A Closer Look at Surface Laptop Configurations
- Paul Thurrott
- May 02, 2017
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38
We’re all very excited about the new Surface Laptop, which will be available for pre-order today and will ship on June 15. Here are your model choices.
There are a couple of surprises. Yes, you can get a Surface Laptop for $999 … but you won’t get a color choice; only platinum is available. Even stranger, you can get a Core i7 processor and Iris graphics too. But only in platinum. So only one model provides those color choices.
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Anyway, here are the specs for each model.
Surface Laptop (Core i5)
Surface Laptop (Core i5).
Specs: 128 GB SSD, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 620
Color: Platinum
Price: $999
Surface Laptop (Core i5).
Specs: 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 620
Colors: Burgundy, Platinum, Cobalt Blue, Graphite Gold
Price: $1299
Surface Laptop (Core i7)
Surface Laptop (Core i7).
Specs: 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Color: Platinum
Price: $1599
Surface Laptop (Core i7).
Specs: 512 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Color: Platinum
Price:Â $2199
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Conversation 38 comments
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Pbike908
Log in to Reply<p>Finally, a Surface Product that appeals to me!!!</p><p><br></p><p>I can't wait to watch other manufacturers come up with less expensive knock offs — as all I want is the 3:2 screen size, a 1920 display is enough for me, and an I5 256GB SD with 8 GB RAM…</p>
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scumdogmillionaire
Log in to Reply<p>I am almost considering a trade of my Surface Book i7 16GB to the Laptop i7 16GB. I am a developer and have no use for the detachable display. In fact the only time I detach it is when the keyboard and trackpad stop working and I have to detach/reattach to get it to work again.</p><p><br></p><p>Is the processor as good/better in this than the Book?</p>
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Polycrastinator
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109418"><em>In reply to scumdogmillionaire:</em></a></blockquote><p>Looks like they're only saying "i5" or "i7," which really isn't enough to say.</p><p><br></p><p>It looks nice, but it's expensive, I don't think the pen is useful if you can't lay the display flat, and unlike with the Book and Pro, this is an already competitive space. I have really mixed feelings about this device.</p>
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lvthunder
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109418"><em>In reply to scumdogmillionaire:</em></a></blockquote><p>The Surface Laptop has Kabby Lake whereas the Surface Book has Skylake. Assuming your Surface Book has a dedicated GPU you would lose that if you switch. You would also lose a USB port. I read the Laptop only has one USB port. I don't think it justifies switching, but it's your choice (and money). </p>
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scumdogmillionaire
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109810"><em>In reply to lvthunder:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Yeah, the more info that was revealed it's not worth the switch. Once I'm ready to replace the Surface Book I may look into the current gen Surface Laptop which may be a better fit.</p>
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Jaxidian
Log in to Reply<p>From everything I've seen, this is an incredibly nice laptop! I'm a fan of ultra-portables of the ~13" screen variety. I don't care much about the 2-in-1 factor (have owned multiple Surface Pros, no SurfaceBook). This laptop is almost perfect for me when I'm ready to upgrade from an XPS 13.</p><p><br></p><p>My only complaints:</p><ol><li>No USB Type-C and only one USB Type-A? Ugh.</li><li>I'd like an i7/8GB/512GB model in Blue. Doesn't seem that's an option yet. Hopefully it will be if/when I'm ready to buy one (maybe the next generation?)</li></ol><p><br></p><p>Again, this looks like an incredibly nice laptop that would be high on my consideration list if I were shopping for one today. Still need to see the prices of those higher-end models though.</p>
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IVEST
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109431"><em>In reply to Jaxidian:</em></a></blockquote><p>"This laptop is almost perfect for me when I'm ready to upgrade from an XPS 13."</p><p>How can this possibly be an upgrade from an XPS 13? The Dell is superior in almost every way as far as I can see. And it comes with a USB-C port.</p>
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JudaZuk
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#110587">In reply to IVEST:</a></em></blockquote><p>Agree, and it does not have Alcantare so it's better just because of that. :)</p>
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vernonlvincent
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>$999 seems a bit low for a device with 4GB of RAM, but that's not necessarily a dealbreaker. The overall finish of the Surface Laptop looks incredible. Another excellent reference device.</p>
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GeorgiaITGuy
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>According to their pre-order/config page, the i7-8GB-256GB config is $1,599, and the i7-16GB-512GB is $2,199. The latter is shown as "Ships by 8/15/2017"</p>
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lhavenst
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>According to the store link:</p><p>https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/productID.5102691100/VID.5102691200/config.true/</p><p><br></p><p>The i7 8GB is $1599 and the i7 16GB is $2199.</p>
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ponsaelius
Log in to Reply<p>Is it US Only?</p>
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TheJoeFin
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109451"><em>In reply to ponsaelius:</em></a></blockquote><p>no, it is launching in 20 countries according to MS, I can't find the list though</p>
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Thayios
Log in to Reply<p>Is the Surface Book still going to be sold/updated? I rarely use the tablet mode but when I do, I'm happy to know it's there (and the hinge doesn't bother me at all).</p><p>K12 here (I.T.), I don't see this taking off in my state unfortunately. They're still going to go after the dirt cheap chrome books which are a pain to manage.</p>
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JacobTheDev
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109475"><em>In reply to Thayios:</em></a></blockquote><p>I'd wager they'll continue making new Surface Books; each machine has it's own niche.</p>
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Kevin Flanagan
Log in to Reply<p>Still too expensive. I can get a Dell/HP i5 / 256GB/8GB for a lot less. Maybe this one gets better battery life, and has a better screen, but it's a premium price and for that price it should have more.</p>
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Spineless
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109726"><em>In reply to Kevin Flanagan:</em></a></blockquote><p>I think you significantly undervalue a premium screen, along with premium support/maintenance. The Surface process for providing timely and automatic updates, is worth a some amount as well. No need to go around hunting for drivers and firmware updates.</p>
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Mestiphal
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109726"><em>In reply to Kevin Flanagan:</em></a></blockquote><p>I got my daughters Dells i5 8GB 1tb drives for like $700 each, maybe a little less, might not be a SSD, but it's for school, not like Chrome and Word are going to lag that bad. if they break them, it's half the price still… Either they are going after the wrong market, or they simply had nothing to say about education so they introduced a $999 – $2200 notebook, but it's way way too expensive for that market. </p><p>When I was a college student I was broke, and I sure wouldn't give that to my daughters when something half the price is just as good to write essays and look up information online.</p>
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Darmok N Jalad
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#110140"><em>In reply to Mestiphal:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yes, I wonder what this aspirational device is supposed to do? It looks like a good business or professional laptop, but it ships without a business or professional OS. </p>
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Jorge Garcia
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#110633"><em>In reply to Darmok N Jalad:</em></a><em> Exactly. I can't see who this is for. Unless this executive happens to work at a company that has ALL their software online, then maybe…but who would subject themselves to ONLY the infuriating Edge browser? I guess they'll be paying for the "upgrade" right away.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>
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scd147
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Hmmm, but will it run Crysis? ;-)</p>
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Waethorn
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109794"><em>In reply to scd147:</em></a></blockquote><p>No.</p>
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Peter Vassiliou
Log in to Reply<p>Still not available worldwide. Microsoft must improve that asap. Apple can do it, why not Microsoft too? The Surface Laptop should be available at the same time in all major markets. This is a big issue and I cannot understand how a big company like Microsoft cannot make it happen.</p>
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dcdevito
Log in to Reply<p>How is this a Chromebook competitor at these prices? Schools don't care about high end</p>
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SleepingPelican
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109933"><em>In reply to dcdevito:</em></a></blockquote><p> It's not a Chromebook competitor. It seemed targeted to college students during the presentation. The Chromebook competitors are the $199 laptops from Asus, Dell, etc</p>
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TheJoeFin
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#109933"><em>In reply to dcdevito:</em></a></blockquote><p>Windows 10 S is the Chromebook competitor, this is the College MacBook competitor </p>
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wright_is
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#109933">In reply to dcdevito:</a></em></blockquote><p>The Pixel cost around $1500, so similar pricing.</p>
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Graham Wilton
Log in to Reply<p>Wow its Windows 10 RT 13" inch laptop</p>
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KingPCGeek
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#110019"><em>In reply to Graham Wilton:</em></a><em> Upgrade to Windows Pro is free through the end of the year.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>
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Darmok N Jalad
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#110103"><em>In reply to KingPCGeek:</em></a></blockquote><p>Sure, that solves the next 8 months, but then there's 2018. Does anyone think the store will see a huge boon in that amount of time, or will 2018 result in the average buyer paying the cost of a Surface Laptop plus another $50?</p>
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Jorge Garcia
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#110103"><em>In reply to KingPCGeek:</em></a><em> All they did was add a "gatekeeper" to prevent people from accidentally installing undesirable .exe's… so removing that "gatekeeper" should be totally free (in perpetuity) and instant, if you already have a device that came pre-loaded with Windows 10 s, that is.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>
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MacLiam
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Attractive device, to be sure, but I don't see myself buying one just to have it when a couple of somewhat powerful older but reliable laptops are still on or near desks around my house, not to mention a decent Surface Book. Windows 10 S? I don't think of it as a crippled 10 Pro, so I don't object to it and see why it would be a good idea for members of some user groups. </p><p>I would expect the Surface Laptop to sell well because it offers a lot to people who need a nice mobile computer. If my backup machines give up the ghost over the next couple of years, I could see myself getting one of these or something very much like it to backfill the hole. The lowest end version looks a little skimpy at 4/128, and I'm not sure I would ever need a 16/512, a zone covered by other devices I'm running. The 8/256 variety looks like the Goldilocks version. </p><p>No SD slot, I take it. That may not be a crippling defect, but it does lower desirability to some extent. The extra storage slot has been a familiar feature in the Surface line so far.</p>
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Delmont
Log in to Reply<p>Can you upgrade the RAM?</p>
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RobbeB32
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#110316"><em>In reply to Delmont:</em></a></blockquote><p>pretty sure you can't, since it's not even meant to be opened and even the ssd is soldered on the motherboard</p>
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SvenJ
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I'd bet the color options expand over time. I imagine they know what is going to sell the best, so they have more options/stock laid in for that. </p>
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rafaelsolmaker
Log in to Reply<p>Core i5/256 SSD/8 GB RAM sounds appealing to me, but… Unfortunately not available in Brazil. Again, as every Surface product. At least it's being offered in more countries from the start. I still have some hope…</p>
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sharpsone
Log in to Reply<p>I want one though I'm not sure why 4GB is an option in 2017. Every PC I've worked from with W10 and 4GB has begged for more memory. </p>
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Jorge Garcia
Log in to Reply<p>Nice hardware, but nobody under 25 will ever voluntarily buy a Windows machine again. Some today still "grin and bear it" if they NEED to use Windows to type out college reports, etc, and others voluntarily suffer through the learning curve since it's the ONLY way to get to the high-end PC Games they want to play (currently the case), but I can vouch that the "way" we interact with Windows, constantly, and very precisely single-clicking, double-clicking, right-clicking looks ancient to youngsters. As soon as there is another affordable, viable, pleasant (Non-Mac) way to "coffee-shop laptop", which I can only assume will be when iOS-Desktop Edition and Android Desktop Edition are mature and widespread, they will abandon Windows in a heartbeat. Samsung needs to release their DeX OS on $200-300 laptop and market it as the "Windows" that can Snapchat…now THAT would have legs.</p>