This week was another reminder that Microsoft can move fast when it wants to. Xbox is undoing years of bad decisions. Windows 11 is getting fixes that people have begged for since before the OS launched.
And then there’s Surface... still waiting for its turn. Still stocking shelves and digital storefronts with hardware that's years old.
As a Surface fan, I can't help but look at Xbox and Windows 11 with envy.
Biggest Windows 11 News
Xbox has spent the past few months doing what fans want: cutting the price of Game Pass, ditching the awful “This is an Xbox” campaign, undoing the Microsoft Gaming rebrand, and green‑lighting Project Helix. Everything from Achievements to the capitalization of Xbox is being reviewed.
Windows 11 is being revitalized through the Windows K2 initiative. Microsoft has major plans to reduce the pain points of Windows 11, listen to user feedback, and make an operating system worth being proud of.
I could argue that Xbox and Windows 11 are only seeing these major changes because of years of negative feedback, but hey, at least things are changing. Surface, on the other hand, feels abandoned.
Surface will never outrank Windows, Xbox, or Azure, but it should be the hardware that shows what Microsoft software can look like when it’s done right.
Instead, we’re left with a lineup that feels years old, because it is.
If Windows 11 gets fully revitalized, what device would you recommend to show it off? I doubt it's a Surface.
Shopping with Sean
If Microsoft won’t give you a modern Surface, someone else will. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 11) is the kind of thin, light, all‑day machine Surface should be making.
The Yoga Slim 7x is thin but doesn't creak when twisted. It's lightweight but delivers enough power for most workloads when plugged in or off the plug. The laptop is so good that our Cale Hunt doesn't want to return it after publishing his review.
If you’re shopping today, skip the Surface Laptop. The Yoga Slim 7x is the better device, the better value, and the better example of what Windows hardware can be in 2026.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite SoC pushes the Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 11) into "easy recommendation" territory for those who don't plan to game or handle particularly heavy specialized workloads. Long battery life and stellar performance are standout perks.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
