Galaxy Book 3 Vs Surface Is Samsung Finally Beating Microsoft At Their Own Game

The battle for supremacy in the premium Windows laptop space has long been dominated by Microsoft’s Surface lineup. Since the debut of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, they’ve set the standard for sleek design, solid build quality, and seamless integration with Windows. But in recent years, Samsung has been steadily closing the gap. With the release of the Galaxy Book 3 series—particularly the Galaxy Book3 Ultra—the Korean tech giant isn’t just playing catch-up; it’s challenging Microsoft on its home turf. The question now isn’t whether Samsung can compete, but whether it’s actually winning.

Design and Build: Premium Materials Meet Innovation

Both Samsung and Microsoft prioritize minimalist, professional aesthetics. The Surface Laptop 5 and Surface Pro 9 continue Microsoft’s tradition of clean lines, aluminum bodies, and understated elegance. They feel premium, no doubt—but also familiar. Samsung, meanwhile, has taken a bolder approach with the Galaxy Book3 series, especially the Book3 Ultra.

The Book3 Ultra features a titanium-aluminum hybrid chassis that’s both lightweight and exceptionally rigid. At just 1.47 kg (3.24 lbs), it rivals the weight of the Surface Laptop while offering a larger 16-inch display. Samsung’s hinge mechanism is sturdier than Microsoft’s signature friction hinge, allowing one-handed opening and more stable use on laps. The matte finish resists fingerprints better than the glossy Surface variants, which is a small but meaningful win in real-world use.

“Samsung’s design language has matured significantly. The Galaxy Book3 Ultra doesn’t just mimic the Surface—it improves upon it in key areas like durability and usability.” — David Kim, Senior Editor at TechPulse Asia

Tip: When comparing laptops, test the hinge stability and keyboard deck flex—these are often overlooked but crucial for long-term comfort.

Display and Visual Performance: Brightness Wins

This is where Samsung starts to pull ahead decisively. The Galaxy Book3 Ultra boasts a 16-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, peak brightness of 400 nits (HDR up to 500 nits), and perfect black levels thanks to pixel-level dimming. In contrast, the Surface Laptop 5 maxes out at a 13.5-inch or 15-inch 3:2 PixelSense LCD with 60Hz refresh and around 350 nits of brightness.

OLED brings deeper contrasts, richer colors, and superior HDR performance—ideal for creatives, media consumers, and anyone who values visual fidelity. While Microsoft’s 3:2 aspect ratio remains excellent for productivity (more vertical space for documents), Samsung counters with a 16:10 format that still offers strong multitasking utility while maximizing screen real estate.

Feature	Galaxy Book3 Ultra	Surface Laptop 5
Display Size	16 inches	13.5 / 15 inches
Resolution	2880 x 1800 (3K)	2256 x 1504 / 2496 x 1664
Panel Type	OLED, 120Hz	LCD, 60Hz
Brightness (Peak)	400–500 nits (HDR)	~350 nits
Aspect Ratio	16:10	3:2

Performance: Raw Power vs Balanced Efficiency

Samsung made a bold move by equipping the Galaxy Book3 Ultra with Intel’s 13th Gen Core i7-13700H processor and up to an NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU—configurations not available in any current Surface device. Even the Surface Laptop 5 sticks to integrated Iris Xe graphics, limiting its appeal for creative professionals or light gaming.

In benchmark tests, the Galaxy Book3 Ultra consistently outperforms the Surface Laptop 5 in CPU-intensive tasks like video rendering and multitasking. The RTX 4070 enables smooth 1080p gaming and AI-assisted workflows, making it a true hybrid between a business laptop and a creator machine. Meanwhile, the Surface line remains focused on efficiency, battery life, and silent operation—valuable traits, but increasingly niche as user demands grow.

That said, Microsoft’s optimization of Windows for its own hardware still delivers a snappier experience in everyday tasks. File Explorer, Teams, Edge, and Office apps open slightly faster on Surface due to firmware-level tuning. Samsung has improved its software stack with the Galaxy AI suite and better Windows integration, but there’s still a perceptible lag in some system animations.

Real-World Example: Creative Workflow Comparison

Jessica Lin, a freelance video editor based in Seattle, recently switched from a Surface Laptop 4 to the Galaxy Book3 Ultra. “I was frustrated with export times and couldn’t run DaVinci Resolve smoothly,” she says. “With the RTX 4070 and 32GB RAM on the Galaxy Book3, my 4K timeline renders in half the time. The OLED screen also helps me color-grade more accurately. It’s not just faster—it’s more capable.”

Software Integration and Ecosystem Synergy

Where Microsoft once had an insurmountable advantage in OS integration, Samsung has closed the gap with its Galaxy ecosystem. Features like Quick Share, Phone Link, and Multi Control allow seamless file transfer, notification mirroring, and even mouse-and-keyboard control of your Galaxy phone directly from the laptop.

Microsoft offers similar functionality via Your Phone app, but it’s plagued by bugs, inconsistent updates, and limited Android support. Samsung’s implementation is smoother, especially if you’re already invested in the Galaxy smartphone lineup. Answer calls, respond to texts, and drag photos from your phone to your desktop with minimal friction.

• Seamless clipboard sync across devices
• Drag-and-drop files between phone and laptop
• Use laptop camera for phone video calls (reverse use case)
• Auto-switch Bluetooth audio between devices

Tip: Enable Multi Control in Samsung’s Quick Share settings to unlock full cross-device productivity.

Battery Life and Portability: Trade-offs in Power

Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy Book3 Ultra’s high-performance components come at a cost: battery life. Under mixed usage (browsing, video, office apps), it lasts about 8–9 hours. The Surface Laptop 5, with its lower-power CPU and 60Hz display, stretches to 12–14 hours—making it a better choice for frequent travelers or all-day unplugged work.

However, Samsung includes a 65W USB-C charger that supports fast charging—reaching 50% in just 30 minutes. This mitigates the shorter runtime, especially when paired with power-saving modes. The Surface’s charger is similarly efficient but lacks the same rapid top-up capability.

Checklist: Choosing Between Galaxy Book3 and Surface

1. Need raw performance? → Galaxy Book3 Ultra (RTX GPU, 13th Gen Intel)
2. Prioritize battery life? → Surface Laptop 5
3. Use a Galaxy phone? → Strongly consider Galaxy Book3 for ecosystem synergy
4. Want the best display? → Galaxy Book3 Ultra (OLED, 120Hz)
5. Prefer silent operation? → Surface (fanless base models available)
6. Do creative work? → Galaxy Book3 for GPU acceleration and color accuracy

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Galaxy Book3 run Windows apps as smoothly as a Surface?

Yes. Both devices run full Windows 11 without compromise. However, Surface benefits from tighter firmware optimization, resulting in slightly snappier system responsiveness in basic tasks. For most users, the difference is negligible.

Is Samsung’s customer support as reliable as Microsoft’s?

Historically, Microsoft’s Surface support has been more consistent globally. Samsung has improved its enterprise and consumer service network, especially in North America and Europe, but rural or international users may still face longer repair turnaround times.

Does the Galaxy Book3 feel like a “premium” product compared to Surface?

Absolutely. The materials, fit, and finish of the Galaxy Book3 Ultra rival—and in some cases exceed—those of the Surface line. The titanium blend, OLED display, and refined keyboard make it feel like a true luxury device.

Conclusion: Samsung Isn’t Just Competing—It’s Leading in Key Areas

Samsung isn’t merely catching up to Microsoft anymore. With the Galaxy Book3 series, particularly the Ultra model, it has surpassed the Surface in critical categories: display technology, performance flexibility, and ecosystem integration for Android users. Microsoft still holds advantages in battery life, brand trust, and silent operation—but those are becoming defensive strengths rather than competitive differentiators.

The era of Microsoft’s unchallenged dominance in the premium Windows laptop market is over. Samsung has proven it can innovate beyond spec sheets, delivering a device that doesn’t just match the Surface, but redefines what a Windows laptop can be. For professionals, creatives, and tech-savvy users, the Galaxy Book3 isn’t just an alternative—it’s increasingly the preferred choice.

🚀 Ready to rethink your next laptop purchase? Compare the Galaxy Book3 Ultra and Surface Laptop side-by-side—you might be surprised which one wins for your needs.