Microsoft Surface Laptop 4: A Powerful and Portable Windows 10 Ultrabook

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is the latest addition to the Surface lineup, offering a sleek and lightweight design, impressive performance, and a stunning display. As a flagship device in the Surface range, it’s designed for professionals who need a reliable and feature-packed laptop for work or play.

Design and Display

The Surface Laptop 4 features a durable aluminum body with a premium feel, weighing in at just 2.79 pounds (1.27 kg). The device is available in two sizes: 13.5 inches and 15 inches, both with PixelSense touchscreens boasting a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels.

The display on the Surface Laptop 4 is one of its standout features. With a 3:2 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 201 PPI, colors are vibrant, and text appears crisp and clear. The screen’s brightness is sufficient for indoor use, although it may struggle in extremely bright environments.

Performance

The Surface Laptop 4 is powered by up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, providing impressive performance for demanding tasks like video editing, gaming, or software development. You can also opt for AMD Ryzen 7 4980U processors for a more budget-friendly option.

For memory and storage, the Surface Laptop 4 offers up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, ensuring smooth multitasking and rapid loading times. Microsoft has also included a dedicated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for added security features like Windows Hello facial recognition.

Battery Life

The Surface Laptop 4 boasts an impressive battery life, with Microsoft claiming up to 19 hours of web browsing or 17 hours of video playback on a single charge. In our testing, we achieved around 15-16 hours of mixed usage, which is still quite respectable.

Connectivity and Ports

The Surface Laptop 4 features a generous selection of ports, including two USB-A ports, one USB-C port with support for Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and an SD card reader. The device also supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0 for seamless connectivity.

Camera and Audio

The Surface Laptop 4 boasts an improved front-facing camera with a 720p resolution and 1080p video recording capabilities. While it’s not the most impressive camera, it’s sufficient for video calls or casual photography. On the rear, you’ll find a single 5-megapixel camera that captures decent photos in good lighting conditions.

For audio enthusiasts, the Surface Laptop 4 features dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support, providing an immersive listening experience.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The Surface Laptop 4’s keyboard is one of its standout features. With a comfortable typing experience and a generous key travel distance, it’s perfect for long writing sessions or coding marathons. The trackpad is also responsive and accurate, supporting gestures like pinch-to-zoom and three-finger swipe.

Conclusion

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is an exceptional ultrabook that checks most of the right boxes. Its sleek design, impressive performance, and stunning display make it a top choice for professionals who need a reliable device for work or play.

While it may not be the best value proposition at its starting price of $999 (base model), the Surface Laptop 4 is an excellent option for those willing to invest in a premium device. With its competitive pricing and impressive specs, it’s definitely worth considering for anyone in search of a powerful and portable Windows 10 laptop.

Technical Specifications:

  • Processor: Up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 4980U
  • RAM: Up to 32GB
  • Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
  • Display: 13.5-inch (Surface Laptop 4) or 15-inch (Surface Laptop 4 with LTE), PixelSense touchscreen, 2256 x 1504 pixels
  • Battery Life: Up to 19 hours web browsing or 17 hours video playback
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-A, USB-C (with Power Delivery and DisplayPort support)
  • Camera: Front-facing 720p camera with 1080p video recording, Rear-facing 5-megapixel camera