Designed to fit into any work environment, the Microsoft Surface is the Redmond company’s ultraportable that runs Windows 11 and has powerful hardware to meet any user need.
However, over the years different devices have been added to the market with the same philosophy: computers that work as tablets and independent keyboards that make everything one. And here you will find some of the best alternatives to the Microsoft Surface.
Alternatives to a Microsoft Surface
There are up to five alternatives that you will be able to find in this list of equipment whose common denominator is: being very easy to transport, capable of behaving like a laptop and a tablet, and having a design with good materials.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
The first of the alternatives to a Microsoft Surface is the bet of a veteran of the sector: Lenovo. And it does so with its IdeaPad Flex 5 model, a convertible laptop that can function as a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet with Windows 11 installed. And its form factor can be folded 360 degrees.
This Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 has an AMD Ryzen 7000 series processor, a 14-inch diagonal screen achieving 2K resolutions. In addition, so that it can behave as a faithful work companion, its battery life can reach 10 hours of work on a single charge. And if this were not enough, it also offers fast charging: 15 minutes of charging will be equivalent to 2 hours of autonomy.
Likewise, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 has 8 GB of RAM and its storage space reaches 512 GB in the form of an SSD – something that you will appreciate when running applications and quickly starting the operating system. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be a real alternative if you couldn’t use a digital stylus. And Lenovo’s bet can recognize freehand writing. The price of this equipment is less than 800 euros.
ASUS ROG Flow Z13
The following alternative is intended for all those users who want an ultra-portable computer that is powerful enough to play video games. That’s the motto of the ASUS ROG Flow Z13.
With a design that follows the line of the Microsoft Surface – screen as the protagonist and the possibility of adding an external keyboard –, this model can be equipped with up to a 13th generation Intel Core i9 processor, along with 16 GB RAM and the possibility of mounting a SSD disk with 1 TB of storage space.
However, what stands out most in this ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is that it mounts a dedicated graphics card – more graphics power for games – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, which if you add to the 13.4-inch screen with QHD resolution and a 165 Hz refresh rate, it is a device suitable for playing video games at a high frame rate.
Likewise, so much processing power requires a good cooling strategy and it does so thanks to the use of vapor chambers, as well as good ambient cooling. Lastly, it works under Windows 11; Enjoy Dolby Atmos technology along with two stereo speakers and noise cancellation in its three integrated microphones. It also offers fast charging, 1 kilogram of weight to transport it wherever you want without effort and many connection ports. The bad thing about all this? Its price. It can be yours for just over 2,000 euros, depending on the configuration you choose.
Xiaomi Book S
One of the most affordable versions on the list is the one offered by the renowned Xiaomi with its Xiaomi Book S, a compact convertible that also works under the Windows 11 operating system. In addition, its weight is below one kilogram since Materials such as aluminum and magnesium alloy have been used.
Perhaps the technical characteristics of this device are not the most powerful on the list, but they will allow you to work comfortably away from home or the office and with the possibility of connecting it to an external screen to gain work space.
To begin with, this Xiaomi Book S has a 12.4-inch diagonal screen and a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, which can be a good solution for consuming movies or series anywhere with good image quality.
To this we must add an ARM Snapdragon 8cx Gen2 processor, nothing that can be compared to conventional desktop or laptop platforms, but it is a solution that opts for energy efficiency, offering you autonomy that can be extended up to 13 hours on a single charge.
On the other hand, this convertible is sold with a configuration of 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space, but you can always increase it with external hard drives or cloud solutions.
The Xiaomi Book S can be added a Surface-style keyboard that costs 150 euros and a digital stylus that costs 100 euros. You must add all this to what the equipment costs, which reaches 499 euros.
CHUWI MiniBook X 2023
Without abandoning Asian brands, another of the brands that have managed to gain a foothold in the computer sector outside of China is CHUWI. And although this brand enjoys an extensive catalog of equipment under its belt, the CHUWI MiniBook X 2023 may be a good candidate for this list of alternatives to the Microsoft Surface.
Its style is very similar to what you can find in the Lenovo alternative, although with an even smaller screen size: 10.51 inches diagonal with a Full HD resolution. The ideal user of this equipment is someone who wants a convertible that fits in all places and that serves as equipment wherever they are, especially for the office section. In addition, its form factor means you can use it in several ways: it has a hinge that opens 360 degrees.
The processor that you will find in this CHUWI MiniBook Video game? Yes, but games with very little graphic consumption. Meanwhile, this chip is accompanied by 12 GB of RAM and a storage space of 512 GB.
This convertible also works with Windows 11 and, although it does not have a Spanish keyboard, with a few steps you can use it with your beloved letter Ñ. The price of this CHUWI MiniBook X 2023 is 370 euros.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Just because it does not have Windows 11 installed does not mean that this Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a bad alternative to the Microsoft Surface. And just as the iPad can function as a computer connected to an external monitor, Samsung also offers its solution called Samsung DEX, which by connecting to an external screen can function as a desktop computer.
In this case you will be looking at a tablet with Android 13 under the One UI custom layer. And using a typical processor smartphone, will also be present. In this case it is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen2, a chip used in the high-end and that can handle everything you throw at it – even demanding games.
In addition, so that you have a good screen to work outside the home or office, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has a 14.6-inch SuperAMOLED diagonal, with a resolution of 2960 x 1848 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Therefore, it can be a solution both for those who want a work computer, as well as those who want to play on the go, or even –and thanks to the integrated Wacom technology–, used as a graphics tablet for graphic designers. .
Its RAM memory can reach 16 GB and its storage space can be 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB. So depending on the configuration you choose, its price will be one or the other. But it can be yours from 1,200 euros.
