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Surface Laptop 3 Review: Pros, Flaws & User Verdicts

The Surface Laptop 3, despite being released nearly 6 years ago, remains a popular choice for students and casual users. However, many users raise concerns about the Surface laptop 3 battery life, limited ports and poor thermal management. So, is the Surface 3 laptop still a worthwhile choice for work and everyday usage? In this complete Surface Laptop 3 review, I will cover all its strengths, weaknesses, and introduce you to WPS Office for a more efficient and productive workflow.

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Surface Laptop 3 Review

Performance in Daily Use

In my everyday usage, the Surface Laptop 3 performed reasonably well for most light to moderate tasks. Powered by Intel 10th Gen CPUs or AMD Ryzen 5/7, it can handle all my web browsing, document editing, video conferencing, and media playback without any slowdowns. However, when I began pushing the system’s limits, the performance really started to slow down. Opening several browser tabs alongside other apps like WPS Word and Zoom can cause stutters or even thermal throttling. In this Surface Laptop 3 performance comparison, I’ll highlight some key highlights you should keep in mind before buying it for yourself.

Surface Laptop 3 Front

Benchmarks & Thermals

Cinebench R20 (Multi-Core): I ran benchmarks on both models and I found that the Intel i5-1035G7 model had a benchmark score of around 1,400–1,500, while the Ryzen 5 3580U reached 1,600–1,700, showing better multi-threaded performance. However, the AMD chip is prone to throttling under heavy load, reducing clock speeds to manage heat.
Thermals: The Surface Laptop 3 overheating is a common complaint of many users. During my heavy work sessions (15+ Chrome tabs + Zoom), the chassis near the hinge reached a temperature of around 45–50°C, and the fan got noticeably noisy which was very distracting.

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Plugged-In vs. Battery Performance

Plugged In: When I was testing the Intel and AMD models, both maintained relatively higher clock speeds, delivering smoother performance for my multitasking needs.
On Battery: After plugging out the charger, the performance dropped significantly; apps were launching slower, and frame rates dropped in light creative tasks.

Key Points

Quick Startup: Boot times and app launches still feel fast and responsive for me, particularly on Intel models with SSDs, making daily use feel seamless and efficient.
Productivity Performance: Easily handles all my essential productivity tasks like word processing in WPS Office, web browsing, and PDF editing with minimal lag or delay.
AMD vs Intel: Even though the AMD variant I got tends to get warm and throttle under pressure, I found the Intel version to deliver more reliable performance for daily multitasking.
Light Creative Work: It’s capable of running basic creative apps like Canva or light photo editing in Photoshop, but it could not handle any of my graphically intensive work.

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Keyboard, Display & Battery Life

While the raw performance and thermal management are essential, the real day-to-day experience of any laptop is mainly determined by typing comfort, screen quality, and battery endurance. When I was working on WPS Office, the Surface Laptop 3 provided me with a premium typing experience and a sharp display that made it enjoyable to work on.

Surface Laptop 3 Display

However, after a few hours of multitasking the Surface Laptop 3 battery life started to drain quickly which was disappointing. I didn’t encounter any Surface Laptop 3 keyboard issues in my usage and the touchscreen is seamless for scrolling and navigating through the interface.

Key Points

Typing Experience: I found the keyboard to be comfortable and quiet with decent key travel, and the soft palm rest adds noticeable comfort during my long work hours.
Visual Clarity: The screen is bright and displays accurate colors which is excellent for all my writing, reading, and presenting needs. However, it can get a bit reflective and harder to see in direct sunlight or outdoor settings.
Battery Performance: During my testing, the Intel model managed to survive around 7 to 8 hours with light usage, while the AMD variant struggled to last even 5 to 6 hours.
Thermal Behavior: Under heavy load, I found the device to throttle performance to manage heat which isn’t ideal for professionals dealing with resource-intensive work.
Efficiency Features: The built-in power-saving modes helped extend my battery life during basic tasks, but they aren’t enough to make a difference during heavy multitasking.

Value & Longevity in 2025

When buying an older laptop model in 2025, the real question is if it still offers good value for its price and if it can hold up over time. In my personal experience, even though the Surface Laptop 3 is nearly six years old, it still felt solid and reliable for daily use. A friend of mine recently bought a Surface Laptop 3 for his document editing and day-to-day tasks, mostly because of the affordable price tag. Even though he was aware of its limitations, he still found it surprisingly reliable. For the price he paid, it handled all his work surprisingly well, without any major hiccups.

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Surface 3 Laptop

Key Points:

Price Comparison: When browsing the market for one myself, I found that the refurbished and used units typically range between $400–$700, offering good value compared to many new entry-level laptops.
Build Quality: The premium aluminum chassis still feels sturdy and elegant for its age, though I found the limited port selection (1 USB-A, 1 USB-C) to be very restrictive.
Futureproofing: Absence of Thunderbolt support and non-upgradable components may reduce its longevity and futureproofing capabilities.
Software Support: Fully compatible with Windows 11 and still receiving regular updates, making it a viable choice for modern productivity needs.

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Working Comfortably with WPS Office

When I’m working with my Surface Laptop 3, having lightweight and reliable software is crucial to staying productive and efficient. Tools like WPS Office fit seamlessly into my setup, running smoothly even during multitasking or long typing sessions. When I’m editing my documents, organizing spreadsheets, or drafting presentations, WPS Office harnesses the full potential of the Surface’s sharp display and responsive keyboard, helping me stay focused and efficient without draining my system’s resources.

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Highlights

Windows 10/11 Usability: WPS Office runs flawlessly on the latest operating systems, ensuring smooth performance on my Surface Laptop 3.
Touch & Stylus Friendly: The 13.5” PixelSense touchscreen works great paired with WPS Presentation and PDF tools, making presentations and slide edits easy.
WPS Cloud Sync: Allows saving and easy access to your work across all devices, making it ideal for switching when battery life runs low.
Microsoft Office Compatibility: Runs all Microsoft Office formats like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with ease.
Lightweight for Portability: Paired with WPS Office’s low system requirements, the Surface Laptop 3 is optimized for working on the go.

When I was working on WPS Office on my Surface Laptop 3, I found the typing experience to be really enjoyable. The soft palm rest and responsive keys made long work sessions feel a lot less tiring. The layout of WPS felt very fluid and well-optimized for the touchscreen, especially when scrolling through documents or switching tabs with just a tap. I even rely on WPS Cloud to keep all my files backed up, but when I’m travelling with no access to Wi-Fi, the offline mode saves my day. If you’re looking for a tool to seamlessly integrate into your Surface Laptop 3 and boost your productivity, WPS Office may be the right choice for you.

Comparison Table Summary

Based on the time I spent working on the Surface Laptop 3, I’d say it holds up pretty well in 2025 if you’re using it for light work, studying, or daily usage. It’s not designed for heavy multitasking or resource-intensive creative tasks, but for anyone who’s on a budget, it has a good balance between performance, comfort, and design which I appreciate. Paired with modern AI-driven tools like WPS Office, it makes a smooth, and seamless workflow that’s surprisingly reliable for a 6 year old device.

Aspect	Surface Laptop 3	Notes
Performance	Good for Office Work and Light Media Playback	AMD Version Struggles under Heavy Load
Keyboard & Display	Excellent Typing Experience, Bright and Sharp Display	Battery Varies Depending on Chip Model
Battery Life	~6-8 Hours	AMD Variant Drains Faster
Price (2025)	~$450-700 Refurbished	Better Value than New Models
WPS Compatibility	Fully Compatible	Works Well with Cloud Sync + Offline Mode

FAQs

Q1: Is the Surface Laptop 3 still fast enough for WPS Office in 2025?

Yes, it easily handles document editing, spreadsheet work, and PDF viewing with minimal delay.

Q2: Which model is better, AMD or Intel?

Intel versions offer better performance consistency and longer battery life overall.

Q3: Can I use it for basic creative tasks like presentations?

Yes, the screen is bright and color-accurate—good enough for WPS Presentation or light Canva use.

Q4: Does the Surface Laptop 3 run Windows 11 well?

Yes, it’s officially supported and runs smoothly with recent updates.

Summary

The Surface Laptop 3 offers just the right balance of design and functionality, making it an ideal choice for many. I found the intel models to be quite snappy, while the responsive keyboard and sharp display further enhanced my experience. In this Surface Laptop 3 review, I’ve shared my personal experience, from its strongest features, to all the areas it struggles in, so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your needs.

To get the most of my Surface Laptop 3, I pair it with efficient and lightweight tools like WPS Office. When I’m working offline on long documents or syncing files across the Cloud, it fits effortlessly into my workflow. With full compatibility even with aging devices, WPS Office has become my go-to suite for getting my work done on Windows 10/11 devices.