3DMark measures relative graphics muscle by rendering sequences of highly
detailed, gaming-style 3D graphics that emphasize particles and lighting. We
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11 benchmarks, but Sky Diver is more suited to laptops and midrange PCs,
while Fire Strike is more demanding and made for high-end PCs to strut their
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Like 3DMark, the Superposition test renders and pans through a detailed 3D
scene and measures how the system copes. In this case, it’s rendered in the
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scenario than 3DMark for a second opinion on the machine’s graphical prowess.
Battery Life Testing: Finally, after fully recharging the laptop, we set up the
machine in power-save mode (as opposed to balanced or high-performance
mode) and make a few other battery-conserving tweaks in preparation for our
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airplane mode.) In this test, we loop a 720p video with screen brightness set at
50 percent and volume at 100 percent until the system quits.
Nearly 15 hours is an excellent result, but it’s not quite as good as the Apple
MacBook Pro’s 18.5 hours.
ON THE SURFACE, AN ITERATIVE IMPROVEMENT
The 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 3 is a modest improvement on a well-designed
ultraportable that gets the basics right. People who need to type all day will
appreciate the comfortable keyboard and touchpad, and the expanded range of
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day away from a power outlet. Its display quality is excellent, and its anemic
port selection can be overlooked if you’re willing to buy a USB hub or invest in
the Surface Dock.
If you want cutting-edge features like Touch Bars, powerful GPUs, or extra-thin
screen bezels, however, you’ll want to look elsewhere: Check out either
Microsoft’s excellent Surface Pro 7 or the legions of futuristic ultraportables
including the Apple MacBook Pro, Razer Blade Stealth, and Asus ZenBook 13.
TOM BRANT
PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION (^) I SUBSCRIBE (^) I MARCH 2020