Apple’s MacBook Air has long been a popular choice for users who want a compact, quiet laptop. Its fanless design allows it to run without producing fan noise during everyday tasks. Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop 13 comes close to offering a similar experience for Windows users.

The Surface Laptop 13 features a power-efficient, six-core Snapdragon X2 processor. Under normal workloads, the laptop operates quietly. Users may hear its cooling fan only after putting the processor under sustained heavy load for several minutes.

The Snapdragon X2 (X2P-42-100) handles everyday computing tasks effectively. However, it falls behind Apple’s M5 chip in both processor and graphics performance.

Surface Laptop and MacBook Air: Features Compared

Both laptops offer a similar range of features, although each has some advantages. The Surface Laptop 13 includes a slightly better keyboard, a standard USB-A port and a touchscreen.

The MacBook Air, meanwhile, has a less reflective display and supports the wider P3 colour gamut. However, these differences may have limited impact during routine use. Both laptops also have displays with a 60Hz refresh rate.

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The MacBook Air has a slightly slimmer design. The Surface Laptop 13 offers two practical advantages: a replaceable SSD and longer battery life.

Surface Laptop 13 Offers Longer Battery Life

Battery performance is one of the Surface Laptop 13’s key strengths. In a Wi-Fi test conducted at 150 nits of screen brightness, it lasted almost 19 hours.

The MacBook Air finished approximately three hours earlier. The gap became more noticeable at maximum brightness. The Surface Laptop 13 lasted around 10.5 hours, while the MacBook Air failed to reach seven hours.

A Competitive Windows Alternative

Overall, the Surface Laptop 13 offers a compelling alternative to the MacBook Air. It combines quiet everyday operation, useful connectivity, upgradeable storage and longer battery life.

With both laptops priced at nearly the same level, the Surface Laptop 13 provides a strong option for buyers who prefer Windows. However, users who prioritise processor and graphics performance may still favour Apple’s M5-powered MacBook Air.