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Surface Laptop 3 15-inch review: Loads of good looks, very little substance

The Surface Laptop 2 was one of my favorite laptops last year, even so some reviewers suggesting information technology didn't make sense for Microsoft to release it. After all, it's just a typical Ultrabook. My contention was the excellent 3:ii display, typing and trackpad experience, sublime audio, and overall design were an applied science curiosity that delivered on cadre features.

For 2022, Microsoft fabricated a bigger 15-inch version of the Surface Laptop. Surface Laptop iii should be the pinnacle of what I desire in an Ultrabook. With a larger screen, more than room to work, longer battery life, and the potential for Microsoft's new partner, AMD, to show the world how it tin can beat Intel, how could it go incorrect? Unfortunately, my hopes have been somewhat dashed.

Here'southward why the Surface Laptop 3 15-inch doesn't quite win me over.

Update: Starting in April and May 2022, Surface Laptop 4 is replacing Surface Laptop 3. The article was updated to reflect that info.

Defective substance

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 15

From $800

Lesser line: The Surface Laptop 3 15-inch looks the office, but underneath it all, information technology disappoints. The AMD processor is zero heady, and battery life is merely OK. No Wi-Fi 6, muddied audio, and the lack of HDR makes this laptop just a slightly bigger 13.5 model with no unique features. Potential buyers may observe the thirteen.v model more highly-seasoned.

Pros:

  • Gorgeous blueprint and craftsmanship.
  • USB Type-C.
  • All-day 10-hour battery.
  • Superb keyboard and trackpad.
  • Stays quiet and absurd.
  • Tin be serviced

Cons:

  • AMD Ryzen and Vega underwhelm.
  • No Thunderbolt three or Wi-Fi 6.
  • No Dolby Vision or anti-glare display.
  • Frequent bombardment drains.
  • Audio not as skilful as Laptop ii.

Surface Laptop 3 xv price and availability

Equally of April 2022, Surface Laptop iii xv has been superseded by Surface Laptop iv. Notwithstanding, users can yet find Surface Laptop 3 15 from various retailers, often discounted, making it a viable option for those who want a solid laptop simply do not need the latest.

Amazon and Best Buy both still sell non-refurbished (new in box) Surface Laptop 3s with $400 savings as of May 2022. For example, a model with a Ryzen 5, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD costs $1,299 instead of its previous $1,699 toll signal.

The remaining stock of Surface Laptop iii will probable last through 2022 before beingness phased out altogether.

The good stuff

What's new with Microsoft'southward Surface Laptop 3

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows Key

Post-obit in the steps of Surface Volume two, Microsoft is making a larger — and in theory — more powerful version of its 13.5-inch Surface Laptop. Compared to the Surface Laptop 3 thirteen.5, which uses newer Intel processors, the 15-inch has gone AMD. The move is likely meant to save on some costs, as AMD regularly undercuts Intel on a per-scrap basis. But some have speculated that the AMD Ryzen and Vega combo may outperform a like Intel configuration.

For ports, Microsoft is following the rest of its refreshed Surface line by bringing USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 2 (10GB/s) to the Surface Laptop 3. That port is the most powerful Type-C you tin can do without bringing full Thunderbolt 3 to the mix. It features DisplayPort 1.iv, for powering dual-4K displays at 60Hz. There is too Power Commitment (PD), and then you can utilize a 65-watt Type-C charger, and information technology can be used with Type-C hubs or for information transfer.

Category Surface Laptop 3 (15-inch)
Operating system Windows ten Home
Display 15-inch PixelSense, three:2 aspect ratio, 2496x1664 (201 PPI)
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 custom CPU
GPU AMD Vega 9
AMD Vega 11
Memory 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB LPDDR4
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD (replaceable)
Front end camera 720p
Dual far-field Studio Mics
Security Windows Hello face authentication photographic camera, Firmware TPM
Connectivity Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac compatible
Bluetooth 5.0
Ports One USB-C, One USB-A, One Surface Connect, 3.5mm headphone jack
Bombardment Up to xi.5 hours
Weight Up to 3.4lbs (1.54kg)
Colors Platinum metallic, Matte Blackness metal

In that location is a standard USB Type-A port and headphone jack, both of which are on the left side of the laptop. On the right is the Surface Connect+ port, which at present supports a fast accuse of 0 to 80 percent in about an hour. Microsoft includes a standard 65-watt Surface charger with the 15-inch model, and that should already give hints well-nigh the power draw of this device; it's the same charger that a Surface Pro or 13.five Surface Laptop use.

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows CentralFrom left to right: USB Type-A, Blazon-C, and headphone jack.

The front-facing camera is very good, even at just 720P. This yr it is at present flanked by two microphones, or what Microsoft calls far-field Studio Mics. They work well and greatly enhance the Skype experience.

For Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Microsoft is leveraging the Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4 fleck. That'south an odd choice considering that part has been around since 2022, and information technology does non back up Wi-Fi six, unlike the Intel-based Surface Laptop three thirteen.five. Instead, it supports Wi-Fi 5 and is significantly slower. Information technology'south a direct result of going with AMD and not Intel for the chipsets.

Also new this year is serviceability. Surface Laptops were infamously unrepairable since information technology was all glued together. This year, the keyboard deck can be removed so that the SSD tin exist upgraded or replaced equally well equally the bombardment. Yet, this is non for the finish-user to exercise, and you will need to take the Laptop iii to an authorized service center to have the piece of work done.

A giant gorgeous slab

Surface Laptop 3 15 blueprint

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows Primal

The Surface Laptop 3 15 is unsurprisingly just similar the thirteen.v model only, well ... more substantial. The taller 3:ii aspect ratio gives this laptop a rather sizeable footprint, only comparatively speaking at 3.4 lbs (1.54kg), it is lighter than most fifteen-inch laptops. While the all-metal pattern feels very premium, you must baby this laptop. It is decumbent to dings, chips, and scratches from seemingly minor incidents. Carrying information technology in a well-protected bag with no strange objects is a must.

Saying the Surface Laptop 3 15 looks like art is non an understatement.

For colour choices, in that location are just two with the 15-inch model: platinum and matte black. Both are stunning. If you practice not similar fingerprints, the platinum is the meliorate choice, and it will also hide dings and scratches improve. If you scratch the matte black model, information technology leaves a noticeable silverish mark.

At that place is no Alcantara material on the 15-inch model, although the xiii.5-inch offers it in two colour options. Alcantara is somewhat controversial with some loving the feel and others actually disliking it or worrying virtually information technology getting muddied over time.

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows Central

Some of the best things about the Surface Laptop are what's hidden. The speakers are under the keyboard with no visible grill, and there are no bottom intake vents for the cooling organisation. Instead, the vents are at the rear of the laptop. This design is brilliant as your knees never block the intake system. Information technology looks clean and minimal — a common theme with Surface Laptop.

Every footling detail of the Surface Laptop 3 15 is well thought out and signifies precision craftsmanship. Closing the lid is even a joy as it has just enough resistance not to slam shut, but instead, quietly close. You can likewise easily open up it with 1 paw despite information technology defective a physical notch like Apple MacBook Pros.

Saying the Surface Laptop 3 15 feels and looks like art is not an understatement.

Skillful (but not cracking) screen

Surface Laptop two display

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows Primal

Microsoft is used an LCD-based 15-inch PixelSense display with a three:2 attribute ratio at 2496x1664 resolution for the Surface Laptop 3 xv. The 201 pixel per inch (PPI) is lower than that of Surface Pro 7 (267 PPI) and Surface Book 2 (260 PPI), just that's not really discernible.

Every little detail of the Surface Laptop 3 xv signifies precision craftsmanship.

The bezels are relatively thin, and the glass is Gorilla Glass 3 with some oleophobic protection. That glass is border to edge without any plastic for the bezels — another excellent blueprint choice.

The Surface Laptop 3 supports inking with a Surface Pen, but the display does not open to 180 degrees, nor is there a place to continue the pen in transit. In a pinch, nevertheless, the pen is groovy for signing a document or making a quick note. Likewise, the Surface Punch is besides supported with off-screen interaction.

New colors

Surface Pen 2022

Unleash your creativity

Just because Microsoft has a new stylus out, doesn't mean yous necessarily demand to purchase it over the classic Surface Pen. This stylus yet has excellent potential for creative piece of work.

For color accuracy, the screen delivers 96 percent sRGB, 72 percent AdobeRGB, and 75 percentage DCI-P3. Those numbers are below that of the Surface Laptop 2 (99 percent sRGB and 81 percent AdobeRGB), which is unfortunate.

Peak effulgence, when fix to 100 percent, is merely under 400 nits while turning the intensity to 0 percent results in iii.4 nits.

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows Fundamental

Every bit I remarked in my Surface Pro 7 review, Microsoft seems to be slipping in the brandish race compared to Lenovo, HP, and Dell. Things like support for HDR400 (500+ nits) and Dolby Vision are now standard features for premium Ultrabooks. Likewise, for new anti-glare tech, which keeps the benefits of a glossy brandish but cuts down on reflectivity, making it improve for long hours of work. The same applies to the rise of OLED displays and even faster refresh rates instead of 60Hz.

The Surface Laptop 3 15 (and new Surface Pro vii) lacks all of these new display features. The color accuracy and gamut are not equally good as other premium Ultrabooks. Windows 10 at present supports wide-color gamut apps, HDR apps, and games natively, simply the Surface Laptop three does not. That's a shame.

best typing around

Surface Laptop three 15 keyboard and trackpad

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows Central

Microsoft has been killing it in the Surface line with its keyboards and trackpads. That'southward the example for the Surface Laptop 3 xv, which highlights the best in this area. Microsoft has fabricated the keyboard a bit quieter than the Surface Laptop two, the key travel is still 1.5mm, and at that place is a three-stage backlight.

Part of that typing experience is amplified by the plentiful wrist area on the deck. Your hands will not hang off when typing, and instead, you can residuum them comfortably. All the same, because Microsoft didn't use Alcantara, there is no padding, and the metal deck is prone to scratches if you wear a watch or bracelet. Information technology seems almost complicated to avoid unless you remove anything from your wrist or type without resting your easily on the deck.

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows Central

The Precision Trackpad is now twenty per centum larger than the Surface Laptop ii's. Information technology's tremendous — not Apple MacBook huge — but notwithstanding ample. The click is soft, and the accuracy is splendid.

muddied audio

Surface Laptop iii 15 audio

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows Central

Microsoft is i of the best at audio for laptops. The Surface Pro has amazing forepart-facing speakers that sound amend than you lot would look. Same for Surface Book 2.

Sound quality for final twelvemonth'due south Surface Laptop 2 — fifty-fifty with the speakers hidden under the keyboard deck — is the best I have heard (putting aside MacBook Pros). It is rich, but clear, and information technology sounded fuller than Surface Pro or Surface Book due to the ability to resonate in the torso of the laptop.

I was dissatisfied, however, with the audio profile for Surface Laptop three 15. The audio can get loud, but become higher up sixty percent and you commencement to risk minor crackles or distortions. When playing the movie Interstellar (2014) on both the Surface Laptop ii and Surface Laptop 3 fifteen, the erstwhile had clearer dialog with ameliorate highs, whereas the Laptop 3 sounded muddied.

Information technology'due south not articulate if this is just a software tuning issue (there are no manual controls to alter), or it is related to the lack of Alcantara. I presume Microsoft could conform the sound curves to deliver like audio to Surface Laptop 2, only every bit of this review, the Laptop 3 sound is disappointing.

Information technology'south OK

Surface Laptop 3 xv performance, battery, and heat

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows CentralThe Surface Connect+ port promises a 0 to 80 percent recharge in nigh an hour.

There are a lot of loftier hopes for the combo of AMD Ryzen and Vega chips in the Surface Laptop 3 fifteen. Despite the hype around "customized" versions of the Vega GPU and the Ryzen five (tested here) and Ryzen vii, I am so far not seeing many advantages.

A more than straightforward way of classifying all of this is to say that the Surface Laptop 3 15 is only a thirteen-inch Ultrabook with a slightly slower CPU and a slightly more than powerful GPU. For those looking for a massive performance proceeds that places Surface Laptop 3 15 closer to Surface Book ii rather than Surface Laptop 2, I don't have any good news.

Update: October 23 — We now accept Intel Cadre i7-1065G7 benchmarks to compare to AMD as there is a "business" version of the Laptop 3 featuring Intel processors. Keep in mind, we are comparing a Cadre i7 to a Ryzen 5, which is not a fair comparison. AMD does offer a Ryzen 7 model, which would compete improve confronting the Intel Cadre i7.

Geekbench v

Geekbench five.0 (CPU) (Higher is better)

Device CPU Single cadre Multi core
Surface Laptop iii xv Ryzen 5 769 two,720
Surface Laptop 3 15 i7-1065G7 1,336 4,893
Surface Laptop 3 13.5 i5-1035G7 1,177 4,413
Surface Laptop 2 i5-8250U 909 three,372
Surface Pro vii i5-1035G4 ane,191 four,441
Surface Pro 6 i7-8650U 1,113 3,519
Surface Pro vi i5-8250U 904 3,440
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 i7-1065G7 ane,209 three,571
Dell XPS xv 7590 i9-9980HK 1,176 7,624

Geekbench 4

Geekbench iv.0 (CPU) (higher is ameliorate)

Device CPU Single core Multi core
Surface Laptop 3 15 Ryzen-5 iii,985 12,079
Surface Laptop 3 15 i7-1065G7 5,727 xix,593
Surface Laptop 3 13.5 i5-1035G7 5,265 17,345
Surface Laptop 2 i5-8250U 4,203 thirteen,233
Surface Laptop i5-7200U 3,725 7,523
Surface Pro 7 i5-1035G4 5,245 17,350
Surface Pro 6 i7-8650U 5,037 13,864
Surface Pro half-dozen i5-8250U 4,287 14,031
Surface Pro v i5-7300U four,302 eight,482
Surface Pro 5 i7-7660U 4,513 9,346
Surface Pro 4 i5-6300U iii,319 6,950
HP Spectre x360 15 i7-9750H 4,968 18,790
HP Spectre x360 15 i7-8565U 5,246 sixteen,272
Dell XPS 13 two-in-one 7390 i7-1065G7 5,459 19,097
Razer Bract Stealth i7-8565U 5,139 16,339
Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 i7-8665U v,469 15,800

PCMark

PCMark 10

Device Score
Surface Laptop 3 15 (AMD) iv,006
Surface Laptop 3 15 (Intel) iv,604
Surface Laptop ii 2,748
Surface Pro vii i5 3,992
Surface Pro six i7 3,644
Surface Pro 6 i5 three,501
Dell XPS xiii 2-in-1 7390 4,427
Dell XPS xv 7590 5,521
Dell XPS xiii 2-in-one 7390 4,427
Dell Inspiron 13 7390 2-in-one 3,764
HP Pavilion x360 fourteen iii,558
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s three,468

GPU

Geekbench 5.0 OpenCL (higher is ameliorate)

Device GPU Compute score
Surface Laptop three xv Vega 9 11,334
Surface Laptop 3 15 Iris Plus x,497
Surface Laptop 3 13.5 Iris Plus ix,811
Surface Laptop 2 Intel UHD 620 5,514
Surface Pro seven Iris Plus 7,613
Surface Pro half dozen Intel UHD 620 5,396
Dell XPS xiii 2-in-ane 7390 Iris Plus ten,406
HP Spectre x360 15 GTX 1050Ti 82,576
HP Spectre x360 15 MX150 47,284
Dell Precision 3541 NVIDIA Quadro P620 12,469

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (Higher is better)

Device Read Write
Surface Laptop 3 15 two,028 MB/s 806 MB/due south
Surface Laptop 3 13.v ii,338 MB/southward 1,583 MB/southward
Surface Laptop 2 ane,509 MB/s 811 MB/s
Surface Laptop 486 MB/s 244 MB/s
Surface Pro 7 2,040 MB/s 809 MB/south
Surface Pro half dozen i,632 MB/s 814 MB/s
Surface Pro 5 847 MB/s 801 MB/due south
Surface Volume one,018 MB/due south 967 MB/s
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 7390 two,400 MB/southward 1,228 MB/s
Huawei MateBook Ten Pro (new) 3,416 MB/s 2,779 MB/southward
HP Spectre x360 13t 3,085 MB/southward ane,182 MB/s
LG gram 14 two-in-1 558.1 MB/s 523.1 MB/s

.

When it comes to raw CPU performance, the Ryzen 5-3580U often falls below that of the Intel 8th Gen Cadre i5-8250U on Geekbench iv and Geekbench 5. Meanwhile, the Intel 10th Gen Core i5-1035G4 easily outpaces the AMD Ryzen 5 on both single and multi-core scores. AMD chips are a better match for Intel'south 8th Gen serial, simply it will lose out against the tenth Gen.

The AMD Vega 9 is a bit improved where information technology wins over the Intel UHD 620. Only it is simply a smidge faster than the Dell XPS 13 ii-in-ane 7390 with 10th Gen Iris Plus. Those Vega graphics did provide a boost over the Surface Laptop two'south overall score in PCMark 10, though.

While you can play games, you lot are by and large limited to side-scrollers and arcade style instead of first-person shooters. I was able to play Crackdown 3 with a decent framerate, merely it was only after all the graphics were set to "depression," reducing detail dramatically.

Bombardment life is a mixed pocketbook. Microsoft claims 11.v hours using a new test that relies on x browser tabs and Microsoft Role running for a productivity-focused benchmark. That'southward not too far from PCMark 10's "Modern Office" bombardment test that mixes Office use, browser, video conferencing, and some idle fourth dimension. My results show that ten hours of bombardment life is doable, compared to just eight hours in the smaller Surface Pro vii.

However, my review unit did experience a persistent battery bleed. If I leave the laptop with the lid closed overnight, information technology results in a xx percentage drop in the battery. By comparison, the Surface Pro 7 only dropped by iv percent. I'll chalk that up to some early commuter bug. Just therein lies some other rub: AMD laptops are woefully underrepresented in the market resulting in its drivers having possible bug. Those can be fixed, of course, but it highlights a pocket-size risk with Surface Laptop 3 until Microsoft can isolate the issue. (Intel chips have also had plenty of problems.)

Surface Laptop 3 CPU Source: Windows CentralThere is a lot of CPU oscillation when doing a 26-infinitesimal benchmark.

SSD storage performance is in line with Surface devices. Read scores hit the 2,000 MB/south, an increase over Laptop two'due south ane,500 MB/south, and Surface Laptop 1'southward bottomless 486 MB/s. Write speeds are still beneath the industry average, at just 800MB/due south.

Finally, the Surface Laptop three fifteen stays cool under duress. Temperatures rarely went over 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees C), and the fans were ever quiet.

sum of its parts

Lesser line on Microsoft's Surface Laptop iii 15-inch

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows Central

The Surface Laptop iii 15 is quite disappointing.

While I recognize that some may prefer a 15-inch model, at least, in this instance, the Surface Laptop 3 15 offers no clear advantage over the smaller 13.5-inch 1 besides a larger screen. That's not the case with Surface Volume 2, where the xv-inch received a more powerful GPU and even had Xbox Wireless Controller support. Those were articulate differentiators.

And therein is the core event with Surface Laptop 3 15: identity. Microsoft claimed this was the fastest 15-inch in its form, just it is almost in a form of its own, and not in a good way. Most manufacturers, when they become to the 15-inch size, besides bring more meaning features, such as 45-watt CPUs and GTX graphics. You'll discover none of that here.

There were loftier hopes for AMD Ryzen and Vega but so far in that location's niggling reward.

Overall system performance is worse than the Dell XPS xiii two-in-ane. The new Razer Bract Stealth has a Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics. Information technology's just a thirteen-inch Ultrabook. Couldn't Microsoft go with Intel and sneak in an NVIDIA MX150 similar anybody else?

Some of the performance worries could be eased if I could point to extraordinary battery life. But I tin can't.

Then there are smaller matters. The sound contour and color gamut are worse than the thirteen.5-inch model. The display looks cracking and is excellent for near users, but other companies are calculation value plays like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HDR400, anti-glare, and OLED. While I can excuse the lack of Thunderbolt 3 in smaller laptops, it seems 15-inch ones should have that characteristic. This i doesn't.

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows CardinalA Type-C hub greatly expands the usefulness of the Surface Laptop 3 thanks to that Blazon-C port.

Fifty-fifty wireless is disappointing, with no Wi-Fi 6 with a flake. Wi-Fi 6 in a laptop this premium should be a given.

The Type-C port is at to the lowest degree welcome. With it, y'all can use external displays (even portable ones) and Type-C hubs to add more ports. Y'all can besides utilise portable Type-C battery packs, external drives, or a Type-C charger in a compression. Simply it is a flake odd that Microsoft could non squeeze in another port like a full SD card reader — a common practice with larger laptops.

None of this is to say that a Surface Laptop fifteen-inch is a bad PC. Merely Microsoft overhyped the performance with Surface Laptop iii 15.

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows CentralThe included 65-watt charger is the same as Surface Laptop 13.v and Surface Pro.

If coin or performance is a priority and looks aren't a concern, at that place are better choices on the market. The XPS 15 (7590) is a bulkier laptop, but it has excellent bombardment life and exceptional functioning all for $70 less. The HP Spectre x360 15, while dated with thicker bezels, is disproportionately much more than stiff than Laptop 3 and slightly cheaper.

An fifty-fifty better choice is to go with the slightly smaller Surface Laptop 3 13.v. I'd argue that size is amend for everyday use and travel, more comfy to type on, and it delivers Wi-Fi 6, optional Alcantara, and likely crispier sound. While I haven't benchmarked the 10th Gen Intel chips on that laptop, the Surface Pro 7, which uses a like configuration, has been outstanding.

Surface Laptop 3 15 Source: Windows CentralThe Windows Hello facial recognition worked well and is quite fast.

There is a version of this laptop with Intel 10th Gen Core processors, but Microsoft is only offer it as a straight sale in select markets. While I feel the Intel chipset with Wi-Fi 6 addresses some of my concerns hither, I'm not convinced information technology addresses all of them.

I however similar the idea of a 15-inch Surface Laptop, but for the price Microsoft is charging, I want more substance. The laptop design is exquisite, only in giving upward Alcantara, the Surface Laptop lost one of the things that made it different. The partnership with AMD here is also odd, as well. I can't understand at all what value it brings to the end-user over Intel — something I recently suggested. It'southward not faster. The GPU is a pilus ameliorate simply far below even an MX150. And if battery life is significantly meliorate, Microsoft's estimates betray that fact.

The skillful news is Microsoft will likely bring this laptop back with significant refinements ... somewhen. Merely for now, unless yous're hooked on a 15-inch Ultrabook, information technology may be best to pass on this PC.

Information technology looks cute, merely…

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 15

Information technology'southward a huge Ultrabook, but that's information technology

The Surface Laptop 2 was one of Microsoft'due south nearly fabulous creations, but in making a larger fifteen-inch version, the company missed the marker. The AMD Ryzen and Vega are merely OK and don't offer much over Intel. The lack of Wi-Fi 6, extra ports, Thunderbolt iii, slightly worse speakers, and occasional battery drains get in even harder to recommend. There'due south a lot of fashion but not a lot of substance.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/surface-laptop-3

Posted by: millerwiffand2002.blogspot.com

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