Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (8th Edition)
VS
30.7Performance38.7
26.5Display29.8
33.3Battery94.7
76.6Portability80.1
2 spec wins — Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)5 spec wins — Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (8th Edition)
InnoReviews verdict
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (8th Edition) wins this laptop face-off, 56.2 to 38.5, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+61) and performance (+8). 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 $1,200
Reasons to pick the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (8th Edition)
- Stronger performance score: 39 vs 31
- Stronger display score: 30 vs 27
- Stronger battery score: 95 vs 33
- Stronger portability score: 80 vs 77
- 100% higher RAM: 16 GB vs 8 GB
Display
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (8th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 12.2 ″ | 13 ″+7% |
| Panel type | LCD (glass, convertible touchscreen, MPP 2.0/USI 2.0 stylus support) | PixelSense LCD (touchscreen) |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 | 1920x1280 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 400 nits | 500 nits+25% |
Performance
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (8th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 3 304 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus (6-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+100% | 256 GB |
| Storage type | M.2 2230 NVMe SSD | UFS (removable) |
Battery
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (8th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 50 Wh | — |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 18 h |
| Charging | 60 W+33% | 45 W |
Design
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (8th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.3 kg | 1.23 kg+6% |
| 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 13-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/USB 3.2, USB-A 3.2, 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) |
Software
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (8th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Fedora 44 (KDE Plasma) (Windows 11 Home/Pro option available) | Windows 11 Home (Arm) |
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