Microsoft Surface laptops have been dominating the market recently with their amazing line of laptops that look sleek and feel premium, but do these laptops only offer looks and not longevity?
Considering that these laptops are a bit on the expensive side, users would usually expect them to last long. So how long do Microsoft Surfaces last? How durable are these laptops? Do they last as long as other laptop brands?
How Long Do Microsoft Surfaces Last?
Microsoft Surfaces would last an average of 5 years and may even last more than 10 years, given that they’re taken care of properly. In terms of battery life, Microsoft Surface laptops would last 15 hours of normal usage.
When it comes to how long Microsoft Surfaces would last, we should look at two things: battery life and average lifespan. Two of these factors make up how long a laptop would last and it varies per Microsoft Surface model.
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, Microsoft Surfaces are pretty solid in this department. The average battery life of a Microsoft Surface laptop would be 15 hours (of normal usage). Of course, since this is an average measure of the Microsoft Surfaces battery life, the longevity of a specific model’s battery life would differ.
Let’s take the Microsoft Surface 4, it has a battery life of 11 to 12 hours which is far better than its predecessor, the Microsoft Surface 3. Moving on to the Pro line of Microsoft Surface we’ll be talking about the battery life of the Surface Pro 6. The battery life of this specific laptop model is 9 hours.
To conclude this portion of how long Microsoft Surfaces would last in terms of battery life, it’s safe to say that they’re able to provide decent battery life, most users would even consider them excellent. So whether you’re streaming videos online or doing office work, you can rely on Microsoft Surfaces’ battery life.
Average Lifespan
The average lifespan of Microsoft Surfaces would be 5 years, if taken care of properly, it may even reach up to 10 years. When it comes to the general lifespan of a Microsoft Surface laptop or any laptop in general, the longevity would largely depend on how it’s being handled.
That being said, users shouldn’t completely rely on the average lifespan that we’ve provided, the reason why we’ve mentioned the average lifespan of Microsoft Surfaces is to give users a general idea of how long these laptops may last.
To support this claim, we’ve read numerous reviews from users who’ve owned Microsoft Surfaces said users vary in the type of model they’ve been using for a couple of years. The majority of these users claim to have used their Microsoft Surfaces for 3 to 4 years and the condition of their laptop is still good.
Apart from experiencing a few issues with their hardware, which is a result of mishandling on their end, the battery and overall performance of the laptop are still in good condition. Of course, some users weren’t so lucky in this regard since some of them experienced their laptop’s battery’s lifespan to have drained significantly.
This is nothing to be worried about since it’s normal to experience batteries draining a lot faster compared to when it was first bought. For instance, one user has been using their Surface Pro 2 for 4 years and they’ve experienced its usual battery life reduced by 3 hours.
Despite experiencing batteries draining faster, Microsoft Surfaces were still able to function properly and users were able to do their tasks on them, their only issue is charging them a lot more frequently than usual.
How Long Do Microsoft Surface Books Last?
Microsoft Books would last 3 to 5 years in regards to its average lifespan. In terms of battery life, Microsoft Books would last 7 hours (4 hours if only the Clipboard would be used on its own).
Similar to the Surface Pro, the longevity of Microsoft Books can be measured by two factors: battery life and average lifespan. We would like to reiterate that the longevity of Microsoft Surface Books will largely depend on what specific laptop model it is as well as how well it’s being taken care of.
Battery Life
The battery life of Microsoft Surface Books would range from 5 to 7 hours, depending on the usage. Under normal use a Surface Book would last 7 hours, on the other hand, if the laptop is being used to run some demanding applications then it would have a battery life of 5 hours.
When compared to Microsoft Surface Laptops, Surface Books have better battery life. For instance, when comparing the Surface Book 3 to Surface Laptop 2, the former can last up to 17 hours of use while the latter can only be used for up to 14 hours.
Several users online have also discussed amongst themselves as to which models are better between Microsoft Surface Laptops, Surface Pros, and Microsoft Surface Books, the majority have stated that Surface Books are better in terms of battery life as well as performance.
Average Lifespan
Microsoft Surface Laptops share the same average lifespan as Surface Pro laptops, if not worse. While Surface Books have the potential to last for 3 to 5 years as well, there are several reviews from users that would like to prove otherwise.
While some users are happy with their Surface Books because of their battery life and consistent performance past the 2-year mark, some aren’t so fortunate. Several users have experienced their Surface Books showing issues such as charging problems after a year of use, memory problems, hard drive problems, and so on.
Microsoft is yet to improve their Surface Books in regards to addressing the issues aforementioned. While these laptops may have a great battery life they have to address more serious issues to make this laptop one of the best ones in the market.
How Durable Are Microsoft Surface Laptops?
Microsoft Surface laptops are durable to the point that they can withstand hard impacts like accidental drops. Also, the hinges on these laptops are ultra-durable as well and won’t snap easily and the laptop’s screens are protected with Gorilla Glass.
When it comes to durability, Microsoft knows how to reassure its users since they’ve engineered their laptops to withstand all sorts of accidental drops or impacts. They’ve kept in mind that laptops are prone to such circumstances since they’re portable devices and devices like these are prone to accidents.
That being said, Microsoft designed their Surface Laptops to have what they refer to as VaporMg (read as Vapor Mag). This material is what makes up the entire body of Surface Laptops. What makes this material durable is it’s made out of magnesium alloy, which is reported to be as sturdy and durable as aluminum but three times lighter.
In addition to Microsoft Surface Laptops’ durability, the brand further reassures its users by utilizing Gorilla Glass in their laptop’s display screens. As we all know, Gorilla Glass is quite a durable material that can withstand even the force coming from a hammer.
So are Microsoft Surface laptops durable? Yes, they’re very much so, to the point that these laptops can withstand occasional drops and minor abuse.
Do Microsoft Surface Laptops Last Long As Other Laptops?
Yes, Microsoft Surface laptops last as long as other laptops such as Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Asus, all of which have an average lifespan of 3 to 5 years (Microsoft laptops last 4 to 5 years). Other laptop brands surpass the longevity of Microsoft laptops such as Apple and MSI.
It’s a given that the longevity of Microsoft Surface laptops would differ compared to the longevity of other brands, this is especially true when we take into consideration how users handle their laptops.
Another thing, the durability of Microsoft Surface laptops may or may not be the same as other laptop brands, and that affects longevity as well. The same logic is applied to battery life, design, and hardware components, all of which play a role in a laptop’s longevity.
To make these comparisons easier, we’ll be dividing them into two factors: battery life and average lifespan. We’ve already established the average lifespan, now let’s move on to the battery life.
Microsoft Surface laptops have a battery life of 14 hours on average, on the other hand, brands like Apple, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, MSI, and Acer have the following battery life:
- Apple (12 hours)
- HP (10 hours)
- Dell (6 to 10 hours)
- Lenovo (8+ hours)
- Asus (6 to 12 hours)
- MSI (11 hours)
- Acer (8 hours or so)
Based on the data we’ve shown above, we can conclude that Microsoft Surface laptops last as long as other well-known laptops, and may even exceed the longevity of some laptop brands, for instance, Microsoft laptops can beat HP when it comes to longevity.
Which Is Better, Surface Pro Or Surface Book?
Surface Books are better than Surface Pro laptops since they use better GPUs and have greater battery life.
Some argue that the Books are better than the Pros in terms of both battery life and performance. While both Surface Books and Surface Pros may come from Microsoft, arguably, it’s true that the former is better than the latter.
To give a brief explanation of why Surface Books are better than Surface Pros all we have to do is look at what each laptop model is capable of. To make this comparison easier we’ll be comparing both the Surface Book 3 against the Surface Pro 7.
| Surface Book 3 | Surface Pro 7 |
| Better battery life | The battery is not as large as the Surface Book 3 |
| Dedicated GPU options. This specific model uses NVIDIA graphics (Intel Iris Plus, GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q, and NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000). | No dedicated GPU options, meaning, the laptop is stuck with the GPU it comes with (Intel UHD i3 and Intel Iris Plus i5, i7) |
| Average battery life: 17.5 hours | Average battery life: 10.5 hours |
| Display resolution: 3000×2000 (267 PPI) 3240×2160 (260 PPI) | Display resolution: 2736×1824 (267 PPI) |
| Better for performance-based tasks. This laptop can run light games and intensive software. | Better for portability due to its design. Can’t run intensive software since it doesn’t have dedicated GPU options. |
Just by looking at the table above, the Surface Book 3 has a lot more to bring to the table compared to the Surface Pro 7. While the latter may not be as good as the Surface Book, it’s still a decent laptop when it comes to portability.
Which one should you choose? Well, that would depend on what type of user you are and what your preferences are. If you’re the type to travel all the time and would like to have a portable 2-in-1 laptop, then the Surface Pro 7 would be your best option.
If you’re an editor or a user who occasionally games, then the Surface Book 3 would be your best bet. This can handle intensive software so it’s reliable in that aspect. Expect this laptop to bring nothing but consistency and longevity throughout your day.
How Long Is The Warranty On Microsoft Surfaces?
Microsoft Surfaces have a 1-year warranty.
There are different warranties for Surface Laptops, namely, Manufacturer Hardware Warranty, Microsoft Extended Hardware Service, Microsoft Complete for Business, and Microsoft Complete for Business Plans.
For every Surface laptop, a 1-year warranty will be included, said warranty starts on the day of purchase and includes a Mechanical Breakdown and an Advantage Exchange.
The Microsoft Extended Hardware Service is sold separately, the duration is longer than the standard warranty (3 or 4 years), it’s available within 45 days of Surface device purchase, and includes Mechanical Breakdown, Advanced Exchange, and Optional Add-ons: Drive SSD Retention and Next Business Day Replacement.
Moving on, the Microsoft Complete for Business is sold separately, the duration can be 2, 3, or 4 years, it’s available within 45 days of Surface device purchase, and includes all Microsoft Extended Hardware Service benefits, plus: Accidental Damage and Optional Add-ons such as Drive (SSD) Retention and Next Day Business Day Replacement.
Lastly, the Microsoft Complete for Business is sold separately, the duration can be 2, 3, or up to 4 years, it’s available within 45 days of Surface device purchase, and includes all Microsoft Complete for Business benefits, plus: Next Business Day Replacement and Drive (SSD) Retention.
If you would like to see a more detailed explanation of the various warranties on Microsoft Surface laptops, you may refer to this link.
How To Make Microsoft Surfaces Last Longer?
To make Microsoft Surfaces last longer you must clean the touchscreen and keyboard as frequently as possible and keep the laptop covered when not in use.
Users would naturally want their Microsoft Surfaces to last longer than usual and to do this, one must be consistent in maintaining the cleanliness of their laptop while ensuring proper cleaning methods are used, taking care of the laptop’s battery health, and caring for the power cord of their laptops.
General Cleaning
According to the official website of Microsoft, the best way to do general cleaning on your Surface laptops is by using a soft lint-free cloth, a microfiber cloth that’s dampened with a small amount of mild soap and water, or screen wipes. Do this type of general cleaning every 3 to 6 months or whenever needed.
Proper Ways Of Cleaning The Touchscreen
Some substances are commonly the main cause of screen damage such as finger grease, scratches, chemicals, dust, and ultraviolet light. To avoid said substances from damaging your screen, users must be aware of proper ways of cleaning them:
- The screen of Surface laptops is already coated to make cleaning easier for users. There’s no need to apply force to remove the stains on the screen (e.g. finger grease/prints), all you have to do is to grab a lint-free cloth that’s dry and soft and wipe it on the screen.
If needed, you may use a solution to dampen the cloth you’re going to use (water, IPA solution 70% or less, or eyeglass cleaner). Remember, never use a glass cleaner or any type of chemical cleaners.
- Ensure that your Surface laptop is covered when not in use.
- Keep the Surface laptop away from the sun to avoid exposing it to ultraviolet light (this light can damage the display of the laptop).
Cover And Keyboard Care
To maintain the cleanliness of your Surface laptop’s Touch Cover, all you have to do is wipe it using a lint-free cloth that’s dampened with mild soap and water. Take note, never apply any liquids directly on the Touch Cover. Do this as often as possible to keep the Touch Cover in great shape.
To clean dirty spine or magnetic connections of the Touch Cover, all that’s needed is a lint-free cloth dampened with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and wipe the stains off.
Proper Care For Battery Health
It’s normal for rechargeable batteries to degrade over time, however, there are a few tips you can do to make the most out of your Surface laptop’s battery health:
- Drain the laptop’s battery below 50% before charging it. Do this several times a week.
- Don’t charge your Surface laptop 24/7.
- When the laptop isn’t in use, keep it in a cool and dry room.
Proper Care For Power Cord
One of the most neglected accessories that come with laptops is the power cord and most users may not be aware that if these get damaged, so will the laptop itself, and that damage can develop over time and affect the ports.
To ensure that your cords are in good shape: avoid twisting or pinching the power cord and don’t wrap the power cord too tightly. Don’t wrap it too tightly around the power brick as well. The proper way to care for power cords is to wrap them in loose coils so that the cords won’t bend.
To know more about the various ways in caring for your Surface laptop, you may visit this link for a more detailed explanation.
What Are The Most Reliable Microsoft Surface Model?
The Surface Pro 7+, Surface Laptop 4, and Surface Book 3 are the most reliable Microsoft Surface models.
The best out of the bunch would be the Surface Pro 7+ since it runs on an 11th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, an Iris Xe integrated graphics, and 16GB of RAM. While the Surface Book may seem like the best option since it has dedicated GPU options, according to Tech Advisor’s benchmark, its performance doesn’t come close to the Surface Pro 7+.
For normal use in the department of work environments and school use, this laptop would be considered overkill. However, this laptop isn’t recommended to be used for gaming and it’s only suited for both business and educational purposes.
Another thing that makes the Surface Pro 7+ a reliable laptop is its improved battery life. Compared to its predecessor, Surface Pro 7, the battery life of this laptop can last over 13 hours and that’s beyond the average battery life compared to the laptops of other brands.
Don’t fancy the Surface Pro 7+? You can opt for the other two Microsoft Surface models we’ve mentioned:
- Surface Laptop 4
- Surface Book 3
Resources:
https://www.windowscentral.com/surface-book-3-vs-surface-pro-7
https://www.techadvisor.com/test-centre/windows/best-microsoft-surface-3681062/
Susan is a professional writer. She has been a writer for eight years and has always been so fulfilled with her work! She desires to share helpful, reliable, and unbiased information and tips about tech and gadgets. She hopes to offer informative content that can answer users’ questions and help them fix their problems.