the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, Microsoft’s conventional laptop, is in its fifth generation. The recently unveiled Surface Laptop 5 is basically an iterative update to the Surface Laptop 4, with the significant difference being what it does not provide.
The upgrade to Intel’s 12th generation CPUs is nice, but the departure from AMD’s Ryzen portfolio reduces the potential performance and value of the laptop for artists. However, the Surface Laptop 5 is a visually appealing and well-built laptop that’s most likely ideal for productivity professionals.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 design
The Surface Laptop 5 is straightforward yet elegant, weighing only 2.8 lbs. for the 13.5-inch model and 3.4 lbs. for the 15-inch variant. If you choose the 13.5 inch model, you can pick from the colours: Sandstone, Platinum, Matte Black, and brand new Sage.
The touchscreen is equally responsive and offers a number of functions to pick from. For example, the Focus option also disables alerts for a certain quantity of time so you can focus on productivity. Another option is SnapDragon, which lets you divide your screen into portions and then place windows in those areas for convenient multitasking.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 price and availability
The Surface Laptop 5 is available in 13.5 inches and 15 inches. Each version has its unique configuration, with the 13.5-inch having the choice of an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, while the 15-inch offers only the i7.
The 13.5-inch starts at $999.99 in the US. The most affordable 15-inch model starts at $1,299.99.However, the 15-inch Intel Core i7 model with 1TB SSD and 32GB of RAM can cost as much as $2,399.99.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 battery life
Microsoft says the 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 5 model can last up to 18 hours in regular use, while the 15-inch variant can last up to 17 hours.
When browsing the web, Apple claims the MacBook Air M2 can last up to 15 hours. This suggests that Microsoft Surface Laptops have the edge in terms of longevity.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 performance
The Surface Laptop 5 is powered by a Core i5 or i7 processor, depending on the configuration. Therefore the processing capacity must be outstanding. Plus, because it is designed to be a productivity machine, it should have the ability to handle anything from spreadsheets to conference calls to video streaming and more.
It also has LPDDR5 RAM capacity, which is highly good. The ordinary Intel Iris Xe Graphics GPU is less as there isn’t any separate GPU for the Laptop 5. It is alleged to be 50% more powerful than the Laptop 4, with excellent sound quality because of the studio microphones to look forward.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 appears to be at a crossroads. On the one hand, the improved accessibility capabilities, improved quality of life, and new touchscreen functions are a welcome addition to the Surface Laptop series.
With the current pricing, it is challenging to recommend an upgrade if you have a Laptop 4. However, this is a solid work machine if you have money to spend.
