Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 review: 15-inch laptop with updates

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Just a few days with a flagship laptopMicrosoft Surface Laptop 3 was enough for me to find where to start clinging. However, this does not change the fact that the Surface Laptop 3 has something that draws your attention.

Microsoft has made many wise decisions already atthe development phase of Surface Laptop 3. Someone at the company finally came to the conclusion that a Windows laptop should be practical in the first place. After all, we already have a Surface Book and Surface Pro for compactness or transformation. The line of Microsoft laptops is primarily workhorses for schoolchildren, students, working people, or doing business. This is a classic workstation.

It was decided to get rid of Alcantara finishes,when the focus is on improving the trackpad, keyboard and display. The processor of the new Surface Laptop received a lot of attention. For the first time, we do not have publicly available integrated hardware, but a specially developed AMD chip from the Ryzen family. All this to make the updated computer as practical as possible, because Laptop 3 has very serious opponents. In particular, Huawei's Matebook X Pro is a laptop that, in my opinion, is close to ideal. Should I change it to Surface?

Specifications

Design and minimalism

Laptop display

Keyboard and trackpad

Performance

Software

Battery autonomy

Should I buy?

Features Surface Laptop 3

operating system

Windows 10 Home (consumer versions)
Windows 10 Pro (Enterprise Edition)

Screen

15-inch PixelSense, touch, with a resolution of 2496 × 1664, 10-points, support for Surface Pen

CPU

Consumer versions:
AMD Ryzen 5 3580U
AMD Ryzen 7 3780U
Business Versions:
Intel Core i5-1035G7
Intel Core i7-1065G7

RAM

Intel: 8/16 GB LPDDR4X-3733
AMD: 8/16/32 GB DDR4-2400

Data storage

128/256/512 GB SSM NVMe

Graphics

Intel Iris Plus 950, AMD Radeon Vega 9, Radeon Vega 11

Connection and Networks

Intel: WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
AMD: WiFi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth 5.0

Keyboard and trackpad

Backlit keyboard, keys with a pitch of 1.3 mm.
Trackpad Precision 115 × 76.66, glass surface, support for gestures (up to five fingers)

Safety devices

Business versions: TPM 2.0 chip, enterprise-class protection using Windows Hello.
Consumer Versions: TPM Software

Battery

Up to 11.5 hours of operation without recharging, quick charge function: up to 80% in 1 hour

Camera

720p, f / 2.0, with the ability to log in with Windows Hello

Audio

Speakers, two microphones

Ports and connectors

1 × USB-C
1 × USB-A
1 × 3.5 mm audio
1 × Surface Connect

Sensors

Illumination

Power Supply

60 + 5 W

Size and weight

339.5 × 244 × 14.69 mm, 1.54 kg

Price

From $ 1199 (77 thousand p.)

Survey equipment was equipped15-inch touch screen with a resolution of 2496 × 1664 pixels (3: 2 ratio, 201 PPI, with stylus support). Responsible for the performance is the 14-nanometer Ryzen 5 Raven Ridge processor with integrated Radeon RX Vega 9 graphics and 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, developed jointly by AMD and Microsoft. The memory in my version is represented by a 256 gigabyte SSD from Hitachi. The laptop runs on Windows 10 Home.

When it comes to available ports, we have one USB-C, a USB-A port, a headphone jack, and Surface Connect. The computer also has a TPM module and a camera that is compatible with Windows Hello.

Design and minimalism

Design and beauty are a very individual matter. Nevertheless, I cannot but mention that I really like the minimalism in the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3. A uniform, simple design in which we do not even find openings for the speakers. I must admit, this type is very suitable for me, it recalls the once beloved ThinkPad series laptops.

Simplicity does not mean rashness. The Surface Laptop 3 is lightweight, slim and perfectly balanced. The device weighs a little over 1.2 kg, which is very good for its size. I did not feel this in my backpack, even when it was possible to take a short trip with him. The design seems durable - no doubt, high-quality materials and precise processes were used in its manufacture. This is a very mobile car, despite the size.

Unfortunately, the first disclaimer is also related tominimalism. It's great that the Microsoft Surface line of laptops has finally got a USB-C port. It is a pity that one, and without Thunderbolt 3. Add to this a second regular USB and that’s it. I do not consider Surface Connect because the connector requires very specific accessories.

So few ports on a 15-incha laptop is hard to forgive a well-known manufacturer. In addition, their location is not the best, and it is difficult to insert a cable in Surface Connect, even though the port is magnetic - I never coped with it without looking.

Laptop display

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 usesthe aspect ratio of the display is 3: 2. For most applications, especially Microsoft software, a display with such proportions is much better than 16: 9 or 16:10. The quality of the panel is consistently high, it is bright, with excellent contrast. The colors are natural, although they could have been better.

Competitors, including Microsoft partners, are alreadylearned to produce displays with very thin frames. Surface Laptop 3 is a bit outdated in this regard. The laptop case could be reduced, while maintaining the same display diagonal.

Great keyboard and trackpad

Type on the keyboard of a Surface Laptop 3 -real pleasure. In any case, this does not surprise anyone - Microsoft from time immemorial is famous for the highest quality keyboards. Installed in Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, it supports the highest standards. The height, elasticity and layout of the buttons are close to perfection.

The supporting platform, devoid of Alcantara, is very comfortable, it fully provides relaxation for hands. It is amazing that pressing buttons is pleasantly deep - it is unthinkable, given the thickness of the laptop.

I have a lot of good words about glasstrackpad. The panel is huge, pleasant to the touch. All gestures available in Windows 10 are supported (up to five fingers at a time). The trackpad also clicks great. I don’t know if it’s possible to do even better, because I haven’t met such decisions yet.

CPU performance

Habitual interaction with relativelya small number of tools is clearly not enough for me to tell you something interesting about the performance and culture of the laptop. Of course, Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 behaves with dignity at any time, in this regard.

The tools I use for work area browser based on Chromium (several tabs at the same time), Word and Excel, a system mail client, as well as Lightroom and Photoshop, in which I process RAW files received from a Nikon camera. In the background, messengers and other small applications usually work. I have never been able to overload the Ryzen processor in this laptop. Apparently, the above set of applications and actions is not too demanding for the Surface Laptop 3.

Even at high speeds, the fan emitsquiet sound, which means a well-designed cooling system. The problem is that it almost never stops. At the moment, when writing these words, I have Word open and three tabs in the browser without Flash or multimedia. And I hear in the background the noise of a fan. This should not be so, especially since I already noticed the noise of the Laptop 3 during sleep. Not very optimistic.

Software

Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3 runs underrunning Windows 10 Home (why not Pro ?!). It would seem that Microsoft hardware and software is the best combination possible. Well, of course, if it comes to the important issue of direct control of the firmware or drivers. Unfortunately, Windows 10 has its drawbacks.

Take for example such an elementary question,like battery maintenance. With the daily use of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 stationary, you should set a charge limit of 40-60%. So, the equipment will last much longer than with a fully charged battery. In other business laptops, we will find in the operating system the corresponding tab to enable special mode (called differently).

You know where to look for this switch inSurface laptop 3? Well, at UEFI. In a place in which no user thinks to look and should not look. Microsoft only adds the Surface app. We can check the warranty status of your computer or set up a Surface Pen.

Autonomy Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

The battery life of the Surface Laptop 3 is far from perfect. I would like to emphasize that so far I have had the opportunity to only unload the battery twice.

The first time soon after the initial setup,so that the laptop can configure many things in the background, consuming CPU time. About seven hours after a full charge, I received a message stating that it was time to connect the computer to a power source or save data in applications.

This is a good result, since it’s aboutreal work, and not about looping video playback or similar measurements, although not sensational. The quick charge system pleased: after about an hour, the battery charges from 5 to 80 percent.

Total

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 - lightweight laptop witha design that suits me very well. The keyboard and trackpad are perfect, there is a very good display with a 3: 2 aspect ratio for most applications. Performance seems adequate, although I have to check it out in more detail. Great attention to detail. Fast charging system and decent working time away from the charger. Here are the benefits of this laptop.

However, my Matebook X Pro also got a display3: 2 - in higher resolution. It works quietly (I have a version with Core i5). Despite the smaller size, there is one more USB-C port, and the device is better equipped in terms of software. In addition, it is cheaper than Microsoft hardware, and is also well made and finished.

Should I buy?

New Surface Laptop 3 May Be Successfulcomputer, but, unfortunately, it has its drawbacks. Can I recommend it to anyone? Definitely yes, for a very simple reason. There is practically no Matebook X Pro in stores, which means that the Surface Laptop is becoming the only alternative in the notebook market with a 3: 2 display. In my opinion, a huge plus. When it comes to other laptop features, the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

However, not everyone will share my enthusiasm. In general, Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3 is on par with the best hardware from Apple, HP or Lenovo. And although I have a liking for the Microsoft laptop, I’m not sure that after the next few weeks I will keep this feeling. It seems to me that the key point will be the analysis of work performed on a system developed jointly with AMD.

Updated Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 - video