In other words, if you want the $999 base configuration of the 13-inch with an i5, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD but with 16GB memory instead, you can't get it - you have to pay more for the 512GB version. You have a choice of 256GB, 512GB or 1TB removable solid-state drive for storage, though it's only intended to be removed by a technician (not the rest of us).Īctually, it comes in about four configurations for each size, not all of which are available in all four colors. With the processor change also comes faster DDR5 memory: 8GB, 16GB or 32GB (15-inch only). (It's also why you'll sometimes see updates to products that have you thinking 'Why did they bother?')Īvailable in 13.5- and 15-inch sizes, the major difference from the Surface Laptop 4 is the move to Intel's 12th-gen Core processors, specifically a choice of an i5-1235U or i7-1255U for consumers and i5-1245U or i7-1265U for business buyers (the latter chips come with support for Intel's vPro security). Both of those make switching to another manufacturer a higher barrier than for a typical consumer.

Both the Surface Laptop 5 and the Surface Studio 2 Plus seem to have been updated with enterprise buyers in mind, where product buying gets approved for specific configurations and a change that may increase the price means another round of approvals, but IT departments want the laptops it distributes to be as homogeneous as possible for easier accessorizing, support and deployment. At least, it wasn't for the $1,700 top-end model we reviewed.Īge always shows in the screen bezels, which dates the design. The Surface Laptop 5 is a fine notebook, just as it's always been, but it's not as up-to-date or high performing as a lot of similarly priced (or cheaper) models - the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, Lenovo Yoga 7i, HP Spectre x360 or even the MacBook Air if you swing that way. Microsoft has stuck with the same essential design for years, doing the least to keep it current.

The Surface Laptop line reminds me so much of an older generation of MacBooks.

Surface pro laptop 5