While the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 may not sound as exciting as the updated Microsoft Surface Pro 9 or the long-awaited upgrade to the Surface Studio 2+ desktop, the new Surface Laptop is worth digging into a bit more for two reasons.
First, while dozens of laptops on the market are built around Microsoft Windows, this family is the only set of machines made 100% by Microsoft. The Surface Laptop line is essentially Microsoft’s platonic ideal of a laptop, offering the functions and features that Microsoft believes to be most important, in a design crafted to bring out the best in the operating system.
It’s similar, in many ways, to the Apple MacBook Air, which has become the flagship Apple laptop (and a benchmark for high-end Windows laptops), showcasing Apple’s latest M2 processor and delivering superb capabilities and performance.
But which one is better? Comparing the fresh Surface Laptop 5 against the 2022 M2 version of the Apple MacBook Air on several key categories, we’ll help you decide not only which might be better, but which is the right pick for you.
Surface Laptop 5 vs. MacBook Air: Pricing and Availability
The Surface Laptop 5 comes in two different sizes, the 13.5-inch model considered here, and a larger 15-inch version with a bigger screen. Both have touch screens, and both use a standard laptop design (as opposed to a 2-in-1 convertible one).
The 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 5 starts at $999, with an Intel Core i5-1235U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. The laptop uses integrated Iris Xe Graphics, with no option for a discrete GPU.
Higher configurations are offered, with the choice of an Intel Core i7-1255U processor, up to 32GB of memory, and as much as 1TB of storage. Design options include both bare-metal and fabric-covered lid designs, and the anodized aluminum chassis is available in Platinum, Sage, Matte Black, and Sandstone color options.
Several configurations are available for both the 13.5- and- 15-inch options, with the highest-end models going for $1,699 (Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) and $2,399 (Core i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD), respectively.
The 2022 Apple MacBook Air is Apple’s own relatively affordable, general-use laptop. It is often highlighted for its portability, but it’s also significantly less expensive than the larger and more powerful MacBook Pro options Apple offers, and is the best mix of capabilities and features for general users that may not need the professional-grade capabilities of the Pro models
The MacBook Air with M2 processor uses the latest version of Apple Silicon to power its slim laptop. The base model sells for $1,199, and pairs the M2 processor with a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, an eight-core GPU, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of SSD storage, It is available in Silver, Starlight, Space Gray, and Midnight color options
Additional configurations let you bump up the GPU from the basic eight cores to a more powerful 10-core GPU for $1,499, along with options for more RAM (up to 24GB) and storage (up to 2TB SSD), with a top configuration price of $2,499.
Since you can get a hold of a Surface Laptop 5 with the same amount of starting memory and storage for $200 less, Microsoft’s laptop does earn a minor win here, but let’s see how the MacBook Air works to earn those extra 200 bucks.
ADVANTAGE: MicrosoftADVANTAGE: Microsoft
Surface Laptop 5 vs. MacBook Air: Components
When it comes to hardware and features, a lot comes down to the core differences between Intel and Mac processors. With your choice of 12th Gen Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, the Surface Laptop 5 has plenty of power for most uses, from homework projects to more-demanding number-crunching for home and work.
Photo editing is better handled by the more powerful Core i7 chip, but both CPU options are great for general use, and the two-tiered architecture of Intel’s latest chips translates into both great performance and excellent energy efficiency.
The MacBook Air’s M2 chip is similarly quite capable for all sorts of uses, from basic web browsing to multitasking and even media editing. Serious photo and video editors may want to consider the slightly more powerful M1 Pro and M1 Max options found in the MacBook Pro laptops, but for most users, the MacBook Air’s M2 processor will do it all, and do it well.
A good rule of thumb here for the different CPU options is to consider the M2 chip a middle option between the Core i5 and Core i7 options offered by the Surface Laptop 5. But the bigger differences will be seen in areas like software and feature support. That’s less a question of technical capability, and more a matter of preference for one ecosystem or the other.
Other features are more clear-cut. Storage, for example, looks similar at first glance, with both systems offering configuration options of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities. While Apple goes higher in peak storage size (up to 2TB), Microsoft does one better with removable and replaceable drives, giving users the option of swapping in a bigger 2TB drive themselves, and providing the opportunity for repairs and upgrades after purchase.
Apple’s storage modules are all soldered straight to the circuit board and are generally inaccessible to users after buying. If upgrades or long-term service are a concern, the Surface Laptop 5 is the better option.
ADVANTAGE: MicrosoftADVANTAGE: Microsoft
Surface Laptop 5 vs. MacBook Air: Connectivity
The Surface Laptop 5 and the MacBook Air both have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but the specifics hint at small differences in capability, despite the nearly identical specs.
The Surface Laptop 5 is outfitted with Wi-Fi 6E, which outperforms the Air’s Wi-Fi 6 when using the necessary Wi-Fi 6E router. The newer version of the 802.11ax standard offers lower latency and can handle more devices simultaneously.
Similarly, the differences between the Surface’s Bluetooth 5.1 and the Air’s Bluetooth 5.0 are small, but it comes down to the 5.1 version using additional internal antennas and saved device information to provide better device connectivity and faster pairing.
These are very subtle differences. Unless you have a current Wi-Fi 6E router or will be frequently using wireless peripherals on Bluetooth, you might not notice a difference at all. Still, however marginally, the Surface Laptop 5 has passed the MacBook Air here.
ADVANTAGE: MicrosoftADVANTAGE: Microsoft
Surface Laptop 5 vs. MacBook Air: Ports
More relevant in the connectivity discussion are physical ports. The Surface Laptop 5 is equipped with a single USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 connector and a USB 3.1 Type-A connection—the sort used by flash drives and older USB peripherals.
The Apple MacBook Air, on the other hand, has two Thunderbolt 4 ports with the same USB-C connectors, but if you want to connect another type of device, you’ll need to use a docking station or adapter.
Both devices use proprietary power cords and ports, leaving room for full use of their other ports. However, the MacBook Air’s two Thunderbolt 4 ports simply outclass the Surface Laptop 5’s one.
ADVANTAGE: TieADVANTAGE: Tie
Surface Laptop 5 vs. MacBook Air: Display
The biggest difference, aside from the software, may be the display within these two laptops. And, considering it’s what you’re looking at for hours on end, it matters quite a bit.
The Surface Laptop 5 boasts a 13.5-inch PixelSense display, an IPS panel with 2,256-by-1,504-pixel resolution and touch-screen capability (where the “PixelSense” part comes in).
The MacBook Air is similarly sized, with a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display that offers 2,560-by-1,664-pixel resolution for a slightly higher pixel density—224 pixels per inch (ppi), compared to the Surface Laptop 5’s 201ppi.
Both offer excellent brightness and support for HDR content, but only the Surface Laptop 5 includes touch-screen functionality. Apple’s Mac lineup is famously missing touch-screen controls, making the Microsoft Surface a better choice if you want more hands-on interaction.
Then again, keep in mind that Apple’s display is both slightly larger and sharper, so we’d call this one a draw.
ADVANTAGE: TieADVANTAGE: Tie
Surface Laptop 5 vs. MacBook Air: Camera
The one spec that disappointed on the Surface Laptop 5 is the webcam, which is a 720p camera—pedestrian by today’s standards for high-end laptops. Sure, it offers infrared (IR) face authentication for Windows Hello, but it’s hard to ignore that the lower resolution will be noticeable on every video chat.
Here the MacBook Air wins, thanks to its sharper 1080p FaceTime HD camera. It may not have IR facial recognition, opting for Apple ID via fingerprint reader, but you’ll look better every time you’re on camera.
ADVANTAGE: AppleADVANTAGE: Apple
Surface Laptop 5 vs. MacBook Air: Battery Life
Both Apple and Microsoft estimate that their laptop batteries will last for 18 hours of regular use. There will likely be some difference in real-world performance once we get a chance to test the Surface Laptop 5.
The Apple MacBook Air only lasted 12:55 in our testing—but for most people, anything offering 10-plus hours is effectively getting the same all-day battery life. We’ll wait to judge this one any more seriously until we’ve fully tested the Surface Laptop 5’s battery.
ADVANTAGE: TieADVANTAGE: Tie
Surface Laptop 5 vs. MacBook Air: Software
In the grand scheme of things, the biggest differences between the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 and the M2-powered MacBook Air aren’t so much a question of hardware, but of software. While the Apple-vs.-Windows discussion has been hashed out for decades—in this very publication, no less—the bottom line is that both options are at their best today.
Windows 11 is an Editors’ Choice winner due to its fresh take on the familiar Windows environment, along with added Android integration. But Apple’s macOS Monterey is actually higher rated, thanks largely to the highly polished features, free included productivity apps, and deep integration with iPad and iPhone.
Ultimately, it’s more a question of which ecosystem you prefer. Windows has always offered the broadest software support, especially for business users and indie developers, but has only recently gained any kind of compatibility with mobile devices. Apple, on the other hand, is built from the ground up to play nicely with all Apple products, but sometimes comes up short in the software-compatibility department.
ADVANTAGE: TieADVANTAGE: Tie
Early Verdict: A Draw, But Microsoft Is Closing the Gap
Both the Surface Laptop 5 and the Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022) offer compelling choices for relatively affordable high-end laptops that will be ideal options for the majority of users. But looking at the specs and features of each, it looks like the MacBook Air has an edge over the Windows machine so far, justifying its relative price hike.
Apple’s premium hardware includes more of the finer touches, like a sharper camera, a larger and more pixel-dense display, and all-day battery life—all with Apple’s excellent software ecosystem. The latest moves by Microsoft are dramatically narrowing that gap, but it doesn’t look like the Surface Laptop 5 will quite close the distance this time around.
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