Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 - Review

Summary

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a premium, lightweight laptop designed for productivity on the go. It features a high-quality aluminum build, a 13.5-inch touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio, and a decent selection of ports including USB-A, USB-C, and Surface Connect. Its performance is suitable for office tasks, light gaming, and video editing, though it’s not ideal for heavy-duty tasks. The 720p webcam and integrated microphones fall short of expectations, and the laptop’s compact size can be a bit straining for long use. Prices range from $900 to $2,160, making it a solid choice for students and professionals but not for gamers or content creators.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Surface Laptop 5 is a premium, lightweight laptop designed by Microsoft, weighing just under three pounds, making it ideal for on-the-go productivity.
• 😀 It has an all-aluminum case, providing a more durable and high-quality build compared to cheaper plastic laptops.
• 😀 The laptop features a 13.5-inch touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio, offering more vertical screen space for tasks like word processing and spreadsheets.
• 😀 The 13.5-inch screen is sharp, with no visible pixels, but watching videos results in black bars at the top and bottom due to its non-standard aspect ratio.
• 😀 The Surface Laptop 5 includes a USB-A 3.1 port, a USB-C/Thunderbolt port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a proprietary Surface Connect port for charging and docking.
• 😀 While the laptop has limited ports for accessories on the go, docking it to a larger monitor can provide more port options.
• 😀 The built-in microphone quality isn't great, making it advisable to use a headset for online meetings.
• 😀 The 720p webcam is subpar, especially for those working remotely or in video calls, where a higher resolution would be beneficial.
• 😀 The laptop uses a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, making it suitable for light productivity tasks but not ideal for heavy gaming or video editing.
• 😀 It offers RAM options from 8GB to 32GB and storage from 256GB to 1TB, giving users flexibility in performance and storage capacity.
• 😀 The laptop runs Windows 11, providing a solid and user-friendly operating system with features like Windows Hello for quick login.
• 😀 The Surface Laptop 5 is best suited for office workers or students who prioritize portability and productivity, but not recommended for gamers or creators needing high-performance graphics.

Q & A

What are the key features of the Surface Laptop 5's design?

The Surface Laptop 5 has a premium all-aluminum case, making it lightweight and portable. It weighs just under three pounds, making it ideal for users on the go, like office workers and students.

What ports are available on the Surface Laptop 5?

The laptop includes a USB-A 3.1 port, a USB-C or Thunderbolt port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a proprietary Surface Connect port for charging and docking. The limited ports may be an issue for users with many accessories.

What is the screen size and aspect ratio of the Surface Laptop 5?

The Surface Laptop 5 features a 13.5-inch screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio, providing additional vertical space, making it ideal for productivity tasks. However, videos may display black bars on the top and bottom due to the non-standard aspect ratio.

How does the microphone quality on the Surface Laptop 5 perform?

The microphone quality on the Surface Laptop 5 is not exceptional. It might be better to use a headset with an integrated microphone for meetings, as the built-in microphones don't sound great.

What camera specifications does the Surface Laptop 5 have?

The Surface Laptop 5 comes with a 720p webcam, which is somewhat low resolution, especially for professional video calls or work-from-home scenarios. It would have been better if the laptop included a higher-resolution webcam.

What does the Dolby Vision IQ sensor do on the Surface Laptop 5?

The Dolby Vision IQ sensor adjusts the screen's colors based on ambient lighting conditions, similar to technologies found in smartphones. This feature improves the viewing experience, particularly in varying lighting environments.

What processors are available in the Surface Laptop 5?

The Surface Laptop 5 comes with a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 EVO processor. EVO processors balance battery life and performance, making the laptop suitable for productivity tasks but less ideal for heavy gaming or intensive video editing.

What is the graphics capability of the Surface Laptop 5?

The Surface Laptop 5 uses integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. While this is sufficient for productivity tasks, web browsing, and video playback, it's not powerful enough for high-end gaming or heavy video editing.

How much RAM and storage can the Surface Laptop 5 have?

The Surface Laptop 5 can be configured with between 8GB and 32GB of RAM, and storage options range from 256GB to 1TB. For optimal performance, higher RAM and storage configurations are recommended, though they come at a higher price.

Who is the Surface Laptop 5 best suited for?

The Surface Laptop 5 is ideal for office workers, students, and individuals who need a portable, high-quality laptop for productivity. However, gamers and content creators may find other laptops better suited to their needs, due to its limited graphics and processing power for demanding tasks.