Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition)
VS
30.7Performance44
26.5Display41.6
33.3Battery71
76.6Portability76.6
1 spec wins — Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)7 spec wins — Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition)
InnoReviews verdict
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition) wins this laptop face-off, 55.2 to 38.5, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+38) 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)
- Lower launch price: $699 vs $1,400
Reasons to pick the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition)
- Stronger performance score: 44 vs 31
- Stronger display score: 42 vs 27
- Stronger battery score: 71 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 13.8-inch (8th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 12.2 ″ | 13.8 ″+13% |
| Panel type | LCD (glass, convertible touchscreen, MPP 2.0/USI 2.0 stylus support) | HDR PixelSense LCD (touchscreen) |
| 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 13.8-inch (8th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 3 304 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus (10-core) or Snapdragon X2 Elite (12-core) |
| 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 | 512 GB |
| Storage type | M.2 2230 NVMe SSD | Gen 4 SSD (removable, M.2 2230) |
Battery
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 50 Wh | 54 Wh+8% |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 16 h |
| Charging | 60 W | 65 W+8% |
Design
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (100% recycled) |
Connectivity
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th 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/USB4, USB-A 3.2, 3.5mm headphone jack, Surface Connect |
| 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 (Windows Studio Effects) |
| 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 | Facial recognition (Windows Hello) |
Software
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Fedora 44 (KDE Plasma) (Windows 11 Home/Pro option available) | Windows 11 Home (Arm) |
Related comparisons
Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)vs Acer Nitro V 15VSFramework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)vs Chuwi NeoBookVSFramework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)vs Asus Vivobook 15VSFramework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)vs ASUS Vivobook S14 Flip (TP5408QA)VSMicrosoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition)vs MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+VSMicrosoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition)vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405)VSMicrosoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition)vs ASUS TUF Gaming 16 (2026)VSMicrosoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (8th Edition)vs Dell XPS 13 (9350)VS