Which Surface Laptop?

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go, Surface Laptop 13 or Surface Laptop 15?

​There are now 3 different Surface Laptops to choose from. Which is best for which members of your team and how do they compare to the competition?  If you're considering a switch, we've created this guide for you.

What’s the deal with Surface Laptops?  

Unlike most business laptops, the Surface Laptop range starts with the 10th generation Ice Lake Intel Core i5.  This means graphics power is improved from between a little (Surface Laptop Go) to a lot (Surface Laptop 3) compared to standard business laptops.  They provide the similar application performance to other 10th generation Intel Core i business laptops at lower clock speeds.  All are slim line devices with USB-C in place of VGA, HDMI or DisplayPorts, and a legacy USB-A port, headphone port plus Surface Connect port for connecting desktop monitors and accessories via the optional Surface Dock 2 (or a range of USB-C docks). All Surface Laptops feature a 3:2 aspect ratio display instead of the widescreen displays featured on most competitors.  Touch screens and web cams are standard for all Surface devices. 

​1. Surface Laptop Go 12.4 inch:

Entry level. A 12.4 inch ultraportable laptop starting at 4GB memory and 64GB eMMC storage or our recommended 8GB memory with 128GB or 256GB SSD storage for business users.

Pros: The lowest cost, lightest 1.1kg Surface Laptop with touchscreen, fingerprint doubles as power-on button and great application performance from an Intel Core i5 1035G1 processor.  Lower resolution display ensures icons and text in legacy in-house software is easily viewed by users.

Cons: Lower resolution screen and entry-level graphics not intended for power users, data analysts or content creators, no support for Surface Pen.  Keyboard not backlit for presenters or night-time users.  Fingerprint reader not included on 4GB model.

Alternatives: Users requiring Pen capability should consider the similar-cost Surface Go 2 tablet (for frequent Pen and App users).
Users who wish to create content should consider the Surface Laptop 3.

Recommended for: Everyday users, students, commuters and field workers who need a light laptop on the road that can power workplace and office applications in the office and at home.
Users moving from older WXGA resolution fleet laptops will appreciate the upgraded screen, extra performance and lower weight of the new Surface Laptop Go. 

2. Surface Laptop 3 13.5 or 15 inch

Pros: Excellent performance for content creators with Intel Iris Plus graphics, Windows Hello facial recognition, lightweight design and great application performance from an Intel Core i5 1035G7 or Intel Core i7 1065G7 processor, both offering roughly double the graphics power of the Surface Laptop Go. Excellent ergonomics with touch screen, backlit keyboard and on-screen Surface Pen support.

Cons: More expensive than the Surface Laptop Go.  Icons and text on legacy in-house software applications may appear smaller on screen due to the Surface Laptop 3 models' high resolution displays.  Not designed for frequent Pen use as screen is not designed to be detached or flip into tablet mode (see Surface Book 3 for this capability).

2.a ​Surface Laptop 3 13.5 inch:

Mid-range: A 13.5 inch ultraportable laptop starting at 8GB memory and 128GB SSD storage for business users with high resolution display and Windows Hello facial recognition.

Pros: Compact lightweight 1.29kg design with high resolution 13.5 inch display that balances screen real estate with portability.  

Cons: Not designed for full-time Pen users, but screen can be used with a Surface Pen.

Alternatives: Tablet users should opt for Surface Pro 7.  Users with everyday performance requirements can also consider the slightly smaller, lighter, lower-cost Surface Laptop Go.

Recommended for: Enterprise application users, commuters and power users who run multiple windows on their screens at the same time.
Users moving from alternative mid-range business laptops will appreciate the screen quality and additional graphics performance of the Surface Laptop 3.

2.b Surface Laptop 3 15 inch:

Mid-range: A 15 inch ultraportable laptop starting at 8GB memory and 128GB SSD storage for business users and content developers with high resolution display and Windows Hello facial recognition.

Pros: Big, beautiful 15 inch display in comparatively lightweight 1.5kg design with excellent screen real estate for content creation and data analysis.

Cons: Large display may be impeded on airplane tray tables, high end content creators may want higher screen resolutions and dedicated graphics for tasks including 3D, modelling, VR or motion picture makers.

Alternatives: Power and tablet users should opt for the Surface Book 3 15 inch with dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX or Quadro RTX graphics and higher resolution screen with Pen support.

Recommended for: Web and application developers and power users who run multiple windows on their screens at the same time, as well as users who need a larger display and Windows accessibility features enabled for enhanced accessibility. 
Users switching from other big-screen laptops will appreciate the high screen quality and slimmer, lighter design of the Surface Laptop 3 15 inch.  Graphics performance compared to older 15 inch business laptops with dedicated graphics will be similar.

Try the Surface range now

Fleet buyers in New Zealand can access a seed unit at no cost through The Laptop Company before switching to Surface when you register your interest.  Contact us now to secure yours and for terms and conditions.  Click the Contact Us button. 

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