The Surface Laptop 3 is a laptop computer developed by Microsoft. It is the third generation of Surface Laptop and was unveiled alongside the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X on an event on 2 October 2019. It succeeds the Surface Laptop 2 that was released in October 2018.[1]

Surface Laptop 3
DeveloperMicrosoft
Product familyMicrosoft Surface
TypeLaptop
GenerationThird
Release date2 October 2019; 5 years ago (2019-10-02)
Availability22 October 2019; 5 years ago (2019-10-22)
Introductory price15.0": USD$1,200 - 2,800
13.5": USD$1,000 - 2,400
Operating system Windows 10 Home
Upgradable to Windows 11 Home
CPU15.0": AMD Ryzen 5 3580U or
AMD Ryzen 7 3780U
13.5": Intel Core i5 1035G7 or
Intel Core i7 1065G7
Memory15.0": 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB RAM
13.5": 8 GB, 16 GB RAM
Storage15.0": 1 TB, 512 GB, 256 GB, 128 GB
13.5": 1 TB, 512 GB, 256 GB, 128 GB
Removable storageSSD is not user removable. SSD is only removable by skilled technician following Microsoft provided instructions.
DisplayPixelSense Touchscreen
3:2 Aspect Ratio
15.0": 2496 x 1664, 201 PPI
13.5": 2256 x 1504, (201 ppi)
Graphics15.0": Radeon Vega 9 or Radeon RX Vega 11
13.5" and 15.0" for business: Intel Iris Plus
SoundOmnisonic Speakers with Dolby Audio, 3.5 mm headphone jack, dual far-field studio mics
InputBuilt in: touchscreen, ambient light sensor, keyboard, touchpad
Sold Separately: mouse, stylus pen, Surface Dial
Camera720p HD f2.0 camera
TouchpadBuilt in
ConnectivityBluetooth 5, USB C
15.0": WiFi 5
13.5": WiFi 6
Online servicesMicrosoft Store, OneDrive
Dimensions15.0": 339.5 x 244 x 14.69 mm
(13.4 x 9.6 x 0.57 in)
13.5": 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm
(12.1 x 8.8 x 0.57 in)
Mass15.0": 1,542 grams (3.400 lb)
Platinum & Matte Black
13.5": 1,288 grams (2.840 lb)
Sandstone & Matte Black
1,265 grams (2.789 lb)
Cobalt Blue & Platinum
PredecessorSurface Laptop 2
SuccessorSurface Laptop 4
RelatedSurface
Websitewww.surface.com

Surface Laptop 3 keeps the same form and design, but with an addition of a USB Type-C port, improved battery life, hidden antenna lines, and an AMD CPU for the 15-inch model—a first for a Surface device.[2]

Microsoft now offers an aluminum keyboard deck as an option for some models alongside the traditional Alcantara material covering. The 15-inch models are only available with an aluminum keyboard deck.[3]

The device comes installed with Windows 10 Home but a free upgrade to Windows 11 is available.[4]

The 13.5-inch model's display is the same resolution as previous generations, but the new 15-inch model features increased display resolution to maintain high pixel density. The 13.5-inch model comes with a 2256 x 1504 resolution and the 15-inch model comes with a 2496 x 1664 resolution. Both models have a 3:2 aspect ratio and pixel density of 201 pixels per inch (ppi).

The Surface Laptop 3 13.5-inch model starts at $1,000 and goes up to $2,400. The 15-inch model starts at $1,200 and goes up to $2,800.

Configuration

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Surface Laptop 3 Configuration Options [5] [6] [7]
Price Tier in USD Size CPU GPU RAM Internal Storage Color
Consumer Business
$1,000 $1,100 13.5" Intel Core i5-1035G7 Intel Iris Plus Graphics (64 EU)
(GT2 @ 1.05 GHz)
8 GB 128 GB  A 
$1,300 $1,400 256 GB  S   B   C   A 
$1,500 $1,600 16 GB
$1,600 $1,700 Intel Core i7-1065G7 Intel Iris Plus Graphics (64 EU)
(GT2 @ 1.1 GHz)
$2,000 $2,100 512 GB  S   B   C   A 
$2,400 $2,500 1 TB  S   B   C   A 
$1,200 Does not appear 15" AMD Ryzen 5 3580U Radeon Vega 9 8 GB 128 GB  P 
$1,500 Does not appear 256 GB  B   P 
$1,700 Does not appear 16 GB
$2,100 Does not appear AMD Ryzen 7 3780U Radeon RX Vega 11 512 GB  B   P 
$2,800 Does not appear 32 GB 1 TB  B   P 
Does not appear $1,300 Intel Core i5-1035G7 Intel Iris Plus Graphics (64 EU)
(GT2 @ 1.05GHz)
8 GB 128 GB  P 
Does not appear $1,600 256 GB  B   P 
Does not appear $1,700 16 GB
Does not appear $1,800 Intel Core i7-1065G7 Intel Iris Plus Graphics (64 EU)
(GT2 @ 1.1 GHz)
Does not appear $2,200 512 GB  B   P 
Does not appear $2,900 32 GB 1 TB  B 

 S | Sandstone Metal   B | Black Metal   P | Platinum Metal   C | Cobalt Blue Alcantara   A | Platinum Alcantara 
Surface Laptop 3 for consumer comes preloaded with Windows 10 Home
Surface Laptop 3 for business comes preloaded with Windows 10 Pro

Features

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  • Windows Hello face authentication via integrated near infrared (IR) camera[8]
  • 10th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor for the 13.5-inch model
  • AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 Surface Edition processor for the 15-inch model
  • Memory options are 32 GB, 16 GB and 8 GB
  • Storage options are 1 TB, 512 GB, 256 GB and 128 GB
  • A 3.5 mm headphone jack, USB-C (3.2 Gen 2 with USB-PD 3.0) and USB-A (3.2 Gen 2) ports
  • All configurations can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for an additional $50. (Business models come pre-installed with Windows 10 Pro)
  • Up to 11.5 hours battery life for either model
  • Factory calibrated IPS-type sRGB display with 400 nits peak brightness and 1400:1 contrast ratio[9]

Hardware

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The Surface Laptop 3 is the 3rd addition to Surface Laptop lineup. The Surface Laptop 3 is aimed toward business professionals and the enterprise market.[10]

The device is available with either a 13.5-inch or 15-inch display touchscreen. The device features a full-body aluminum alloy construction alongside an Alcantara material on the keyboard deck. Between the 13.5" or 15" screen size options, while the resolutions differ, they both have the same pixel density of 201 pixels per inch.[11]

The Surface Laptop 3 features quad core Intel Core i7 1065G7 or an Intel Core i5 1035G7 CPU for the 13.5-inch consumer and business model and 15-inch business model. Custom Surface Edition AMD Ryzen 5 3580U and Ryzen 7 3780U CPUs for the 15-inch consumer model are offered. The Intel CPU variants come with an Intel Iris Plus G7 integrated GPU for both the 13.5-inch consumer and 15-inch business models, and a custom Surface Edition AMD Radeon Vega or AMD Radeon RX Vega GPU for the 15-inch consumer model.

The device contains a USB-A port and a USB-C port with power delivery and a Surface Connect port. In addition to the 720p camera, a near IR sensor is included for Windows Hello face authentication.

The keyboard's key travel is reduced to 1.3 mm, compared to 1.5 mm in the previous generation. Its touchpad is 20 percent larger than the previous generation as well.

Like all the other Surface devices, the Surface Laptop 3 supports digital pen input.

The laptop doesn't have a microSD or SD card slot; however, the company made the device's SSD upgradable and easier to access. Microsoft also made it possible to remove the keyboard plate to get all of the computer's internals making it easier to repair.[12]

Software

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Surface Laptop 3 models ship with a pre-installed 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home and a 30-day trial of Office 365. Users can opt for a Pro version of the OS for a fee. Windows 10 comes pre-installed with Mail, Calendar, People, Xbox, Photos, Movies and TV, Groove Music, Your Phone, Office and Edge.

Timeline

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Timeline of Surface devices
Surface Duo 2Surface DuoSurface Hub 3Surface Hub 2SSurface HubSurface Studio 2Surface Studio 2Surface StudioSurface Laptop SESurface Laptop Studio 2Surface Laptop StudioSurface Laptop Go 3Surface Laptop Go 2Surface Laptop GoSurface Laptop (7th generation)Surface Laptop 6Surface Laptop 5Surface Laptop 4Surface Laptop 3Surface Laptop 2Surface LaptopSurface Book 3Surface Book 2Surface BookSurface Pro XSurface Pro XSurface Go 4Surface Go 3Surface Go 2Surface GoSurface Pro (11th generation)Surface Pro 10Surface Pro 9Surface Pro 8Surface Pro 7Surface Pro 7Surface Pro 6Surface Pro (2017)Surface Pro 4Surface Pro 3Surface Pro 2Surface ProSurface 3Surface 2Surface (2012 tablet)

References

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  1. ^ "Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3 packs a 10th-gen Intel CPU". The Verge. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Microsoft announces Surface Laptop 3 with a new 15-inch model and USB-C". The Verge. 2 October 2019.
  3. ^ Larsen, Luke (2 October 2019). "Microsoft Surface Laptop 3: Everything you need to know". Digital Trends.
  4. ^ "Which Surface devices can be upgraded to Windows 11?". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Surface Laptop 3 for Business configurations". Microsoft. 6 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Surface Laptop 3 configurations". Microsoft.
  7. ^ "Surface Laptop 3 configurations (Canada)". Microsoft.
  8. ^ windows-driver-content. "Windows Hello face authentication". docs.microsoft.com. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  9. ^ Howse, Brett. "The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (15-Inch) Review: AMD Ryzen Surface Edition". www.anandtech.com. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  10. ^ Null, Christopher (15 April 2020). "Review: Microsoft Surface Laptop 3". Wired.
  11. ^ "Surface Laptop 3 – Style and speed – Microsoft Surface". Microsoft.
  12. ^ "The Surface Pro X and Surface Laptop 3 are upgradable, but only a little". The Verge. 3 October 2019.
Preceded by Surface Laptop 3
3rd generation
With: Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X
Succeeded by