Surface Laptop 5
MSRP $999.00
“The Surface Laptop 5 falls short in its attempts to advance, and even regresses in some aspects.”
- Wide array of color choices
- Retains its slim and lightweight profile
- Embraces Thunderbolt 4 finally
- Offers upgradable storage
- Continues to use a 720p webcam
- Limited improvements in performance
- AMD options no longer available
As it enters its fifth iteration, the Surface Laptop series finds itself in dire need of a revitalization. Don't get me wrong – it's still an elegant laptop, and certain aspects of its design have aged gracefully. Microsoft insists that its user base doesn't hold many complaints about its appearance.
However, amidst the rapid advancement of laptop design in the market, the Surface Laptop 5 seems to be left lagging behind by some of the most impressive laptops available.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 Specifications
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.5-inch: 12.1 inches x 8.8 inches x 0.57 inches15-inch: 13.4 inches x 9.6 inches x 0.58 inches |
| Weight | 13.5-inch: 2.8 pounds15-inch: 3.44 pounds |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1235UIntel Core i7-1255U |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe |
| RAM | Up to 32GB LPDDR5x |
| Display | 13.5-inch 3:2 PixelSense 2,256 x 1,504 IPS15.0-inch 3:2 PixelSense 2,496 x 1,664 IPS |
| Storage | Up to 1TB PCie SSD |
| Touch | Yes |
| Ports | 1 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 41 x USB-A 3.11 x 3.5mm audio jack1 x Surface Connect port |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Webcam | 720p with infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello |
| Operating system | Windows 11 |
| Battery | Up to 18 hours (13.5-inch)Up to 17 hours (15-inch) |
| Price | 13.5-inch: $1,000+15-inch: $1,300+ |
Steadfast in Design
Last year, I expressed the need for a design overhaul for the Surface Laptop. Now, in its fifth generation, half a decade since its inception, it cries out for a fresh look. I do appreciate the 3:2 aspect ratio display and the symmetrical bezels surrounding it. It's a design that no other laptop has precisely replicated, yet its age is becoming increasingly evident. Particularly, that lower bezel is far from appealing in 2022.
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I could perhaps forgive the bulky top bezel if Microsoft had upgraded the webcam this time around, as it should have. Unfortunately, no such luck – it's the same lackluster 720p webcam, even though there was plenty of room for improvement.
“The Surface Laptop 5 no longer leads the pack in terms of portability.”
It's not necessarily a terrible webcam, and Microsoft has made some software tweaks to enhance its quality compared to last year's model. However, what this camera truly requires is a higher resolution.
Portability has been a strong suit of the Surface Laptop design, but it no longer stands out. The 13.5-inch model boasts a thickness of 0.57 inches, while the 15-inch model is merely 0.01 inches thicker. While this difference is minute, in a world where the 0.44-inch MacBook Air M2 exists, the Surface Laptop 5 is no longer leading the race.
The addition of the Sage green color option, which debuted in the Surface Laptop Go 2 earlier in the year, is the sole new element here. While Sandstone and Black are still available for the metal versions, along with the Platinum Alcantara model, Alcantara is limited to the base configuration.
Regarding this base configuration, the price scaling seems somewhat out of touch. It includes a Core i5-1245U, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, all for $1,000. This matches the cost of the MacBook Air M1, as well as the current pricing of the Dell XPS 13. However, customization options are scarce and costly. There are no larger storage selections, like 1TB or 2TB. Furthermore, the XPS 13 offers 512GB (or 1TB on some days) of storage for the same price.
Microsoft's tendency to overcharge for memory and storage upgrades persists, with a $300 fee for upgrading from 8GB to 16GB of RAM. Thankfully, the Surface Laptop 5 still allows user-accessible storage upgrades, offering a more cost-effective solution down the line.
Missed Opportunities Abound
In the realm of technology, stagnation equates to falling behind. Yet, Microsoft seems willing to accept this risk with the Surface Laptop 5.
The screen remains unaltered from previous Surface Laptop versions. While not inherently bad, it lacks the innovative and modern design elements seen in newer Surface devices. The Surface Laptop Studio from the previous year boasts a screen with contemporary, curved edges and a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Admittedly, this is a pricier product, but even the Surface Pro 9 features the same variable refresh rate.
Additionally, the available processor options leave much to be desired. While the previous Surface Laptop 4 introduced AMD chips that significantly improved multi-core performance and battery life, the Ryzen Edition Surface Laptop is now absent – at least for the time being. This leaves only Intel's 12th-gen U-series chips to fill the gaps. These chips are not Intel's finest, featuring 15-watt power and just two Performance cores. While the device remains quiet and cool, it lacks the robust performance expected of modern laptops.
| Geekbench (single / multi) | Handbrake (seconds) | Cinebench R23 (single / multi) | PCMark 10 Complete | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Laptop 5 (Core i7-1250U) | 1209 / 6391 | 139 | 1130 / 7170 | 4198 |
| Dell XPS 13 9315 (Core i5-1230U) | 1393 / 4,459 | 333 | 1379 / 3457 | 4,023 |
| Apple MacBook Air M2 (Apple M2) | 1,925 / 7973 | 151 | 1,600 / 7,938 | N/A |
| Asus ZenBook S 13 UM4302 (Ryzen 7 6800U) | 1417 / 6854 | 112 | 1402 / 8682 | 5647 |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus (Core i7-1280P) | 1316 / 8207 | 170 | 1311 / 6308 | 4,309 |
| HP Envy x360 13.5 (Core i7-1255U) | 1,566 / 7,314 | 169 | 1,623 / 5,823 | 5,203 |
The Surface Laptop 5 13.5 falls toward the lower end of the performance spectrum, closely aligned with the Dell XPS 13 9315, which remains one of the weaker Intel 12th-gen laptops in testing. It's reasonable to assume that the Core i5 version of the Surface Laptop 5 13.5 would exhibit similar performance to the XPS 13.
Ironically, the Ryzen Edition Surface Laptop 4 actually surpasses the Core i7 Surface Laptop 5 in Geekbench multi-core performance. Although the newer model triumphs in single-core performance, this means that, in some real-world scenarios, the Surface Laptop 5‘s performance is on par with that of the Surface Laptop 4. In terms of video encoding using Handbrake, the two laptops deliver nearly identical performance. The Ryzen 6000-powered devices, like the Asus Zenbook S 13, outperform both laptops by nearly 20% in this test.
Although this isn't a catastrophic outcome, and it doesn't mean that the Surface Laptop 5 is a poor performer, it's a departure from the progress made by the Surface Laptop 4. The Surface Laptop 5 seems to regress in this regard.
Battery life, another area improved by the use of AMD chips in the Surface Laptop 4, remains satisfactory in the Surface Laptop 5. It lasts around 10.5 hours during light web browsing. While respectable, this is still a few hours behind the Surface Laptop 4. In a time where Apple Silicon MacBooks hold a significant advantage in battery life, it's disappointing that Microsoft opted not to retain an AMD option.
Simply Not Enough
In essence, the Surface Laptop 5 falls short of expectations. It possesses a design I admire, and many fundamental aspects are commendable. The keyboard is excellent, the port selection is sufficient, and the 3:2 display contributes to a pleasant work experience.
However, as a laptop released in 2022 at this price point, it struggles to keep up. The M1 MacBook Air often sells for considerably less, while offering superior speed and longer battery life. Then there are laptops like the Dell XPS 13 or HP Envy x360 13, both more affordable and offering better configuration options. While I appreciate the inclusion of the 3:2 touchscreen across the lineup, Microsoft's steep charges for storage and memory upgrades make it challenging to recommend anything beyond the base model.
Retaining an AMD model in the lineup could have rendered the Surface Laptop 5 more competitive. However, even in its current state, there are several reasons why the Surface Laptop 5 feels like a laptop from a few years ago – because in many respects, it is.
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