3KM.ca was not involved in the creation of this content.
With the new Surface Laptop 4, Microsoft wants to provide the best Windows Ultrabook again. Externally, however, hardly anything has changed compared to the predecessor – but all the more on the inside. For the first time, Intel and AMD versions come with comparably powerful processors. We took a close look at the slim laptops and tell you which device is suitable for whom.
Pros:
- Outstanding workmanship and materials
- Great form factor
- Light and portable
- Input devices at the highest level
- Long battery life
- Very good performance
- Good GPU performance (Intel)
- Extremely quiet in normal operation
Cons:
- GPU driver updates only come from Microsoft (AMD)
- The variety of connections could be greater
- The color range of the display is not sufficient for creative professionals
The Surface devices from Microsoft are supposed to be figureheads for Windows – and accordingly they have appealed to us since their introduction with their outstanding feel and exciting form factor. In a 3: 2 ratio, they attack Apple’s MacBook’s directly and are aimed at creative users and people who want the best in a portable form. Over the years, Microsoft has also built a very good ecosystem for its Surface devices.
Thanks to the Arc Mouse, Surface Pen or Surface Buds, you can work seamlessly with various Surface accessories. So you see: The Surface Laptop 4 is not just another Windows notebook, but an attempt by the largest software company in the world to bring out the ultimate hardware for Windows 10. With the new generation, Microsoft is getting closer to this step than ever before – there is still room for improvement. But one after another.
Technical details
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5 | ||
| model | Intel | AMD |
| Display | 13.5-inch IPS, 2256 x 1504 pixels, 3: 2 format, 10-point multi-touch, 201 ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass | |
| CPU | Intel Core ™ i5-1145G7 | i7-1185G7 CPU | AMD Ryzen ™ 5-4680U |
| random access memory | 8 GB LPDDR4X | 16 GB LPDDR4X | 32 GB LPDDR4X | 8 GB LPDDR4X |
| graphic | Intel Iris ™ Plus Graphics 950 | AMD Radeon ™ Graphics |
| Storage | 512 GB to 1 TB PCIe NVMe SSD | 256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Ports and connectivity | Surface connector, USB-A 3.0, USB-C, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5, 720p webcam | |
| operating system | Windows 10 Home | |
| battery pack | 49 Wh | 6513 mAh lithium ion | |
| Dimensions | 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm | 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm |
| Weight | 1.31 kg | 1.25 kg |
| casing | milled aluminum with magnesium alloy | |
| Colours | Platinum, ice blue (Alcantara ® ) sandstone , matt black (metal) | Platinum with Alcantara ® inside |
Design: Proven minimalism with maximum feel
The sea of Windows laptops is big and deep. “Surface” means surface in English – and that is exactly what the Surface Laptops are: the sparkling exterior of a deep ocean. While the main competitor Apple is responsible for all hardware in its own cosmos, Microsoft gave manufacturers free rein for a long time and only released their own benchmark devices in 2012.
Visually, there have been rather cautious improvements to the minimalist design since the first Surface generation. The laptop 4 even shares its exterior completely with its predecessor. In this case, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing, because the design still looks modern and yet timeless.
The feel also remains unmatched. Again, you have the feeling that the Surface Laptop was milled from a solid block of aluminum or magnesium. You are looking for gaps in vain. They can only be found where they belong. For example, there is a small notch above the display lid to open the laptop 4.
The clever details are continued in the rest of the design: The Laptop 4 literally slides open. The hinge and bottom are perfectly balanced and form an absolute unit when closed. Otherwise, rounded edges dominate a nonetheless angular design. You can understand why Microsoft has not thrown this over again after a year and a half.
3KM.ca was not involved in the creation of this content. Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. 3KM.ca makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.
