Microsoft announced its new line of Surface 3 Laptops during its big New York Surface event, complete with both 13- and 15-inch models that come with an Intel CPU with AMD graphics.
When we looked a the the Surface Laptop 2, we found it to be a passable device with a few specific issues. Processor performance was lukewarm. Ports were outdated. Bezels were too thick. Microsoft was listening. The Surface Laptop 3 has a new Intel 10th-generation Ice Lake CPU at its core, which Microsoft claims will offer double the performance of the last-generation model, and up to three times that of Apple’s MacBook Air.
The 15-inch version will also have the option of an AMD Ryzen processor built on its Zen+ architecture (so not the new one from its Ryzen 3000 desktop chips). That’s paired up with capable Vega 11 graphics.
Judging from AMD’s claims that the Surface Laptop 3 will be able to boost up to 4GHz, it sounds like it’s going to come fitted with a variant of an AMD Ryzen 3700U, even if it’s being branded as a Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition processor. That’s a lot more oomph than its predecessor.
Other improvements include a USB-C port — Microsoft finally capitulated and added it to a number of Surface products, but this is great news. There’s a removable hard drive, new color schemes including “Sandstone,” and an aluminum chassis. Bezels are trimmer, the frame is lighter, and you can even remove the hard drive and swap it out for something larger or faster in the future if you so wish.
Inputs have received an overhaul too, with some tweaked keyboard keys that are said to be lighter, smoother, and more accurate than ever before. With a touchpad that’s been increased in size by as much as 20 percent, there should be plenty of scope for comfortable and functional computing on the new Surface Laptop 3.
Battery life is said to last “all done,” and charging speed has also been massively improved, with as much as 80 percent charge possible in just 30 minutes, Microsoft said.
The Surface Laptop 3 is available for pre-order now, with a starting price of $999 for the 13.5-inch model, and $1,199 for the 15-inch version. They’ll start shipping on October 22.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.