Despite finally embracing USB-C and a new larger 15in model to choose between, the Surface Laptop 3 still has work to do to become best-in-class

The 15-inch version of the Surface Laptop 3 represents the biggest change to the clamshell laptop since Microsoft launched the first Surface Laptop in 2017. And yet, it is remarkably similar to the prior models, despite the fact that it’s bigger and has a completely different processor.

Excellent keyboard and trackpad; Sturdy build quality; Good performance for everyday productivity tasks; 3:2 aspect ratio screen is great for productivity; Relatively little bloatware out of the box; Windows Hello facial login works great

Only two USB ports; No Thunderbolt 3 ports; Below average battery life; No SD card slot; Matte black model gets full of fingerprints almost immediately; Struggles editing and even playing back 4K video

Now, that we’ve spent some time with both the consumer and business version of the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 the winner seems pretty clear. We expected things to be rather close on the performance front, but the Intel powered business version of the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 dominated most all of the...

The Surface Laptop 3 is everything a laptop should be, if not everything a lot of modern laptops are today

Superb keyboard; Great speakers; Excellent build quality

The USB-C isn't Thunderbolt 3; Purist design may seem feature-light

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 seems painfully plain on paper. There's no second screen, no graphics card, no hybrid hinge, and even no fingerprint scanner. But Microsoft has put so much attention to detail into every part that matters, this ends up one of the best Windows laptops at any price. Its build is superb, the keyboard is fantastic, the screen is good and its unusual speakers are up there with the best available in Windows laptops. There's nothing showy here, and some rivals last a little longer between charges. But Microsoft has nailed everything it has focused on here.

Superb keyboard; Great speakers; Excellent build quality;

The USB-C isn't Thunderbolt 3; Purist design may seem feature-light;

Superb keyboard; Great speakers; Excellent build quality;

The USB-C isn’t Thunderbolt 3; Purist design may seem feature-light;

The main advantages of our Core i7 SKU versus the Ryzen 5 SKU include Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, faster storage performance, faster CPU performance, integrated AI acceleration, faster gaming performance, and higher performance-per-Watt.

full performance on battery power; good performance sustainability; faster storage performance; no DPC latency issues; long battery life; generally quiet

hardware-based AI acceleration has yet to be exploited; no card reader or Thunderbolt 3; PWM at lower brightness levels; barebones set of features; no vPro or WWAN

“The 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 is a beautiful laptop, but its mediocre performance limits its potential.”

Large 3:2 display; Build quality is rock solid; Comfortable keyboard and touchpad; Stays quiet and cool

Not powerful enough; Graphics are disappointing; Bezels are large

The 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 has some of the best battery life we’ve experienced in a 15-inch laptop, which should be lauded. But, this laptop falls well short on both the power and versatility that most would expect from a 15-inch device, making it a disappointing followup for anyone who was hoping...

Excellent battery life; Exciting AMD flagship debut

Far too few ports; Lacking in power; Steep mid-range pricing

A sensible upgrade to the already stellar series, the introduction of a USB-C port, larger trackpad, and more power add plus-points onto its impressive score sheet. However, there's no Thunderbolt 3 speeds from that USB-C port, which is an oddity. And there aren't that many ports either.

The PixelSense display is still brilliant; Great-looking design - in a variety of finishes; USB-C is a welcome addition

No Thunderbolt 3 speeds; More ports would benefit; Battery life a little down on previous version; Slightly reflective screen