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Microsoft is refreshing its Surface Laptop line of notebook computers with the Surface Laptop 5 that sports a similar design to the Surface Laptop 4, but updated processor options.
And by updated, I mean that all models now come with 12th-gen Intel Core U-series processors. There’s no longer an AMD option, which is kind of disappointing. But the move to Intel Alder Lake processor and LPDDR5x memory should bring a significant performance boost. And Microsoft has finally added a Thunderbolt port to the Surface Laptop.
The Surface Laptop 5 is up for pre-order now for $1000 and up, with entry-level configurations featuring at least an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.
| Surface Laptop 5 13.5″ | Surface Laptop 5 15″ | |
| Display | 13.5 inches 2256 x 1504 pixels 3:2 aspect ratio 201 pixels per inch 10-point multitouch & Surface Pen support Gorilla Glass 3 (with Alcantara keyboards) Gorilla Glass 5 (with metal keyboards) | 15 inches 2496 x 1664 pixels 3:2 aspect ratio 201 pixels per inch 10-point multitouch & Surface Pen support Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1235U Intel Core i7-1255U Iris Xe graphics | Intel Core i7-1255U Iris Xe graphics |
| RAM | 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB LPDDR5x (not user upgradeable) | |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB removable SSD | |
| Battery | Up to 18 hours | Up to 16 hours |
| Security | TPM 2.0 Windows Hello face login | |
| Ports | 1 x Thunderbolt 4 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A 1 x 3.5mm audio 1 x Surface Connect | |
| Wireless | WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.1 | |
| Webcam & audio | 720p webcam Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Atmos Dual far-field Studio microphones | |
| Material | Aluminum case Metal and Alcantara fabric palm rest options | Aluminum case Metal palm rest |
| Colors | Platinum with Alcantara palm rest Matte Black with metal palm rest Sage with metal palm rest Sandstone with metal palm rest | Black Platinum |
| Dimensions | 308 x 223 x 14.5 12.1″ x 8.8″ x 0.6″ | 340 x 244 x 14.7mm 13.4″ x 9.6″ x 0.6″ |
| Weight | 1.3 kg 2.86 pounds | 1.55kg 3.44 pounds |
| Starting price | $1000 | $1300 |
Microsoft will also offer business versions of the laptop with support for Intel Core i5-1245U and Core i7-1265U processor options.
The lack of an AMD option isn’t the only disappointing thing about the Surface laptop 5. Microsoft has also decided to stick with a 720p webcam at a time when laptop cameras are probably more important than ever.
Do they offer a Linux option?
We can dream. But it’ll be a cold day in hell when that happens.
Sarcasm: Of course, it’s the Windows Subsystem For Linux (WSL™)!
How can the PPI be the same if the resolution is the same between the models but the screen size is different?
Because I have a typo in the resolution. Fixing that now!