Surface Laptop 15 Gen 8 Review: Intel Beats Snapdragon for Graphics, x86 Apps and Thunderbolt 4

What was tested​

Notebookcheck's review unit was a Surface Laptop 15 Gen 8 with:

• CPU: Core Ultra X7 368H, with 4 P-cores and 12 E-cores.
• GPU: Intel Arc B390, a 12-Xe3 integrated GPU.
• Memory and storage: 16 GB of onboard LPDDR5x-8533 and a 256 GB SK hynix SSD.
• Display: a 15-inch 3:2 IPS touchscreen at 3270 × 2180 (262 PPI) and 120 Hz.
• Battery and weight: 66 Wh and about 1.65 kg.
• Software and connectivity: Windows 11 Home, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
• Price: the review lists €2,400 for this configuration.

The unit came from the retailer notebooksbilliger.de, and Notebookcheck says the lender had no influence on the review. This is one configuration. Other retail configurations may differ in memory, storage and price, and Notebookcheck notes that suppliers for panels, drives and memory can vary.

Why Intel wins in this review​

The reviewer gives three reasons:

1. Graphics. The Arc B390 is faster than the Adreno graphics in the Snapdragon models.
2. Compatibility. Apps and games run better on x86.
3. Ports. The Intel model has two Thunderbolt 4 ports. The Snapdragon model has USB4 only.

The Intel model can also be configured with a SmartCard reader, which may matter to business buyers.

In the Final Fantasy XV benchmark at 1080p High, Notebookcheck measured 50 fps. That compares with 34.5 fps for the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme Asus Zenbook A16 and 36.4 fps for the older Surface Laptop 7 15 with Intel Arc 140V. These are different laptops, so the gap shows the platform trend rather than a controlled chip-to-chip test.

Where Snapdragon still leads​

The review concedes the CPU point. Notebookcheck says 65/35 W is not great for a 15-inch laptop and that multi-core performance could be a bit better. It also says the Snapdragon X2 Plus and X2 Elite configurations should offer slightly more multi-core performance.

The numbers are mixed:

• In Notebookcheck's aggregate CPU rating, the Intel Surface scores 65.6 points, against 63.8 for the Snapdragon Surface Laptop 8 13.8 with X2 Plus. That is a narrow Intel lead against a lower-tier Snapdragon part.
• In Cinebench 2024 multi-core, the Intel Surface scored 960 points. The 13.8-inch Snapdragon X2 Plus Surface scored 854, and the Asus Zenbook A16 with the X2 Elite Extreme scored 1,761.
• In Geekbench 6.7 multi-core, the Intel Surface scored 16,943 and the Zenbook A16 scored 23,204.

So the CPU comparison depends on which Snapdragon chip you pick. The top-end Snapdragon parts are well ahead of this Intel configuration in multi-core work.

The display: an IPS panel for people who dislike OLED​

The panel is a glossy 120 Hz IPS touchscreen. Notebookcheck measured:

• 100% sRGB, 97.9% Display P3 and 86.3% AdobeRGB.
• Average brightness of 520 nits, with a peak of 537 nits.
• Contrast of 1852:1.
• No PWM flicker detected.

The reviewer says the colours are accurate out of the box, with sRGB and P3 profiles. That is useful for anyone who finds OLED dimming flicker uncomfortable. It is a lab measurement of one panel, not a guarantee for every user.

The drawbacks are real:

• The screen is very glossy, which makes bright rooms and outdoor use difficult.
• Black levels cannot match OLED.
• Ghosting is visible. The 50%-to-80% grey response time is 45.7 ms, which Notebookcheck calls unsatisfactory for gamers.
• Maximum brightness is lower than on last year's model.

Battery, cooling and power​

Battery results in the review are strong. Notebookcheck measured 15 hours 46 minutes in its Wi-Fi web test and 8 hours 35 minutes at maximum brightness. The 15-hour figure was measured at 150 nits. Microsoft's manufacturer claims use a different method, so the two sets of numbers aren't directly comparable.

Cooling and power are the weak points:

• The single-fan cooler holds back sustained performance. The reviewer says it was fine for the old Lunar Lake chip but can't exploit Panther Lake's full potential.
• The included 65 W adapter is insufficient under load for more than a few minutes before performance drops.
• Notebookcheck tried a 140 W adapter, but the laptop did not draw more power.
• Other cons listed are a noticeably warm keyboard under load, coil whine, no WWAN module and only a 1-year warranty.

Treat the strong short-burst benchmark numbers with that in mind. In Notebookcheck's Cinebench R15 multi-loop test, the Surface averaged 2,462 points. The ThinkPad X9-15p averaged 2,913 and the Snapdragon Zenbook A16 averaged 3,638.

Build, ports and upgrades​

The aluminium chassis is unchanged from the previous model, and Notebookcheck praises its stability, the keyboard, the haptic touchpad and the speakers. The internals are easy to reach and the M.2-2242 SSD is replaceable. The reviewer notes plenty of unused internal space and wants a standard M.2-2280 slot. RAM can't be upgraded, and the reviewer calls Microsoft's RAM and storage upgrade prices "astronomical". That is an opinion, not a measured price comparison.

Port complaints include:

• The Surface Connect port is large, and the reviewer would rather have another USB-C port.
• The reviewer would also prefer a full-size SD reader to the microSD Express reader.

The microSD Express reader itself performed very well, reaching up to 834 MB/s.

Pricing: the catch​

The recommendation comes with a buying problem. The Intel models are business SKUs. Microsoft's business lineup page lists the Intel 13.8- and 15-inch Surface Laptops with Core Ultra Series 3 processors and Thunderbolt 4 from $2,299.99. The Snapdragon 13.8- and 15-inch business models start at $1,799.99. Microsoft's page also lists battery claims of up to 23 hours for Intel and up to 20 hours for Snapdragon, and warns that real battery life varies with configuration and use.

Notebookcheck says you can order the 15-inch Surface Laptop 8 for Business with the Core Ultra X CPU from Microsoft starting at $2,749.99. It also says the business models usually lack competitive pricing, though private buyers can purchase them. Listing prices change often, so check them before buying.

Other reviewers have also pushed back on price. Windows Central praised the Intel Surface Laptop for Business 8's privacy screen and 262 PPI 15-inch panel but flagged a high price and roughly eight-hour real-world battery life. PC World called the laptop "extraordinarily overpriced". Note that those reviews cover the 13.8-inch model.

Who should consider it​

• Good fit: buyers who want strong integrated graphics, x86 app and game compatibility, Thunderbolt 4 peripherals or an IPS panel with no detected PWM.
• Look elsewhere: buyers who need the most multi-core CPU throughput, sustained heavy loads, a fast-response screen or cheap storage and RAM upgrades. Compare exact Snapdragon SKUs and workloads before deciding.

Notebookcheck's verdict is an editorial judgment, and its comparisons mix different devices. It is a useful data point, but the "best laptop" headline claim holds mainly for buyers who put graphics and compatibility first.