How long do owners say Microsoft Surface laptops typically last?

Microsoft Surface may be considered a cheaper alternative to a MacBook Pro, but it goes well beyond its Apple-killer status. The series actually offers high-end specifications at a relatively affordable price. Then again, Microsoft may not have the pedigree of some of its competitors. If you rank the best major PC brands, for most customers Lenovo, Dell, and HP consistently take the cake in terms of reputation and overall reliability. So, can Microsoft’s laptop series survive a MacBook or Lenovo machine? According to owners, how long do Microsoft Surface laptops typically last?

If you include all devices under the Surface umbrella – traditional laptops and tablets with detachable keyboards – generally speaking, you can get many years out of it. Users on Reddit report that their Surface Pro and Surface Book laptop/tablet hybrids have stayed alive for almost a decade. In fact, it’s hard to find users reporting catastrophic failures. Keep in mind that these devices may work, but they likely won’t live out their sunset years in the best possible shape. Several people report that some batteries are almost dead. In other words, be ready to plug it in at a moment’s notice.

For traditional laptops, the expected lifespan is about the same. Many users note that their computers still work, meaning you can, if you’re careful, use them for at least five years or more. Of course, there are always lemons. For example, one user said that each product in the Surface line lasted two to three years before dying. A few responses echoed to a T, and while they didn’t specify models, some mentioned battery swelling – a common problem for Surface Pro and Surface Book products.

Unsurprisingly, older Microsoft Surface devices, at least those with detachable keyboards, have a lot of battery issues. From battery swelling on some models, thanks to the heat sink on top of the battery, to rapid deterioration, almost anything under the sun can be found with some digging. However, this can also be the case with unhappy customers who are more likely to express themselves freely online. As an example, one person says their office has three Surface Pro models and only one of them experienced battery issues.

Standard shells may fare better in this department. For example, one person kept the original Surface Laptop from 2017 to 2026, while another added that their Surface Laptop 5 and Surface Pro 7 work great. Other issues with Surface devices lean toward the aesthetic side. Detachable keyboards have a habit of coming loose, and that’s not something you can stop on some of the older units. One Reddit user recommends securing it with a sheet of leather.

In 2024, Microsoft launched the Surface 7, which runs on the new Snapdragon X Elite ARM architecture. The move to ARM, likely an effort to catch up to Apple’s M2 chip, has made these machines much more efficient. They generate less heat and offer better battery life, so those old problems might finally be dead and buried. There isn’t much information on the lifespan of ARM-based Surface devices since they’re relatively new, but owners frequently complain about incompatibility with x86 apps. If that’s your main concern, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives to the Microsoft Surface 7 laptop, including the HP OmniBook 5 which offers a conventional Intel-based architecture.