Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review (13-inch): A beautiful design that’s almost run its course

The outdated adage goes that if one thing ain’t broke, do not repair it. Now whereas that is typically sage recommendation, clearly there is a restrict to how lengthy you possibly can preserve one thing going — particularly a gadget — earlier than it begins to lag behind. And with the Surface Laptop 5, it seems like Microsoft is starting to check that boundary as a result of whereas the pocket book is as glossy and chic as ever, even with the inclusion of a brand new CPU, it is simple to see the place its growing old chassis might use a couple of updates or high quality of life enhancements. So whereas I am going to by no means complain about getting a efficiency enhance, it nonetheless seems like Microsoft might do higher.

Design, keyboard and ports

I am not going to spend an excessive amount of time speaking in regards to the Floor Laptop computer 5’s exterior as a result of it is the identical chassis Microsoft has been utilizing for the final three or 4 generations. Each the 13 and 15-inch fashions characteristic an aluminum physique with tall 3:2 shows for enhanced productiveness. Our 13.5-inch assessment unit weighed in at 2.86 kilos and measured simply 0.57 inches thick. The entire package deal is tremendous glossy and in some respects, I can see why Microsoft would not wish to mess with the design – it truly is a factor of magnificence. It is skinny and minimalist identical to a MacBook, however totally different sufficient that you’re going to by no means get the 2 confused. Nonetheless, I believe Microsoft is greater than able to tweaking the present chassis to accommodate new parts with out ruining its attractiveness.

New for this 12 months is a sage inexperienced shade possibility like we obtained on the Floor Laptop computer Go 2. However Microsoft did not cease there as a result of the corporate additionally made customized wallpapers for Home windows 11 that match the system’s exterior paint job. I do know this can be a fairly minor change within the grand scheme of issues, however the additional little bit of shade coordination is form of good.

In the meantime, the Floor Laptop computer 5’s keyboard and touchpad do not go away a lot to complain about. Keycaps are spaced out nicely whereas having good crisp actuation, although after some hands-on time with the 15-inch model, I seen that the bigger mannequin has barely deeper key journey. And whereas its touchpad which measures 4.5 x 3 inches is not fairly as massive as what you’d discover on a equally sized MacBook, there’s nonetheless loads of room to mouse round.

One of many different large modifications on the Floor Laptop computer 5 is its new USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 port, which supplies elevated bandwidth for transferring knowledge or sending video to exterior shows. Sadly, on each the 13.5 and 15-inch fashions, there are solely a complete of two USB connectors: the aforementioned Thunderbolt 4 port and an everyday USB 3.1 Kind-A slot. Fortunately, Microsoft hasn’t axed assist for wired audio, so you continue to get a 3.5mm headphone jack along with the corporate’s signature magnetic Floor Join port for charging and docking.

However in the event you’ll permit me to grandstand a bit, I form of want Microsoft would ditch the Floor Join port totally. As a consequence of latest rules from the EU, we’re on the point of having all telephones assist USB-C for charging and knowledge, and apart from the proprietary connectors Apple and Microsoft use on MacBooks and Surfaces, laptops aren’t far behind. Not solely would eliminating the Floor Join port liberate room for an additional USB-C jack — which is each smaller and extra versatile — I discover its weak magnets and awkward form make it tougher to make use of than USB-C.

Show and webcam

Like its chassis, the 13.5-inch Floor Laptop computer 5 options the identical 2,256 x 1,504 PixelSense touchscreen Microsoft used on the earlier mannequin and that is completely advantageous. It has good brightness that hit just below 400 nits on my mild meter together with wealthy, saturated colours. The one new tweak for 2022 is assist for Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ, which routinely adjusts issues like shade profiles and distinction primarily based on ambient situations. It is a good contact, however contemplating just about each telephone made in the previous few years has an analogous show tech, Microsoft is not [exactly] breaking new floor right here.

That stated, whereas its picture high quality is robust, the Floor Laptop computer 5’s show is beginning to present its age a bit. The bezels are a couple of millimeters thicker than what we obtained on final 12 months’s Floor Laptop computer Studio, which makes issues look a bit chunky. You additionally do not get assist for HDR or high-refresh charges.

However the factor that is lagging behind probably the most is its 720p internet digital camera, which is satisfactory at finest. You aren’t getting assist for any of Microsoft’s Home windows Studio results such as you do on the Floor Professional 9 5G and I’ve stated it earlier than and I am going to say it once more: 1080p webcams ought to be the baseline on premium notebooks. Fortunately, Microsoft has stored the built-in IR cameras for Home windows Hey facial recognition, which nonetheless works nice.

Efficiency

Inside, the brand new Twelfth-gen Intel CPUs supply an enormous soar in efficiency. The draw back is that not like the earlier technology, there are no AMD-based configs, which is form of a bummer. That stated, with scores which can be round 20 p.c increased in PCMark 10 in comparison with the Floor Laptop computer 4, it is laborious to be too upset.

Simply do not get your hopes up about doing any hardcore gaming, as a result of each fashions are restricted to Iris XE built-in graphics. In Overwatch 2, I needed to decrease settings to medium in an effort to get a considerably secure 60 fps, although you possibly can eke out a little bit extra efficiency in the event you’re prepared to decrease the sport’s decision or activate upsampling. However no matter what you do, this factor is not actually meant to play AAA titles.

Battery life and ports

As for battery life, with a time of 12 hours and 39 minutes, the Floor Laptop computer 5 turned in respectable although not excellent outcomes. As compared, final 12 months’s 15-inch Floor Laptop computer 4 fared higher with a mark of 15:25, as did different ultraportables from this 12 months together with the Lenovo Yoga 9i at 14:22 and the M2 MacBook Air at 17:05.

As a longtime Floor consumer, I recognize that Microsoft stored the bonus 5-watt charging port constructed into the included energy adapter, which is very nice for powering up small peripherals like a mouse or wi-fi headphones. And I ought to point out that if for some purpose you lose or neglect your charging brick at residence, you possibly can nonetheless prime up the Floor Laptop computer 5 by way of USB-C.

Wrap-up

Whereas the Surface Laptop 5 hasn’t gotten a boatload of updates, it nonetheless has a very elegant design and the addition of recent Twelfth-gen Intel chips and a Thunderbolt 4 port present an enormous bump up in pace and value. Positive, it may not have the sharpest webcam or a ton of ports, but when all you want is a streamlined ultraportable for common productiveness, the Floor Laptop computer 5 packs all of the necessities into a really glossy package deal.

It’s considerably telling, nonetheless, that Microsoft solely despatched out the 13.5-inch mannequin for assessment, as a result of there are much more modifications I would prefer to see on the 15-inch model. I do know my dream of getting an Xbox gaming laptop computer most likely will not ever occur, however I believe there is a ton of potential to remodel the larger Floor Laptop computer 5 into a very nice all-rounder by including assist for discrete graphics and some extra ports.

However the laborious half comes when making an attempt to resolve between the 13-inch Floor Laptop computer 5 and one thing just like the XPS 13. For a similar $1,000 starting price, Dell’s pocket book comes with an analogous CPU and a bigger 512GB SSD as a substitute of only a 256GB drive, however no touchscreen (although you possibly can improve to at least one if you’d like). Which means you need to select between getting a barely higher worth within the XPS 13, or choosing a taller 3:2 contact show with the Floor Laptop computer 5.

Nonetheless, if all you need is a classy ultraportable with a pleasant display for productiveness, Microsoft’s newest clamshell has lots to love. I simply hope subsequent 12 months we get a full refresh as a substitute of only a easy spec bump.