Surface Laptop 3 Launches With New 15-inch Variant, AMD Processors, Metal Finish

Microsoft is introducing the third-generation of the Surface Laptop today. At its New York event, the company just took the wraps off the Surface Laptop 3, the company’s newest clamshell laptop. And this time around, Microsoft has a lot of options for customers.

Surface Laptop 3 comes in a new 15-inch variant, with a 15-inch PixelSense display and a resolution of 2496×1664 pixels and a PPI of 201. The new device will continue to be available in the usual 13.5-inch variant, which features a resolution of 2256×1504 pixels and a PPI of 201. The larger device weighs 1.542 kilograms, while the small one weighs 1.26552 kg. The larger 15-inc variant is still less heavy than the MacBook Pro. That’s not the only option Microsoft is providing with Surface Laptop 3.

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You can finally get the Surface Laptop 3 without Microsoft’s Alcantara fabric on the device’s keyboard. Although a lot of people are a fan of Alcantara, I have never really enjoyed the feel of the fabric on a laptop, and Microsoft now lets you choose between a new machine aluminium finish or Alcantara when buying both the 15-inch and 13.5-inch variant of the device. This new aluminium finish looks really sleek, and I’m glad Microsoft finally gives you the option to choose an aluminium finish instead of the Alcantara fabric. It also features a 20% larger trackpad, and Instant On capability.

In terms of specs, you can get up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM on the larger 15-inch variant, while the 13.5-inch variant comes with up to 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM. The 13.5-inch variant devices are powered by Intel’s latest 10th generation of quad-core processors — it’s 2x faster than the Surface Laptop 2 and 3x faster than the MacBook Air.

Microsoft is also offering AMD Ryzen “Surface Edition” processor on the Surface Laptop 3 15-inch variant, which is the fastest mobile processor built by AMD. The new processor includes faster graphics performance than any other laptop in its class, according to Microsoft, who co-engineered the processor with AMD.

Both the devices come with up to 1TB of SSD storage, and Microsoft is promising to offer up to 11.5 hours of battery life on both the variants which can be fast charged (80% battery in one hour). Oh, the hard drives are removable, too. They come with the same amount of ports — and yes, that includes a single Type-C port (finally), a full-size USB-A port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Surface Connect port. The device also features audio from Dolby Atmos.

Surface Laptop 3 comes in a range of different colors. On the smaller 13.5-inch variant, you get to choose between a new Sandstone finish or go with the usual Platinum, Cobalt, or Black finishes. And on the 15-inch variant, you can only choose between the Black or Platinum colors which is a bit disappointing.

Surface Laptop 3 13.5-inch variant starts at $999 for the Core i5 variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage and goes up to $2,399 for the Core i7 variant with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. The 15-inch variant devices will start at $1,199.

Pre-orders today, ships October 22.

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Conversation 23 comments

  • Jaxidian

    02 October, 2019 - 10:30 am

    <p>Zen+ or Zen 2 AMD chips?</p>

    • proesterchen

      02 October, 2019 - 11:55 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#473865">In reply to Jaxidian:</a></em></blockquote><p>Overclocked 12nm Zen+ silicon.</p><p><br></p><p>I guess Microsoft needs to make some margin on Surface somehow.</p>

  • Lauren Glenn

    02 October, 2019 - 10:33 am

    <p>Finally. Removable hard drives on ultra thin laptops. That's my one reason for not buying them yet aside from the fact that money is tight… But once it isn't, this is one to consider</p>

    • RobertJasiek

      02 October, 2019 - 1:33 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#473866">In reply to alissa914:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'd prefer removable battery though.</p>

  • nordyj

    02 October, 2019 - 10:36 am

    <p>32GB on a Surface device?!? FINALLY!!! And I came in late to the presentation, but I believe Mary Joe said that they're also serviceable. Plus, I can get it without Alcantara? Just found my next laptop! Kudos, Microsoft! I'm super excited to get my hands on this!</p>

  • Tom Webb

    02 October, 2019 - 10:52 am

    <p>I can't believe the base model still ships with 128gb.</p>

    • dontbeevil

      02 October, 2019 - 11:55 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#473887">In reply to Harpocrates:</a></em></blockquote><p>you mean like the macbook air and PRO</p>

      • Greg Green

        02 October, 2019 - 6:54 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#473938">In reply to dontbeevil:</a></em></blockquote><p>You seem to think of apple more often than apple users think of apple.</p>

    • MikeCerm

      02 October, 2019 - 12:50 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#473887">In reply to Harpocrates:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'd be perfectly happy if it shipped with just 64 GB of storage. It's a portable device that I use for little more than web browsing, and streaming media from the internet or from other devices on my local network. Chromebooks get along just fine with 32 GB, but Windows does need a little more breathing room. I'm glad that they offer more storage for the people who want it, but 64 GB is all I need from a laptop or phone. (And this is particularly true if I can pop in a MicroSD for the times when I do want to load up a bunch of media before a flight or something, which I almost never do.)</p>

  • Stooks

    02 October, 2019 - 11:09 am

    <p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">that includes a single Type-C port (finally), a full-size USB-A port"</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Apple should pay attention. Having just one USB-A port saves $$$ for some dongles.</span></p>

    • dontbeevil

      02 October, 2019 - 11:54 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#473890">In reply to Stooks:</a></em></blockquote><p>but than will not make apple richer</p>

    • BizTechSherpa

      02 October, 2019 - 5:23 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#473890">In reply to Stooks:</a></em></blockquote><p>SMH. Pay $1500-2000 for a laptop, can't afford a $50 USB-C hub with all sorts of ports. </p>

      • Stooks

        03 October, 2019 - 12:40 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#474357">In reply to BizTechSherpa:</a></em></blockquote><p>I have lots of USB-A devices that I like to use on with my laptops, usually just one at a time….lots and lots. </p><p><br></p><p>Perfect example, a USB to Serial Keyspan device. I am network engineer so I use this device a lot. On my Macbook, I must first plug in USB-C to USB-A dongle, then the USB to Serial device, then a console cable…..it is messy and a Pita without a native USB-A device. Just one example.</p>

  • David Opdendries

    02 October, 2019 - 12:28 pm

    <p>With no surface book 3 announcement I'm hoping the graphics card in the 15 inch varient will be as good as they announce </p>

  • codymesh

    02 October, 2019 - 1:33 pm

    <p>So uh, the CPU on the AMD chip isn't expected to be faster than Intel, so the GPU must be the selling point they're banking on. </p>

  • jwpear

    Premium Member
    02 October, 2019 - 2:06 pm

    <p>Yes to removable hard drive and 32 GB RAM!</p>

  • solomonrex

    02 October, 2019 - 2:53 pm

    <blockquote><em><a href="#474136">In reply to SvenJ:</a></em></blockquote><p>Agreed, 128 is fine for fleet laptops and secondary devices. We're not storing music and videos on these things anymore.</p>

  • chrisrut

    Premium Member
    02 October, 2019 - 3:08 pm

  • simont

    Premium Member
    02 October, 2019 - 3:25 pm

    <p>Looks great but I see pre-orders are not open yet. :(</p>

  • jdjan

    Premium Member
    02 October, 2019 - 3:43 pm

    <blockquote><em><a href="#474139">In reply to SvenJ:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>It is some improvement over the current SL2 which is GLUED together. It may not be user-serviceable in the sense of being able to DIY it under warranty, but at least it's possible to upgrade it if needs change over time.</p><p><br></p><p>Laptop manufacturers (not just MS) are using limited non-replaceable storage as an upselling profit center. When 1TB SSD can be had for around $100, it borders on criminal to charge as much as they do for each tier of built-in storage. I personally wanted to keep my SL2, but ended up selling and replacing it with a Lenovo C930 Yoga because I could pop it open and drop in a 1TB SSD. The SL2 was better in every way, but there's no way I was going to drop $2k to get the storage I needed.</p><p><br></p><p>I know that OneDrive gets around this, but when you travel like I do for work, having access to my files off-line is needed.</p>

  • BizTechSherpa

    02 October, 2019 - 5:21 pm

    <p>Why can't I get 32Gb in a 13" frame? Are you seriously telling me it will not fit?</p>

  • Gerard Samuel

    02 October, 2019 - 5:53 pm

    <p>Anyone has any idea if the USB-C port is of the 5 or 10Gbs variant?</p>

  • remc86007

    02 October, 2019 - 10:17 pm

    <p>Does the 15 Inch 256GB 16GB model have a Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7. Bestbuy and Microsoft have different specs listed.</p>

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