Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5-inch (2021)
79% External
Product Gallery
Product Overview
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5 is a premium 13.5-inch laptop that bridges sleek design with professional minimalism. For the first time in Microsoft's Surface lineup, AMD Ryzen Zen 2 mobile processors are available alongside 11th-gen Intel Core ones.
Like before the Surface Laptop 4 comes with a full aluminum chassis, while Alcantara is available with some colors. Similarly, the laptop retains 10-point multi-touch despite its clamshell form factor.
Inside, the Surface Laptop 4 supports similar memory and storage options as the Surface Book 3, including up to 32GB LPDDR4x and 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD.
To note, the AMD processors in the Surface Laptop 4 are Ryzen 4000-series Zen 2 unit rather than the latest Zen 3 CPUs. Still, they are more efficient and benchmark higher than Intel's Tiger Lake processors.
Naturally, Microsoft also markets a 15-inch version of the Surface Laptop 4.
Ratings
What we found**
Pros
- Slim and light for a 15-inch laptop
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
- AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is faster than Intel Core i7-1185G7
- Good battery life
Cons
- Uses previous generation AMD Ryzen processor
What external reviewers found***
External score 79% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Great performance for work and school
- Good keyboard
- Great battery life
Cons
- Lacks Thunderbolt 3
- Not as sharp as competitors
- No SD card reader
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
- No Thunderbolt 3
Price Comparison
Specifications
AMD | Intel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Connectivity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ports | 1x USB-A + 1x USB-C + 1x 3.5mm Audio jack + 1x Surface Connect ports | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wireless Connectivity | WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Battery | Capacity | 47.4 Wh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Camera | Front | 720p HD f/2.0 camera with Windows Hello | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colors | Ice Blue, Sandstone, Platinum, Matte Black | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Form Factor | Clamshell laptop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Material | Aluminum chassis with optional Alcantara | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Microphone | Dual far-field Studio Mics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Speakers | Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Atmos9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dimensions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Size | Depth | 223 mm / 8.8 inch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Size | Height | 14.5 mm / 0.57 inch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Size | Width | 308 mm / 12.1 inch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 1265 g / 2.79 lbs Platinum and Ice Blue Alcantara | 1288 g / 2.84 lbs Matte Black and Sandstone metal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Display | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aspect Ratio | 3:2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contrast Ratio | 1600:1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Display Diagonal | 13.5 inch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Display Type | IPS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pixel Density | 201 ppi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Resolution | 2256 x 1504 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Function | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Graphics | Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics | Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keyboard Backlight | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating System | Windows 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Processor | 11th-gen Intel Core i5-1135G7, i5-1145G7, i7-1185G7 or AMD Ryzen 5 4680U or Ryzen 7 4980U | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Security | HW TPM 2.0 chip, Windows Hello face sign-in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sensor | Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Touch Screen | 10 point multi-touch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Touchpad | Precision trackpad: 115 x 76.66 mm, glass | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Battery Life | Up to 19 hours | Up to 17 hours | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key Travel | 1.3 mm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory | Capacity | Up to 32 GB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory | Type | LPDDR4x 3733MHz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Power Supply | 65 W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Storage | Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Production | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debut | 2021-04-13 |
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
3rd-Party Review Videos
External Reviews
gizmodo[1]
Reviewer score 80%Microsoft has improved battery life on its latest Surface laptop by nearly five hours. With that longer battery life, the Surface Laptop 4 is a better overall laptop for work and school. The graphics might be a little small on the 13.5-inch version, especially if you have the in-game ratio set to 16:9.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Great performance for work and school
- Good battery life
- Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
Cons
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
digitaltrends[2]
Reviewer score 77%The Surface Laptop 4 has an excellent keyboard and touchpad. It's a spacious layout, and the keys have a long 1.3mm travel. Dolby Atmos adds some much-needed stereo separation. The screen hits 97% of the sRGB color space but only 73% of AdobeRGB.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Gorgeous 2256 x 1504 screen
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
- Good battery life
Cons
- Not as sharp as competitors
- No fingerprint reader
laptopmag[3]
Reviewer score 80%The 13.5-inch PixelSense display is both gorgeous and practical. The keyboard and touchpad are as good as they get in the ultra-thin class of laptops. The 720p webcam is a considerable step down from the 5MP snapper on the Surface Pro X. Despite those complaints, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Surface Laptop 4.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Gorgeous 13.5-inch PixelSense display
- Excellent battery life
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
Cons
- Lacks Thunderbolt 3
- No Thunderbolt 3
notebookcheck[4]
Reviewer score 73%The Core i7-1185G7 is equipped with the most powerful version of Intel's Xe Graphics G7. It has a slightly higher clock of 1350 MHz and is much faster than the old UHD Graphics. Despite the increased performance of the iGPU, the Surface Laptop 4 is only suited for older or less demanding tiles.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- High-quality aluminum case
- Good battery life
- Good keyboard
- Good speakers
Cons
- No Thunderbolt 3
- No SD card reader
notebookcheck[5]
Reviewer score 75%The AMD model of the Surface Laptop 4 13.5 is an interesting alternative to the Intel SKU. The device is more affordable, the battery runtime is better, and the multi-core performance is superior to the most expensive Intel option. The entry-level version has a much better price-performance ratio and sufficient performance for everyday tasks. We do not understand the limitations of the configurations though.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Matte IPS screen
- Good battery life
- Good input devices
Cons
- No Thunderbolt 3
tomsguide[6]
Reviewer score 83%The Surface Laptop 4 is a beautiful machine, and it truly does last quite a while on a single charge. But as good as it is, the laptop’s battery life doesn’t quite live up to the hype. Microsoft claims the AMD-equipped 13.5 Surface L laptop can last up to 19 hours on a charge.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Sleek, lightweight design
- Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
- Excellent battery life
- Great speakers
Cons
- No Thunderbolt 3
tomsguide[7]
Reviewer score 88%Microsoft's Surface Laptop 4 runs on an 11th Gen Intel i7-1185G7 CPU with 16GB of RAM. The 13.5-inch, 2256 x 1504-pixel panel offers accurate touch input. Microsoft rates the Intel-based Surface L laptop as lasting up to 17 hours on a single charge.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Gorgeous, ultra-wide display
- Long battery life
- Excellent keyboard
Cons
- No 720p webcam
- No Thunderbolt 3
User Reviews
Comments
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References
- ^ Microsoft's Surface Laptop 4 Is Nearly Perfect. [gizmodo]. https://gizmodo.com/microsofts-surface-laptop-4-is-nearly-perfect-1846694212. 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 review: Steps in the right direction. [digitaltrends]. https://www.digitaltrends.com/laptop-reviews/microsoft-surface-laptop-4-review/. 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (13-inch) review. [laptopmag]. https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/microsoft-surface-laptop-4. 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13 Laptop Review - Too expensive with Intel CPU?. [notebookcheck]. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-4-13-Laptop-Review-Too-expensive-with-Intel-CPU.539455.0.html. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13 Review: Is AMD's Ryzen held back on purpose?. [notebookcheck]. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-4-13-Review-Is-AMD-s-Ryzen-held-back-on-purpose.541475.0.html. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 review. [tomsguide]. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/microsoft-surface-laptop-4. 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 review (hands on). [tomsguide]. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/microsoft-surface-laptop-4-review-hands-on. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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