What is Main Difference between Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

The new Surface Laptop 4 is unquestionably the most powerful alternative, but with only minor upgrades elsewhere, it is questionable whether the additional cost is justified. In this comparison, we’ve compared the two laptops so you can see what the key differences are and decide between them more wisely. Without any more delay, here is our comparison of the Surface Laptop 4 and Surface Laptop 3.

Microsoft introduced the long-awaited Surface Laptop 4, and as anticipated, it incorporates several upgraded components into a slim chassis that bears a striking resemblance to the predecessor, the Surface Laptop 3.

When comparing the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 to the Surface Laptop 3, there aren’t any revolutionary changes, but the new model does offer improved performance, longer battery life, & more customization possibilities. Below are a few crucial characteristics.

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

Design

When Microsoft upgraded from the Surface Laptop 3, it chose to go with the same chassis, therefore there weren’t any significant design changes made to the Surface Laptop 4. As a result, the Surface Laptop 4 may appear antiquated and have an unsightly thick bezel around the screen. Edge-to-edge screens, which provide extra area for the display, have become increasingly popular. Microsoft has been one of the handful of companies that has resisted the impulse to follow this new fad, making their laptops appear outdated as a result.

Despite this, both the 13-inch Surface Laptop 4 & Surface Laptop 3 weigh in at just 1.3kg, making them both still incredibly portable computers. Additionally, they are extremely thin, measuring only 14.5mm. The new color option, Ice Blue, is the only thing the Surface Laptop 4 has over its predecessor when it comes to style. Although it appears wonderful, the price increase is still unjustified.

Processors 

Depending on your preferences for processors, you can customize the new Surface Laptop 4 by choosing an Intel 11th Generation or an AMD Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition CPU (4000 series) Octa-core CPU. Overall, it is an upgrade over models from last year, although it is disappointing to see that Microsoft was unable to include the most recent AMD Ryzen Mobile 5000 series CPUs.

However, you cannot purchase a processor in any arrangement. You must upgrade to the 15-inch variant if you want the Ryzen 7’s two more cores because the 13.5-inch version is only compatible with the Ryzen 5 4680U. Microsoft enjoys collaborating closely with other companies to produce more reliable and effective hardware, but this means that it frequently cannot use the most recent chips in its products. That’s unfortunate because this year’s Ryzen 5000 processors are even more potent.

Battery

According to Microsoft, the Surface Laptop 4’s battery life has been significantly enhanced. The firm claims the battery on the Surface Laptop 4 ought to last for 19 hours. Even if you don’t believe it, that’s still a significant increase over the 11.5 hours Microsoft claimed the laptop version of the Surface 3 would last.

Connectivity Ports

The Surface Laptops 3 and 4 are nearly equal in terms of portability. Between generations, there have been no changes to the ports or connectivity. There are still charging ports for USB-A, USB-C, and Microsoft’s Surface devices. The webcam is the same 720p Microsoft Hello webcam (also equipped with dual-studio microphones). As with the Surface Pro, there is no microSD card for storage.

The Surface Laptop 3 only has two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the left side, which are used for charging and data transfer. There is only a 3.5-millimeter on the right edge. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop 4 lacks any Thunderbolt ports. Instead, there is a convenient USB Type-A port, a headphone jack, and a USB 3.1 Type-C input on the left. A magnetic Surface Connect connector for charging and charging is located on the right side.

Keyboard and touchpad

The Butterfly keyboard has been permanently replaced with a conventional Chiclet-style keypad on the most recent Surface Laptop 3 model, which is good news for Apple aficionados. The Surface Laptop 4 continues to be more comfortable for typing on, which is bad news.

The keys on the Surface Laptop 3 feel a little firmer while having a more tactile click. The Surface Laptop 3’s keys require more energy to operate, although they travel nearly equally and are both above average for this class. The bouncy action of the Surface Laptop 4’s keys, which leaps your fingertips from one single sound to the next, is what sets them apart.

For a notebook this tiny, the Surface Notebook 3’s 4.7 x 3.2-inch touchpad is absurdly huge. It boasts a glass surface that is smooth and reacts rapidly to swipes and other motions. I’ll attribute my dislike of the Force Touch trackpad & its fake presses to personal choice. Although the Surface Laptop’s 4.5 x 3-inch touchpad is smaller, it feels just as smooth and responds swiftly to Windows 10 motions, such as a two-finger sweep to zoom.

GPU

Performance is the primary difference between the Surface Laptop 4 and the Surface Book 3, followed by form size. A dedicated GPU is built into the base of the Surface Book 3. The 13.5-inch model has an NVidia GTX 1650 with 4GB GDDR5, while the 15-inch model has a GTX 1660 Ti.

That’s a significant increase in power, especially for the bigger Surface Book 3. Since the GPU is located in the base, losing the screen will result in a loss of power. When that occurs, it depends on the built-in Iris plus Graphics.

The fact that the displays on these two laptops are the same size is one of the explanations I wanted to compare them. It’s okay that they are both available in 13.5- and 15-inch versions. One thing, which we’ll cover in more detail shortly, is that the bigger Surface Book 3 has more power. On the Surface Laptop 4, though, such is not the case.

Yes, the Surface Book 3 continues to utilize processors from the 10th generation of Intel. They are also U-series. You could assume that it has a 45W processor or some such because it’s promoted as a powerhouse. There isn’t. The 15-inch model uses the same processor as the 13.5-inch model, but with a TDP that is increased to 20W.

The Surface Laptop 4 makes use of processors from a newer family but in the same class. It has 11th-generation Intel CPUs, which have significantly more potent Iris Xe graphics. In other words, when the screen is detached, it will destroy the integrated graphics and fall short of the specialized GTX 1660 Ti in the 15-inch Surface Book 3.

It’s also important to note that AMD Ryzen 4000 chips are also available for the Surface Laptop 4. They are quite good and were created using a 7nm technique. However, AMD is currently using Ryzen 5000, whereas Ryzen 4000 comfortably defeated Intel’s 10th-generation CPUs last year.

Conclusion

The Surface Laptop 4 was the better laptop of the two thanks to slightly improved performance and battery life brought on by the upgraded processor. I’m not sure, though, that those modest upgrades account for the current pricing difference. I advise choosing the Surface Laptop 3 because it offers superior value and has very few cons. You don’t need to worry regarding future-proofing because both of your laptops will also be able to be upgraded to Windows 11 near the end of this year.

You’ll undoubtedly receive greater value for your money and also have more options between Intel and AMD. However, the easier availability of Ryzen chips and longer battery life significantly increase the Surface Laptop 4’s competitiveness. Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 4 features 11th Gen AMD and Intel Ryzen 4000 series processors, just like prior devices. Although the cost will be slightly more, it is very worthwhile.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What distinguishes the Surface Laptop 4 from the Surface Laptop 3?

The biggest advantage of choosing the Surface Laptop 4 instead of the Surface Laptop 3 is the faster speeds you’ll experience thanks to the more potent processor. The Surface Laptop 3’s 15-inch variant is equipped with Touch Edition Ryzen 3000 CPUs, while the 13-inch model uses 10th-generation Intel Core processors.

The Surface 4 laptop: Is it pricey?

It lacks certain top Windows laptops feature-richness, including the 2-in-1 HP Spectre 14, and the price isn’t as good of a deal as the M1 MacBook Air. The Surface Computer 4 is still a fantastic notebook for Windows lovers, but the Air easily outperforms it in terms of processing and battery life.

Is my surface a 3 or a 4?

The Surface app is the best place to look up the model of the Surface you own. The names of the models for both your Surface machine and each Surface attachment are displayed.

What about the Surface Laptop 4 in 2023?

Thanks to its fantastic PixelSense touchscreen and exceptional battery life, it would also work incredibly well for mobile workers and even certain creatives. On the test, we were quite impressed with the speed and well-equipped device, and the keyboard is great for typing.

The Surface Laptop 4 is so sluggish – why?

You might have a hot surface. Check to see if your Surface runs quicker by moving it to a cooler location and waiting five minutes. If at all possible, plug your Surface in. Try closing an app that uses a lot of memory, like one that streams video or plays games, for a while.

Which Surface laptop is the best?

The top Surface PC currently on the market is the Surface Laptop 5. The device has a Microsoft 11 OS and an Intel Core i5 processor from the 12th generation. Featuring a 256 GB Solid State Drive (SSD) for quicker performance, the system memory is eight gigabytes.

What benefits does the Surface Laptop 4 offer?

The Microsoft Surface Notebook 4 may very well be the best Microsoft Windows 10 notebook money can purchase right now, as we mentioned above. Microsoft’s ultraportable gets a significant performance boost and even greater battery life thanks to the new silicon. Although it is still far from flawless, it can still compete with the MacBook Air’s performance.