Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5-inch laptop test: Intel’s version is sleek, but less powerful than AMD

The 13.5-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 perfectly matches the 15-inch model. Here are our impressions of the building changing colors only here. Surface respects the series codes and thus displays everything soberly. The sand-colored anodized aluminum body does not retain fingerprints – unlike the matte black model – and looks solid and well-operated. The 3:2 aspect ratio of the touch screen makes an impression of remarkable size. The touchpad is smooth and well made, while the keyboard is very pleasant to use and rather quiet. The backlight is adjustable in three levels, but there is no fingerprint reader on the chassis. This is not too annoying, because the webcam (720p) is compatible with Windows Hello and thus allows you to unlock the computer very quickly.

We were bothered by the lack of connectivity on the Surface Laptop 3 and unfortunately Microsoft didn’t rectify the situation. It’s a shame and probably what makes it miss 5 stars in this category. There is one USB-C 3.2 port, one USB-A 3.2 port, and a mini-jack. It will therefore be necessary to equip yourself with a hub to take advantage of the additional ports (HDMI, card reader, etc.). Charging is carried out via a special magnetic connector, which is not always practical to insert. If we regret the lack of wifi 6 on the previous model, it is now, as well as Bluetooth 5.0.

Another pitfall: the computer is difficult to disassemble. You must remove the four rubber feet, and then the screws hidden by them. The components are partially masked by thin layers of protective aluminum that cannot be repaired once removed. We did not manipulate so as not to damage our test model, but according to the images provided by Microsoft, the RAM is soldered. The NVMe SSD is removable, but in the 2230 format, it’s more difficult — and more expensive — to find than the classic 2280. The manufacturer does not make life easier for users, and therefore this PC is not highly scalable.

Since the chassis is smaller than the 15-inch model, we still checked the temperature management. Component heating is controlled at around 40°C, with a peak at 44.5°C in the center of the keyboard in heavy use. In office automation, ventilation is not activated, and the computer remains silent even in the game (readings of 36.4 dB); Audible in a quiet environment, but perfectly acceptable.

Our model comes with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD, and a 3GHz Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor with a TDP of 28W.

The Surface Laptop 4 got a score of 66 after our tests, which is more than enough for office automation. The Intel Core i7-1185G7 is slightly ahead of the 1165G7 found in many Ultra HD laptops today. On the other hand, it’s clearly not quite as high as the Ryzen 7 4980U included in the AMD version of the Surface Laptop, even though it’s not of the latest generation. This explains why this computer has lost a star in performance compared to its AMD cousin.

In gaming usage, the integrated Intel Xe delivered exactly the same results as AMD’s Radeon Vega. We were able to play Note and watch At 56 fps with Full HD set to minimum quality. Certainly Diablo IIIGraphics were pushed to the limit, we hit 36 ​​fps on average. So the experience was smooth enough despite the screen tearing from time to time Diablo.

The Surface Laptop 4 is an extremely light (1.28kg) PC. We have to add 308g to the built-in power supply which has a USB-A port to charge another device at the same time. Details that can be practical if all nearby AC outlets are occupied. With dimensions of 30.8 x 22.3 x 1.45 cm, this computer is of course easy to transport.

In terms of autonomy, the computer works very well despite the high resolution of the board. turned off after 8 hours 59 minutes (in video playback on Netflix, brightness set to 200 cd / m², keyboard backlighting and headphones turned on at 50% volume), 2 hours more than the previous generation model; Big gain.