The Surface Laptop 5, the most powerful laptop in the traditional form factor, has fewer modifications than the Surface Pro 9. This Specs Appeal article will assist previous-gen Surface Laptop owners determine whether the new Surface Laptop 5 is worthwhile upgrading, and those who are planning to purchase a Surface Laptop can determine if they should opt for the older models to save some money.
The Surface Laptop 5 now has AMD processors, including better memory, Bluetooth 5.1, and a new color version. If you want a modern Windows 11 laptop with fresh AMD silicon, you should look elsewhere or consider purchasing the Surface Laptop 4.
Here are five key changes outlined in a list:
| Surface Laptop 5 | Surface Laptop 4 | Surface Laptop 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chassis | 13.5-inch: 12.1" x 8.8" x 0.57", 2.86 lbs 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm, 1.27 kg 15-inch: 13.4" x 9.6" x 0.58", 3.44 lbs 340 x 244 x 14.7 mm, 1.56 kg | ||
| Colors | Platinum, Sage, Matte Black, Sandstone | Platinum, Ice Blue, Matte Black, Sandstone | Platinum, Cobalt Blue, Matte Black, Sandstone |
| Display | 13.5-inch: 2256 x 1504 (201 ppi)Dolby Vision IQ 10-point multi-touch 15-inch: 2496 x 1664 (201 ppi)Dolby Vision IQ 10-point multi-touch | 13.5-inch: 2256 x 1504 (201 ppi) 10-point multi-touch 15-inch: 2496 x 1664 (201 ppi) 10-point multi-touch | |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1235U Intel Core i7-1255U | Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Core i7-1185G7 AMD Ryzen 5 4680U AMD Ryzen 7 4980U | Intel Core i5-1035G7 Intel Core i7-1065G7 AMD Ryzen 5 3580U AMD Ryzen 7 3780U |
| Memory | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB LPDDR5x | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB LPDDR4x | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB DDR4 |
| Storage | User-replaceable SSD 256GB, 512GB, 1 TB | Non-user-replaceable SSD 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | |
| Security | TPM 2.0 Chip Windows Hello face sign-in Windows 11 Secured-core PC | TPM 2.0 Windows Hello face sign-in | Firmware TPM Windows Hello face sign-in |
| Network | Wi-Fi 6 802.11axBluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax Bluetooth 5.0 | |
| Battery | 13.5-inch: Up to 18 hours of typical use 15-inch: Up to 17 hours of typical use | 47.4 Wh nominal capacity | Up to 11.5 hours of typical use |
| Camera | 720p HD front-facing camera with Windows Hello face sign-in | ||
| Ports | 1x Thunderbolt 4/USB-C 4.0 1x USB-A 3.1 3.5 mm headphone jack 1x Surface Connect | 1x USB-C 1x USB-A 3.5 mm headphone jack 1x Surface Connect | |
| Price | TBA TBA | $1,000 $1,300 | $1,000 $1,200 |
13.5-inch
12.1" x 8.8" x 0.57", 2.86 lbs 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm, 1.27 kg
15-inch
13.4" x 9.6" x 0.58", 3.44 lbs 340 x 244 x 14.7 mm, 1.56 kg
13.5-inch :
Dolby Vision IQ''s 10-point multi-touch measures 2256 x 1504 (201 ppi)
15-inch
Dolby Vision IQ is a 10-point multitouch measuring 2496 pixels x 1664 (201 ppi)
13.5-inch
10-point multi-touch with 2256 x 1504 (201 ppi)
15-inch
10-point multitouch between 2496 and 1664 (201 ppi)
Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Core i7-1185G7
AMD Ryzen 5 4680U AMD Ryzen 7 4980U
Intel Core i5-1035G7 Intel Core i7-1065G7
AMD Ryzen 5 3580U AMD Ryzen 7 3780U
13.5-inch
Up to 18 hours of typical usage
15-inch
Up to 17 hours of typical use
No capacity for 47.4 Wh
Up to 11.5 hours of typical usage
13.5-inch
12.1" x 8.8" x 0.57", 2.86 kg 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm, 1.27 kg
15-inch
13.4" x 9.6" x 0.58", 3.44 lbs 340 x 244 x 14.7 mm, 1.56 kg
13.5-inch :
Dolby Vision IQ IQ 10-point multi-touch (2256 x 1504 ppi)
15-inch:
Dolby Vision IQ is a 10-point multitouch platform built on 2496 x 1664 (201 ppi)
13.5-inch
10-point multi-touch between 2256 and 1504 (201 ppi)
15-inch
10-point multi-touch with 2496 x 1664 (201 ppi)
Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Core i7-1185G7
AMD Ryzen 5 4680U AMD Ryzen 7 4980U
Intel Core i5-1035G7 Intel Core i7-1065G7
AMD Ryzen 5 3580U AMD Ryzen 7 3780U
13.5-inch:
Up to 18 hours of daily use
15-inch
Up to 17 hours of typical usage
The nominal capacity of 47.4 Wh is 47.4 kg.
Typical usage takes place at up to 11.5 hours.
The only advantage to select the Surface Laptop 5 over its predecessors is better battery life (which is still something reviews have to prove) and fresher processors. However, it is difficult to determine if those upgrades justify the price difference. If the Surface Laptop 4 has enough battery life and sufficient horsepower, you can skip the Surface Laptop 5 and wait for further improvements next year.