What To Know
- The Surface Laptop 4 comes in a variety of colors, including Platinum, Black, Cobalt Blue, and Sandstone, while the Surface Laptop 5 offers a more limited color palette of Platinum, Black, and Sage.
- The Surface Laptop 4 offers a more affordable price point and a slightly longer battery life, while the Surface Laptop 5 provides a significant performance boost and a Thunderbolt 4 port.
- The Surface Laptop 4 has a slightly longer battery life than the Surface Laptop 5, with a claimed battery life of up to 17 hours compared to the Surface Laptop 5’s 16 hours.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop has been a popular choice for consumers and professionals alike since its inception. With its sleek design, powerful performance, and long battery life, it’s no wonder why. The latest models, the Surface Laptop 4 and 5, offer even more features and improvements. But which one is right for you? In this in-depth Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 vs 5 review, we’ll compare the two models side-by-side to help you make an informed decision.
Design and Build Quality
The Surface Laptop 4 and 5 both feature a premium aluminum chassis that exudes elegance and durability. The Surface Laptop 4 comes in a variety of colors, including Platinum, Black, Cobalt Blue, and Sandstone, while the Surface Laptop 5 offers a more limited color palette of Platinum, Black, and Sage. Both models have a 3:2 aspect ratio display, which is taller than the traditional 16:9 aspect ratio, providing more vertical space for productivity.
Display
The Surface Laptop 4 and 5 both have 13.5-inch PixelSense displays with a resolution of 2256 x 1504. However, the Surface Laptop 5 has a slightly brighter display with a peak brightness of 400 nits compared to the Surface Laptop 4’s 330 nits. Both models support Dolby Vision HDR, which provides a wider color gamut and higher contrast ratio for a more immersive viewing experience.
Performance
The Surface Laptop 4 is powered by 11th-generation Intel Core processors, while the Surface Laptop 5 features 12th-generation Intel Core processors. The Surface Laptop 5 offers a significant performance boost, especially in multi-core tasks. Both models are available with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, providing ample space for demanding applications and large files.
Battery Life
The Surface Laptop 4 has a slightly longer battery life than the Surface Laptop 5, with a claimed battery life of up to 17 hours. The Surface Laptop 5 has a claimed battery life of up to 16 hours. Both models support fast charging, so you can quickly power them up when you’re on the go.
Ports and Connectivity
The Surface Laptop 4 and 5 both have a limited selection of ports. They each have a USB-C port, a USB-A port, and a Surface Connect port for charging and connecting to the Surface Dock. The Surface Laptop 5 adds a Thunderbolt 4 port, which provides faster data transfer speeds and support for external displays.
Operating System and Software
The Surface Laptop 4 and 5 both come preinstalled with Windows 11. They also both support Windows 11 Pro, which includes additional features such as BitLocker encryption and Hyper-V virtualization.
Price and Availability
The Surface Laptop 4 starts at $999, while the Surface Laptop 5 starts at $1,299. The Surface Laptop 4 is available now, while the Surface Laptop 5 will be available later this year.
Which One Should You Buy?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 and 5 are both excellent laptops with their own strengths and weaknesses. The Surface Laptop 4 offers a more affordable price point and a slightly longer battery life, while the Surface Laptop 5 provides a significant performance boost and a Thunderbolt 4 port.
If you’re looking for a premium laptop with a sleek design, powerful performance, and long battery life, both the Surface Laptop 4 and 5 are great options. However, if you need the absolute best performance and the latest connectivity options, the Surface Laptop 5 is the better choice.
Questions We Hear a Lot
Q: Which laptop has a better display?
A: The Surface Laptop 5 has a slightly brighter display with a peak brightness of 400 nits compared to the Surface Laptop 4’s 330 nits.
Q: Which laptop has better performance?
A: The Surface Laptop 5 offers a significant performance boost, especially in multi-core tasks, thanks to its 12th-generation Intel Core processors.
Q: Which laptop has a longer battery life?
A: The Surface Laptop 4 has a slightly longer battery life than the Surface Laptop 5, with a claimed battery life of up to 17 hours compared to the Surface Laptop 5’s 16 hours.
