Microsoft has finally launched the evolution of its quintessential laptop, the Surface Laptop 4. We know that the Surface Pro 7 usually draws all eyes, but the model I tested this time is not short on specifications. The best? There are many options to choose from.
Design
Microsoft says that the Surface Laptop 4 can be opened with one finger, and as you can see, it’s true. He also says it is one of the thinnest he has created, thanks to an invisible hinge. Without getting technical, when compared to the M1-chip MacBook Pro, it looks slightly lighter, though this laptop model generally stacks up better with the somewhat finicky MacBook Air.
The exterior design of this computer is entirely made of aluminum. However, its keyboard maintains the Alcantara fabric, which feels good when you support your wrists to type and makes a difference compared to the competition.
In addition, its touch surface is large, comfortable, and gives a good sense of touch. Note that some versions will have an aluminum keyboard, but these are usually more expensive.
screen and speakers
You should know that the screen does not change much compared to its predecessor since it maintains wide borders and a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels with a 3: 2 aspect. Of course, it is touch and compatible with the Surface Pen.
Surface Laptop 4
Now that many of us work from home, the 3:2 screen aspect is interesting since it allows you to read much more text at a glance; It’s also great for watching movies.
At the top, we find a 720p HD camera with Windows Hello facial recognition. This computer does not have a rear camera, unlike other company models.
If you’re wondering how the speakers sound, you should know that the speakers are placed under the keyboard, which makes them not as good as computers that keep them on the sides, like the MacBook Pro.
Sound has a high profile, and Dolby Atmos technology adds improved audio separation, giving the Surface Laptop 4 a decent loudness for viewing multimedia content.
The Surface Laptop 4 is a good computer, though it has ups and downs. The chassis is slowly getting a little old, but ultimately it gives an excellent performance to work with. However, it is not the most recommended for video game lovers or designers.
Price
The Surface Laptop 4 starts at $1,000, though there’s also a particular all-aluminum version—without an Alcantara keyboard—and an AMD processor that costs about $1,600.
Prosecution
Microsoft released many options regarding the insides of this computer, as there is a Surface Laptop 4 series with an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 processor and one with an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The best chips are in the 15-inch model, while the most basic is in the 13.5-inch.
For this review, I tested a Surface Laptop 4 with a 13.5-inch screen, Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. I have no complaints about its processing or battery, although Microsoft says that some AMD models can reach up to 19 hours of battery life. I managed a performance of more than 13 hours in my tests, which seems quite a lot to me.
If you’re wondering about the graphics, there’s nothing remarkable about it, unlike some super-expensive laptops of the same size. With Iris XE, some video games may run a bit slow. So if you’re considering buying this computer because you want to dedicate 100 percent to gaming, we’d recommend this list of laptops.
If you’re wondering about ports, the Surface Laptop 4 comes with one USB-C, one USB-A, the Surface Connect port, and a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack.
Some features you won’t find on this model or any computer in the line are a Thunderbolt port, which is becoming increasingly popular, and no LTE options, which the Surface Pro 7 Plus has.
If you are one of those who miss the fact that the charging port is magnetic, do not worry because Microsoft maintains it. Mind you, it’s sometimes hard to put on and take off, but the company says users love that clip-on feel, and I think they’re right.
pros
Good mix of materials
Construction that adds resistance
good battery life
Various options with Intel and AMD chipsCons
Somewhat thick bezels
The webcam is not his greatest strength.