Design

When the Surface Laptop was first announced, it was a remarkably interesting design. Microsoft continued to advocate for their 3:2 aspect ratio displays, and the Surface Laptop was the first notebook to offer that aspect ratio in modern times. In addition, the design team outfitted the Surface Laptop, which at the time was only offered as a 13.5-inch size, with an Alcantara keyboard deck which was unique in the space.

Microsoft then refreshed the Surface Laptop, and added a larger 15-inch model as an option, as well as offering models with and without the Alcantara keyboard deck, at least in the 13.5-inch lineup. The 15-inch has never offered the fabric option. Unlike Microsoft’s Surface Book, which is made out of a magnesium alloy, the Surface Laptop has always been made out of aluminum. The advantage here for the Surface Laptop is that it is less expensive, and the aluminum finish allows for anodized finishes in a variety of color options. For 2021, the Surface Laptop 4 13.5-inch is available in Platinum, Ice Blue, Matte Black, and Sandstone, while the larger 15-inch model is just available in Platinum and Matte Black. The review unit is the black version, and it looks amazing, but be warned, it is more difficult to keep clean than the platinum model.

Two things can be true at once, and it is both fair to say that the Surface Laptop 4 is a well-designed, attractive notebook, and that it is in need of a bit of a facelift. Microsoft has not altered the overall design since the original Surface Laptop shipped, other than to add a larger model, so the Surface Laptop 4 still has rather large display bezels compared to recent designs from other manufacturers. The 3:2 display aspect ratio is still a win, but it is no longer unique to the segment, with other players now offering taller displays as well. The rest of the Surface lineup all features one cool trick, but the Surface Laptop 4 is just a laptop. There is no 360° hinge, no detachable display. But, not everyone wants that, and as a pure laptop, the Laptop 4 can surpass the other designs in areas like weight, and usability in the traditional laptop mode.

Microsoft has always offered a great keyboard in the Surface Laptop line, and this continues with the 4th generation, offering 1.3 mm of key travel, a logical key placement, easy to use function keys, and three levels of backlighting. The trackpad is also about as good as you can get in the PC space, and the 15-inch Surface Laptop 4 offers a large trackpad without going so crazy on the width that it interferes with using the keyboard. As someone who likes the Alcantara, it is a bit of a shame that they do not offer it at all on the 15-inch models. The anodized aluminum feels good, but almost all notebooks in this segment offer the same anodized finish, so the fabric did offer something unique.

While the port selection is not robust, the Surface Laptop 4 does offer enough for most people, with a single USB Type-A port on the right, alongside a Type-C port. If you need additional expansion, Microsoft does offer a Surface Dock which connects over the Surface Connect charging port. Sadly, Microsoft has refused to support any form of Thunderbolt on any Surface devices, meaning the USB Type-C port is USB-only, but it does include native DisplayPort, as well as charging. Microsoft offers some Type-C video and audio adapters as well, if you need to connect to something other than DisplayPort.

Overall, the design does work well, even if it is looking a bit familiar. The Surface Laptop 4 offers a premium feel, and at 1.5 kg / 3.4 lbs, this 15-inch notebook is lightweight as well. Microsoft hasn’t updated the design in a few generations, but still, several years in, the Surface Laptop 4 is still a good-looking notebook.

Introduction System Performance
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  • Alistair - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link

    oh jeeze, no HDMI port included either!
  • Powervano - Friday, May 7, 2021 - link

    Yes, it does. The support for alt mode was there in Surface Laptop 3 as well.
  • Alistair - Friday, May 7, 2021 - link

    if it does, it should be in the review... Anandtech!!!
  • Brett Howse - Friday, May 7, 2021 - link

    It is in the review...

    meaning the USB Type-C port is USB-only, but it does include native DisplayPort, as well as charging. Microsoft offers some Type-C video and audio adapters as well, if you need to connect to something other than DisplayPort.
  • hlovatt - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link

    It’s a pity that the tables don’t show the performance of a MacBook Air side by side (you can look them up - but not same). Comparison between different processors is a really interesting topic at this time!
  • heickelrrx - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link

    Still no TB

    Even M1 mac has it now

    Come on, those Tiger Lake chip literally have Integrated TB controller lying dormant
  • Alistair - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link

    but the usb-c i assumes has display port alt mode
  • grant3 - Thursday, May 13, 2021 - link

    yes, Microsoft has its head up its ass when it comes to ports. You've made your point how you can copy Apple's "think different" mantra of pointlessly limiting peripheral connectively. Now it's time to copy Appl again, and include 1+ TB ports on its "premium" laptops.
  • Dug - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - link

    A few things I really like about Surface laptops.

    Screen (and aspect ratio), keyboard, touchpad, clean aesthetics, and bloat free install of Windows.

    The rest, I don't care about. It's a laptop, not a workstation or desktop. So for those categories, it does an excellent job.
  • 29a - Friday, May 7, 2021 - link

    How much of Tiger Lake's performance advantage over the Ryzen comes from the Ryzen having to stay in a 15 watt power envelope but the Tiger Lake is only limited to 28 watts?

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