Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 vs. Apple MacBook Air: Which Slick Ultraportable Should You Buy?

Among a sea of other device announcements on Oct. 2, Microsoft showed us the next generation of its mainstream laptop. At PCMag, we thought highly of the Surface Laptop 2 when we tested it, and now the Surface Laptop 3 is refining an already slick machine.

A new twist, though: This time, Microsoft is offering both 13- and 15-inch models of its flagship laptop. We're focusing here on the smaller model and its main competitor, the Apple MacBook Air. If you're in the market for a slim, portable laptop with full-fledged computing power, there's a good chance you'll be deciding between these two. Let's dive in and check out the differences between 'em.

A Tale as Old as Time: Windows vs. macOS

To start with, the most obvious difference: the operating systems. For many buyers, the decision between these two laptops will already be made by way of the OS, the age-old tale of Windows versus macOS. If you know you're someone who needs macOS for workflow or personal life, or know you strongly dislike Windows (or vice versa), the hardware feature differences won't sway you. Still, you may be curious enough about Microsoft's new product to see how they stack up.

I'll keep this part short and avoid re-litigating the merits of each OS, as you know what to expect at this point. The pros of cons of Windows laptops and MacBooks have been discussed plenty over the years, and since these are two standard representatives for each, not much has changed. Unlike the differences between, say, a Surface Pro and an iPad, these are both traditional laptops running full-on computer operating systems, so no half measures here.

Certain programs only run (or run better) on one OS or the other, and you'll likely know what they are if you need to use them. If you don't, rest assured all the usual, everyday tasks—productivity stuff, web work, emailing, casual gaming—can be completed on both systems. Creative professionals are the most likely to be affected by application specifics, but these are generally not professional work machines, just capable and portable laptops for general use. The OS isn't likely to make or break your experience if you need a laptop to browse the web, watch movies, and communicate. If in doubt, go for the OS you're more familiar with.

For the undecided for whom OS is less of a concern, it's the components and features that will be the difference makers. Between Windows laptops upping their premium hardware game and more fluid app ecosystems, the temptation to flip sides is greater than ever. Ultimately, if you're reading this and are someone who is willing to decide between the two to begin with, the decision will come down to the hardware, features, and price. Let's look at those.

Features Head-to-Head: Size, Speeds, and Feeds

You'll see obvious differences between the new Surface Laptop 3 and the MacBook Air, but physically there are arguably more similarities. The chart below shows off the features, components, and dimensions of each, so you can take in the highlights at a glance. Keep in mind that these are the base models of each laptop to keep things equal, so there is room to boost the specs from here.

The Surface Laptop 3 starts at $100 less than the latest MacBook Air, so you can count that as a point in its favor off the mark. The build quality and size don't differ much for that price: The two laptops' weights are virtually identical, and the dimensions are within the same small range. The Surface Laptop 3 is actually slightly thinner, but a smidge deeper. These are two slim, premium-feeling machines that you can easily throw into a bag and take with you, even if they're not truly the lightest laptops on the market.

Both bodies are made from aluminum, though the Surface Laptop 3 at this price comes with a soft-touch fabric keyboard deck. This leads to a somewhat granular decision point with the Surface Laptop 3, based on how Microsoft structures its configuration options. The $999 version of the Surface Laptop 3 is the Platinum color, which comes with the synthetic-fabric keyboard deck rather than a full-metal build. There is no completely metal Platinum option, but those do exist in other colors.

None of those colors starts at $999, however, because they only come paired with higher-spec components than the ones in the Platinum color. For example, the lowest-cost fully metal build comes in the Sandstone and Black colors, but those colors are tied to the 256GB SSD, and thus these are $1,299 models. The bottom line is, if you want the $999 model, you have to go with the Platinum color and fabric-surround keyboard, while the full-metal builds start off a bit higher and come with more storage. This isn't a huge deal, just something to be aware of. In contrast, there are no price or SKU variations that depend on color for the MacBook Air.

As for ports, both sizes of the Surface Laptop 3 have one USB Type-C port, one USB Type-A port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The MacBook Air is USB-C only, though it has two of these ports and they support Thunderbolt 3. USB Type-C is the future, but the reality is that many people are still using traditional USB Type-A connections. So Microsoft's offering is a tad more practical.

Component Considerations

As you can see in the table, the internals either match up directly or are very similar, with some branding and generational differences. The Surface Laptop 3 is a decidedly newer product, so it has some advantages (namely the processor, which we'll get to in a moment), but the two generally go toe to toe.

The base models of each use 8GB of memory and 128GB SSDs. The former is a good fit for this type of system, as gaming and content-creation laptops are the kinds of machines that would make much better use of 16GB of RAM. The storage capacity is fine on each for light general use, but depending on what you use your laptop for (more videos and data-heavy files will take up more space), that amount can get munched up quickly. Bumping up either laptop to a 256GB SSD will push both of their price tags to $1,299, bringing them to price parity. (In other words, Microsoft, with the Surface Laptop 3's lower starting price, is charging $100 more than Apple to attain the same storage upgrade, in this case.)

Let's talk about the processors. Microsoft's newer laptop is bringing the heat with Intel's latest 10th Generation "Ice Lake" CPUs, which we've seen in very few laptops so far but tested in depth in a preview machine. The base clock speed may be lower, but make no mistake: The Surface Laptop 3's CPU should be markedly more potent than the MacBook Air's Core i5-8210Y chip.

The Core i5-1035G7 in the Surface Laptop 3 is a four-cour, eight-thread chip that can boost to 3.7GHz. Since we described the MacBook Air's performance as "humdrum" in our review, it seems easy to conclude that the Surface Laptop 3's cutting-edge silicon will come out on top. The Y-series chips are all about power savings in a trim design. How battery life will shake out, as a result, we'll know only once we test.

Additionally, the Ice Lake-based Surface Laptop 3 should boast superior graphics power. That is thanks to the beefed-up Iris Plus graphics in the higher SKUs in this chip family. We haven't had the chance to test the Core i5-1035G7 in a review system yet (our preview test was with a Core i7-1065G7, but also with Iris Plus), so we'll have to wait to say for sure.

While this comparison has focused thus far on the base models of the two machines, and on the 13-inch Surface Laptop 3, it's worth noting that Microsoft's laptop scales up a good deal higher than the MacBook Air. The Surface Laptop 3's Ice Lake Core i5 chip is likely already superior to Apple's Y-series Intel Core CPU, but you can opt instead for a 10th Generation Core i7 CPU inside the 13-inch model (starting at $1,599) or an AMD Ryzen 5 3580U-based version ($1,499). Additionally, the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 can go up to Ryzen 7 or a Core i7, though the larger model is more of a competitor for the 15-inch MacBook Pro than for the MacBook Air.

Now, About Those Screens...

The displays on the Surface Laptop 3 and the MacBook Air may look different on paper, but they have more in common than their names may suggest. Seeing the words "PixelSense" and "Retina Display" is enough to make anyone's eyes glaze over with marketing-itis, but the reality is simpler. These are branded terms for each company's high-end screens, both of which are pixel-dense and high-resolution.

Microsoft's panel uses a highly unusual 3:2 aspect ratio, which makes the 2,256-by-1,504-pixel resolution look unfamiliar, but it falls right within the same space as the 2,560-by-1,600-pixel Retina Display. Without having the two side by side, it's tough to claim one is better than the other. Both should satisfy the average shopper (as well as the more discerning), as we praised the MacBook Air's screen in our review and the Surface Laptop's PixelSense displays have always impressed.

That said, there is one huge difference: touch capability. Apple has still not budged a micron in terms of adding touch to its laptops—iOS and iPadOS are for touching, and macOS is for your mouse and trackpad. Conversely, the Surface line, from the smallest to largest device, encourages you to touch, pan, and tap the screen. Some users insist they don't need or want touch (to which I would say, try it!), but it's a defining feature for others. It's less vital on a traditional laptop than on a convertible 2-in-1 that has to be a full tablet, obviously, but it's useful nonetheless.

Hardware Says: The Edge Goes to Microsoft

If you're not tied to one OS or the other, the differences between the hardware are the difference maker. As described above, there isn't a lot separating the Surface Laptop 3 and the MacBook Air physically. Both are thin, nice-looking laptops with modern features and sharp screens. That said, the Surface Laptop 3 almost certainly will be the faster option, while packing a lower starting price to boot. That alone could be its edge for many shoppers, since the machines are otherwise so similar.

Diehards wedded to one OS or the other won't be swayed by $100 in starting price. But if you are on the fence, we'd recommend the Surface Laptop 3 based on what we see here. It's newer, with some appealing features, and it should be markedly faster. Of course, you'll want to check back for a full review of the Surface Laptop 3 once it becomes available, in which we'll test our theories and analyze any surprises, positive or negative. Who knows what could change our stance, once we get it on the bench?