The Surface Laptop 4 isn’t the most thrilling laptop I’ve ever tested. It has given me a sense of déjà vu. The design hasn’t changed much since the moment I got hands-on with the first model in 2017. The most obvious modification on my 13-inch review model — apart from having a different shade of blue is that it features a USB-C port, not a Mini DisplayPort. That’s it.
But I’m still adamant about the laptop at the top of the line. There are a few quirks, but it’s one of the simplest to recommend laptops available on the market. I’m not sure Microsoft could continue to make it through another year of this design with prices starting at $999. Surface Laptop 4 is a bargain. Surface Laptop 4 is still one of the most beautiful and most enjoyable laptops that money can buy. Here are a few reasons to buy it.
It’s Still Amazing
Sometimes, the pursuit of being new is not always worth it. The saying goes: If it’s not broken and you can’t fix it, don’t repair it. I started this review with the intention to make a huge giddy face at the minor changes; however, whenever I turn on the Surface Laptop from other devices I’m using, I can’t avoid getting excited.
Despite being a dated style, according to tech standards, however, the Surface Laptop 4 is still one of the most beautiful laptops, even though I’m biased towards blue devices.
I’m just as swayed towards this Alcantara material. I don’t care if the material can be a bit more filthy than steel with scuffed hands. Its Ice Blue Alcantara on my model is luxurious when you type in a way that no other laptop does (the soft-touch finish of the Dell XPS 13 is nice, however, it’s not quite there). In all likelihood, it’s much less dirty than you might think. Even after a few months, there’s a very slight sign of wear.
If I think about what I would like Microsoft to do in the future, only a handful of things are on my mind. Bezels that are smaller would be great, particularly on such a device that doesn’t transform into tablet-like devices and doesn’t require the space to hold.
Or, you could retain the bezels; however, you can give your Surface Laptop a 360-degree hinge. In all honesty, don’t imagine Microsoft making that decision; however, the absence of a tablet mode can restrict the usefulness of the Surface Pen. Surface Pen.
However, there are only a handful of laptops that can compete with the Surface Laptop on the design front, despite having been able to get there.
The Speakers are Excellent even by Laptop Standards
A lot of laptops in the mainstream market tend to feature a bothersome lower-firing sound system. I’m not happy with it. This means that the sound fluctuates and varies based on whether the user is using your computer on their lap, on your couch, or on an actual table. It rarely sounds great.
The Surface Laptop 4 is instead firing sound up via the keyboard. This is an ideal recipe for disaster, but it somehow ends with a sound that is pretty good even by laptop standards.
Although I wasn’t as involved as I am in real-world reviews of speakers, to me, it has a well-balanced, warm tone that’s an excellent contrast to the typical tinny or boomy audio you’ll hear in other laptops. I’m not sure why laptops come with a variety of automatic EQ options for games, movies, and music. That’s dumb. Good speakers are simply good speakers. It’s all you need is to make good sound without the tricks.
It Features a Goldilocks Display
One of my biggest pet peeves concerning laptops in this class is that they often require you to choose between the 1080p or 4K-ish display.
I believe the display of 13 inches with 1080p resolution is a pixel-fest according to contemporary standards. Some say you don’t require a greater resolution for displays that size, but I’ve not seen a display with 1080P resolution on anything bigger than the size of a tablet that I thought was blurry.
However, 4K displays with OLED displays, a majority of which can eat up battery life like no other.
There’s a reason why very few laptop makers actually attempt to find a compromise of resolution that is the ideal resolution for the display size. Apple has one. Microsoft can be another.
The 13.5” Surface Laptop 4 comes with a resolution of 2256 1504 pixels (201 PPI), which is just right. I’d like to have a slightly higher pixel density, but it’s almost reaching the point where it’s reducing return. The further increase in resolution could result in barely noticeable improvements in brightness, but also drain more battery.
It also comes with a 3:2 aspect ratio that is the highest aspect ratio.
However, it’s far from flawless. The display may not be one of the brightest or most vivid you’ll find, but its color calibration and contrast are in line and are generally comparable with other displays in this class, and striking a more balanced quality-to-resolution balance. I like that regardless of whether you opt to save money by using a budget model or go for the highest resolution of specifications, you’re enjoying the same high-quality display.
It’s More Efficient than ever
Much of what I’ve mentioned applies to older Surface Laptops; the Surface Laptop 4 is significantly improved by its upgraded internals.
Surface Laptop 3 Surface Laptop 3 felt somewhat like it was lagging behind its peers in terms of performance, particularly when compared to the AMD version, which was based on a technology that was older than the other models.
With my own Intel Core-i7 review device that has 16GB of RAM, it is able to handle daily tasks without a hitch. Like the majority of Surface devices, it’s absolutely free of the clutter that is found on many other devices.
The gaming performance of models like the Intel model has risen substantially because of its Iris Xe GPU, but it’s still not a machine you can buy to get massive framerates in AAA-quality titles. However, you’ll be able to play the majority of games at smaller resolutions with lower settings.
It’s not a laptop that is designed to handle the most demanding tasks on the go, and it won’t make a huge difference from other laptops sporting similar Intel or AMD components. However, it will not be overlooked, and from a subjective standpoint, it appears to be able to keep its performance even after long-term use.
You can choose from Intel and AMD
Microsoft gives laptop purchasers greater choice than they typically have with regard to processors. You can pick between a range of Intel and AMD options, giving the user a wide range of options according to their budget and desired use.
Although I was unable to experience this version, the AMD model of the Surface Laptop 4, benchmarks, and user reviews of the model are far better than those of its predecessor. Particularly, it has shown to be a leader in terms of battery endurance and multi-threaded performance, and the Intel model is better for gaming, and comes with greater storage and memory options.
It’s still the best Keyboard
Keyboards are a personal choice However, they are a personal thing, but the Surface Laptop 4 is simply my ideal laptop keyboard. It’s quiet, it’s clicky, it’s responsive. It feels great.
It’s a great keyboard. more than a lot of keyboards for my desktop that I’ve used. It’s more comfortable than that came with the Surface Book 3, too. Together with the Alcantara material It’s a dream for writers.
I am in love with I love it. For me, at least. Microsoft could make the same keyboard for Surface Laptop 5, Surface Laptop 5 and I’d still be content.
(And the trackpad itself is cool too -I’d say it’s the best one that you can find outside of the MacBook.)
It’s a Longer Time to Last than Before
Microsoft said it would add approximately an hour to the battery life. In actuality, it seems like it could make it through the day faster than it did previously. Except for lots of work in Lightroom or photoshop I didn’t have to recharge the laptop prior to the end of the day.
It’s not the most durable laptop I’ve ever used. It’s certainly more durable than the majority of 4K laptops available, with hardly any impact on the quality of the display. It’s the result of the ‘Goldilocks’ display resolution and the meticulous improvement by Microsoft.
Microsoft claims that the Intel version will last for 17 hours. That is a big old ‘lol. I’m not sure, however 7-10 hours, based on the workload you are running, is real. I usually use high brightness also. But the AMD version is expected to last longer because it uses more cautious power management when not connected. Microsoft promises it will last for 19 hours, which means it’s expected to last an extra hour or so compared to the Intel version.
This isn’t the Surface for me, however, it’s the Classic Laptop I’d Recommend Most
While I love my Surface Laptop 4, it’s not my primary driver. The title goes towards Surface Book 3. Surface Book 3, not solely due to the GPU; however, it is my experience that using the tablet version of the device is crucial. I make use of the stylus for writing notes in OneNote, editing photos, notating sheet music, tackling math problems, and so on. Additionally, it’s better to watch movies when the screen is pushed forward.
It makes me wish that Microsoft would create a reasonably priced Surface Laptop that had some kind of 2-in-1 capabilities. It’s a shame that the Surface Book is too expensive for most users; however, even though this Surface Laptop supports does it with Surface Pen, it’s not a great fit for the Surface Pen, as it’s very difficult to use in this size. There’s generally no downside with a hinge that flips, and it’s the HP Spectre 12×360 is also among the best laptops I’ve had as well, whether convertible or not.
Furthermore, as I’m not sure where else to include in this article, I would love to have a couple more USB-C ports for the next version.
But the majority of users want a simple, classic laptop that looks good and feels comfortable and generally is hassle-free in terms of battery life and performance. Although it’s somewhat outdated in terms of its bezels, an affirmation of the quality in the design of its predecessor, to see that Surface Laptop 4 Surface Laptop 4 still is amazing. In the end, it’s about the overall experience that counts and not the level of ‘new’ it appears to be.
The Surface Laptop was never in fact damaged; however, Microsoft has “fixed” it to the point that it is more affordable than it has ever been.
