Surface Laptop 4 vs. Surface Book 3: Which is a better buy?
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True Ultrabook
Microsoft gave the Surface Laptop family of notebooks a refresh in 2021 with the Surface Laptop 4. This upgraded release contains better Intel and AMD processors. You can expect to see the same great design and notebook performance.
Powerful 2-in-1
If you’re looking for true graphical power in a form factor that can move between traditional laptop and tablet, the Surface Book 3 is your only choice. Featuring Intel’s 10th-generation processors, and dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1650 or 1660 Ti Max-Q graphics cards.
The newSurface Laptop 4features the latest 11th-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, or a customized version of AMDs Ryzen 4000 series R5 or R7 chips. While theSurface Book 3is rocking Intel’s last generation Intel chips, it still have a more powerful GPU in the form of the NVIDIA GTX 1650 and 1660 Ti Max-Q cards. Also, the Book 3 is a 2-in-1 detachable, and has a higher-resolution display. Both are some of thebest Surface PCson the market, but which one should you get?
Surface Laptop 4 vs. Surface Book 3: Specifications
What’s new with the Surface Laptop 4
Surface Laptop 4 vs. Surface Book 3: Design & Display
The designs of the Surface Laptop 4 and the Surface Book 3 couldn’t be more different. One is a traditional ultrabook laptop, and the other is a 2-in-1 detachable with a unique hinge design. They’re both available in 13.5-inch and 15-inch variants, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end.
Surface Laptop 4 features an aluminum chassis, with some models coming with an Alcantara fabric keyboard base. You can also get the Surface Laptop 4 in multiple colors including Platinum, Black, Sandstone, and Ice Blue. The Surface Book 3 featurs a magnesium chassis, with no option for an Alcantara keyboard deck and only one color to choose from: Platinum.
The display’s are also quite different, with the Surface Book 3 featuring a noticably brighter and higher resolution screen. That doesn’t mean the display on the Surface Laptop 4 is bad, but if you’re looking for the best display on a Surface, the Surface Book 3 is the one to go for.
Surface Laptop 4 vs. Surface Book 3: Performance
The Surface Laptop 4 ships with Intels latest 11th-generation Core i5 and i7 processors, but you can also get it with a specialized Microsoft Surface Edition AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 4000 series processor. These chips are quite the jump in performance over the 10th-generation chip found in the Surface Book 3, offering better single and multi-thread app performance for a smoother multitasking and data processing experience.
That said, the 10th-generation chip in the Surface Book 3 isn’t bad at all, and you won’t really notice a difference in performance in day-to-day tasks. It’s a different story in the graphics department however, as the Surface Book 3 ships with dedicated NVIDIA graphics, unlike the Surface Laptop 4 with its Integrated Iris Xe and RX Radeon graphics.
The integrated graphics are a huge improvement over the Surface Laptop 3, but compared to the Surface Book 3, it’s no contest. The dedicated GTX 1650 and 1660 Ti Max-Q will outperform the Surface Laptop 4 every time. So, if you want to do heavy video editing of even some gaming, the Book 3 is the one to get.
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Surface Laptop 4 vs. Surface Book 3: Pricing
Microsoft is pricing the Surface Laptop 4 at $999 for the base model, which is consideribly less than the starting price for the Surface Book 3, which comes in at $1,599. The entry-level Surface Book comes with just 8GB RAM and is without the dedicated graphics card, so you might be better served with the cheaper Surface Laptop 4 at that point.
Surface Laptop 4 is a beautiful Ultrabook
If you’re looking for a traditional laptop with the latest specs, great battery life, and a beautiful design, the Surface Laptop 4 is an excellent choice.
The best Surface Laptop
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 4 takes everything the company has learned so far with this product line and throws in the latest from Intel and AMD for the most powerful Microsoft notebook yet.
Buy the Surface Book 3 for more graphics power
If you’re in need of a 2-in-1 device that’s also a great laptop, with a beautiful high-resolution display and real graphics power for on-the-go work and play, the Surface Book 3 is for you.
A powerful 2-in-1
Microsoft’s Surface Book 3 features Intel’s 10th-gen processors, dedicated GTX 1650 and 1660 Ti Max-Q graphics cards, and a detachable design turning it from a great laptop into a pen-focused tablet.
Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch onTwitterandThreads
