Microsoft's Surface Laptop 8 is an exceptionally well-made computer whose most distinctive feature — a haptic trackpad that simulates the sensation of a physical click — is either a delightful innovation or an unnecessary gimmick, depending on your tolerance for machines that try to be clever.
The laptop itself is the most polished Surface product Microsoft has made. The aluminium chassis is rigid and precisely machined. The 14-inch display, now OLED across the range, is superb, with deep blacks, accurate colour and a 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling feel fluid. The keyboard is quiet and well-spaced, and the port selection — two USB-C, one USB-A, a headphone jack and Microsoft's magnetic Surface Connect port — is practical without being generous.
Performance is strong. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, now in its second generation, handles everyday tasks without apparent effort and delivers genuinely impressive battery life — approximately 16 hours in standardised testing, which is enough to make the power adapter optional for most working days. The ARM architecture still presents compatibility issues with some older Windows applications, but the list of problematic software is shrinking with each generation.
The haptic trackpad is the headline feature, and it divides opinion. It uses a motor to create the sensation of a click rather than a physical mechanism, which means the click feels the same anywhere on the surface and can be customised in software. Some users will find it magical; others will find it slightly unsettling, like a handshake from someone who maintains eye contact for slightly too long.
At a starting price of £1,299, the Surface Laptop 8 is positioned against the MacBook Air and the best of the Windows ultrabook competition. It is, by any reasonable standard, a quality PC. Whether its quality justifies its price depends on how much you value the combination of design, battery life and that clever trackpad.
Join in — free. Comments on Daily Junction are for members, so real names stay rare and bots stay out.
One field. We email you a 6-digit code — no password needed. Your comment is kept while you do it.
Under 13? You’ll need a parent’s OK first — it takes them one click.