop 7.
The Core Ultra 5 135H and Core Ultra 7 165H CPUs from Intel are used in the Surface Laptop 6 for Business. The NPU on these chips is likewise capable of handling up to 10 TOPS. That falls very short of the new Microsoft standard for a Copilot+ PC.
It will be some time before we have a model in our hands for testing before we can say with certainty how well the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus CPUs work in the Surface Laptop 7. We may, however, examine some of Qualcomm’s performance and battery life claims in comparison to Intel’s Core Ultra CPUs (found in the Surface Laptop 6 for Business).
As the above figure illustrates, Qualcomm states that the Snapdragon X Plus outperforms the Core Ultra 7 155H in terms of efficiency and can achieve up to 37% faster performance thanks to its Oryon CPU. Naturally, the X Elite, which is on the chart and presumably performs even better, is the quickest X1E-84-100 variant.
For Snapdragon X chips, efficiency is quite important. Additionally, Qualcomm released a PowerPoint showing how the X Elite CPU outperforms Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H in a variety of workloads. Once more, once we obtain the Surface Laptop 7, we will need to verify these claims.
A 15-inch Laptop 7 with X Elite CPUs and 16GB of RAM is expected to provide up to 22 hours of local video playing, according to Microsoft. That amount drops to 15 hours of internet use. Naturally, these outcomes will differ significantly based on several factors outside of Microsoft’s controlled testing.
- [This is a Copilot+ PC] — A new AI era begins. Experience enhanced performance and AI...
- [Introducing Surface Laptop] — Power, speed, and touchscreen versatility with AI features....
- [Exceptional Performance] — Surface Laptop delivers faster performance than the MacBook Air...
Last update on 2024-12-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
It’s important to note that Microsoft states the 15-inch Surface Laptop 6 for Business can run on a single charge for up to 19 hours when performing routine chores. These figures most obviously require internal validation, given that the Surface Laptop 7 currently has bigger battery capabilities than the Laptop 6 for Business.
Since the Surface Laptop 7 runs Windows on an ARM platform, it needs an emulator layer in order to run programs designed for Intel and AMD’s x86-64 architecture. Adobe announced that it will be releasing its entire suite of apps to ARM, thus the number of ARM64 apps that operate natively on Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips is continually growing. However, certain apps still need that extra layer.
You shouldn’t be deterred from using ARM primarily by emulation. All of your apps will function with Windows on ARM, as Factic’s Editor Berry Alex found out. Microsoft also unveiled the Prism emulation layer, which is expected to provide up to 20% more performance with Windows 11 24H2.
Surface Laptop 7 vs Surface Laptop 6: COPILOT+ AND AI
Microsoft unveiled Copilot+, a new moniker for cutting-edge AI capabilities arriving in Windows 11. This also holds true for PCs that are capable of executing these new AI features, which call for an NPU with a minimum of 40 TOPS of power. As a result, the only chips that are now competent are the Snapdragon X series NPU with 45 TOPS; next-generation CPUs from AMD and Intel are anticipated to catch up.
You will need to use the Surface Laptop 7 with either the X Elite or X Plus CPU if you wish to try these new features, leaving the Surface Laptop 6 for Business behind. One of the Copilot+ AI capabilities is Recall, which allows you to search through anything you’ve done and seen on your computer in any program. Moreover, it offers real-time translation of Live Caption, local AI picture and text production, Auto Super Resolution for games, and enhancements to Windows Studio Effects.
Surface Laptop 7 vs Surface Laptop 6: VERDICT
The new Surface laptop 7 is undoubtedly a much easier suggestion for the majority of consumers, even though the Surface Laptop 6 for Business is still a good Windows notebook for professionals and commercial customers.
The Surface Laptop 7 is now categorized as a Copilot+ PC because of its Snapdragon X series CPUs, in addition to receiving a redesign that includes a haptic touchpad and thinner bezels. The Laptop 7 should be an obvious pick if you’re interested in AI features in the slightest or just want to check out what Qualcomm has been working on in terms of performance and efficiency.
- [This is a Copilot+ PC] — A new AI era begins. Experience enhanced performance and AI...
- [Introducing Surface Laptop] — Power, speed, and touchscreen versatility with AI features....
- [Exceptional Performance] — Surface Laptop delivers faster performance than the MacBook Air...
Last update on 2024-12-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Why Trust Factic
Berry Alex has been evaluating, testing, and reviewing tech, Household and travel items for several decades. He compiled all of the testers’ input, conducted extra research to assess each phone mount’s essential features and overall functioning, and reviewed professional profiles and verified customer reviews for each product.
