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Microsoft Surface Laptop 3: Review

Need to change your laptop? Consider Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3.

Amelia Glean
Amelia Glean

Updated

Fact checked

Microsoft has come out hard in 2020 with the new Surface range: the Surface Pro 7, the Surface Pro X and the Surface Laptop 3 have been released in rather quick succession. New year, new decade, time for some new tech!

This guide will provide you with all the information you need about the Surface Laptop 3, but if you want to look deeper into the Surface Pro 7, then you can check out our guide here.

Microsoft Laptop 3

  • Where can you purchase it? Direct through Microsoft’s website, but check for a discount here first.
  • What models are available? You can purchase the Surface Laptop 3 13 inch – i7/16/1TB in black, or the Surface Laptop 3 15 inch – AMD 7/16/512, also in black.
  • How much is it? Prices for the Surface Laptop 3 start from around £899 and range up to about £2,049.

What’s new?

The Surface Laptop 3 has some of the best battery life ever experienced in a laptop of its class, which should be lauded. It also features a game-changing collaboration between AMD and Microsoft, resulting in a new chip that’s been dubbed the AMD Ryzen Surface Edition.

What's in this guide?

  1. Design
  2. Performance
  3. Cool software
  4. Battery life
  5. Pros and cons of the Surface Laptop 3

Design

Available only in the aluminum finish, the Surface Laptop 3 has a great look and feel. It’s also very light, half a pound lighter and a hair thinner compared to the 15-inch MacBook Pro, to be exact. The keyboard and trackpad are very user-friendly too; the trackpad is smooth to the touch and accurate, while the keys offer plenty of travel and are relatively quiet.

Performance

This is a device more than able for both basic computing tasks as well as more intense jobs, like photo editing and graphic design work. It’s also a powerhouse for playing video, if you are so inclined.

Cool software

You can enjoy the Windows Hello facial recognition if deciding to opt for a Surface Laptop 3, which uses an infrared camera next to its webcam. This means getting into the laptop interface is super fast but also secure. But the Surface Laptop 3’s thinner and lighter model means it boasts less dedicated hardware and features than its competitors.

Battery life

It’s going to be tough for most competing laptops in its class to defeat the Surface Laptop 3 in regards to lasting power. Expect it to run for nearly a whole workday, great for those of us who tend to forget our chargers!

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

Pros and cons of the Surface Laptop 3

Pros

  • Solid battery life
  • Facial recognition software
  • User-friendly keyboard

Cons

  • Lack of dedicated hardware and features

What's the verdict?

If you have a Surface Laptop 2 and are looking for a larger screen with the same battery life, the Surface Laptop 3 will deliver for you. It also boasts facial recognition software and a smooth and easy-to-use keyboard. But if you’re looking to use your laptop for more advanced tasks, we advise siding with other models.

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