Tech Advisor - UK (2020-01)

JANUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 23

PCMark 10. That yielded an even lower battery life of

6 hours and 27 minutes.

Verdict

Even in a world with nothing in it but the Surface

Laptop 3, the Ryzen-based consumer model we

reviewed might not be the best choice. Admittedly, we

haven’t reviewed the Surface Laptop 3 for Business. But

for just £80 more (available from fave.co/2BAWfuj),

it offers a similarly configured model as our test unit,

with a Core i7-1065G7 inside it as well as improved

wireless capabilities. That’s also the same Core i7-

1065G7/16GB/256GB configuration as in the Dell

XPS 13 2-in-1 7390, which we have tested. It’s

true that Dell’s XPS line already lands high on the

performance scale, widening the discrepancy. Still, we

can infer from its performance that the Surface Laptop

3 for Business is certainly worth consideration, if it’s

not the better option altogether.

What rating would we assign the Surface Laptop 3 as

a whole? It’s taken some necessary steps into the future,

granted, with the addition of USB-C. Thunderbolt is

probably due in a 2020 revision. After a necessary

firmware update, the cooling is surprisingly good,

assisting performance – which really is about on par

with an Intel 8th-generation Whiskey Lake processor,

plus a bit more in the GPU department.

In some ways, I view a laptop like I view a hotel. If

I can sleep well, shower well, and work well, I don’t

care for the view. Microsoft’s Surface Laptops have

traditionally nailed the keyboard, screen, multimedia,

and battery, and I’ve loved them for it. The sleek,

JANUARY 2020 • TECH ADVISOR 23

PCMark10.Thatyieldedanevenlowerbatterylifeof
6 hours and 27 minutes.

Verdict
Even in a world with nothing in it but the Surface
Laptop 3, the Ryzen-based consumer model we
reviewedmightnotbethebestchoice.Admittedly,we
haven’treviewedtheSurfaceLaptop3 forBusiness. But
for just £80 more (available from fave.co/2BAWfuj),
it offers a similarly configured model as our test unit,
with a Core i7-1065G7 inside it as well as improved
wireless capabilities. That’s also the same Core i7-
1065G7/16GB/256GB configuration as in the Dell
XPS 13 2-in-17390,whichwehavetested.It’s
truethatDell’s XPS line already lands high on the
performance scale, widening the discrepancy. Still, we
can infer from its performance that the Surface Laptop
3 forBusinessis certainlyworthconsideration,if it’s
notthe better option altogether.
What rating would we assign the Surface Laptop 3 as
a whole? It’s taken some necessary steps into the future,
granted, with the addition of USB-C. Thunderbolt is
probably due in a 2020 revision. After a necessary
firmware update, the cooling is surprisingly good,
assisting performance – which really is about on par
with an Intel 8th-generation Whiskey Lake processor,
plus a bit more in the GPU department.
In some ways, I view a laptop like I view a hotel. If
I can sleep well, shower well, and work well, I don’t
care for the view. Microsoft’s Surface Laptops have
traditionally nailed the keyboard, screen, multimedia,
and battery, and I’ve loved them for it. The sleek,