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Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 review: there’s more than surface differences here

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 4 looks like its predecessor but is more powerful and offers much longer battery life.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

Microsoft has released the fourth iteration of Surface Laptop and it looks identical to the previous model. When we reviewed Surface Laptop 3 in October 2019, in pre-pandemic times, we lauded that there were now two sizes (13.5-inch and 15-inch). Microsoft’s decision to produce models with AMD Ryzen processors added new options.

For years AMD has been the rival to Intel and while Intel has dominated the PC chip market, AMD offers less expensive but powerful chips.

The Surface Laptop is a student and business workhorse rather than a fast gaming laptop. It has the same attractive aluminium body and retains the 3:2 screen ratio of previous versions. The squarer 3:2 shape is great if your main application is business, research and homework rather than watching movies.

Microsoft has returned to using Alcantara cloth around the keys of the keyboard, which looks like fake suede. It adds texture to the keyboard edges, if you rest your palms at the sides of the keyboard as you type.

The sameness of Surface Laptop 4 to its predecessor extends to the port offerings around the edges: USB-C, USB-3, and a 3.5mm audio port at left and Microsoft’s bespoke power connector port at right. Having both USB options means you don’t need to plug in an adaptor. However you’ll need an adaptor anyway if you are going to plug-in more than two peripherals.

There is no mention of faster Thunderbolt support for USB-C which is a pity. There’s no slot for a 4G or 5G SIM and Microsoft insists on using its Surface Connect Port rather than USB-C to charge the laptop. You can buy a Surface Dock for extra ports but it comprises two heavy bricks you need to carry around.

The keyboard has wide, full-sized keys with plenty of travel. You experience pressing keys distinctly. I experienced a slight bounciness as I typed, as if the keyboard base is slightly flexible. If you’ve used Surface Pros, you’ll know what I mean.

Despite the similarities, there are major differences that make 2021 Surface Laptops a more compelling buy.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4.

In 2019, Ryzen was available only for the 15-inch model – a Ryzen 5 3580U or Ryzen 7 3780U processor.

Now more powerful Ryzen processors are available for both models. You can choose Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 for the 13.5-inch laptop (although Microsoft’s site currently shows just Ryzen 5 available) and Ryzen 7 for the 15-inch version. All models have AMD Radeon graphics.

If you are an Intel fan, both models are available with 11th generation quad core Intel processors, but Intel versions are more expensive.

The crux of difference is better performance. I ran our standard battery test on a 13-inch Surface Laptop 4 and it ran for 11 hours 9 minutes playing full HD video continuously at 50 per cent brightness. That’s a step up from the 8 hours, 15 minutes that the bigger 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 registered in 2019.

I ran the same Cinebench 15 benchmark that we used in 2019. The 2021 13-inch Surface Laptop 4 achieved a CPU score of 1213 cb (last time 317 cb on the 15-inch) and a graphics score of 55.77 frames per second (last time 38.43 fps). The comparisons were with Ryzen 5 processors.

So the 2021 Surface Laptop 4 battery will last considerably longer when you’re out and about, and the 55.77 fps graphics will let you play more games and offers more graphics capability for image and video editing. It’s a sizeable performance hike.

The 2019 and 2021 laptops are much the same in other ways. Screen resolutions remain above 2K and pixel densities (201 pixels per inch) are identical across both models. Microsoft has dropped the 128GB solid state drive option; you can choose 256GB, 512GB and 1TB drives in 2021.

There are different colour options this year. The 13.5-inch unit comes in platinum or ice blue; it’s matte black or platinum for the 15-inch model. Prices start at $1599 for 13.5-inch Ryzen 5 models and $2199 for 15-inch Ryzen 7 models. Surface Pens cost $139.95 and the very original looking Surface Arc Mouse is $119.95.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop was always an attractive mid-range laptop option and this latest upgrade makes it even more attractive, with the reservations expressed above.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4. Picture: Microsoft
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4. Picture: Microsoft

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/gadgets/theres-more-than-surface-differences-here/news-story/d053595605dcb32c41a71f629c323729