The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15-Inch Review: Refreshing Ryzen
by Brett Howse on May 6, 2021 8:00 AM ESTDesign
When the Surface Laptop was first announced, it was a remarkably interesting design. Microsoft continued to advocate for their 3:2 aspect ratio displays, and the Surface Laptop was the first notebook to offer that aspect ratio in modern times. In addition, the design team outfitted the Surface Laptop, which at the time was only offered as a 13.5-inch size, with an Alcantara keyboard deck which was unique in the space.
Microsoft then refreshed the Surface Laptop, and added a larger 15-inch model as an option, as well as offering models with and without the Alcantara keyboard deck, at least in the 13.5-inch lineup. The 15-inch has never offered the fabric option. Unlike Microsoft’s Surface Book, which is made out of a magnesium alloy, the Surface Laptop has always been made out of aluminum. The advantage here for the Surface Laptop is that it is less expensive, and the aluminum finish allows for anodized finishes in a variety of color options. For 2021, the Surface Laptop 4 13.5-inch is available in Platinum, Ice Blue, Matte Black, and Sandstone, while the larger 15-inch model is just available in Platinum and Matte Black. The review unit is the black version, and it looks amazing, but be warned, it is more difficult to keep clean than the platinum model.
Two things can be true at once, and it is both fair to say that the Surface Laptop 4 is a well-designed, attractive notebook, and that it is in need of a bit of a facelift. Microsoft has not altered the overall design since the original Surface Laptop shipped, other than to add a larger model, so the Surface Laptop 4 still has rather large display bezels compared to recent designs from other manufacturers. The 3:2 display aspect ratio is still a win, but it is no longer unique to the segment, with other players now offering taller displays as well. The rest of the Surface lineup all features one cool trick, but the Surface Laptop 4 is just a laptop. There is no 360° hinge, no detachable display. But, not everyone wants that, and as a pure laptop, the Laptop 4 can surpass the other designs in areas like weight, and usability in the traditional laptop mode.
Microsoft has always offered a great keyboard in the Surface Laptop line, and this continues with the 4th generation, offering 1.3 mm of key travel, a logical key placement, easy to use function keys, and three levels of backlighting. The trackpad is also about as good as you can get in the PC space, and the 15-inch Surface Laptop 4 offers a large trackpad without going so crazy on the width that it interferes with using the keyboard. As someone who likes the Alcantara, it is a bit of a shame that they do not offer it at all on the 15-inch models. The anodized aluminum feels good, but almost all notebooks in this segment offer the same anodized finish, so the fabric did offer something unique.
While the port selection is not robust, the Surface Laptop 4 does offer enough for most people, with a single USB Type-A port on the right, alongside a Type-C port. If you need additional expansion, Microsoft does offer a Surface Dock which connects over the Surface Connect charging port. Sadly, Microsoft has refused to support any form of Thunderbolt on any Surface devices, meaning the USB Type-C port is USB-only, but it does include native DisplayPort, as well as charging. Microsoft offers some Type-C video and audio adapters as well, if you need to connect to something other than DisplayPort.
Overall, the design does work well, even if it is looking a bit familiar. The Surface Laptop 4 offers a premium feel, and at 1.5 kg / 3.4 lbs, this 15-inch notebook is lightweight as well. Microsoft hasn’t updated the design in a few generations, but still, several years in, the Surface Laptop 4 is still a good-looking notebook.
98 Comments
View All Comments
neogodless - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link
In my shopping experience, all premium laptops have soldered RAM. If you want SODIMM slots, you have to look at gaming devices and budget laptops, not ultrabooks or thin 'n light.TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link
If by "premium" you mean "overpriced consumer garbage". premium business machines still often offer SO-DIMMs, even in thin n light 2 in 1s. Not all do, but the better ones do.Dug - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link
Look at Lenovo.Linustechtips12#6900xt - Friday, May 7, 2021 - link
just get something like an HP envy or something with that sorta lineup/budget most have non-soldered ram and pretty dang decent performance and most high-end features too.Smell This - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link
"Vega" has aged very well in its performance and efficiency. The VCN ('Video Core Next') 2.2 ASCI performs admirably. I kinda laugh at comparisons to NVENC and the Xe equivalence. It's the MS Surface / Ali 'Rope-A-Dope' once again.
The Ryzen 5000 *G* Vega APUs are now rolling, and soon the mobile Radeon RX 6000s will hit the streets. I suspect that mobile 'graphics engine' will evolve into the *G* 6000 APUs in a year or so, complete with RDNA2+ and VCN 3.x ...
BOOM! goes the dynamite ... LOL
iphonebestgamephone - Friday, May 7, 2021 - link
Just saw the 5700g tested, same score as the 4980u in firestrike.flgt - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link
I appreciate they keep the surface connector around for legacy users, but they should really stop using it on new accessories like the power brick. They should be on a path for complete conversion to USB-C in a few generations.TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link
I'm disappointed that the intel model can come with the top chip in 13" flavor, but AMD's top end is restricted to the 15" model. And the lack of ports, especially on the 15", is rather obnoxious. Even apple knows enough to put multiple type C ports on their pro models.Is everything internally soldered, or can it be upgraded by an end user?
sbcui - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link
The Ryzen 7 is available in the 13.5'' version in the business channel, just not to consumers(though if you buy one from Microsoft business store they probably won't verify anything and will just sell it to you).I believe everything except the SSD is soldered. The SSD has been replaceable since the Surface Laptop 3. Though Microsoft says it's "only replaceable by a professional", I think they make that claim just because it requires opening up the chassis and they don't want to be held responsible by someone destroying the device without following the service manual. Note that they use an 2230 form factor SSD though, so the upgrade options available is pretty limited.
Vitor - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link
Dat color accuracy =O