Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition)
VS
30.7Performance35.5
26.5Display27.3
33.3Battery69.5
76.6Portability82.8
2 spec wins — Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)5 spec wins — Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition)
InnoReviews verdict
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition) wins this laptop face-off, 49.5 to 38.5, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+36) and portability (+6). Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)
- 100% higher storage: 512 GB vs 256 GB
- 33% higher charging: 60 W vs 45 W
- Lower launch price: $699 vs $900
Reasons to pick the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition)
- Stronger performance score: 36 vs 31
- Stronger battery score: 70 vs 33
- Stronger portability score: 83 vs 77
- 100% higher RAM: 16 GB vs 8 GB
- 15% lower thickness: 15.6 mm vs 18.5 mm
Display
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 12.2 ″ | 13 ″+7% |
| Panel type | LCD (glass, convertible touchscreen, MPP 2.0/USI 2.0 stylus support) | PixelSense IPS LCD (touchscreen) |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 | 1920x1280 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 400 nits | 425 nits+6% |
Performance
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 3 304 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics (1 Xe3 core, up to 2.3GHz) | Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM type | DDR5-6400 (SO-DIMM) | LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512 GB+100% | 256 GB |
| Storage type | M.2 2230 NVMe SSD | UFS 4.0 (removable) |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | — | 2,287Bottom 7% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | — | 11,125Bottom 18% |
Battery
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 50 Wh | 50 Wh |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 16 h |
| Charging | 60 W+33% | 45 W |
Design
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.3 kg | 1.22 kg+6% |
| Thickness | 18.5 mm | 15.6 mm+15% |
| Material | Overmolded shock-absorbing TPU over plastic with an internal metal structure | Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 4x swappable Expansion Cards (2x rear Thunderbolt 4, 2x front USB 3.2 Gen 2; USB-C/USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, microSD/SD options), 3.5mm combo jack | 2x USB-C (USB 3.2, DisplayPort 1.4a), USB-A, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (Intel BE213) | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Webcam | 1080p 30fps (2MP OmniVision OV02C sensor, 80° FOV), hardware privacy switch | 1080p Full HD |
| Biometrics | None on this configuration — fingerprint reader is bundled only with the Core 5 320/Core 7 350 pre-built tiers, not Core 3 304 | Fingerprint (Windows Hello, in power button) |
Software
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Fedora 44 (KDE Plasma) (Windows 11 Home/Pro option available) | Windows 11 Home (Arm) |
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