AMD-powered models should do better in multi-threaded jobs and deliver better battery life, while Intel has the edge in single-threaded tasks and offers a beefier GPU. PERFORMANCE AND BATTERY LIFE: AIN’T NO STOPPIN’ ME NOWīoth sides of the Surface Laptop 4 coin promise plenty of CPU grunt for an ultraportable machine, but there are some differences. It might not have the same degree of precision and feedback of a MacBook’s Force Touch trackpad, but is perfectly matched to the 3:2 screen and responds near-perfectly to multi-touch gestures. It’s a similar deal with the oversized touchpad. It’s far quieter than Apple’s latest effort, if not quite as precise. The spacious layout doesn’t make many compromises on shrunken down function and punctuation keys, and the three-stage backlight is slick. It means you aren’t constantly bottoming out with every press – unless you type like you’re hammering nails, anyway. The keys themselves are delightfully springy, and the tray’s slight flexing gives the impression of more key travel than there actually is. The spill-resistant coating should stop it getting grubby over time, too. Unlike metal, it won’t give you frostbite on cold days, or singe your palms on balmy ones. Opt for a version slathered in alcantara and the Surface Laptop 4 is one of the most comfortable typing experiences you’ll find on a notebook. One-laptop owners with no direct comparison probably won’t even notice. We certainly didn’t need to reach for a pair of headphones for background tunes while tapping out this review.Ĭould the bezels around the screen be thinner? Most definitely, but it’ll only irritate if you’ve also got access to a modern MacBook or Dell XPS with super-skinny borders. There’s no distortion when you crank up the volume, and the tonal balance is really rather good. It’s a great match to the punchy speakers, which fire upwards through the keyboard tray and have been optimised for Dolby Atmos this time around. The IPS panel delivers impressive clarity, whether you’re scrolling through spreadsheets or streaming blockbusters in bed.
The 2256×1504 resolution means you’re getting a lot more pixels than a typical Full HD panel, giving a real edge over lots of similarly-priced machines. Just make sure to do it indoors, as brightness is only average, and the glossy finish can make reflections a real pain.
It’ll mean thicker black bars when watching movies, of course, but the vibrant colours and great contrast will have you absorbing the content instead of bemoaning the letterbox. The Surface Laptop 4 will comfortably sit two documents side-by-side, with the extra vertical space needing less scrolling than the 16:9 competition.
Microsoft’s fondness for 3:2 aspect ratio screens shows no sign of fading, but given how productivity-friendly they can be, we’re not surprised.
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