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Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) review

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Laptop Mag Verdict

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X13 delivers fast performance and plenty of security features in an affordable 13-inch package, but its battery life falls short

Pros

+
Outstanding performance
+
Durable chassis
+
Best-in-class keyboard
+
Plenty of ports
+
Competitively priced

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) specs

Price: $974 (starting at $683)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U
GPU: AMD Radeon
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p
Battery: 7:53
Size: 12. 3 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches
Weight: 2.8 pounds

Let me set your expectations. Lenovo’s ThinkPad X13 ($683 starting, reviewed at $974) is not a 13-inch version of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. We’re still waiting on that notebook, which could arrive in the recently leaked ThinkPad X1 Nano. So, what is the ThinkPad X13? Ignore the branding, the laptop feels more like a T-series ThinkPad. And that’s not a bad thing.

Where the ThinkPad X1 Carbon blends style with substance, the ThinkPad X13 leans more heavily on the latter. It trades thin bezels and portability for a utilitarian design with a generous feature set. The keyboard is as fantastic as ever, there are plenty of ports, and the chassis is tested to military-grade durability. But all that is expected of a ThinkPad.

What stands out about the ThinkPad X13 comes courtesy of AMD, not Lenovo. A powerful Ryzen Pro 4000 CPU gives the ThinkPad X13 a performance advantage over competing business laptops, including much pricier models. The ThinkPad X13’s excellent performance and competitive price do just enough to help me forgive an uninspired design and below-average battery life.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) price and configuration options

With a starting price of $683, the ThinkPad X13 is one of the most affordable business laptops and much cheaper than any other ThinkPad X-series laptop. That base model comes with one serious drawback: a 13.3-inch, 1366 x 768-pixel display. The other specs, an AMD Ryzen 3 Pro 4450U CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, are fine for most uses but you’ll want to upgrade the screen. 786p should be extinct in 2020.

Lenovo was generous enough to make that upgrade on our $974 review unit, which has a 13-inch, 1080p touchscreen, a Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. For $1,535, you can load the X13 up with a Ryzen 7 Pro 4750U CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and a 13.3-inch, 1080 display with 500 nits of brightness.

This feels like a wasted opportunity. Instead of taking advantage of a first-gen laptop to modernize the signature ThinkPad design, Lenovo took the easy way out by reusing the ThinkPad X390 mold. The X13 looks almost identical to its spiritual predecessor except that the lid is reinforced with carbon fiber while the deck is magnesium alloy.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

It feels sturdy and has all of the traditional ThinkPad accouterment, including a rubber pointing stick, discrete touchpad clickers with red accents and an illuminated «i» on the ThinkPad lid branding. Add the fingerprint sensor, a 180-degree folding hinge and webcam cover, and it makes for a rather practical design.

What bothers me about the ThinkPad X13 is how it looks. The bezels above and below the display are massive by today’s standards, resulting in a laptop with a larger footprint than its competitors. Beyond its size, the chinky bezels make the ThinkPad X13 appear outdated and a detective could ID me using the fingerprints I’ve left on the lid.

You can still see fingerprints after rigorous cleaning (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

If there’s one benefit of the extra space, it’s that the X13’s power button is on the deck instead of on the side, a small concession all things considered. I can’t criticize Lenovo too much for failing to move the X13’s design forward; while this is a ThinkPad X-branded laptop, it’s more affordable than the ThinkPad X1 Carbon or X1 Yoga. Perhaps the company is holding back for the rumored ThinkPad X1 Nano.

Now, about its size. At 12.3 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches and 2.8 pounds, the ThinkPad X13 is thicker and heavier than the 14-inch Asus ExpertBook B9450 (0.6 inches, 2.2 pounds) and less portable than the Apple MacBook Air (0.6 inches, 2.8 pounds). The 14-inch Dell Latitude 9410 (0.8 inches, 2.9 pounds) is chunkier than its rivals.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) durability and security

No matter the materials Lenovo uses, if it’s a ThinkPad, it has military-grade durability. In this case, the ThinkPad X13 has passed 12 MIL-STD-810G tests for various extreme conditions, including high altitudes, freezing temperatures and dust storms.

If you’re cooped up inside doing remote work insteading of braving the outdoors, then you’ll appreciate the spill-resistant keyboard for those inevitable early-morning coffee spills.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Protecting the files stored inside of the X13 is a fingerprint sensor and optional IR camera for secure and quick login. Our unit didn’t come with an IR camera but the fingerprint sensor was reliable. I stopped using a password once I had set it up in the Windows Hello settings.

Now a standard feature on business notebooks, the ThinkPad X13 also has a webcam cover (or ThinkShutter) so you can ditch the strip of tape. You can also opt for a ThinkPad PrivacyGuard, a display option with a built-in privacy filter that intentionally limits viewing angles. Your sensitive files are protected by dTPM 2. 0, a chip that ensures all data transfers are encrypted.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) ports

There is a generous assortment of ports lining the ThinkPad X13 so you won’t need a dongle to connect peripherals or upload photos.

On the right side are a USB 3.2 Type-A input and a Kensington lock slot.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Turn to the left side and you’ll see two USB-C inputs, an Ethernet extension port, a second USB 3.2 Type-A connector, an HDMI and a headphone/mic jack. As a reminder, Thunderbolt 3 is an Intel technology so you don’t find it on this AMD-powered laptop.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

On the spine of the laptop is a microSD card slot, which you’ll no longer find on the ThinkPad X1 Yoga and X1 Carbon. I’m happy to see it return although you need those easy-to-lose PIN ejector tools that come with your smartphone to access the microSD.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) display

The 13.3-inch, 1080p display on our review unit hits all of our recommended scores, making it great for productivity work and multimedia consumption alike. It’s a good display, but what really helps it stand out is the anti-reflective finish, which can often be a detriment to picture quality.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

The panel passed the eye test. The lavish interior of a dance hall was enriched by magnificent gold molding, the smallest details of which were visible on this FHD panel. Red velvet dresses were a vibrant scarlet, but I suspect they would have popped more on a glossy panel. Regardless, I enjoyed using the X13’s accurate, colorful display.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Our colorimeter showed the X13’s display is capable of covering 72% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It’s a good result, but it means the panel is less colorful than those on the MacBook Air (80%), ExpertBook B9450 (83%) and the Latitude 7310 (77%). The category average tops all of these laptops at 83%.

I’m more concerned by the maximum brightness, which peaks at just 278 nits. The Latitude 7310 (277 nits) is equally dim while the ExpertBook B9450 (302 nits), MacBook Air (386 nits) and the category average (382 nits) shone above our 300-nit preference.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) keyboard, touchpad and TrackPoint

I have nothing to add that I haven’t already said in previous ThinkPad reviews. Put simply, the ThinkPad X13’s keyboard is fantastic. Every key pouch was countered with a tactile bump that sprung my fingers from one letter to the next. Those concave keys we’ve praised for years have what feels like an impossible amount of travel for a laptop this thin.

My only complaint with the keyboard is the layout. To accommodate the smaller chassis, Lenovo shrunk the arrow keys and the neighboring Alt, PrtSc and Ctrl keys. I’m on Team Left Ctrl, but I know a few Laptop Mag staffers who would take offense to these shrunken right-sided keys.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

I typed at 116 words per minute with a 98% accuracy, falling a few words short of my 119-wpm average, but with fewer errors than my usual 5% typo rate.

The 4 x 2.5-inch touchpad gets the job done but those with larger hands might have trouble executing Windows 10 gestures. My sausage fingers scraped the edges of the rectangular surface as I used pinch-to-zoom and three-finger swipes to swap Windows.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

If you cherish home row, the red rubber nub (aka pointing stick) can be used as a touchpad without forcing you to move your hands off the keyboard. I’m not a member of its cult-like following, but the nub responded as I expected — the cursor moved in whichever direction I applied pressure.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) audio

The dual speakers on the ThinkPad X13 sound fine, but their downward trajectory can be problematic. Glass Animals’ «Tangerine» was crisp and full of energy when the laptop was placed on my wooden desk.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Those sweet tunes were smothered when I placed the laptop on my thick cotton workout sweats or, to a lesser degree, my leather couch. The vocals sounded hollow and the blend of electric guitar and synth became muddled when the volume was above 70%.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) performance

AMD set the bar for mobile with its Ryzen 4000 CPUs and the Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U paired with 8GB of RAM in the ThinkPad X13 is further proof. The «Pro,» by the way, means this chip is designed specifically for business laptops. Think vPro but from AMD, meaning IT admins get manageability features not found in the standard CPUs.

If you’re assigned a ThinkPad X13 by your employer, all you need to know is that this notebook flies. I loaded various websites on 25 tabs in the new Microsoft Edge browser without noticing a hint of lag. In fact, I couldn’t even punch in a URL on a new tab before the previous one had finished loading. I didn’t notice any slowdowns even with four 1080p YouTube videos and two Twitch streams playing in the background.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

The ThinkPad X13 flexed its muscles on the Geekbench 5 overall performance test notching an outstanding score of 4,935. That crushes the ExpertBook B9450 (2,830), the Dell Latitude 7310 (3,464) and the premium laptop average (4,060). Close your eyes Apple fans, the MacBook Air (2,738) was embarrassed on this test.

If Geekbench was a homerun, the ThinkPad X13 hit a grand slam on our Handbrake test, needing only 10 minutes and 45 seconds to convert a 4K video to 1080p. The competition didn’t get anywhere close; the Latitude 7310 came in second place with a time of 19:39 while the MacBook Pro (27:10) and ExpertBook B9450 (28:24) really struggled.

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The 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD in our review unit didn’t disappoint, either. It duplicated a 5GB multimedia file in 7 seconds for a rate of 745.1 megabytes per second. That puts it in the same ballpark as the ExpertBook B9450 (771.1 MBps) and the Latitude 9310 (877 MBps) while the MacBook Air (1,301.9 Mbps) remains ahead of the pack.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) graphics

Oh, how the tides have turned. Where AMD chips now have a performance edge on Intel, the Iris Xe graphics in Intel’s 11th Gen chips seem destined to break new barriers in graphics. Until then, integrated graphics are only good for casual gaming and light editing work.

The Radeon graphics in the ThinkPad X13 played Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm at 29 frames per second, a frame off our 30-fps threshold. That’s playable, but not ideal.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) battery life

Well, this is a bummer. With a runtime of 7 hours and 53 minutes on our battery test (continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits), the ThinkPad X13 fell short of the 10-hour premium laptop battery life average.

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It’s also well short of the runtimes put up by competing laptops, including the Dell Latitude 7310 (12:18), Asus ExpertBook B9450 (16:42) and the MacBook Air (9:31)

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) webcam

I wouldn’t feel embarrassed using this 720p webcam during our morning staff meetings. My rosy complexion was a tad pale and there was a layer of visual noise in a selfie I snapped. However, the details in my face were sharper than what I’ve come to expect from integrated webcams.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

I could see individual strands of hair in my beard and each ring of color in my eyes, details other laptops fail to capture. My Logitech HD Pro C920 still delivers much better image quality, but ThinkPad X13 owners don’t need to run out and buy one of the best external webcams.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) heat

The ThinkPad X13 runs a mild temperature under a heavy workload. The bottom of the laptop reached 99 degrees Fahrenheit after we played a 15-minute, 1080p video. That might feel warm against your bare thighs but is otherwise a non-issue. More importantly, the trackpad and center of the keyboard maintained a comfortable 84 degrees and 94 degrees, respectively.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 (AMD) software and warranty

Lenovo is good about keeping its first-party programs tidily packaged within one app. That app is called Vantage and it’s where you can find the latest BIOS, check for system updates or contact support. Navigating the program’s clean, colorful interfaces led me to system info and answers to common questions, like how to reset Windows 10 or monitor battery usage.

AMD throws in a diagnostics app aptly named Bug Report Tool to go with a handful of stock Windows 10 Pro apps, including the Xbox Console Companion, Your Phone, and for the eight or so people who use it, Groove Music.

The ThinkPad X13 ships with a one-year warranty. See how Lenovo fared in our Best and Worst Brands and Tech Support Showdown special reports.

To be blunt, my initial impressions of the ThinkPad X13 were unfavorable. The bezels are chunky and the laptop is less portable than most 13-inch models competitors. And when I saw the ThinkPad X13 had lasted less than 8 hours on our battery test, I figured it was DOA.

But the more I used the laptop, the more I appreciated it. Like most AMD Ryzen 4000-powered notebooks, the ThinkPad X13 delivers outstanding performance at a reasonable price when you compare it to business laptops running on Intel 10th Gen vPro chips. Office users will have no issues loading multiple spreadsheets or creating media-heavy PowerPoint presentations.

On top of its fast performance, the X13 offers all the usual ThinkPad goodies — a comfortable keyboard, military-grade durability, and plenty of ports — along with a handful of useful business features, including a webcam cover, fingerprint sensor and optional IR camera. That’s a lot of laptop for around $1,000.

The ThinkPad X13 strips away all of the X1 Carbon’s seductive qualities and leaves the practical bits. If the subpar battery life is a deal-breaker, we recommend splurging on the Asus ExpertBook B9450 or Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (8th Gen). Otherwise, the X13 is a great option for small businesses that need fast performance in a portable package without breaking the budget.

Phillip Tracy is the assistant managing editor at Laptop Mag where he reviews laptops, phones and other gadgets while covering the latest industry news. After graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Phillip became a tech reporter at the Daily Dot. There, he wrote reviews for a range of gadgets and covered everything from social media trends to cybersecurity. Prior to that, he wrote for RCR Wireless News covering 5G and IoT. When he’s not tinkering with devices, you can find Phillip playing video games, reading, traveling or watching soccer.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (15-inch, AMD) review

Laptop Mag Verdict

Microsoft’s 15-inch Surface Laptop 4 with AMD is among the best laptops you can buy, bringing the performance and battery life missing from the previous model.

Pros

+
Sleek, sturdy chassis
+
Speedy performance
+
Long battery life
+
Great 15-inch display
+
Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
+
Awesome speakers

Cons

—
Short on ports
—
No discrete graphics option
—
Bezels could be thinner
—
Fingerprint sensor would be nice

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Surface Laptop 4 (15-inch) specs

Price: $1,699
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U
GPU: AMD Radeon
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB
Display: 15-inch, 2256 x 1504-pixel
Battery: 12:04
Size: 13.4 x 9.6 x 0.6 inches
Weight: 3.4 pounds

If you were looking for a reinvention of the laptop, the Surface Laptop 4 isn’t it. To put it concisely, the new model is the Surface Laptop 3 with updated processors available in both Intel and AMD variants. Yes, there is more to it, but the TL;DR version is faster performance and longer battery life in the same laptop.

That might not sound exciting, but as the Surface Laptop 4 proves, a few tweaks are sometimes all that’s needed to refine a not-quite-there-yet product like its predecessor. Our biggest complaints with the previous model, the subpar speeds and endurance, were addressed with the new chips. With those major drawbacks resolved, the 15-inch Surface Laptop 4, with its sleek design, colorful display, and excellent keyboard and touchpad, finally shines.

If not for a few annoying omissions, the Surface Laptop 4 would be the go-to Windows 10 notebook for those who want a portable machine with a large display. Regardless, it plays the role well and should be on every shopper’s shortlist as one of the best laptops on the market.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5″ (13.5-inch 512GB) at Amazon for £999

Surface Laptop 4 (15-inch) price and configurations

Now you get to choose between Intel and AMD.

Microsoft sells two versions of the 15-inch Surface Laptop 4, one with an AMD Ryzen 7 4980U CPU and another with an Intel Core i7-1185G7 CPU. Those are both available in either Platinum (silver) or Matte Black color variants.

Our AMD Ryzen 7 review unit in Matte Black costs $1,699 and comes with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. For $1,499, you can get the same Ryzen 7 CPU and 512GB of storage but with only 8GB of RAM. The cheapest model costs $1,299 and drops the storage to a 256GB SSD (sadly, it is not available in matte black).

The Intel models are slightly more expensive. The cheapest Core i7 model has 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD and costs $1,799. Only the Intel version is available with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD but that will run you (shield your eyes!) $2,399.

The embodiment of minimalism, the Surface Laptop 4’s design remains unchanged. It has the same refined elegance with an anodized aluminum lid flaunting a mirrored Windows logo in the center. It isn’t an especially exciting look, but there is a certain refinement to its simplicity and the build quality, as always, is top-notch.

The Alcantara fabric that helped the Surface Laptop series differentiate itself is missing on the 15-inch model, which is only available with an all-metal chassis in your choice of matte black or platinum (silver).

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

I miss the plush material on the deck although the smooth metal doesn’t make me nearly as anxious about knocking over my morning cup of joe or handling the notebook with grimey fingers. If those concerns don’t stress you out, the 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 4 is still available with the soft-touch material.

I like the stance of this laptop. The back edge is aggressively tapered and the low profile gives it an aerodynamic wedge shape. It makes the Surface Laptop 4 easy to slip into a backpack or shoulder bag when you’re going into the office or riding your bike to the cafe.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

On the topic of portability, the Surface Laptop 4 is among the thinnest 15-inch laptops you can buy, measuring 13.4 x 9.6 x 0.6 inches and weighing 3.4 pounds. It is considerably more portable than the Dell XPS 15 (13.6 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches, 4.5 pounds) and the 16-inch MacBook Pro (14.1 x 9.7 x 0.6 inches, 4.3 pounds), and about as sleek as the HP Spectre x360 14 (14 x 9 x 0. 6 inches, 3.5 pounds).

Opening the lid reveals one glaring flaw: thicker-than-average bezels. I criticized Apple for failing to trim the frames around the MacBook Air, and I’m not about to give Microsoft a pass, either. Competing notebooks like the XPS 13 and Spectre x360 14 have all but removed the borders around their displays, leading to a more engrossing viewing experience while reducing the overall footprint of those laptops. Until Microsoft does the same, its Surface Laptops will lack that modern edge.

Surface Laptop 4 security and swappable SSD

Microsoft hates passwords and so do I. They’re hard to remember, they aren’t particularly secure, and there are now better methods for locking down your system. The Surface Laptop 4’s shield of choice is an IR camera that uses facial recognition via Windows Hello to sign you into your laptop.

There’s no fingerprint sensor which is a shame, because the IR camera, while largely reliable in my testing, didn’t register my face 100% of the time. Without a fingerprint scanner as a backup, I was forced to return to the painstaking password days.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

I should also point out that the TDP 2.0 chip housed within the Surface Laptop 4 ensures all data going to and from the notebook is encrypted and secured.

Now, about the swappable SSD introduced in the previous model. It returns in the Surface Laptop 4; the SSD is easy to access once you’ve removed the Torx screws holding the bottom panel. Microsoft prides itself on making this component easily removable so you can make repairs or upgrade your storage, but don’t give the company too much credit; the SSD isn’t actually user-replaceable — you need to take it to an authorized Microsoft repair service to avoid voiding your warranty.

Surface Laptop 4 ports

Microsoft didn’t make any changes to the ports so the left side is where you’ll find a USB 3.1 Type-A port, a USB 3.1 Type-C input and a headphone jack.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

On the right side is a proprietary magnetic Surface Connect port for charging or connecting to a docking station.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

The USB-A port is nice to see on such a slim machine, but we’re still waiting for Microsoft to replace the standard USB Type-C (and Surface Connect, for that matter) with the more capable Thunderbolt 4 port (which is at least possible on the Intel models).

Surface Laptop 4 display

The 15-inch, 2256 x 1540-pixel display returns with its bright, vivid picture and unique 3:2 aspect ratio. It’s a great panel that can hold its own against anything short of OLED.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

I could see the frills hanging off of Vin Diesel’s tattered repair shop shirt, which conveniently showed his brawny biceps in the trailer for F9 (the next Fast and Furious movie). The beautiful Shelby Cobra sparkled a dazzling cobalt hue and contrasted nicely against the lush green and brown backdrop of the surrounding forest. The panel was so sharp that I could see individual shards of glass violently fly out of a shop window and onto a speeding police truck during a frenetic action scene.

This is not a 2-in-1 laptop — for that, see the Surface Pro 7 or Surface Book 3 — but it does have a touchscreen. I defaulted to using the touchpad but there were occasions when I’d tap on an icon or slowly scroll down with my fingers as I read; the touch-sensitive panel responded reliably in these instances.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

According to our colorimeter, the Surface Laptop 4’s display covers 78% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, making it understandably less vivid than the 4K screen on the XPS 15 (94%), as well as the 16-inch panel on the MacBook Pro (81%). It does push more colors than the HP Spectre x360 14 (75%) although it doesn’t match the average (85%).

Peaking at 334 nits, the Surface Laptop 4 is dimmer than the XPS 15 (434 nits), the MacBook Pro (429 nits), the Spectre x360 14 (365 nits) and the premium average (392 nits). That sounds bad, but anything over 300 nits should be bright enough for most lighting conditions.

Surface Laptop 4 keyboard and touchpad

Like sitting down on a comfy couch after a long workout, my fingers immediately felt at ease the moment I started typing on the Surface Laptop 4’s plush keys. Seriously, Microsoft knows how to make one damn good keyboard — even those detachable ones it sells for the Surface Pro 7 are magnificent. What makes them so good?

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

The 1.3 millimeters of travel is decent, but the main reason is the bouncy switches, which act as a springboard for your fingers as you sail from one letter or number to the next. The backlit, Chiclet-style keys are also properly sized and spaced so you’ll feel right at home from the moment you start typing on the Surface Laptop 4.

I typed at 105 words per minute with a 97% accuracy rate on the 10fastfingers.com typing test, which is slightly slower but with fewer errors than my 109-wpm, 95% accuracy averages.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

The Robin to the keyboard’s Batman, the 4.5 x 3-inch touchpad feels like 22 momme silk against my fingertips. I had no problems executing Windows 10 gestures, like two-finger scrolling or three-finger swipes to switch windows, thanks to the Precision drivers. There is room on the deck to make the surface even wider if Microsoft wants to take after Apple, though I doubt even those with large hands will have issues with the current setup.

Surface Laptop 4 audio

Hiding beneath the keyboard are Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos capable of blasting music loud enough to fill my large office. I’ll admit to being skeptical about the speaker arrangement. Under the keyboard? There is no way these will sound good. I was wrong. Heck, my wife on the other side of my apartment could clearly hear Still Woozy’s banger «Rocky» through multiple walls and closed doors.

The music didn’t just get loud, it sounded great too. I instinctively bobbed my head to the up-tempo rhythm as the drum hits dug deeper than I anticipated on a laptop this thin. Those weighty punches didn’t detract from the smooth, relaxed vocalist whose falsetto effortlessly jumped from tenor to baritone. I was even taken aback by the width of the sound; instruments were more separated than they are on other ultra-thin laptop speakers. Well done, Microsoft.

Surface Laptop 4 performance

What a year can do. In the time since Microsoft launched the Surface Laptop 3, AMD chips have gone from niche budget options to genuine Intel killers. The Ryzen 7 4980U CPU (also called the AMD Ryzen 7 Microsoft Surface Edition) — paired with 16GB of RAM — powering the Surface Laptop 4 is in a different weight class from the chips in the Surface Laptop 3.

There wasn’t even the slightest hint of lag when I opened two dozen tabs in Google Chrome, four of which played 1080p YouTube videos. I streamed a Concacaf Champions League soccer game on one half of the screen while browsing the web on the other, and never saw the live feed stutter. I’m hoping to take a post-COVID vacation, so you can imagine how many hotel and flight booking tabs I had open during my planning. The Surface Laptop 4 let me arrange all my favorite links using the Microsoft Edge Collections feature so I could organize my flight details, hotel stays and all the restaurants (with outdoor seating and mask policies) I’m going to enjoy.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

It may not use the very latest Ryzen 5000 chips, but the Surface Laptop 4 did an excellent job in our benchmark tests. Actually, it went above and beyond my expectations, scoring a 6,748 on the Geekbench 5.4 overall performance test, which beats the XPS 15 (6,179, Core i7-10750H) and its H-series CPU, and tops the Spectre x360 14 (4,904, Core i7-1165G7) and average laptop (4,276) by a considerable margin. Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro (7,201, Core i8-9980HK) barely won this round despite being much more expensive than the Surface.

Converting a 4K video to 1080p resolution using the Handbrake transcoding app, the Surface Laptop 4 outpaced the XPS 15 (10:06), the Spectre x360 14 (17:02) and the laptop average (16:19) like Usain Bolt at the Olympics. Still, the MacBook Pro (8:00) hurdled itself ahead by completing the task in 8 minutes flat.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Where Microsoft hasn’t learned its lesson is with storage speeds. The 512GB Samsung PCIe NVMe SSD took 1 minute and 12 seconds to convert a 25GB multimedia file for a transfer rate of 372.5 megabytes per second. That is quicker than the XPS 15 (298 MBps, 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD), but much slower than the Spectre x360 14 (764 MBps, 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD) and the laptop average (625.5 MBps).

Surface Laptop 4 graphics

Integrated graphics have improved over the years, but a 15-inch laptop without a discrete GPU is at a major disadvantage. The Surface Laptop 4 finds itself in that position, relying on AMD Radeon Graphics instead of a proper graphics card.

Our benchmarks proved as much with the Surface Laptop 4 scoring a 3,424 on the 3DMark Fire Strike test. That is far below the XPS 15 (8,387, GeForce GTX 1650) and it even fell short of the Spectre x360 14 (4,937) with Intel Iris Xe graphics. The average is 4,125.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm actually ran at a pretty playable rate, averaging 35 frames per second at 1080p, which is above our 30-fps threshold. The XPS 15 (48 fps), as expected, played even smoother while the HP Spectre x360 14 (20 fps) made us want to sit down on the couch and play our new consoles.

Is not having a discrete GPU worth the portability and endurance benefits? We’ll leave that up to you. If you want a laptop with some graphics oomph, see our best gaming laptops page.

Surface Laptop 4 battery life

Faster performance and longer battery? It’s the one-two knockout punch the Surface Laptop 4 lands like the Brown Bomber Joe Lewis. The Surface Laptop 4 lasted for 12 hours and 4 minutes on the Laptop Mag Battery Test, crushing the 4K XPS 15 (8:01) and the 16-inch MacBook Pro (10:55) while falling only minutes short of the HP Spectre x360 14 (12:11).

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

For reference, the 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 lasted for only 8 hours flat, well below the 10:19 premium laptop average.

Surface Laptop 4 webcam

Microsoft promised better photo and video quality out of the 720p camera as a result of some software magic. We’ve heard this before, haven’t we? Yes, I’m looking at you Apple. Fortunately, in this case, the Surface Laptop 4 is already adopting one of the best laptop webcams we’ve tested.

(Image credit: Future)

Is this one better than the previous one? I can’t say for sure. What I can say is that I had no hesitation using the integrated webcam to host a meeting. It was honestly weird not instinctively plugging in my trusty Logitech C920 before pressing the «Join meeting» button during our Laptop Mag morning meeting. If only I could say that about more laptops.

Anyhow, the video quality wasn’t perfect, but my face was detailed and the visual noise wasn’t as bothersome as it usually is. The camera even captured my rosy hue and the teal of my wife’s Trek bike in the background.

Surface Laptop 4 heat

The Surface Laptop 4 is a cool cat under pressure. It peaked at 98 degrees Fahrenheit on the bottom panel, which is only slightly above our 95-degree comfort threshold. The parts that actually meet skin, like the touchpad (83 degrees) and the keyboard (90 degrees), feel comfortable even after we ran a 15-minute, 1080p video.

Surface Laptop 4 software and warranty

As a smartphone reviewer, there is nothing more refreshing than using a Pixel phone with pure Android. The same can be said of Windows 10 on the Surface Laptop 4. This is Microsoft’s operating system at its finest, void of any unnecessary pre-installed program. That said, some default Windows 10 apps are more useful than others.

Microsoft Whiteboard works for jotting down notes on the touchscreen, but is better experienced with a stylus. Word, PowerPoint, Publisher and the other excellent Microsoft 365 apps are pre-installed but require a subscription. Then there are the Xbox apps which are worth visiting as long as you own one of Microsoft’s consoles, like the Xbox Series X. What should have a widespread appeal is the new Edge browser, a major improvement over Internet Explorer and a damn-fine alternative to Chrome.

The Surface Laptop 4 comes with a one-year warranty. See how Microsoft did on our Tech support showdown and Best and worst brands special reports.

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Our specific model is really a story about AMD as much as it is about Microsoft. When the Surface Laptop 3 launched with AMD’s Ryzen 3000 chips we were, to put it gently, perplexed. At that time, AMD was hardly a threat to Intel, its mobile chips being woefully underpowered. Microsoft was a year early, as we later learned when AMD launched its Ryzen 4000 CPUs at CES 2020. It is those Ryzen 4000-series chips that lets the Surface Laptop 4 reach its full potential.

The Surface Laptop 4 addresses the major flaws we found in the Surface Laptop 3 by delivering faster performance and longer battery life. With the right CPU, the Surface Laptop 4 has all of a sudden become a laptop with very few downsides. The sleek, sturdy design is as stylish as ever, the 15-inch panel is bright and vivid, and the keyboard and trackpad are darn-near class-leading.

If only Microsoft hadn’t stubbornly ignored some of the smaller problems plaguing the Surface Laptop series. There is only one USB Type-C port (without Thunderbolt support), the proprietary Surface Connect input is, well, proprietary, and the display bezels are long overdue for a buzzcut. These, you would think, are the easy things to fix. And yet, I close this largely positive review with the feeling that Microsoft was only a shake and a twist away from making the Surface Laptop 4 the laptop to beat.

Top gaming laptops of 2022 according to The Verge / Habr

Photo: The Verge

The Verge portal presented the top 8 best gaming laptops on the market today. The list includes ASUS, Razer, Lenovo and MSI models.

1. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15

The Verge named the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 the Best Gaming Laptop of 2022. G15 is built on the best AMD and Nvidia mobile chips, which show good performance not only in games, but also in professional applications, equipped with six speakers and a QHD display with a resolution of 1440p and 165 Hz. The battery will provide 8.5 hours of battery life. It’s also one of the lightest 15″ laptops at just 1.9″kg.

Among the minuses of the G15, the publication singled out an unremarkable design and the absence of a webcam.

2. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

The G14 can be considered a smaller version of the G15. In this lineup, The Verge recommends the 6700S GPU model, according to the publication, this is the best 14-inch gaming laptop. It weighs 1.65kg and is only 1.85cm thick. The laptop comes with a great keyboard, touchpad and ports, all-day battery life and a webcam. The line also includes a model with Asus’ AniMe Matrix, which allows you to customize the display of words and pictures and get a virtual pet.

3. The Razer Blade Pro 17

The Blade Pro 17 offers the best performance among laptops with 10th Gen 8-core Intel Core i7-10875H and RTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU. The Verge highlights the 2022 model’s thin and slender, less than 2cm chassis and 240Hz QHD display. The laptop features a keyboard with customizable per-key RGB lighting that adds color without being overly intense, making it comfortable for office work.

4. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro with AMD Ryzen 5000 processor is the best gaming laptop Lenovo has ever made, according to The Verge. He showed decent results in every game that the publication tested.

Performance aside, the highlight of the Legion 5 Pro is its 16:10 display, enabling more multi-tasking for day-to-day work. The 1.5mm key travel keyboard is comfortable to use, and the customizable backlighting is divided into four zones.

The main disadvantage of the Legion 5 Pro is the relatively short battery life (4.5 hours of continuous use), which is much more modest than, for example, ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15. However, it charges quickly thanks to the included 300W power bank.

5. MSI GE76 Raider

The Raider line offers laptops with various configurations up to the best Nvidia and Intel chips. The Raider is currently available with 11th generation chips, but 12th generation models should be available in the next few weeks. The laptop is equipped with a powerful cooling system, there is a model with a QHD screen, which The Verge recommends to buy.

6. ASUS ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition

ASUS ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition is one of the few gaming laptops equipped with both an AMD CPU and GPU. It delivers laptop-level gaming performance with Nvidia’s best GPUs, according to The Verge. It also showed excellent battery life, managing to maintain playable frame rates in Red Dead Redemption 2 for over an hour without plugging in a charger. On average, the Strix G15 can withstand nine hours of battery life, which makes it one of the most «long-playing». This is especially impressive given the backlit keys and the front edge of the case.

7. Razer Blade 14

A powerful 14-inch laptop with Nvidia’s RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 graphics cards and a powerful 8-core AMD chip to compete with the best 15-inch gaming laptops. The slim device features a 165Hz QHD display, a stylish RGB backlit keyboard, and HDMI 2.1 and USB-C ports.

8. MSI GS77 Stealth

Heavy (2.9 kg), but powerful gaming laptop with a diagonal of 17 inches is made in a thin body of black metal. Its strict design will appeal to both gamers and professionals, the publication points out. It has an RGB backlit keyboard and a QHD display, but is more practical for office use than other colorful models.

Best laptops for programming in 2022

Which laptop to buy for programming in 2022? This question is actively asked by students and novice programmers on the eve of the study season and fresh vacancies. We have compiled a list of laptops that will become an indispensable tool in the work of an IT specialist.

Compact laptops

The programmer works with the computer all day long, and often the question arises of purchasing a laptop. First of all, attention falls on compact models that are easy to take somewhere with you. Let’s take a look at them first.

We note right away that 13- and 14-inch versions are convenient, but, as a rule, such solutions are not very productive, and compilation can take a lot of time.

Apple MacBook Air 13″

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Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H): 304. 1 x 212.4 x 16.1 mm 9080
Weight: 1.29 kg
Display: 13.3″ (2560×1600) WQXGA, Retina, 60Hz
Processor: Apple M1 octa-core
Operating system: macOS Big Sur
RAM: 8/16 GB
SSD capacity: 256 GB
Battery: 49.9 Wh, up to 18 hours on a single charge
Video card: Apple M1 Graphics (7 cores)
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: 2 x USB 4 Type-C (Thunderbolt 3)/3.5 mm audio jack
Camera: FaceTime HD 720p
Manipulators: Touch ID, Force Touch

It is positioned as the thinnest and lightest «apple» laptop, and thanks to the Apple M1 chip it is also productive. The octa-core graphics processor provides a high-quality picture in applications and games with complex graphics. The 16-core Neural Engine accelerates all operations that use machine learning. The fanless design guarantees quiet operation. The new MacBook Air also broke its battery life record with up to 18 hours on a single charge.

Asus ZenBook 14″

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Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H): 319 x 208 x 13.9 mm
Weight: 1.17 kg
Display: 14″ (1920×1080) Full HD, IPS, 60Hz
Processor: Dual Core Intel Core i3-1115G4 (3.0 — 4.1 GHz)
RAM: 8 GB
SSD capacity: 256 GB
Battery: 67 Wh, up to 22 hours without recharging
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 4/1 x USB 3.2 Type A Gen 1/HDMI/MicroSD Card Reader

ZenBook 14’s compact, slim and ultra-light all-metal chassis makes it the perfect travel companion. It’s also the world’s thinnest 14″ laptop with a full array of I/O ports including HDMI and USB Type-A. So you can enjoy versatile connectivity wherever you are. Plus, traveling with a 22-hour battery life is really comfortable.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

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Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H): 323.28 x 228.32 x 18.94 mm
Weight: 1.73 kg
Display: 14.4″ (2400×1600) Multitouch, OLED, 120Hz
Processor: quad-core Intel Core i7-11370H (3.3 — 4.8 GHz)
Operating system: Windows 11 Home (64-Bit)
RAM: 16 GB
SSD capacity: 512 GB
Battery: 58 Wh, up to 18 hours on a single charge
Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 4/headphone audio jack/Surface Connect
Camera: FaceTime HD 1080p
Manipulators: Touch ID, Force Touch

The largest and heaviest of the presented “babies”, but with its diagonal it still fits.

Powerful performance makes Surface Laptop Studio feel like it’s built for programming, video, and animation in 2022. 11th Gen Intel Core handles the toughest workloads, while PixelSense Flow touch display delivers smoother, refresh-rate scrolling up to 120Hz, making this laptop a must-have for UI/UX or front.

Lightweight laptops

Yes, it doesn’t have to be a small screen. Modern technology has reached the level at which it is possible to create both lightweight and productive ultrabooks. If you need to collect the code often, you should pay attention to 16-inch models. It is in this form factor that the ideal combination of lightweight and productive components lives.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro

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Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro (Intel)

Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H): 356 x 251 x 18.4 mm
Weight: 1.9 kg
Display: 16″ (2560×1600), IPS, 120Hz
Processor: quad-core Intel Core i5-11300H (2. 6 — 4.4 GHz)
RAM: 16 GB
SSD capacity: 512 GB
Battery: 56.5 Wh, up to 13 hours on a single charge, Rapid Charge Express 9 capable0080
Video card: NVIDIA GeForce MX450
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
Ports: 2 × USB 3.1/USB-C 3.1/HDMI 2.0/SD card reader/quick charge port

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro (AMD)

Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H): 356 x 251 x 18.4 mm
Weight: 1.9 kg
Display: 16″ (2560×1600), IPS, 120Hz
Processor: hexa-core AMD Ryzen 5 5600H (3.3 — 4.2 GHz)
RAM: 16 GB
SSD capacity: 512 GB
Battery: 56.5 Wh, up to 13 hours on a single charge, Rapid Charge Express
Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
Ports: 2 × USB 3. 1/USB-C 3.1/HDMI 2.0/SD card reader/quick charge port

Powerful laptop for programming and video work in 2022. Powerful processors, up to 16GB of DDR4 memory and NVIDIA GeForce MX450/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics ensure high performance. The display allows you to work even in direct sunlight, and with Rapid Charge Express technology you can quickly charge your laptop: 15 minutes of connection to the network provides up to 3 hours of battery life.

LG Gram 15

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An ultra-light laptop that’s great for 2022 development. Judge for yourself: the display is 15.6″, and the weight is only 1.1 kg! We could sing praises to this miracle of technology for a long time and give its amazing characteristics. But the most detailed analysis is here: we recommend that everyone who is interested be familiarized.

Super-performing laptops

It’s not that the models listed above are low performance. It’s just that in this paragraph we will talk about ordinary, and sometimes rather bulky models that are not so convenient to take with you. Rather, it is a list of laptops for programming at home.

Apple MacBook Pro 16″

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Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H): 355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm
Weight: 2.1/2.2 kg
Display: 16.2″ (3456×2234), Liquid Retina XDR, 120Hz
Processor: Apple M1 Pro/Max

10 Core

Operating system: macOS Monterey
RAM: 16/32 GB
SSD capacity: 512GB/1TB
Battery: 100 Wh, up to 21 hours on a single charge
Video card: Apple M1 Pro Graphics (16 cores)/Apple M1 Max Graphics (32 cores)
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: 3 x USB 4 Type-C (Thunderbolt 4)/HDMI/3.5 mm audio jack/card reader
Camera: FaceTime HD 1080p
Manipulators: Touch ID, Force Touch

The undoubted leader and a real favorite of developers. The power of this laptop fits perfectly into the concept of programming not only in 2022, but also in the coming years. The price bites, but the MacBook Pro 16″ is totally worth the money. Choose from the powerful M1 Pro chip or the even more powerful M1 Max to boost your workflow performance to a professional level.

ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED

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Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H): 359.8 x 249.2 x 21.5 mm
Weight: 2.34 kg
Display: 15.6″ (3840×2160) Ultra HD 4K Multitouch, OLED, 60Hz
Processor: Octa-core Intel Core i9-11900H (2.5 — 4.9 GHz)
Operating system: Windows 11 Pro
RAM: 32 GB
SSD capacity: 1 TB
Battery: 92 Wh, up to 21 hours on a single charge
Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: 1 x USB 3. 2 Gen2/2 x Thunderbolt 4/HDMI/headphone/mic combo
Camera: HD IR camera with Windows Hello
Manipulators: NumberPad keyboard, stylus

An incredible laptop with dual touch screens and stylus support, making it an indispensable design companion. Laptops based on the NVIDIA Studio platform with GeForce RTX 30 series graphics accelerate popular professional applications, in particular with AI-powered technologies such as Dynamic Boost 2.0.

The updated ScreenPad Plus secondary screen uses the ScreenXpert 2 software shell, which makes multitasking easier with a set of built-in utilities.

Inexpensive laptops for programming 2022

Let’s be honest, these laptops are not the best solution for the daily work of a programmer. Development is always an open browser (or even several) with a huge number of tabs, a running development environment, plugins, a virtual machine, and much more.

But if you just need a place to start, this compilation is for you.

ASUS ExpertBook B1 B1400/B1500

ASUS ExpertBook B1 B1400

Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H): 323.4 x 215.6 x 19.2 mm
Weight: 1.45 kg
Display: 14″ (1366×768) WXGA HD, TN+film, 60Hz
Processor: dual-core Intel Core i3-1115G4 (3.0 — 4.1 GHz)
RAM: 8 GB
SSD capacity: 256 GB
Battery: 42 Wh
Video card: Intel UHD Graphics
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Ports: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C/2 x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 2/1 x USB 2.0/HDMI/VGA/LAN (RJ-45)/

microphone/headphone combo

ASUS ExpertBook B1 B1500

Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H): 358 x 236.5 x 19.4 mm
Weight: 1.73 kg
Display: 15.6″ (1920×1080) Full HD, 60Hz
Processor: dual-core Intel Core i3-1115G4 (3. 0 — 4.1 GHz)
RAM: 8 GB
SSD capacity: 256 GB
Battery: 42 Wh
Video card: Intel UHD Graphics
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C / 2 x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 2 / 1 x USB 2.0 / HDMI / VGA / LAN (RJ-45) / headphone/mic combo / card reader

Both models look stylish and completely out of the budget. They should be attributed to a separate subcategory «light + inexpensive». But we decided to focus on the second one: this is a much more significant factor, which is also reflected in the components.

Suitable for long-term work such as application development, these notebooks reduce the intensity of potentially harmful blue light. The most complete, but no longer budget versions, include an 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor and a discrete NVIDIA GeForce graphics card.

HP 17 (Intel)

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Specifications

Dimensions (W x D x H): 400 x 258 x 19. 9 mm
Weight: 2.08 kg
Display: 17.3″ (1920×1080) Full HD, IPS, 60Hz
Processor: quad-core Intel Core i5-1135G7 (2.4-4.2 GHz)
Operating system: Windows 11 Home
RAM: 8 GB
SSD size: 256 GB
Battery: 41 Wh, up to 14 hours on a single charge
Video card: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Wireless: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2
Ports: 1 x USB Type-C (5 Gb/s)/2 x USB Type-A (5 Gb/s)/HDMI/combo microphone/headphone audio jack
Camera: HP True Vision 720p HD

Probably, for a series of light and compact, this is already a rather large laptop, but the price segment is more than affordable. With an Intel processor and plenty of storage, it’s great for multitasking. Of course, it is inferior to its predecessors in terms of technical characteristics, but the price is completely different.