Test and Review: The Microsoft Surface Laptop is Microsoft's first classic laptop. Battery life

Microsoft continued to expand its laptop lineup this year with the Surface Laptop. Moreover, if other devices of the company are transformers, then the novelty has a traditional form factor for laptops. At the same time, Microsoft is positioning the Surface Laptop as a laptop for schoolchildren and students, as well as for those users who need a laptop for office work. Let's take a look at what features the device offers and whether it is worth considering for a purchase.

The Surface Laptop's bundle is minimal; only a charger with a detachable cable can be found in the box with the laptop.

But at least charging unit not entirely simple, it has a built-in USB connector, which allows you to directly connect other devices to it for charging.

Design and materials

The Surface Laptop is, without understatement, one of the most stylish laptops on the market.

The model is made in a minimalistic design with straight lines of the body, which are only slightly rounded at the corners, but at the same time they form sharp beveled edges.

The display is covered protective glass while the lid and bottom of the Surface Laptop are made of heavy-duty aluminum, while the area around the keyboard and between the keys themselves is covered in faux suede - Alcantara.

This material is patented and produced by the Italian company Alcantara SpA, it is very pleasant to the touch and relatively durable. In my experience of using the Alcantara Galaxy S8 case, I can say that if you do not set yourself the task of staining the fabric and making it unusable, then it is not so easy to do it during normal use. Alcantara has a rough, but at the same time, dense surface that does not allow moisture to pass through well, and the material itself does not burn. Nevertheless, it should be borne in mind that, like any fabric, Alcantara wears out and gets dirty, and although it can be washed and cleaned, it is not very convenient to do this in a laptop.

Overall, the Surface Laptop, while not the most practical case, is definitely one of the most stylish. Moreover, Microsoft took care of the colors, there are only four of them, but they all look very nice.

The Surface Laptop case measures 308.1 x 223.27 x 14.48 mm and weighs 1.25 kg.

The laptop turned out to be compact even for a 13-inch model, although it does not have minimal frames around the screen.

Connectors

In addition to the USB port on the unit charger, on the case of the Surface Laptop itself, there was only a proprietary charging port, one USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort and 3.5 headphone jack.

As you can see, the set of ports is minimal, and a laptop would not hurt at least one more USB port as well as USB Type-C.

Display

The 13.5-inch IPS touchscreen laptop with PixelSense technology has a resolution of 2256 × 1504 pixels and an aspect ratio of 3: 2. The latter, given that you spend most of your time on a laptop in a browser, looks like a good solution, and it's a pity that not all manufacturers use it.

The display itself provides good viewing angles and color reproduction. Its color gamut is slightly more than 100% sRGB, the temperature is at 6500K, but the gamma curve and backlight are slightly uneven.

The minimum brightness of the Surface Laptop display, according to our measurements, is 9 cd / m2, the maximum is 322 cd / m2, and the contrast is 1526: 1.

It's also important to note that the touchscreen in this laptop looks like sheer overkill. Considering the form factor, they are not as comfortable to use as the Surface Book and Surface Pro, and if Microsoft decided to remove the touch layer from the display, the Surface Laptop would not lose anything from it.

Platform and performance

We tested the Surface Laptop in the base configuration with a 2-core Intel Core i5-7200U processor, clocked at 2.5 GHz (3.1 GHz in Turbo Boost mode), integrated Intel HD Graphics 620, 4 GB random access memory LPDDR3-1866, as well as a 128 GB SSD.

The processor performance in Surface Laptop is sufficient for most of the tasks that users of a compact laptop may encounter. At the same time, 4 GB of RAM is enough for comfortable work in a browser with a dozen open sites, with documents or with simple editor photos.

The performance of the integrated graphics is enough to draw the interface or play video in 2K without any problems, but if you want to play games, you will have to limit yourself to casual ones.

What I didn't like about the Surface Laptop's hardware platform was the speed of Toshiba's built-in 128GB SSD. Microsoft used a model that provides a good read speed of 650 MB / s, but not very fast as for a solid state drive, a write speed of 130 MB / s.

Heating and stability

The processor in the Surface Laptop has a calculated thermal package of 15 W, and the laptop itself is equipped with a small fan, the holes for exhaust and air intake are at the same time on the back of the case, and the bottom of it is completely closed.

In the stability test of the AIDA64 system under maximum load, the temperature of the processor cores can briefly rise to 80 degrees Celsius, but when the cooling system is turned on, it drops to 55-57 degrees Celsius and remains at this level.

At the same time, there is no throttling, and the case becomes warm, but this does not cause discomfort. The fan runs very quietly, you can hardly hear it.

Operating system

By default, Surface Laptop has an operating Windows system 10 S. Despite the fact that often the letter S in the prefix of a product name means some kind of improvement, in Windows 10 S this is not at all the case. On the contrary, the new version operating system Microsoft is stripped down. The company conceived it as an OS for not very expensive laptops that can be used by schoolchildren and students. But given the $ 999 starting price of the Surface Laptop in the US, Windows 10 S looks very strange on this laptop. After all, it, for example, allows you to install applications only from the Windows Store, does not allow you to change the Edge browser and even the Bing search engine.

Until December 31, 2017 years of Windows The 10 S on Surface Laptop is free to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, and the company plans to charge a $ 50 upgrade fee in the future.

The update process itself is a little confusing, to start it, you need to download and open the exe-file of any program, after which the system will inform you that this can be done if you update to another version of Windows and immediately prompts you to do it.

The very idea of ​​limiting the installation of programs to the Windows Store only could have a right to life if all popular applications were in the Microsoft store. But the irony is that even Office, at least in Ukraine, is not in the Windows Store.

All in all, Windows 10 S on the Surface Laptop looks like an outright crutch that could be tolerated if the laptop was offered at a more affordable price. But in this situation, it is better to immediately take the opportunity and upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free. Moreover, the entire process of switching from one OS version to another takes only a few minutes.

Windows Hello

Like other Surface models, Microsoft's Surface Laptop uses multiple cameras, including infrared, for Windows Hello facial recognition to quickly unlock the laptop.

It is worth noting that this functionality works very well, cameras quickly scan and recognize a face, while you can scan it with or without glasses, this will only improve the recognition speed. At the same time, the cameras in the Surface Laptop are able to determine the volume and cannot be fooled by photography.

Keyboard and touchpad

The Surface Laptop uses an island-style backlit keyboard.

The keys are located at a sufficient distance from each other and are pressed with a pleasant stroke. It is convenient to type on the laptop keyboard, it has a standard layout.

The touchpads Microsoft uses in its Surface models are the best in Windows laptops. The Surface Laptop has a rather large touchpad, it detects finger positioning very accurately, supports gestures and allows you to comfortably use the laptop without external peripherals.

Audio

The Realtek High Definition Audio Driver is responsible for sound reproduction in Surface Laptop, it is enough to listen to music or watch video on headphones even at medium volume.

The two external speakers are hidden under the keyboard, and it should be noted that they sound surprisingly voluminous and loud, which is not expected from a thin laptop.

Autonomy

The Surface Laptop's built-in 45.2 Wh battery should provide good battery life, at least Microsoft claims 14.5 hours of video playback. In the PCMark 8 Home test under load with a brightness of 200 cd / m2, the laptop lasted 6 hours.

With average load and with active automatic display brightness control, you can expect 8 hours of operation. This is a good result, as the Surface Laptop delivers battery life for a typical workday.

Site score

Pros: design, nice colors, high-quality display, quiet cooling system, excellent keyboard and touchpad, clean Windows, fast Windows work Hello, external speaker sound quality, USB port on the charger box, autonomy

Minuses: 4 GB RAM base, SSD write speed, one USB port per chassis, Windows 10 S

Conclusion: Surface Laptop is a thin and light 13.5-inch laptop with interesting design in an aluminum casing with an Alcantara insert around the keyboard. The model has an excellent display, a comfortable keyboard and touchpad, but not very high performance in the basic version, not very fast SSD on record and high cost, both for such a configuration. Other than that, staying with Windows 10 S doesn't make any sense on such an expensive laptop. Thus, in the basic configuration, the Surface Laptop may appeal to those users who choose a laptop for design rather than performance. It does look great on a desk, but there are more performance solutions for workloads at this price point. However, it should be noted that the older Surface Laptop versions are more interesting in terms of configuration and faster in terms of operating speed, but their cost is also higher.

The editors are grateful to the online store Reader.ua for providing the device for review.

Recently, Microsoft has expanded its line of laptops with a new model - Microsoft Surface Laptop. A version worth $ 1,300 (85,250 rubles) with an Intel Core i5-7200U processor, 8 GB of RAM and solid state SSD with a capacity of 256 GB.

Microsoft is positioning the Surface Laptop as a laptop for schoolchildren and students, as well as for office work. Let's take a look at what features the device offers and whether it is worth considering for a purchase.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Design

The Surface Laptop is available in four color options - burgundy, platinum, cobalt blue (the color of this model) and graphite gold. The all-metal body feels solid and has slightly rounded edges. The build quality is at the highest level.

The area around the keyboard and between the keys is covered in Alcantra, which gives the device a pleasant touch and attractive look. The Dell XPS 13 has a similar coating approach, only using carbon fiber instead of Alcantara. I love this trend as it makes opening a laptop much easier and more fun to use.

The dimensions of the case are 308.1 x 223.27 x 14.48 mm, and the weight is 1.25 kg. In general, the case is not the most practical here, but it is definitely one of the most stylish.

Connectors and ports

The Microsoft Surface Laptop is not a small laptop, however, it has minimal connectivity. There is one USB 3.0 port, mini DisplayPort and 3.5 headphone jack. Wireless options include Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0.

Above the display is a 720p webcam with face recognition with using Windows Hello.

Keyboard and touchpad

The Microsoft Surface Laptop uses an island-style backlit keyboard. The keys are well spaced and feel good when pressed.

Typing on a laptop is quite convenient. The backlight is standard here and with several levels of brightness.

The Surface Laptop's touchpad is less impressive. It's a Windows compatible precision touchpad that just gets the job done. I would like to see a more responsive and large touchpad here. Considering that competitors like Apple and HP have found a way to fit much larger touchpads into their laptops without sacrificing quality.

Fortunately, there is one large touch surface here - the screen. I haven't used it too often, but it's nice to know that it is available and compatible with both Pen and Dial stylus.

Windows 10 S operating system

Microsoft Surface Laptop runs on Windows 10 S, it can only run apps from the Windows Store that are on this moment have a limited set of features, and this is a big problem. You will not be able to run the usual Google chrome, Firefox, Steam, Discord, or the full version of Photoshop.

Microsoft justifies installing Windows 10 S by being easier to manage and great for academics and businesses. Any organization that operates hundreds, perhaps thousands, of devices will love that Surface Laptop cannot access pirate sites and download malware.

However, for a user looking to buy a Surface Laptop for themselves - Windows 10 S - it's a complete disappointment.

You cannot use the usual applications, as well as regedit or the command line, which makes some features unavailable.

Bright display

The Microsoft Surface Laptop has a custom 13.5-inch display with a 3: 2 aspect ratio that looks much larger than the numbers on paper show. The resolution is 2256 x 1504 or 201 pixels per inch (PPI). That's high enough to provide satisfactory sharpness, but below the 220 PPI for the MacBook Pro 13, and the Surface Pro's 267 PPI.

However, in addition to the number of pixels, color and contrast are also important. The PixelSense screen delivers up to 1020: 1 contrast ratios, beating every competitor except Apple's MacBook Pro 13, which reaches 1200: 1. However, the Surface Laptop's display is very bright and has a near-perfect color gamut.

Good sound

The sound quality from the Surface Laptop speakers is above average, with a good balance between bass and treble. The speakers are located right under the keyboard, they provide an acceptable volume level, which is quite enough for listening to music or watching movies. But, I recommend using headphones.

Performance and benchmarks

New Microsoft Surface Laptop comes with Core i5 or Core i7 processors. The hero of my review is equipped with a Core i5-7200U chip and 8 GB of RAM. Such hardware does not provide premium performance, although it is common among high-end notebooks and strikes a good balance between performance and battery life.

In Geekbench 4, the tested Surface Laptop achieved 3681 points in single-core and 7373 in multi-core test.

These numbers are typical of most modern Core i5-7200U laptops I've tested.

Slow SSD

Observed by me Microsoft version Surface Laptop has a 256GB solid state drive. Although the SSD uses here latest standards connection, it does not provide the expected performance. Competitors like the MacBook Pro 13, XPS 13 and Specter x360 have more than double the speed of storage.

The problem is that according to the Toshiba catalog, the SSD in the Surface Laptop (model THNSN0256GTYA) ranks among the slowest M.2 drives.

Device in games

Microsoft's Surface Laptop isn't for gamers, and that's no surprise. In the test, this laptop with a Core i5-7200U processor and Intel HD 620 graphics outperforms some competitors by only a small margin. This means that 3D games will run smoothly, but the experience will become imperfect.

Civilization VI at 1080p and low settings reached an average speed of just 17 FPS.

Battery life

The built-in 47Wh battery provides good battery life for the Surface Laptop. Microsoft claims that a single battery charge is enough for 14.5 hours of looped video playback. In the PCMark 8 Home test at 200 cd / m2, the laptop lasted 6 hours. At medium load and with automatic tuning brightness can be counted on for 8 hours of operation.

In terms of alternatives, the Dell XPS 13 looks slimmer, offers better storage performance and superior display options.

The HP Specter x360 is roughly equal in size but lacks autonomy, but it is 2-in-1 and can be bought with a 4K display.

The $ 700 Asus ZenBook UX330UA is also a great option. Despite the 1080p display, it gets a newer version of the same processor, this kind of SSD, the same amount of RAM, and similar connectivity despite being slightly lighter and thinner.

Apple's MacBook Pro 13 is another good alternative with faster storage, better display, and more ports.

Outcome

I thought, given past successes, the Microsoft Surface Laptop would be the best alternative in its segment. Still, the company found a way to complicate things. installing Windows 10 S, and outflanking the device in key areas such as screen quality and SSD performance.

Should you buy?

No. On the surface, the Surface Laptop is an impressive device in almost every way, but it also has quite a few drawbacks. With a little more money, you can buy better equipment.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Benefits

• Great keyboard.
• High-quality display.
• Alcantara work surface finish.
• High processor performance.

It has been customary since ancient times that you can fully enjoy technical innovations and other benefits of civilization for best prices only developed countries can. Developing people get everything in the last place, overpaying many times, and something does not reach at all.

I made a selection of several laptops that are not officially sold in our country, but certainly deserve attention.

Huawei Matebook X

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Core ™ i7-7500U / i5-7200U (7th generation processors)
• Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics 620
• Memory: 4/8 GB LPDDR3 / 256/512 GB SSD
• Screen: 13 inches, IPS LCD, 2160 x 1440 pixels, 200 ppi, aspect ratio 3: 2, brightness 350 nits, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Battery: Lithium Polymer 41.4 W * h (5449 [email protected] V) (claimed 10 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, Hall sensor, 2 x USB 3.0 USB A, USB Type-C, VGA, Mini HDMI, 3.5 mm jack, IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac , 2.4 / 5 GHz 2 x 2 MIMO, Bluetooth 4.1
• Webcam: 720p
• Misc: keyboard backlight, 3 RAM slots, no memory card reader
• Dimensions: 286 x 211 x 12.5 mm, weight 1.05 kg
• Price: 750 USD

Recently, Huawei has been doing not only well, but wonderful: beautiful smartphones in different price ranges are rapidly appearing on the shelves, the Honor brand is shining brighter, and a collaboration with Porsche Design is regularly released. And, apparently, Huawei, feeling that the ground under its feet is solid, decided to experiment, flex its muscles and make a laptop.

Looking at the snow-white box with laconic inscriptions, and the design of the laptop itself, we can confidently say: Huawei did not peep anywhere and created a truly original design. And don't believe someone who says that from a couple of meters you can be confused with Apple's MacBook. Absolutely impossible, since there is a bitten apple on the lid, and here it is written in large letters HUAWEI.

Actually, with the dimensions similar to the MacBook, the Matebook X, due to the ultra-thin frames, fit the 13-inch screen.

By the way, there is also the Matebook D, which, according to the company, is perceived in size as a 14-inch laptop, and itself has a screen of as much as 15.6 inches. This laptop will interest those who want more impressive graphics, there NVIDIA GeForce 940MX Graphics with 2GB GDDR5. While the Matebook X has Intel's usual ultrabook graphics - HD Graphics 620.

The Huawei laptop attracted me for a number of reasons, but one of the main ones is that just six months after the announcement, it can already be purchased for a modest $ 750 instead of the $ 1,100 originally announced. To the strengths of the laptop, I would include a good screen, covered with Gorilla Glass. The brightness is 350 nits, the screen resolution and color rendition are also at the level, and this laptop is quite capable of correcting a few photos, processing video. The laptop has a fingerprint scanner, keyboard backlight, and the battery, judging by the tests, is enough for 7-8 hours of operation.

Separately, it should be noted that you can independently expand as HDD and RAM. The disadvantages include the fact that under load the laptop heats up quite a lot, which is due to its design with a passive cooling system, but thanks to this, the laptop is silent. It's a little strange that the screen was not made touch-sensitive, and I also don't like the lack of a memory card slot. The closest competitors are the MacBook, Asus Zenbook 3, and Dell XPS 13. However, with overall similar performance and battery life, Huawei's current market price is the most tempting.

Lg gram

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Core ™ i7-8550U 1.80GHz / 4.00GHz (8th generation processors)
• Graphics: Intel® UHD Graphics 620
• Memory: 16GB DDR4 2400MHz (8 GB x 2) / 1TB (512GB x 2) M.2 SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home
• Screen: 15.6 inches, IPS LCD, FHD (1920 x 1080), 16: 9, 255 nits, touch
• Battery: Lithium Polymer 72 W * h (claimed 16.5 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: fingerprint scanner, Wi-Fi 802.11 A / C (2X2), Bluetooth 4.1, HDMI, USB 3.0 Type-C, USB 3.0 x 3, microSD, 3.5 mm jack, RJ45 Ethernet (adapter via USB Type -C)
• Webcam: 720p
• Misc: Keyboard Backlight, 1.5W x 2 Sound, MIL-STD 810G, Nano Carbon and Magnesium Alloy
• Dimensions: 35.8 x 22.86 x 1.78 mm, weight 1095 grams
• Price: 1999.99 USD

LG has updated its Gram with eighth-generation processors. I must say right away that, by tradition, LG has made a lineup with a margin: there are models with a screen from 12 to 15.6 inches, and the price tag is from $ 899. However, I decided to write about the most "juicy" model at the maximum cost. The laptop has several strengths that account for its impressive price tag. I don’t know whether you noticed or not, but the screen is 15.6 inches, and the weight is still “gram” - 1095 grams. If you are still wondering whether to be impressed or not, then I will add that there is 16 GB of RAM, 1 TB SSD disk, powerful processor i7 of the eighth generation. At this point, you should whistle in surprise, since such characteristics are rarely found in a compact case, but further - even more surprising. Battery life is announced up to 16.5 hours. The 72Wh battery speaks for itself. And remember that the weight of the device is only a kilogram. And then LG, apparently freaked out and decided to go for broke, adding a touch screen and MIL-STD 810G protection, which allows women in high-heeled shoes to drop the device and even step on it.

The laptop has 3 USB 3.0 ports, there is Type-C, HDMI and even an Ethernet adapter was made. We didn’t forget about the fingerprint scanner.

I believe that your inner toad is now in a quandary, because, without irony or sarcasm, LG has created something unique, but it costs $ 2,000, so you urgently need to justify why you won't buy a laptop. So, first, the Full HD resolution. Well, where have you seen this in 2018?

The second disadvantage is more significant: the screen brightness is only 255 nits. Theoretically, this is quite enough, but on the street, and just in a bright room, this may not be enough. Typical brightness is around 300 nits. The premium segment usually "shines" 350-400 nits. Probably, for the sake of battery life, LG decided to "cut" the brightness, but it would be better left the choice for the user.

I believe that such a laptop is suitable for those who are often on the road and are often forced to work in adverse conditions far from the outlet. Long battery life and enhanced protection will come in handy in this case.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i7-8550U Quad Core 1.8GHz up to 4.0GHz (8th generation processors)
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU, GDDR5 2GB
• Memory: 8/16 GB DDR4 RAM / 256GB SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home
• Screen: 15.6 inches, Full HD, 16: 9, 300 nits, Gorilla Glass 3
• Battery: Li-Pol 60 W * h (claimed up to 9 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: Fingerprint reader, USB Type-C x 2, USB 3.0 x 2, HDMI, 3.5 mm jack, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1
• Webcam: 720p
• Other: there is a keyboard backlight, the system start time is 10 seconds, the sound is 2.5Wx2 (Harman tuning)
• Dimensions: 360.7 x 243.6 x 15.9 mm, weight 1.95 kg
• Price: from 57,000 rubles

Officially in Russia, the new device from Xiaomi is not yet on sale, but those who will not be scared Chinese version Windows can already purchase a laptop for a modest 57,000 rubles (with an i5 processor). Xiaomi, as always, is great - the characteristics are pleasant, the design, and even the price is good. Externally, the laptop looks quite premium, especially in a color that Apple calls Space Gray.

In short, it can be confused with a MacBook, as the colors, design and materials of the case are similar. Xiaomi, like Cupertino, made the RAM soldered on the board, so you are unlikely to be able to buy 8 GB and upgrade yourself, but there is room in the case for installing a second SSD drive. It's funny, but even the lettering on the bottom cover looks like Apple. On the apple products the postscript can be found: “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China ". In the case of Xiaomi, the text reads: “Designed by Xiaomi in Beijing. Made in China ".

But, unlike Apple, the Chinese did not skimp on ports: 2 USB Type-C, 2 USB 3.0, full HDMI and a memory card slot. The keyboard is good too. Island type, 1.5 mm key travel, which is more than a MacBook, and is enough for comfortable typing. In the upper right corner of the touchpad, there is a fingerprint scanner, in which there is nothing remarkable.

The undoubted plus of the laptop is powerful and clear sound. Usually, the volume of the speakers in laptops is at the level of 1.5 - 2 watts, Xiaomi has generous with two speakers of 2.5 watts.

However, when creating a laptop, a number of compromises had to be made, showing that Xiaomi has not yet reached the heights of the engineering genius of Cupertino and that it is still not the best, but just a good product. For example, I was surprised by the ventilation grilles on the lower metal cover. The speakers are also located there, so if you want to get the most out of the bright and loud sound tuned by Harman, then the laptop should be on a level surface. There are two graphs here. One is an integrated solution from Intel, the second is from NVIDIA with an impressive 2 GB of memory. However, in fact, the MX 150 is only about 2 times more powerful than the UHD 620. powerful games you will not play, but judging by the tests, in the same GTA 5 on pleasant settings, but not in Full HD, you can get 30 frames per second. And in general, playing WoT is great. Another compromise is keyboard backlighting. She has one mode of operation and one color (white).

In fact, one keyboard backlight mode is nonsense, which you will not pay attention to, but it is also a kind of indicator: they say, we are doing it based on the best solutions, but no frills. This is an example of Xiaomi philosophy. I didn't like the battery life too much. Depending on the settings, you get 5 to 7 hours. The general conclusion, however, is that the laptop is excellent.

Microsoft Surface Laptop

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core m3, i5 or i7 (7th generation processors)
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 (m3) / Intel HD Graphics 620 (i5) / Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 (i7)
• Storage: 4/8/16 GB / 128 GB - 1 TB SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 S (upgradeable to Windows 10 Pro)
• Screen: 13.5 inches, 2256 x 1504 pixels, 3: 4, 201 ppi, touchscreen with Surface Pen support, Corning Gorilla Glass
• Battery: up to 14.5 hours of video playback
• Ports, connectors and sensors: ambient light sensor, Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0, 3.5 mm jack, mini DisplayPort
• Webcam: 720p with Windows support Hello
• Other: Supports up to 2 4K UHD (@ 30Hz), no SD card slot
• Dimensions: 308.02 x 223.20 x 14.47 mm, weight 1.28 kg
• Price: from 799 USD

To be honest, the entire Surface line impresses me, both externally and with the filling. Sometimes, however, I don't like the price, but these are my personal shortcomings. I always look at Microsoft's troubles with Windows with affection. And now the corporation did not disappoint and "rolled out" Windows S. For those who do not know, I will explain that this is a new idea of ​​Redmond to create a safe environment. The "S" version only supports programs available in Microsoft Store... Actually, this greatly increases the protection of the operating system from various viruses and Trojan horses. After all, easy installation of any software is both a plus and a minus of Windows. Now, even with a strong desire, you will not be able to install a new antivirus from the browser page, which found 100 critical errors on the computer in absentia. However, the sad side of the limitations is the fact that only a scanty App Store is available, where, for example, there is no Google Chrome. For this reason, I will have to use the Edge browser, which, despite my good attitude towards it, still has flaws. In any case, if you are confident in your abilities and know that you cannot poke around on everything on the Internet, then in a couple of minutes you can get rid of all restrictions and get a full-fledged Windows 10 Pro.

An initial laptop with an m3 processor and 4GB of RAM starts at $ 799. Adequate configuration for i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 SSD will cost you $ 1,299. Most of all Surface Laptop reminds me MacBook Air... In my opinion, this is how Apple's laptop should have looked if the company had not abandoned this line.

Firstly, it has a beautiful screen with good resolution, which the Air lacks so much. The screen is touch-sensitive and supports pen operation. Separately, I note that I like that recently there has been a tendency to make laptops with an aspect ratio of 3: 4 and 3: 2. Secondly, the battery life here is "honest" 14.5 hours. Third, the laptop's performance is good enough for any task on the go. Fourth, the dimensions and weight are almost the same as those of the Air line. The disadvantages of the device include a rather meager set of ports, outdated bluetooth version 4.0 and Wi-Fi only a / b / g / n. And it is completely incomprehensible why they decided to abandon the memory card slot. If, when looking at the pictures, it seems to you that you see a connector where you can insert a memory card, then I will disappoint you. This is Surface Connect. Almost as useful as Windows S, except that it cannot be converted into something useful in a couple of minutes.

To summarize, the new Surface Laptop is one of the best options if you want a lightweight, compact, stylish and powerful Windows device at a nice price.

Microsoft Surface Book 2

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i7-8650U (quad-core) up to 4.20 GHz Max Turbo (8th generation processors)
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 6GB GDDR5
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR3 / up to 1TB SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 Pro
• Screen: 15 inches, 3000 x 2000 pixels, 3: 2, 260 ppi, touch with support for Surface Pen
• Battery: Li-Pol 90 W * h (up to 17 hours of video playback)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: Wi-Fi: 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, USB 3.0 x 2, USB Type-C, UHS-II SDXC card reader, 3.5 mm jack, light sensor, proximity, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer
• Webcam: 5 MP front camera with Windows Hello / 8 MP main camera
• Misc: Supports Xbox Wireless, magnesium alloy body
• Dimensions: 343.00 x 251.00 x 15.00-23.00 mm, weight 1.9 kg including keyboard
• Price: from 2 499 USD

Another laptop from Microsoft in the Surface family. In terms of naming, the corporation from Redmond, of course, has problems: it is very easy to get confused where is the laptop, where is the tablet, where is the desktop computer.

Microsoft calls it a 2-in-1 device because you can unfasten the screen and play with a 15-inch tablet if you want.

I'll start off with a compliment, saying that Microsoft is a fast learner and has adopted Apple's tactics for cleverly orchestrating iPencil sales. I guess the whole "electronic" world was shocked when the apple company started selling a pencil for $ 100. Probably, there were many meetings where marketers were sneezed for nothing, and the main question was - is it really possible ?! It turns out that you can, so Microsoft, overwhelmed by such a discovery, decided not to get lost by releasing the Surface Pen for $ 99. An additional piquancy of the situation is given by the fact that the optimal configuration of the laptop has an impressive $ 3,299 on the price tag, and the "handle" that does not fit into the price must be purchased separately.

In short, continuous innovation. I can't even imagine what kind of Microsoft and Windows fan you have to be to uncover your wallet, because it's hard to find a rational explanation for this price. Perhaps, at a certain stage, the company, inspired by the actions of Apple and the desire to compensate for the billions spent on the burned-out Windows Phone, simply decided to conduct a study and see what would happen if a cosmic price was set.

If you do not look at the cost, then the device certainly deserves admiration, since it is to some extent an engineering masterpiece, both from the technical point of view and from the point of view. Windows optimization for a specific device. No joke, judging by the first tests, the device with a 15-inch screen can play video for more than 20 hours, while browsing websites works for almost 16. If the laptop is fully loaded, the battery life will be about 7 hours. This is for real new level... For example, the recent favorite in terms of battery life Lenovo Yoga 920 lasted only 3.5 hours in similar conditions.

There is nothing bad to say about performance either. I don't think you need to introduce and explain the capabilities of the GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB GDDR5 on board? For example, in the notorious Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the laptop "knocked out" 40 frames per second in Full HD. While the same Yoga generally considered the attempt to launch the Deus Ex as a flat joke.

It seems Microsoft has made the perfect device. At least at a price of $ 3,300, he not only has to be like that, but he must also be able to predict the wishes of the owner, and in his free time he can do mining bitcoins just out of gratitude that he was bought. However, nothing of the kind. Firstly, for some reason no one thought that the same games could run crookedly due to the 3: 2 screen format. On the one hand, this is not Microsoft's fault, on the other - well, have you seen the price tag? Secondly, the battery of the device under heavy load can slowly discharge, even if connected to a charger. Thirdly, I did not find anything else and did not come up with anything, since the device just came out. Well, maybe the speakers are a little louder ...

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Core ™ i7-7500U, 2.7GHz - 3.5GHz (7th generation processors)
• Graphics: Radeon 540, GDDR5 2GB
• Memory: 16GB DDR4 / 256GB SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home
• Screen: 15 inches, IPS LED, Full HD, 16: 9, 350 nits, touch with stylus support, rotates 360 degrees
• Battery: Li-ion 54 W * h, 3530 mA * h (declared up to 11.5 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: USB Type-C, HDMI, microSD slot, 3.5 mm jack
• Webcam: 720p
• Miscellaneous: Sound 2 x 1.5W, Keyboard Backlit
• Dimensions: 34.72 x 23.9 x 1.7 mm, weight 1.71 kg
• Price: 1 299 USD

Unfortunately, at a certain stage of life, Samsung decided that there was no point in officially selling laptops in Russia. However, laptops are fairly easy to acquire in the gray market. The gadget from Samsung slightly stands out from the notebooks from the selection, since, at first glance, there is nothing unique and striking in it, but, in my opinion, it is one of the most balanced in terms of price-performance-quality specimens. If you try to find a definition, then I would say "rational premium". The laptop has cool features, good performance, nice appearance, but he looks quiet and modest. Let's walk through the strengths. 15-inch screen IPS technology but not LCD, but LED, which definitely has a positive effect on battery life. Above average brightness - 350 nits. The screen can be opened up to 360 degrees, making a tablet out of a laptop.

Surprisingly, Samsung is still holding on: the stylus is included in the kit for nothing. The laptop is made of a mix of plastic and aluminum and, of course, does not look so advantageous against the background of colleagues completely clad in armor. But here everything is utilitarian: the top cover is for protection, the bottom is made of plastic for weight and convenience. The video card of stars from the sky is not enough, but in the same Witcher or GTA 5 it is quite possible to play and brighten up the time. Battery life is 7-8 hours.

Samsung has got a kind of compromise. There is a proprietary stylus that works no worse, and according to some reviews, even better than the analog from Microsoft. Separately, I would like to note that Samsung was not too lazy to make a separate connector on the case, where the stylus can be hidden. By the way, guess who sells a very expensive laptop, but didn't think of it before?

The video card is at an acceptable level, and the battery life is not amazing, but it will not disappoint either. When visualized, the laptop appears to be a typical office clerk in a neat suit, doing a good job and not wanting to attract much attention. The disadvantages of this laptop can be attributed only to the insufficiently loud sound. This is doubly strange, considering that the Harman postscript is found, in my opinion, already everywhere where possible, except for Samsung, which bought this company. Well, and it seems to me that in terms of battery life, Samsung, which controls so many technologies, could have invented something other than LED backlighting to get stable 10 hours of work.

Chromebook "and

ASUS Chromebook Flip C302CA

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Core ™ M 6Y75 Processor
• Memory: 4/8 GB / 32/64/128 GB
• Screen: 12.5 inches, LED, 16: 9, Full HD, touch
• Battery: Li-ion 39 W * h (declared up to 10 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: USB Type-C x 2, microSD slot, 3.5 mm jack, Wi-Fi 802.11 AC, Bluetooth 4.0
• Webcam: 720p
• Other: keyboard backlit
• Dimensions: 304 x 210 x 13.7 mm, weight 1.2 kg
• Price: 499 USD

Samsung Chromebook Pro

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Core ™ m3 Processor 6Y30, 0.9GHz - 2.2GHz
• Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics 515
• Memory: 4GB LPDDR3 / 32GB
• Operating system: Chrome OS
• Screen: 12.3 inches, 2400 x 1600 dots, 3: 2, 400 nits, 360 degrees, touch, stylus support
• Battery: Li-ion 39 W * h (declared up to 9 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: USB Type-C x 2, microSD slot, 3.5 mm jack, Wi-Fi 802.11 AC, Bluetooth 4.1
• Webcam: 720p
• Other: sound 2 x 1.5 W, protection against water spills on the keyboard 60 seconds
• Dimensions: 281 x 221 x 14 mm, weight 1.08 kg
• Price: 599 USD

Finally, I decided to take a couple of typical models of Chromebooks that interested me. In general, the devices are similar, since they have the same key feature - a 360-degree opening screen that turns the gadget into a tablet.

Samsung, which costs $ 100 more, added a stylus to the Pixelbook.

However, in addition to the stylus, the Samsung laptop has a higher screen resolution, the backlight is 400 nits, and there is protection against water spilled on the keyboard. In a word, they collected a number of little things that gave the moral right to raise the price tag. A couple of words about the prices of Chromebooks. At first glance, they are all similar in characteristics, but the most basic models sell for $ 200: they have bad screens and the build leaves much to be desired. At the top is the $ 999 Pixelbook, which has design and materials. But the laptop from Google did not even bother to consider, as I would rather agree that Microsoft installed an adequate price on their Surface than Google. In my opinion, $ 599 for a Samsung is the maximum amount you can pay for a Chromebook.

Unfortunately, Chromebooks have not taken root in Russia. Although, in my opinion, these are ideal devices for a number of users. Firstly, they are ideal for children if you want to have complete control over your child's computer activity. Access to history Google account, the inability to catch the virus by installing an incomprehensible application from the network. Still, Google is more or less in control of the situation in its store. The second category for whom Chromebooks are suitable are elderly or simply undemanding users who surf the Internet, watch videos, communicate with family members via Skype or instant messengers.

For such people, a Chromebook is also ideal because it is almost impossible to break anything there by accidentally deleting it. And in general, the device is as simple as possible in terms of operation. And if you run into problems, you can always help by connecting remotely via Google Chrome. In general, the Chromebook will suit the typical normal user who knows to play on the PlayStation. If at the dawn of its appearance the Chromebook was extremely limited in software, now the Google Store offers a full range of necessary programs: there is office packages for every taste, simple and advanced photo and video editors, a whole scattering of browsers and video players. And games on Android have been pretty good lately.

Instead of a conclusion

In my opinion, the selection turned out to be quite interesting. Any of the laptops can be considered a bargain - it will delight both in performance and design. One of the most balanced solutions is Samsung. I also suggest that you pay attention to laptops on your own. of this manufacturer... There are interesting models under other numbers. For example, the seventh episode is also very good. I chose the most expensive laptop from LG, but the company offers a wide range, both in terms of performance and screen size. All LG devices are not afraid of falls, they work for a long time and the weight is close to a kilogram. Huawei has made a beautiful and productive laptop, which is much more interesting in terms of price-quality criterion than the same MacBook.

I would also like to point out the Chromebooks, many of which can be purchased on ebay. In my opinion, these devices are underestimated. They are more than appropriate to use for certain categories of undemanding users. Let us know your opinion in the comments. Write, and what kind of laptop, not officially sold in Russia, would you like (indicate the approximate price right away). I will say to myself that my favorite is undoubtedly the expensive Surface Book 2, about which you can dream and not buy. And I would choose Samsung or Surface Laptop for purchase. Both support a stylus, but Samsung has discrete graphics, while the Surface has better battery life.

Microsoft is celebrating two premieres with the Surface Laptop. Before us is not only the first classic laptop Microsoft, but also the first computer with the Windows 10 S operating system. However, as our test showed, Microsoft approached many things too conservatively, so competitors need not worry.

The Surface Laptop looks a lot like the Surface Pro and. But the similarities are not only visual: the Microsoft Surface Laptop builds on key features from two sister models; these include compatibility with Surface Pen and a 3: 2 display format. There are few surprises, both positive and negative.

With the Surface Laptop, Microsoft introduced the first classic laptop.

Four configurations are available. Surface Laptop Model entry level with Core i5-7200U, 4 GB RAM and 128 GB SSD will cost from 65 thousand rubles or 1.149 euros. A laptop with the same processor, but with memory and storage twice as large, will cost from 76.5 thousand rubles or 1.449 euros. We received just such a configuration for tests. Microsoft offers two "senior" configurations with the Core i7-7500U processor. A laptop with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD costs from 111 thousand rubles or 1.799 euros. Finally, the most expensive Surface Laptop comes with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. We did not find it in Russia, but in Europe you can buy a laptop from 2.499 euros. Available in burgundy red, platinum gray, cobalt blue and graphite gold. But only for the second oldest model.

Considering the Windows 10 S operating system is aimed at educational use, the price seems very high. But Microsoft sees the Surface Laptop as the flagship of its platform, and mainstream Windows 10 S laptops will be much cheaper. Still, the main competitor here is the Chromebook. In addition, in a few steps, you can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, after which the laptop turns into a full-fledged Windows computer... But you will also have to pay about 50 euros. Unless until the end of 2017 there will be a free transition. In addition, it is only officially possible to switch from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro, but not back. But you can download the corresponding system images from Microsoft.

We ran all tests under Windows 10 Pro. The reason lies in the limitations of Windows 10 S: the new version of the operating system allows you to install applications only from the Windows Store. But there are no test packages there. Microsoft claims the Surface Laptop for Windows 10 S offers better battery life and, in some scenarios, like system startup, better performance and faster response times. None of this could be confirmed in our tests.

Not many interfaces

Before turning on the Surface Laptop, there is a significant drawback. In terms of interfaces, Microsoft's equipment cannot be called modern. Excluding the Surface Connect power supply, there are only three physical interfaces left: an audio jack, a mini-DisplayPort output, and one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A. There is no Thunderbolt 2 or 3, or USB Type C, which is not quite for 2017. understandable considering the price. If you need more ports, you will have to buy a Surface Dock from 17.2 thousand rubles or 229 euros, but the dock is focused on stationary use. It is too bulky for travel. Why Microsoft did not install a more modern set of interfaces, like the same, remains a mystery.

One USB and one Mini-DisplayPort each: Microsoft Surface Laptop doesn't have many interfaces

By wireless interfaces the situation is a little better. Surface Laptop is equipped with a dual-band WLAN module with support for 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0.

The TPM chip provides additional security, including webcam logon that is compatible with Windows Hello facial recognition technology. In tests, she performed well, but not perfect. The reason lies in the speed of face recognition, entering a password or PIN code is faster.

WLAN AC and Bluetooth 4.0 complement Surface Laptop's suite of interfaces, but docking station is optionally available

The stereo speakers located under the keyboard have received Dolby Audio Premium certification. They provide more than adequate volume levels. Mid and low frequencies are palpable, there is no distortion even at maximum volume. However, for listening to music, we still recommend using headphones, since the design of such acoustics still leads to compromises in quality.

For video calls and other similar scenarios, an array of microphones will be useful. It reliably captures the user's voice and filters out unwanted noise. We liked the 720p webcam less. It only gives acceptable quality in well-lit environments, otherwise you have to put up with noise and other problems.

Not always the best stuff

The Surface Laptop's design can be said to be rather modest. Microsoft focused on the looks of the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, but added a little accents. It is possible to note antenna insulators on the left and right ends, the transition from the side ends to the bottom of the case, or ventilation holes under the display hinge. Finally, the shape of the laptop is slightly wedge-shaped, so the Surface Laptop can look different from different angles.

Alcantara instead of aluminum: Microsoft used a fabric covering inside the Surface Laptop

Two design elements draw attention: the Windows logo on the lid and the fabric interior covering, namely the palm rest panels and the area around the keyboard. Microsoft used faux suede or alcantara. This microfiber is commonly used in the light and automotive industries and is considered a high quality alternative to leather. This material gives the Surface Laptop a touch of style that contrasts with the rest of the chassis design. Of course, appearance is a matter of personal taste. But still there are doubts about the durability of such a coating and its hygiene.

Of course, the fabric coating seems to be of high quality, but it still wears out, and much more than aluminum or plastic. If you constantly use a laptop, then sooner or later, dirty or faded areas, etc., will begin to appear on the fabric.

The Surface Laptop is visually similar to the Surface Book, but it also has unique features.

Aside from this potential drawback, the Surface Laptop leaves a high quality impression. In addition to Alcantara, Microsoft used aluminum and Gorilla Glass to protect the display from damage. The dimensions of the laptop are 308.0 x 223.2 x 14.5 mm, and the weight is about 1.3 kg. In addition to the not very neatly embedded touchpad, the workmanship of the laptop raises no objections, which is due to the solid construction of the case. Even with strong pressure, we could not push the case, nothing crackled, and the Gorilla Glass coating gives additional strength to the display lid. The hinges of the display lid hold it well, they do not give in even with strong shocks. However, the display cover can be opened with one hand without holding the main body.

There is one more small remark. Microsoft paid attention high quality manufacturing, but ignored the issue of ease of access to components. The laptop does not have a removable bottom panel, all components are simply glued. As a result, if possible, repair.

Touchscreen and Surface Pen

Contrary to the general trend, Microsoft has equipped the Surface Laptop touch screen trying to create a generic model. Still, classic laptops today are rarely equipped with a touchscreen - although such an option is sometimes available for a surcharge. But support for the Surface Pen, one of the best models on the market. The stylus recognizes between 4,096 clicks, and tilt recognition for shading is also supported. Unfortunately, the Surface Pen is not included with the Surface Laptop, so we didn't include it in our tests. The price is about 10 thousand rubles in Russia or 110 euros in Europe, which is not cheap at all.

The maximum brightness of 400 cd / m² of a Microsoft Surface laptop is not enough to effectively combat reflections

The Microsoft laptop display has an unusual 3: 2 aspect ratio. The 13.5 "IPS panel from Panasonic has a resolution of 2.256 x 1.504 pixels. The built-in sensor detects ten clicks, the panel is protected by Gorilla Glass, but the coating results in a lot of reflections.

In our tests we got a maximum brightness level of 408 cd / m², which seems to be sufficient, but working outdoors is not always comfortable. Look for a shady location as the screen is not bright enough to compensate for glare in direct sunlight. In addition, the backlight uniformity was only about 85%, the brightness drops, in particular, in the corners of the laptop. On a completely black screen, the difference is visible to the naked eye. Contrast is better with the Surface Laptop at 1.316: 1 - a good value for a laptop.

Microsoft talks about an ultra-thin bezel, in fact it is only slightly thinner than the usual level

Not everything is good in terms of color rendition. Regularly, the display is adjusted to a very cold temperature of 7.400 K, so the swells give off blue. If you equip yourself with a colorimeter, then you can squeeze out 6.800 K, which is also not optimal. In terms of color gamut, the situation is better. AdobeRGB space is 60% closed, sRGB - 92%. Subjectively, the colors are saturated, but not overly, they retain their naturalness. So if you work with photos often, then you will surely be satisfied.

Oddly enough, Microsoft emphasizes the Surface Laptop's ultra-thin bezel. In fact, it is much wider than the same Dell XPS 13 or Huawei MateBook X, from the sides we get about 11 mm, from the top - 9 mm. Of course, this shortcoming cannot be called serious, but as a result, the Microsoft laptop turned out to be larger than the MateBook X. The 3% increase in display area led to a 13% increase in the base.

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The 15-inch version of the Surface Laptop 3 represents the biggest change to this traditional laptop since Microsoft introduced the first model in 2017. At the same time, there is a lot in common with previous models. Despite the fact that the new variant has become larger and works on a different processor.

Such similarities make it difficult to understand for whom exactly it was released. new model... The laptop is not as light and portable as the 13.5 "Surface Laptop 3, the Acer Swift 5 or the LG Gram 15. At the same time, it is not as powerful and functional as many other 15" laptops, including the Microsoft Surface. Book 2, Dell XPS 15, Apple MacBook Pro and gaming models.

After a week of testing, it seems like the $ 1,699 laptop in question is for those who love the design and build of other Surface Laptop models but lack the old screen. Or for those who love a 3: 2 ratio with a 15 "size. But he doesn't want to carry a monster like the Surface Book 2 with him.

Aside from the odd positioning in the laptop segment, the Surface Laptop 3 15 has some great qualities. However, in some ways it needs to be improved.

pros

• Lovely keyboard and trackpad
• Strong build
• Good performance for everyday work
• 3: 2 screen great for office work
• Small amount of pre-installed software
• Windows Hello face unlock works great

Minuses

• Only two USB ports
• Missing Thunderbolt 3 ports
• No SD card slot
• Matte black model gets dirty quickly with fingerprints
• Problems editing and even playing 4K video

If you've seen the first two generations of Surface Laptops, the new model will look familiar to you. It has essentially the same design, only it's larger. The thickness at the thinnest point of the case does not exceed 15 mm, the device weighs 1.54 kg. This is not too much, especially for a 15 "laptop, but more compared to the 13" model and even more compared to the LG Gram 15 or Acer Swift 5. Still, with such a laptop you can walk around during the day with a bag or backpack.

The body is made of aluminum, not magnesium like the Surface Pro. Build quality is solid, as it should be at this price point. Almost nothing dangles when you hold the laptop with one hand, and you can open the screen with just one finger. The upper half is also made of aluminum, without any fabrics, as is the case on other Microsoft devices. As a result, you immediately realize that this is a classic laptop. Of course, some people will miss the soft feeling of touching the fabric under the palms when typing, but the fabric can wear out over time. There will be no such problem here.

When you take the black laptop out of the box, it looks gorgeous. But as soon as you pick it up, spots appear on the body. It turns out not too pretty.

When the laptop is plugged into an outlet and charging, it vibrates when touched. Microsoft says this is normal and has stricter current requirements than regulators. In general, there should be no problems.

Microsoft has worked to make the laptop easier to repair and update internals. This was already confirmed when specialists from the iFixit website disassembled the case and gave a maintainability rating of 5 on a 10-point system. True, you can only update here solid state drive, but it is advisable not to do it yourself. Microsoft recommends taking your laptop to an authorized service center otherwise you might break the device.

The increase in size has two advantages over the 13.5-inch version. Firstly, the screen itself has grown, it is touch-sensitive and has a resolution of 2496 x 1664 pixels. There is also support for the Microsoft Surface Pen, which is not included in the box. Another advantage is the larger touchpad under the keyboard.

Like the 13 "Laptop 3, the 15" has a luxurious screen. It has vibrant colors, wide viewing angles and a typical Surface aspect ratio of 3: 2. This allows you to work more comfortably on it than on 16: 9 screens. The screen is touch-sensitive, although not everyone likes to poke a finger into a laptop. However, if necessary, there is such an opportunity here.

The keyboard is one of the strongest points of this laptop. Perhaps the most comfortable keyboard I've ever used to type. There is ample space between buttons, good key travel and good tactile response. I wouldn't want to throw around words like “perfect”, but it’s impossible to imagine how you can make this keyboard even better. Apple needs to follow the example of Microsoft when making its laptops.

The touchpad on the Laptop 3 is also impressive. It's large and sleek, with a glass finish and great gesture and tracking support. No problem recognizing accidental palm touches. This is arguably the best touchpad on modern Windows laptops. The MacBook Pro 15 has the largest touchpad, but in this case, too, it is good.

If we talk about I / O ports, there is only one USB-A connector, one USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack and proprietary Microsoft Surface Connect charging port. USB-C appeared in Microsoft laptops for the first time, replacing the old Mini Display. You can use it for recharging, connect external screens, transfer data via USB 3.2 protocol at 10 Gbps. Only there is no Thunderbolt 3 support here, so it will not be possible to connect even faster external storage, docking stations or a video card. Almost all other laptops at this price point have Thunderbolt 3 support, and without it, the device's capabilities are more limited.

There is no SD card slot, which would be nice too. In general, the choice of connectors is rather meager, although better than the previous one.

Inside the case, the changes are more significant compared to the previous Surface Laptop. Instead of the usual Core i5 and Core i7 processors, AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 and up to 32 GB of RAM are used. This is the first Surface product to be powered by AMD processors, and generally one of the few notebooks to use them. These processors are also 4-core with a TDP of 15 W. The main difference is the slightly higher clock speed on the Ryzen 7.

Microsoft talked about its quality GPUs which are part of Ryzen chips and have an additional core for improved performance over integrated graphics. This does not mean that the laptop can play the heaviest modern games at high graphics settings. The same applies to video editing.

This review focuses on a Ryzen 5 laptop with Vega 9 graphics and 16GB of memory. For work, the performance is sufficient. You can open a dozen browser tabs, work in Office, switch between virtual desktops, and launch applications like Slack. When trying to play on the Laptop 3, it reaches its limit pretty quickly. Can't get high enough frame rates even at low resolutions with low details in games like Battlefield V, Star Wars Battlefront II or even Overwatch. Unless the game Forza Horizon 4 performed well at 1920 x 1200 pixels and low details. Microsoft and AMD have worked together to optimize this game. All in all, the Surface Laptop 3 is not a gaming laptop.

It's also not worth buying for video editing. Attempting to export a video that is 5 minutes 33 seconds long from Adobe applications Premiere Pro with 4K resolution and H.264 codec showed that it will take over 3 hours. After 51 minutes, the process was only 25% complete and the decision was made to surrender. By comparison, the 2016 MacBook Pro is on Core processor i7 with 16GB memory and graphics AMD Radeon The Pro 450 coped with this task in 17 minutes 55 seconds.

You can still live with this, but suddenly there were problems with playing 4K 60 fps videos on YouTube. IN Chrome browsers and Microsoft Edge video slows down, although the speed of Internet access is quite high. It's hard to think of another laptop that couldn't play this kind of YouTube video smoothly. Laptop 3 with a 13.5-inch screen Intel processor has no such problems on the same Wi-Fi network.

All of these results are not surprising, apart from the problem with YouTube. Considering that AMD processors relatively low-power, only 15 W versus 45 W on the Macbook Pro. Plus, the latest generation 15-inch MacBook Pro is $ 1,200 more expensive than the Laptop 3 15. I just wish I had a better understanding of what this laptop is capable of and what it isn't.

Despite the low power, the duration of the work leaves much to be desired. Microsoft promises 11.5 hours, but testing was conducted with a low screen brightness of only 150 nits. If you raise the brightness to a more practical value of around 50%, you get less than 6 hours of operation at average load. This means working in a browser, Slack, email, Twitter, Word, etc. across multiple virtual desktops. This is less than a typical 13-inch thin-and-light laptop, so the device is disappointing in this respect too.

Fortunately, there is at least a quick charge, from zero to 80%, the laptop charges in less than an hour. That's according to Microsoft itself. Independent tests have shown a zero to 39% charge in 30 minutes using the included 65W adapter. Fully recharged in over an hour using the charger USB-C devices with a power of 87 watts.

Laptop fans are quiet in most cases. Even when they go into action, the volume is significantly lower than on Macbook Pro and other powerful laptops. The case never gets very hot, so you can hold it in your hands without any problems.

If you're looking for a 15-inch laptop for office work, writing and more, the Surface Laptop 3 is a great choice. There is only one you don't need a full day without an outlet. Liked the increase in screen size and aspect ratio compared to other 15-inch laptops. The keyboard and touchpad are among the best. The quality of the finish is on par with other Microsoft Surface models, and the design looks great on a modern desktop. This is a wonderful thin and light computer for office workers.

If you want something more powerful, you will have to look for another option. Fortunately, there are quite a few to choose from, including the Apple MacBook Pro, Dell XPS 15, Microsoft Surface Book 2.