Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch)
VS
30.7Performance39.9
26.5Display41.6
33.3Battery59.6
76.6Portability76.7
2 spec wins — Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)7 spec wins — Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch)
InnoReviews verdict
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch) wins this laptop face-off, 51.3 to 38.5, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+26) and display (+15). 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
- Lower launch price: $699 vs $999
Reasons to pick the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch)
- Stronger performance score: 40 vs 31
- Stronger display score: 42 vs 27
- Stronger battery score: 60 vs 33
- 100% higher Refresh rate: 120 Hz vs 60 Hz
- 100% higher RAM: 16 GB vs 8 GB
Display
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 12.2 ″ | 13.8 ″+13% |
| Panel type | LCD (glass, convertible touchscreen, MPP 2.0/USI 2.0 stylus support) | IPS (PixelSense Flow) |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 | 2304x1536 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz+100% |
| Peak brightness | 400 nits | 600 nits+50% |
Performance
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 3 304 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-64-100) |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics (1 Xe3 core, up to 2.3GHz) | Qualcomm Adreno |
| 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 | NVMe SSD (removable) |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | — | 2,430Bottom 21% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | — | 13,000Bottom 39% |
Battery
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 50 Wh | 54 Wh+8% |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 13 h |
| Charging | 60 W | 65 W+8% |
Design
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.3 kg+3% | 1.34 kg |
| Thickness | 18.5 mm | 17.5 mm+5% |
| 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 7 (13.8-inch) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 USB4, USB-A 3.1, Surface Connect, 3.5mm |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (Intel BE213) | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 5.4 |
| Webcam | 1080p 30fps (2MP OmniVision OV02C sensor, 80° FOV), hardware privacy switch | 1080p + IR |
| 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 | IR face (Windows Hello) |
Software
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Fedora 44 (KDE Plasma) (Windows 11 Home/Pro option available) | Windows 11 (Arm) |
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