Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 3 Is As Solid as Ever

After nearly a decade on the market, the Surface lineup of tablets and laptops have become a modest success for Microsoft. While they occupy the same market as the vaunted iPad, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the Surface has always been geared more towards productivity than multimedia consumption. The Surface Laptop 3 is another dependable device from Microsoft, and still capable of being the only device you need during your daily grind.

The Surface Laptop 3 comes in two different screen sizes, with 13.5-inch and 15-inch versions available. The smaller screen packs fewer pixels but other than that, they are virtually identical. The larger 15-inch model weighs in at nearly 3.5 pound — pretty standard for a laptop of that size. The display on both supports 10-point multi-touch, which allows for a rich and highly interactive experience.

Both Intel and AMD have been tasked with providing the CPU and GPUs for the Surface Laptop 3. Intel’s 10th generation Core i5 and i7 processors find a home within the 13.5-inch version of the Surface Laptop 3. Meanwhile, AMD’s Ryzen 5 3580U and Ryzen 7 3780U mobile processors power the 15-inch edition.

These build configurations are great when using the Surface Laptop 3 for everyday computing tasks, but users looking to mix in some PC gaming during their free time may want to look elsewhere. While the AMD models of the Surface Laptop 3 feature custom Radeon Vega 9 and Vega 11 graphics, they still buckle under the weight of most Triple-A games. That being said, students or working professionals who require a laptop for projects, collaborations, or multitasking will get the most out of the performance offered by the Surface Laptop 3.

The last thing you want in a laptop is to run out of charge just when you need your device. Similarly, it’s frustrating to jump on a Zoom call to find your video quality lacking. Thankfully, both of these issues shouldn’t be a problem when working on a Surface Laptop 3.

With up to 11.5 hours of charge time, you’ll be able to get all your work done without constantly checking to see how much juice you have left. Fast charging makes it easy to power up the device in about an hour.

Windows Hello authentication is included with the Surface Laptop 3. This provides a simple and secure way to keep your laptop out of the wrong hands. The front-facing camera features 720p HD video capabilities, which is more than enough to make you look good for a teleconference or a simple video chat with friends or family.

Dual far-field Studio Mics are also included. This is an especially nice touch considering how many laptops at this price point feature bargain-basement microphones.

With the 13.5-inch version starting at $899, Microsoft gives consumers an easy entry point into the Surface Laptop family. That price will land you a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128 GB hard drive. Five other configurations of the 13.5-inch edition are available. They range in price from $1299 to $2399. The most expensive model boasting a Core i7 along with 16GB of RAM and a stout 1TB hard drive.

Consumers who require the larger 15-inch screen will be happy to know that there are five different configurations to choose from. A reasonable price of $899 will get you the entry-level unit with the AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of hard drive space.

At the other end of the spectrum, the most expensive version of the Surface Laptop 3 checks in at $2799. This hefty price tag offers a few noteworthy additions. Some include a trendy black metal finish and the AMD Ryzen 7 CPU with a whopping 32GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. Keep in mind that, since the Surface Laptop 3 is a last-generation device (the Surface Laptop 4 debuted in April 2021), it’s more likely to be available on sale.

Whether you opt for the most affordable version of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 or decide to up the ante with something a bit fancier, you can take comfort in knowing that a laptop extended warranty will help you protect your investment.

Upsie makes it possible to cut out the middleman so you can secure the most affordable warranty possible. This doesn’t mean compromising on coverage, however. Upsie extended warranties even protect your device from accidents like falls and spills.

You can get repairs at local certified shops or ship your laptop to a trusted expert. Either way, coverage will be well worth the investment if it means you don’t need to handle the cost of a replacement on your own.