Anker 140W Laptop Charger with USB-C Cable

Anker Prime Docking Station

Surface 13″ vs 13.8″: Does 0.8 Inches Actually Matter?

Surface 13″ vs 13.8″: Does 0.8 Inches Actually Matter?

Two Copilot+ PCs, 0.8 inches apart on paper — but very different machines underneath. Here’s how the Surface Laptop 13″ and Surface Laptop 13.8″ compare for IT teams leasing across a business, and which model belongs with which role.

Quick Summary

On paper, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13″ and the Surface Laptop 13.8″ (8th Edition) sit a fraction of an inch apart. Both are Copilot+ PCs, both run Intel Core Ultra (Series 3) silicon, and both have a 3:2 PixelSense touchscreen.

But when you look closer 0.8 inches turns into a meaningful fork in the road: different displays, different specs and different features.

For IT teams and business owners about to lease these across a team, those differences shape who gets which device.

You’ll find both on our Surface Laptop range page.

Display

Both panels are 3:2, touch-enabled, and individually colour-calibrated. That’s where the similarity ends.

Display	Surface 13″	Surface 13.8″
Resolution	1920 × 1280 (178 PPI)	2304 × 1536 (201 PPI)
Refresh rate	Up to 60 Hz	Up to 120 Hz
Brightness	500 nits	600 nits
Contrast	1000:1	1300:1
HDR / Dolby Vision IQ	No	Yes

For email, documents, and Teams, the 13″ panel is genuinely good. For anyone working with images, video, dashboards, or design tools all day, the 13.8″ is a different class of display — sharper, brighter, smoother, and HDR-accurate.

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Performance and Memory

Internals	Surface 13″	Surface 13.8″
Processor	Intel Core Ultra 5 325 (Series 3)	Intel Core Ultra 5 335, Ultra 7 366H, or Ultra X7 368H (Series 3)
Memory	16GB or 24GB	16GB, 32GB or 64GB

The 13″‘s Intel Core Ultra 5 handles typical office workloads comfortably. What it can’t do is scale as far: 24GB of RAM is the maximum. For finance teams, analysts, developers, and anyone running large datasets, the 13.8″ is the only one of the two that has the headroom — up to 64GB with options up to Intel Core Ultra 7 and X7.

Both deliver the same 50 TOPS NPU (Intel AI Boost), so all Copilot+ features (Recall, Click to Do, Studio Effects, AI-powered search) run identically on either.

Models and Configurations

Both laptops come in the same core build options — your choice of processor, 256GB / 512GB / 1TB storage, and (on the 13.8″) up to 64GB RAM — all on a removable Gen 4 SSD.

Where they differ is the security hardware you can add at order. The 13″ comes in standard configurations only. The 13.8″ can be ordered as standard, or specced with two business-grade extras:

Integrated privacy screen — a built-in filter that narrows the viewing angle so on-screen content stays unreadable to anyone beside or behind the user. Ideal for finance, legal, HR, or anyone working with sensitive data in open-plan offices, on trains, or in client sites.
Smart Card Reader — a built-in reader for physical smart-card authentication, often a requirement in government, healthcare, and other regulated or high-security environments.

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Ports and Docking

Ports	Surface 13″	Surface 13.8″
USB-C	2 × USB 3.2	2 × USB4 / Thunderbolt 4
External 4K monitor support	Up to 2	Up to 3
Surface Connect	No	Yes
Charger	45W USB-C charger	39W power supply

Both share the same USB-A 3.2 port and DisplayPort 2.1 over USB-C.

Two things to flag here. First, the 13″ charges over USB-C and ships with a 45W USB-C wall charger (in select markets and configs); for faster charging you’ll want a 60W+ USB-C PD charger.

Second, the 13″ has no Surface Connect port. If your business is already standardised on Surface Dock infrastructure, the 13″ won’t slot in — you’d be looking at USB-C docks instead.

USB4 on the 13.8″ runs at four times the bandwidth of the 13″‘s USB 3.2, and supports a third external 4K display.

Security and Biometrics

Both are Windows 11 Secured-core PCs with Microsoft Pluton TPM 2.0 and full Microsoft Defender support, so they’re equally manageable from an IT fleet perspective.

Biometrics is where they differ:

Surface 13″: Windows Hello fingerprint reader built into the power button
Surface 13.8″: Windows Hello facial recognition with Enhanced Sign-in Security

For hot-desking, frequent docking and undocking, or regulated environments where face authentication is preferred for compliance, the 13.8″ has the edge.

Explore Our Microsoft Guides

security on surface laptop 13" and 13.8"

Build and Battery

Physical	Surface 13″	Surface 13.8″
Weight	1.24 kg	1.35 kg
Battery life (video playback)	Up to 22 hours	Up to 23 hours
Battery life (active web)	Up to 14 hours	Up to 14.5 hours
Touchpad	Precision touchpad	Precision haptic touchpad

Neither model supports pen input. Teams that need pen-and-touch should look at the Surface Pro instead.

Which Should You Lease, and for Whom?

For most teams, the Surface Laptop 13″ is the smart default. It’s lighter, cheaper, and shares the things that actually matter day-to-day with its bigger sibling: the same 50 TOPS Copilot+ NPU, the same removable Gen 4 SSD, Windows 11 Pro, and Secured-core management. So the AI features, the security posture, and the IT manageability are identical.

Reserve the Surface Laptop 13.8″ for the roles that really need more: anyone scaling past 24GB of RAM, driving a triple-4K dock, leaning on the sharper 120Hz HDR display for design or data work, or where face-unlock is a compliance requirement. For those people the premium is money well spent. For everyone else, it isn’t.

Leasing through HardSoft

Leasing via HardSoft means you get to match each role to the right device rather than picking one compromise for everyone.

Plus you get full lifetime support, the option to switch devices at 12 months on Flexi, and managed offboarding when staff leave (on both devices).

Price	Surface Laptop 13″	Surface Laptop 13.8″ (8th Ed)
Weekly lease (from)	£10.05	£13.62

Not sure what the right split is for your team? Get in touch and we’ll help you spec it out.

One Cable, Full Setup: Choosing the Right Docking Station for Work

One Cable, Full Setup: Choosing the Right Docking Station for Work

This guide walks you through how to choose the right dock for your business, what the jargon actually means, and which of our docking stations fits which kind of team.

Quick Summary

If you’re equipping a team, the laptop is only half the setup. The other half is everything that turns it into a proper workstation and a good docking station does that with one cable.

Your people plug in once, and their laptop charges, their monitors wake up, and every peripheral reconnects exactly where they left it. No adapters, no tangle, no lost minutes at the start of the day.

For hybrid teams, hot-desking offices and laptop-first businesses, it’s one of the highest-impact upgrades you can roll out. We lease and manage IT for UK businesses every day, so we’ve seen what works on real desks.

Browse all our docking stations

The 6 Things to Check Before You Choose

1. Connection type: USB-C vs Thunderbolt

This is the single most important factor, because it dictates how much your dock can actually do.

USB-C docks are the everyday workhorses. They’re affordable, widely compatible and more than enough for most office roles — email, documents, video calls, spreadsheets and dual monitors.
Thunderbolt docks (currently Thunderbolt 5) sit at the top end. They offer dramatically higher bandwidth, which matters when you’re driving multiple high-resolution displays and moving large files at speed — think creative, engineering, data and video work.

A quick check: your laptop needs to support the same standard to get the full benefit. A Thunderbolt 5 dock is brilliant on a Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Pro, but plug it into a basic USB-C laptop and you won’t unlock its top-tier performance.

If you’re not sure what your devices support, that’s exactly the kind of thing our team will check for you before you order.

2. Power delivery (will it charge the laptop?)

Power Delivery, measured in watts (W), is how much charge the dock pushes back into your laptop through that single cable. Get this wrong and your laptop slowly drains even while it’s “plugged in”.

65–100W comfortably covers most ultrabooks, business laptops and MacBook Air-class machines.
140W is what you want for powerful, high-spec laptops and larger MacBook Pro models that draw more under load.

As a rule of thumb: match or exceed your laptop’s own charger wattage and you’ll be fine.

3. Displays and video outputs

Decide how many external monitors each person needs, and at what resolution, then check two things: the number of video ports and the type (HDMI, DisplayPort or Thunderbolt).

One or two screens for general office work → a dual-display dock is plenty.
Three screens for finance, trading, design, dev or operations → look for a triple-display dock.

Also confirm the dock supports the resolution you need (4K is the common business standard) across all the screens at once, not just one.

4. Ports and peripherals

Count what actually lives on the desk: keyboard, mouse, webcam, headset, phone charger, USB stick, SD card reader, external drive. Then make sure the dock has enough of the right ports — and ideally a couple to spare. A dock that runs out of ports on day one just creates a new pile of adapters, which rather defeats the point.

5. Wired networking and security

Most business-grade docks include a Gigabit Ethernet port. For office desks this is a genuine advantage: a wired connection is faster, more stable and more secure than Wi-Fi, which matters for video calls, large transfers and security-conscious environments. Every dock in our range includes Ethernet.

6. Compatibility — Mac, Windows, or both

Mixed device fleets are the norm now, so it pays to think about compatibility across your whole team. Some docks are happiest on Windows, some are tuned for high-spec Macs, and several are genuinely universal. If you run a blended Mac-and-Windows office, lean toward the universal options so any laptop can use any desk.

Not sure how to match these to your laptops? That’s the bit we’re here for. Tell us what your team uses and we’ll point you to the right dock — no guesswork required. Get in touch.

Our Recommended Docking Stations

Here are the docks we’d happily put on any business’s desks, from a tidy entry-level setup right up to a high-end creative workstation.

i-tec Nano 3x Display Dock — best value, best for hybrid working

From £0.75/week · USB-C · 100W-140W power · 2× DisplayPort + 1× HDMI · Gigabit Ethernet

Small, light and seriously capable. The Nano 3x packs multi-display support, a generous 140W of charging and daisy-chain expandability into a compact body that’s perfect for hot desks and hybrid setups.

If you want the cleanest possible one-cable experience at the lowest cost, start here.

Ideal for: hybrid workers, hot-desking offices, anyone wanting maximum value.

i-tec Dual 4K Display Dock — best all-rounder for mixed offices

From £1.75/week · USB / USB-C · 100W power · 2× DisplayPort + 1× HDMI · Gigabit Ethernet

The dependable office workhorse. It drives two crisp 4K displays, charges at 100W and plays nicely with both Windows and Mac, making it our go-to recommendation for blended teams who just want everything to work.

A comprehensive set of ports keeps the whole desk connected through one tidy cable.

Ideal for: general office teams running a mix of Mac and Windows laptops.

Alogic DX3 Triple 4K Dock — best for triple-monitor productivity

From £1.75/week · USB-C · 100W power · 3× DisplayPort · Gigabit Ethernet

When two screens aren’t enough, the DX3 steps up to three 4K displays without breaking the bank.

It’s the sweet spot for finance, operations, dev and anyone whose productivity lives across multiple windows at once — all from a single USB-C connection.

Ideal for: power users and high-productivity teams who need three screens.For Mac Users & Premium Desk Setups

Anker Prime Docking Station — best premium multi-display dock

From £2.95/week · USB-C · 140W power · 2× HDMI + 1× DisplayPort · Gigabit Ethernet

A premium 14-in-1 dock that does almost everything. Triple-display support, a strong 140W of charging and smart power management mean it comfortably handles demanding setups across Mac and high-spec Windows machines.

If you want plenty of ports and headroom in a single, polished unit, this is it.

Ideal for: premium multi-display users who want one dock to do the lot. For Touch-First & Interactive Work

CalDigit TS5 Thunderbolt 5 Dock — best for high-performance workstations

From £3.95/week · Thunderbolt 5 · 140W power · 15 ports · Gigabit Ethernet

This is where things get serious. With next-generation Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth, 15 ports and 140W charging, the TS5 is built for high-performance, multi-display environments where speed is non-negotiable. A favourite for high-spec Mac setups and demanding creative or technical work.

Ideal for: creative, engineering and data teams on Thunderbolt-equipped machines.For Multitaskers & Data-Heavy Roles

Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 SSD Dock — best for storage-heavy creative work

From £4.45/week · Thunderbolt 5 · 140W power · Thunderbolt 5 ports · Gigabit Ethernet · Built-in NVMe SSD

Our top-of-the-range pick. The Echo 13 combines blazing Thunderbolt 5 connectivity and 140W charging with integrated high-speed SSD storage — so editors, photographers and anyone working with huge files get expansion, power and lightning-fast local storage in one unit. The cleanest possible high-end workstation.

Ideal for: high-end creative workstations that move large files all day. For Hybrid Workers & Call-Heavy Roles

Compare the Range

Docking Station	Connection	Power	Displays	Best for	Lease from
i-tec Nano 3x	USB-C	140W	2× DP + HDMI	Portable / hybrid working	£0.75/wk
i-tec Dual 4K	USB / USB-C	100W	2× DP + HDMI	Blended Mac & Windows offices	£1.75/wk
Alogic DX3	USB-C	100W	3× DP	Triple-monitor productivity	£1.75/wk
Anker Prime	USB-C	140W	2× HDMI + DP	Premium multi-display users	£2.95/wk
CalDigit TS5	Thunderbolt 5	140W	15 ports	High-performance workstations	£3.95/wk
Sonnet Echo 13	Thunderbolt 5	140W	TB5 + built-in SSD	High-end creative workflows	£4.45/wk

Why Lease Your Docking Stations with HardSoft

We’ve been kitting out UK businesses for 40 years, and a docking station is rarely bought on its own — it’s part of a wider setup of laptops, monitors and accessories. Leasing it all together, on one simple monthly agreement, keeps things tidy and affordable.

Spread the cost across flexible lease terms instead of a big upfront outlay.
Lease everything together — laptops, monitors, docks and accessories on one agreement.
Lifetime support included, with a loan device should yours ever fail.
Expert, impartial advice to match the right kit to your team — that’s what we’re known for.
98% of businesses approved, with the whole process wrapped up in hours, not weeks.
Loyalty rewards and carbon-neutral IT as standard.

One cable on the desk. One simple agreement for the business. That’s the setup we’d recommend.

Explore all docking stations → or talk to our team about your setup →

Docking Stations

Docking Stations That Power Your Workflow

Discover docking stations designed to expand your device’s connectivity and transform your workspace. From multi‑display setups to fast charging and high‑speed ports, our range helps you streamline cables, boost productivity and create a clean, efficient workstation.

Find the right docking station to connect more, work smarter, and simplify your setup.

View our Docks Monitor View all our Accessories

Key Features at a Glance

Docking Station	Connection Type	Power Delivery	Video Ports	Ethernet	Best for	Recommended with
i-tec Dual 4K Dock	USB / USB-C	100W	2 × DP, 1 x HDMI	✓	Blended office teams	Mac & Windows	See product
i-tec Nano 3x Dock	USB-C	140W	2 × DP, 1 x HDMI	✓	Portable, hybrid working	Some Mac & Windows	See product
Alogic DX3 Triple Dock	USB-C	100W	3 × DP	✓	Triple-monitor productivity	Some Mac & Windows	See product
Anker Prime Dock	USB-C	140W	2 × HDMI, 1 x DP	✓	Premium, multi-display users	Mac & High-Spec Windows	See product
Caldigit TS5 Dock	Thunderbolt 5	140W	3 x TB 5	✓	High-performance, multi-display environments	High-Spec Mac	See product
Sonnet Echo 13 Dock	Thunderbolt 5	140W	3 x TB 5	✓	High-end workstations	High-Spec Mac	See product