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Microsoft

Microsoft

Good7/10

Software giant behind Windows and Office; also makes Surface PCs, Xbox and PC accessories.

Founded
1975
From
United States
HQ
Redmond, United States
Owned by
Independent
Made in
Mostly China (contract manufacturers)
Also sold as
Surface, Microsoft Surface, Xbox
www.microsoft.com

Laptop

Good7/10Premium

Surface Laptop and Surface Pro are well-built, polished Windows machines, and the Arm-based models fixed the old battery-life complaints. They're priced like MacBooks, and app compatibility on Arm is good but not perfect.

Good at

  • Premium build, sharp 3:2 touchscreens and good keyboards
  • Snapdragon Surface models have long battery life
  • Clean Windows install with little bloat
  • Recent models are easier to repair than early Surfaces

Weak at

  • Expensive, and the Pro's keyboard cover costs extra
  • Few ports; limited high-end GPU options
  • Some older apps and drivers still struggle on Arm models
Reliability
Value
Features
Service & warranty
Surface LaptopSurface Pro

Best for: Windows users who want a premium, clean, MacBook-style machine

nzauukushk

Tablet

Good7/10Premium

Surface Pro is really a 2-in-1 laptop rather than a tablet, and reviewers rate it well in that role. As a couch tablet it's inferior to an iPad or Galaxy Tab, and accessories push the price up.

Good at

  • Runs full Windows desktop apps
  • Good laptop replacement with a keyboard cover
  • Premium build and high-resolution screens
  • Snapdragon models offer long battery life

Weak at

  • Keyboard sold separately, adding significant cost
  • Windows is clumsy in pure tablet mode
  • Some older apps run less well on Arm (Snapdragon) chips
  • Repairs often handled by mail-in service
Reliability
Value
Features
Service & warranty
Surface ProSurface Pro 12-inch

Best for: people who need Windows apps in a detachable, portable form

nzauukushk

Researched September 2026 from public reviews, consumer groups and retailer listings, and summarised by hand — ratings are a judgement, not a lab score. Check current reviews and local retailers before you buy.