Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.5" 3 Matte Black 2019

The Surface Laptop 3 is a beautiful, well-built ultraportable with a killer screen, but its ancient dual-core CPU is a real anchor. Real-world battery life often tanks at 2-3 hours, so don't expect all-day power. It's a decent buy if you find it dirt cheap and only need it for light tasks, otherwise look for something with a modern processor.

Let's be real: that dual-core 10th-gen i5 is a slug. It lands in the 1st percentile in our database, which means it's one of the slowest CPUs you can find in a laptop today. For firing up a browser, editing docs, or watching Netflix, it's fine. The Intel HD 620 graphics are surprisingly decent for integrated silicon, sitting in the 72nd percentile, but don't let that fool you. Gaming is a complete non-starter with an 8/100 score. The 256GB SSD is cramped and falls behind most modern laptops, and 8GB of RAM is the bare minimum for Windows 11. It'll multitask, but it won't love it.

Stacked against something like the ASUS Zenbook UX3407QA or the HP OmniBook X Flip, the Surface gets demolished on raw CPU power and battery life. Those newer machines run circles around this old i5. The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i offers a wild dual-screen setup that makes the Surface feel conventional. Even Apple's MacBook Pro, while pricier, will outlast this thing by years in both performance and software support. The Surface's only real win here is its refurbished price tag and that lovely 3:2 display, which is still a standout for reading and documents.

Pricing for this renewed model is all over the map, with a wild spread from $230 to over $4400. The sweet spot is obviously at the low end. If you can snag one around the $300 mark, the build quality and screen alone almost justify the purchase. Just know that you're buying a pretty chassis with a very dated engine. At the higher end of that price range, you're getting absolutely fleeced. For anything over $500, walk away and buy something with a modern chip.

The Surface Laptop 3 is a head-turner. That matte black aluminum chassis feels premium, the 3:2 touchscreen is sharp and bright, and at under three pounds it's an easy carry. For everyday office work, browsing, and streaming, this refurbished unit still has plenty of charm. But you need to know what you're getting into. The dual-core i5 inside this thing is ancient by modern standards, and the 8GB of RAM is soldered tight. This is a gorgeous machine for light work, not a powerhouse.

Anyone who needs reliable all-day battery life should skip this. Multiple owners report getting just a couple of hours on a charge, which kills the portability. Power users who multitask heavily or run demanding software should also steer clear because that 1st-percentile CPU and non-upgradeable 8GB of RAM will bottleneck you immediately.

This is a laptop for someone who values looks and feel above all else and only needs to do the basics. If your daily grind is email, web apps, and Microsoft Office, and you find a clean unit for a low price, it's a stylish little workhorse. But if you ever edit video, compile code, or keep more than a dozen browser tabs open, this machine will frustrate you fast. The battery life complaints from owners are also a serious red flag for anyone who needs to work untethered.