Surface Laptop 13: The Overpriced Minimalist PC Everyone Pretends to Love

Hello everyone. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge Microsoft’s latest act of corporate feng shui: the Surface Laptop 13. It’s being hailed as the MUJI of the PC world – which is a fine comparison if you like your tech clean, minimal, and ever so slightly smug about it. Think less RGB-laden gaming beast and more that quiet student in the corner who won’t say much but somehow has better notes than you. Except, in this case, those notes come with a price tag starting at 160,000 yen (around $1,000+). So no, Timmy, this isn’t your bargain-bin back-to-school special. This is aspirational minimalism… sold by a trillion-dollar behemoth.

Design: Minimalism Done Right… and Wrong

Credit where it’s due: the Surface Laptop 13 does look good. No unnecessary ornamentation, no flashy gamer stickers screaming “I smell like Doritos.” Just an aluminum body with that “I cost more than I need to” sheen, shifting under the light like it’s auditioning for a Scandinavian furniture catalog. It’s the kind of design that won’t embarrass you in a coffee shop or a corporate meeting – unless you spill soy latte on it, in which case, I hope you bought warranty coverage.

Oh, and they’re very proud to tell you that the entry-level configuration starts at 160,000 yen. That’s their way of saying “Look, it’s not cheap-cheap, but we’ve convinced you this is reasonable because look how smooth the corners are.” From a medical perspective, it’s like charging a premium for a stethoscope just because it comes in “ocean mist silver.” Functionally the same, but sure, the aesthetic matters to someone.

Color options? Yes, of course. Because what’s minimalism without being able to spend 30 minutes debating between “stone” and “graphite” in the store while the sales associate quietly dies inside?

Performance: Snapdragon X Plus – Fine if You Stay in the Kiddie Pool

Inside, you get Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus, which is basically Microsoft saying, “We bought last season’s chips, but trust us, they’re still good.” Gaming? Only if your definition of gaming is Solitaire in 4K. For actual productivity – web browsing, presentations, online classes, the occasional video – it’s perfectly fine. Just don’t expect to cut your next feature-length documentary on this thing unless you enjoy the subtle scent of CPU throttling.

Compared to the shiny “Elite” series, this one lags behind in raw horsepower, but hey, that’s why the price isn’t higher. Microsoft is betting you’ll choose the lightness, battery life, and AI tricks over sheer grunt. It’s like picking a cleric in an RPG: you’re not going to solo the dungeon, but you’ll keep the party alive long enough to matter.

AI Features: Recall and Click-To-Do – The Future Is Mildly Helpful

The AI talking points are front and center. “Recall” is basically your PC watching you all day and screenshotting your life for future reference, but in a way that Microsoft swears isn’t creepy. Misplace a PDF? It’s got you covered. Can’t remember that research tab from yesterday? Just scrub through your visual timeline until you find that pivotal cat meme. The “Click-To-Do” assistant promises to turn vague intentions into actions with a button press. Think of it as a slightly more competent intern who doesn’t ask about their overtime pay.

Finally, an AI feature perfect for the chronically disorganized – which, judging by some of your desktops, is most of you.

Ports and Practicality: Minimalism’s Dirty Little Secret

Connectivity is… let’s call it “disciplined.” You get two USB-C ports, one USB-A, and an audio jack. That’s it. Bringing back more ports would apparently ruin the minimalism, so if you want more, you’d better carry a dongle. That’s right – the same crowd who insists on clean tablescapes will now have your desk looking like a snake pit of adapters any time you need to plug in literally anything beyond the basics.

The flip side? Microsoft would like you to believe this is freedom – you get to choose your own accessories instead of paying for ones you’ll never use. That’s corporate spin worthy of an end-of-level boss monologue.

Who Is This For?

• Students who want something light, stylish, and capable of surviving both lectures and lattes.
• Mobile workers who need long battery life and don’t plan to juggle dozens of peripherals at once.
• Anyone who will actually use Recall to find an important doc instead of spending 45 minutes yelling at File Explorer.

If you need heavy-duty editing, engineering software, or modern AAA gaming, this is as useful as a side quest where the reward is a loaf of bread. But for day-to-day office, study, and light creative work? Absolutely viable.

Final Verdict

The Surface Laptop 13 is a tasteful, restrained device with enough brains for most everyday jobs and enough battery to last well beyond your afternoon slump. Its minimalist design is both its greatest strength and its biggest compromise, cutting ports and peak performance in favor of clean lines and subtle curves. Think of it like a mid-tier RPG weapon: solid, reliable, even a little pretty – but don’t expect it to carry you through every boss fight.

Overall impression? Good for its intended audience, but it won’t win over power users. Your enjoyment will depend entirely on whether you value looks and battery life over raw power and expandability.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is entirely my opinion.

Source: たとえるならPC界の「無印良品」、すごくちょうどいいSurface Laptopがおすすめ, https://weekly.ascii.jp/elem/000/004/292/4292500/