5.0 out of 5 stars Good laptop

p.h. · 23 February 2025

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } Selected this laptop to replace an intel 155h metor lake Lenovo as I was becoming tired of hearing the fans continually spin up even when doing basic web browsing.This Microsoft surface is better built, much much quieter and has great battery life. This laptop is mostly used to edit photos and make YouTube shorts whilst being a general word processing/web browsing machine. There was a concern that the X Elite chip would be a hindrance with compatibility, however I have found that every application/program that I use works and is native to the ARM architecture.It is a proper zippy machine where lag and waiting for things to load are not really noticed and the efficiency of the chip out matches the previous intel chip. A couple of examples, all of which are unplugged, zoom call with my photography club for 2 hours - Intel 40% battery drain - X Elite 20%.When using affinity photo 2 there was a significant difference in battery usage where intel would lose 35-40% editing multiple photos for HDR merge, focus merging, colour grading and moving the photos from multiple folders on my external hard drive. This would be over a 1-1.5 hour session roughly processing 100 images. The X Elite again is about twice as efficient in managing a similar workload using around 20-25% of battery. It is astonishing, plus is quiet, near silent.The screen is great but a bit more reflective than I'd like. I don't use the touch screen very often so will not comment on it on than to say it works.The build is exceptional, feeling very solid in the hand.Overall really pleased with this laptop and am actually thinking that this will still be relevant, in terms of performance, for my usage for a good few years.

1.0 out of 5 stars Do not buy due to ARM chip limitations

P. · 5 May 2025

This is a lovely little laptop, but unfortunately I have to say DO NOT BUY. The ARM processor will not accept driver software for many necessary uses. I have had to do a lot of on-line research as to why I cannot load my applications on this and it has now been proved to be not possible. I have had specialists across the UK and in USA trying to help me for three months before the ARM problems have been uncovered. The very limited connectivity with just two USB ports is also a significant limitation.If one does nothing apart from e-mail and basic web browsing this is a nice bit of kit but I seriously regret spending a huge sum of money on it only to not be able to use it for the intended purpose.Looking for someone now who might like to offer me a suitable sum for it and buying a cheap renewed alternative that will run my apps while travelling.

5.0 out of 5 stars Where are my 24 disks to install Windows?? (not a tech review)

s. · 4 August 2024

Somehow I miss those good ol' days when I had to set aside a whole weekend to activate a new PC. I was never quite sure whether it would be ready for work on Monday.I have, and have had, several Macs and have been running Windows 11 on a VMware virtual machine (Intel MacBook Pro) for a while. I was proud to be an early adopter of Apple stuff (from eMac onwards) but I think they have lost their edge - from a software and PC perspective. I will, however, never (say never) give up on my iPhone or Watch. So, I made the radical decision to switch back to my roots - native Windows, this time on a Microsoft machine (I used to be a Thinkpadder). Well - I'm happy (save for having a free weekend to do some gardening). Build quality, keyboard, processing power and battery are all excellent. Great display (remember those days when you bought a new laptop and the thing you dreaded most was how many dead pixels you would find on the first boot-up?) - Oh, yes, and it's a touch screen. Works really well too - when I remember that I can use my fingers or stylus to poke at it. I installed Visio 2016 - Microsoft retained my licence keys, which is another bonus. The setup process automatically configured the HP printer settings (along with many other settings) from a copy it took of my previous Windows VM. Couldn't believe it at first - had to print a document to verify.In summary: I feel like I've just come home from a long trip away.

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best laptop I've owned

L.S. · 18 May 2025

Felt I needed a Windows laptop as well as my trusty Macbook because a lot of my work and course stuff is presented on Windows.Highly functional with as much a quality feel as my Macbook Pro and the battery life really is excellent

4.0 out of 5 stars OK for me, except for the screen's weakness.

D. · 12 December 2024

Very impressive machine, lots of computing power and the expansion facilities are very impressive. The screen broke in one corner soon after delivery and the resulting cracks right across the screen are irritating. The really irritating bit is trying to find where it can be repaired!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product

S.G. · 23 July 2025

Great laptop

Worst surface ever produced

N.w.a.s.p.I.i.d.t.a.B.i.n.c.a.a.R.t.b.o. · 16 October 2024

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } Snapdragon chipset is not designed for windows and windows apps. It is struggling even with simple tasks. Co pilot button also nothing special. Windows button was much more practical.