Computer Shopper - UK (2020-04)

ISSUE386|COMPUTER SHOPPER|APRIL2020

SPECIFICATIONS

Windows overall

Multitasking

Battery life

0% -50 Reference + 50 + 100

Seepage84for performance details

PROCESSORQuad-core 2.2GHz AMDRyzen 53580U•

RAM16GB•DIMENSIONS340x244x14.7mm•WEIGHT1.5kg•

SCREEN SIZE15in•SCREEN RESOLUTION2,496x1,664•

GRAPHICSADAPTORAMDRadeon Vega 9•TOTAL STORAGE

256GBSSD•OPERATINGSYSTEMWindows10Pro•

WARRANTYOneyearRTB•DETAILSwww.microsoft.com•

PART CODEV9R-00022

7h 34m

92

79

AAASSSSSSSSSDDDbbbenchhhmarkkk,alllttthhhoughhhiiittts 444999888 MMMBBB///s
writespeed is well below the NVMe
platform’s capabilities.

DRYRUN
We’ve repeatedly seen Ryzen-powered laptops
suffer from shorter-than-expected battery life,
and the Surface Laptop 315in is unfortunately
another to add to the list. There are less
enduring laptops, to be fair,but its 7h 34m result
in our video rundown test is still something of a
letdown. The 13.5in version managed 8h 10m,

and although the XPS 15 only lasted 7h 15m, it
had amuchthirstier 4K screen to account for.
Youmight be able to squeak through aday’s
usewithout visiting the mains, but you’d need to
lower the screen brightness and be frugal with
wireless connectivity.
Speaking of wireless, the Ryzen chip doesn’t
just confer mediocre performance and suspect
battery life: it also doesn’t support 802.11ax
Wi-Fi 6, so you won’t be able to take advantage
of the new standard’s faster speeds. Most
galling of allisthat the Intel chips within the
13.5in models do support 802.11ax, so if you do
choose the 15in model, you’ll literally be paying
more forless.
Conversely,there’s exactparity on physical
ports: both models come with one full-size
USB3.1port, one USB Type-C port and a
headphone jack. This is hardly agenerous
bounty,but the inclusion of Type-C is one
significant upgrade on the Surface Laptop 2:
because it can carry video,data and power
all at once,it’s alot more versatile than the
Mini DisplayPort it replaces, even if it’s not
full-fat Thunderbolt 3.
Youalso get Windows 10 Pro as an operating
system, rather than the lesser Windows 10
Home.Alot of the Pro version’s features are

gearedddspeciiififificallllllytttowardddsenttterpriiise users,bbbuttt

BitLockerfull-driveencryptionisaniceextrafor

anyone.And,whilethere’snofingerprintsensor

ontheSurfaceLaptop3,you’renotwithout

biometrics. The Windows Hello camera nestled in

the topbezel makes foraquick and convenient

alternative to passwords, via facial recognition.

ABIGASK

The Surface Laptop 315in is often fantastic;

it’s finely crafted and comfortable to use,and

that screen is one of the best in its class.

However,thatalso makes it hurt harder when

it settles forless in the performance and

connectivity departments.

On that note, much of what is good about

the Surface Laptop 315in can be had in the

13.5in version forless money, andifit’s pure

power you’re after,the XPS 15 remains agood

choice even two years after launch. That leaves

the 15in Surface Laptop 3asacomputer that

dabbles in greatness, but ultimately doesn’t

make foravery compelling purchase.

JamesArcher

Much of whatisgood about the SurfaceLaptop 315in can be

had in the 13.5in version forless money