Ever since the inception of Microsoft's Surface line of products, they have been showcase devices. Microsoft isn't necessarily trying to compete with other manufacturers, but it's showing them (and consumers) what can be done with a Windows PC. The original Surface Pro arguably kickstarted the market for Windows tablets, and it's still the best one to this day. The line has expanded to all kinds of devices in the years since. And while Microsoft is no longer coming up with new form factors, it still makes very good PCs with premium build quality and top-notch specs. Surface devices are undoubtedly some of the best laptops and PCs on the market.

Microsoft is very selective with its devices; each one is created with a specific target in mind. While there aren't a ton of Surface devices available, this small selection makes it easier to choose which one best fits your needs. Without further ado, here are the best Microsoft Surface PCs you can buy right now.

The best Surface PCs you can buy in 2023

The Surface Pro is how Microsoft first got into the PC hardware market, and it's still one of the coolest devices around. While the Surface Pro 9 doesn't feature many changes from its predecessor, it does include some welcome updates.

For starters, it now packs 12th-generation Intel Core processors, up to a Core i7-1255U with 10 cores and 12 threads, plus integrated Iris Xe graphics. It's even faster than before, and with up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, you really won't miss out on much.

The tablet is still under 10mm thin and very portable. In addition, the display is mostly the same 13-inch panel with a resolution of 2880x1920, providing very sharp visuals for this size. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate, which can adjust dynamically. Plus, this model adds support for Dolby Vision IQ and Auto Color Management in Windows. Touch and pen support is also here, including support for Tactile signals on the Surface Slim Pen 2. The cameras remain mostly unchanged, but they're still great. The front-facing camera is a 5MP sensor supporting 1080p video for calls and meetings and Windows Hello, and there's a rear camera with a 10MP sensor that can record 4K video.

The big change with the Surface Pro 9 is the addition of Forest and Sapphire color options on top of the existing Platinum and Graphite. With four beautiful colors to choose from, you now have more options than ever. Another part of the design also changed — the ports. Microsoft removed the headphone jack from the Surface Pro 9, and now, all you get are two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a Surface Connect port. Unless you already have wireless headphones and other peripherals, a Thunderbolt dock or hub might be mandatory here.

The Surface Pro 9 does come with some sacrifices, but it is a beautiful device with a fantastic display and high-end specs, making it an easy recommendation.

For many users, like students, all they need is a great clamshell laptop without the convertible aspect. If that's you, Microsoft's Surface Laptop 5 is a fantastic choice.

On the inside, the Surface Laptop 5 does away with AMD processors, so all you get are 12th-generation Intel Core models, up to an Intel Core i7-1255U. Just as with the Surface Pro 9, it also includes Intel Iris Xe graphics for some lighter GPU workloads. You can configure the Surface Laptop 5 with up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

Like the models before it, the Surface Laptop 5 comes in two different sizes, 13.5 and 15 inches, but they're very similar aside from that. They have the exact same pixel density (201 PPI), so while the 15-inch model has more pixels, both look just as sharp. The displays all have a 60Hz refresh rate, which is fine, but not quite as nice as the Surface Pro 9, and touch and pen input are both supported. The big letdown is the 720p webcam, which hasn't been upgraded and is still behind other Surface devices.

The Surface Laptop 5 has the most "standard" design among Surface devices, as it's just a clamshell laptop. However, it still stands out because it comes in four different colors (the 15-inch model only has two), and in the case of the 13.5-inch Platinum model, the keyboard base is covered in Alcantara fabric. The remaining models are all metal, including the new Sage color. In terms of portability, the Surface Laptop 5 starts at 2.8 pounds for the 13.5-inch models and 3.4 pounds for the larger 15-inch versions, so it's fairly portable.

For ports, the Surface Laptop 5 includes one Thunderbolt 4 port, USB Type-A, a Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack. This is the first model in the classic Surface Laptop series to add Thunderbolt 4 support, which is always welcome.

All in all, the Surface Laptop 5 is a great premium laptop with a thin and light design, high-end processors, and some extra features like touch support and Windows Hello.

While we've already talked about the Wi-Fi version of the Surface Pro 9, the 5G model is significantly different, especially in terms of its internals, as the Surface Pro 9 5G is powered by an Arm-based processor, the Microsoft SQ3. This is a tweaked version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, bringing huge improvements over the previous generation. In our review, we found the CPU to be about 88% faster than the Microsoft SQ2 and the GPU over two times faster based on our benchmarks. This model also comes with up to 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, a bit lower than the Intel model.

The display is almost exactly the same as the Intel model, with a 13-inch panel, 2880x1920 resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate. However, that last part is a big upgrade if you're coming from the Surface Pro X. The Pro 9 5G also supports Tactile signals for the Surface Slim Pen 2, but the Arm model lacks support for Dolby Vision IQ and Auto Color Management. While the cameras are similar, the Surface Pro 9 5G has an NPU, which enables some AI-powered webcam effects, like background blur and eye contact.

The only color available for the Surface Pro 9 5G is the classic Platinum. The rest of the design is identical to the Intel model, except there's no fan inside to cool the processor since it's unnecessary. Another significant benefit of the Surface Pro 9 5G model is, naturally, 5G support. This is the first Surface device to support 5G, and in select markets, mmWave is supported, though others may only support sub-6GHz. The physical ports are similar to the Intel model, but this version doesn't support Thunderbolt 4, so you only get standard USB 3.2 Type-C ports.

You have to make some sacrifices to get the Surface Pro 9 5G, but this is still a great device if you want cellular connectivity, plus the Arm processor has some benefits.

Microsoft has been making laptops for creators since the Surface Book, but the Surface Laptop Studio 2 is by far the best one yet.

Performance-wise, it's easily the best Microsoft has to offer. It comes with a 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with 14 cores and 20 threads, making it far more powerful than nay other laptop in the company's lineup. Adding to it, you get up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics, so it can handle gaming, video editing, and other demanding workloads just fine. It also comes with up to 64GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage.

The display is essentially the same as the previous generation, being a 14.4-inch panel with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a sharp 2400x1600 resolution. It also has a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, making it that much better for gaming and even general use. Of course, it's a touch panel, and the convertible design allows you to lay the screen over the keyboard and use the laptop like a tablet. Above the display is a 1080p webcam supporting Windows Hello facial recognition, plus AI-powered Windows Studio Effects.

In terms of looks, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very similar to its predecessor, but there are some notable differences. The laptop is made of aluminum now, which gives it a different shade and a more premium feel. However, it also makes it heavier, starting at 4.18 pounds. As for ports, Microsoft added some welcome ones, including a USB Type-A connection and a microSD card reader, in addition to two Thunderbolt 4 ports, Surface Connect, and a headphone jack.

All of these improvements come with a starting price of $2,000, but that's without discrete graphics. The models you actually want start at $2,400, which is a bit pricy, but it's the price you pay for such a powerful machine.

If you want the power to be a creative professional and you have a lot of money to spend, the Surface Studio 2+ may be worth considering.

The Surface Studio 2+ is powered by an Intel Core i7-11370H, the same processor that powers the Surface Laptop Studio. It's a big upgrade over the previous generation, but it's still a laptop processor. Additionally, the graphics have been upgraded to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU, which is also a big upgrade over the GeForce GTX 1070 in the previous top-tier model. Aside from that, you get 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage.

The Surface Studio 2+ has a 28-inch panel with a 3:2 aspect ratio, and it comes in a super-sharp 4500x3000 resolution. This is also a touchscreen, and it supports the Surface Pen, as well as on-screen interaction with the Surface Dial. The "zero-gravity" hinge lets you easily adjust the screen on the Surface Studio 2+ so it comes down over the table, and you can use it to draw or paint, with the Surface Dial offering easy controls in certain creative apps. Above that display, the Surface Studio 2+ uses a 5MP webcam, so you should look great during video calls, and it supports Windows Hello.

The design of the Surface Studio 2+ is one of the best things about it. Core elements of the computer are housed in the base, which is very compact and sleek. The Surface Studio 2+ also introduces Thunderbolt 4 support, with three Thunderbolt ports on the back supporting up to three 4K 60Hz displays, in addition to two USB Type-A ports and gigabit Ethernet.

With a price tag of $4,500, the Surface Studio 2+ is definitely not for most people, but if you need the kind of power, display, and experience it offers, it might just be worth it.

The Surface line is known for its premium devices, but the Surface Go 3 is a great budget device that delivers the experience where it matters.

Performance is one area where it may falter a bit, with an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor in the base model, with an upgrade option for an Intel Core i3-10100Y. If you're just browsing the web and writing up a document occasionally, it's good enough. The base model of the Surface Go 3 also includes 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage, but we'd recommend upgrading to the 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD if you can afford it, as you'll get far better performance.

On the flip side, Microsoft packed the Surface Go 3 with a sharp 10.5-inch display with Full HD+ resolution and a 3:2 aspect ratio. And since it's a tablet, it also supports touch input and the Surface Pen. The Surface Go 3 also has good cameras, with a 5MP webcam up front and an 8MP sensor on the back. The front camera even supports Windows Hello, just like the Surface Pro 9.

The design of the Surface Go 3 is closer to the classic Surface Pro design, with its magnesium build and the flat edges designed to accommodate the Surface Pen on the left side. It's also the lightest Surface device, at just 1.2 pounds, and it's just 8.3mm thin. You can truly take it anywhere, even if you add the Surface Go Type Cover. For ports, you get one USB Type-C port, a Surface Connect port, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. That's good for a tablet, but for a PC, you're probably going to need some adapters if you want to connect an external monitor or a peripheral that uses USB Type-A.

The Surface Go3 makes some smart sacrifices to deliver a great experience considering the price, and it's great for anyone on a budget.

If you do want a bit more performance in your laptop, then you might just want to look at the Surface Laptop Go 3 instead. This latest model bumps up the price somewhat so it's not exactly budget, but it's still relatively affordable.

The Surface Laptop Go 3 comes with a nice performance boost thanks to the switch to a 12th-generation Intel Core i5-1235U, which gives you 10 cores and 12 threads (up from four cores and eight threads in the previous model), so day-to-day performance is great. The laptop also includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage in the base model, which helps explain the price increase from the previous version.

The 12.4-inch display on the Surface Laptop Go 3 keeps the typical 3:2 aspect ratio of Surface devices, but it comes in an odd 1536x1024 resolution that's usable but not very sharp. You do get touch support, but not the Surface Pen, though that's not a huge loss. The webcam is, unfortunately, a 720p sensor, and there's no Windows Hello facial recognition, though you do get a fingerprint scanner.

The Surface Laptop Go 3 uses a combination of aluminum and a resin made of polycarbonate and glass fiber, but it still looks and feels like a Surface laptop. At 2.48 pounds, it's fairly light, so it's a great laptop for school. It also comes in four different colors, which is good if you want something a bit more unique to you. As for ports, there's one USB Type-C port, USB Type-A, Surface Connect, and a headphone jack. That should cover most basic needs, even if it's not exactly impressive.

All in all, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is a good value proposition if you want something that's affordable but still decently fast. The higher price makes it a little less appealing, bu it's still a great choice.

Best Surface PCs in 2023: Bottom line

These are the best Surface devices you can get right now. The Microsoft Surface family does a great job of covering a variety of use cases without being too confusing. We chose the Surface Pro 9 as the best overall laptop for a few reasons. Firstly, it's what you think of when you think of the Surface line; it has the performance and versatile design that made the Surface family popular in the first place. It also comes with a fantastic display, great cameras, and beautiful colors to choose from.

If you're looking to save some money, the Surface Go 3 and the Surface Laptop Go 2 are great options. The Surface Go 3 is more portable and has a great screen and cameras, making it a terrific device for staying in touch with family and friends. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is much faster, and it may be better for getting schoolwork done, for example.

But if Surface hasn't won you over, there are tons of great choices from other brands. In fact, we have running lists of the best laptops from HP and Dell if you'd like to check those out instead.