Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13, i7-1255U

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Reviews for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13, i7-1255U

60% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review: not good enough for the price
Source: Techradar
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is not the worst laptop in the world, but a combination of performance issues, an outdated look, a terrible port selection, and a trumped-up price tag leave it lagging behind plenty of rivals.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/29/2024
Rating: Total score: 60% price: 40% performance: 60% mobility: 70% workmanship: 60%

80% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 Review: A Familiar Windows PC With Reliable Power
Source: Slashgear
Overall, this is a nice laptop that is hampered by some design decisions. This machine is largely the same as the Surface 4 Laptop, so if having the latest processor and RAM isn't a concern for you, it's not terribly important to upgrade. Personally, I like my laptop to have I/O, and the two measly ports here aren't going to do it for me.  But the display is great and considerably sizeable; it's large enough to do some serious multitasking. If you're into it, it's also touch-sensitive, which is also becoming table stakes in 2023. The keyboard and trackpad are both awesome and provide a high-quality UI experience, even if the keystrokes are a bit on the short side. Overall, this is the very definition of an iterative update, and Microsoft needs to go back to the drawing board for the Surface Laptop 6 if it wants to move units. For now, the internals are a nice upgrade, but certainly not a mandatory one if you already have a Surface Laptop 4. There's just not enough "new" here to coax you out of thousands of dollars. However, if you're in the market for a new laptop and you need to have the maximum amount of screen real estate, this is the laptop for you. Just make sure to carry a dongle with you, and possibly the device's power cord depending on how long you'll be using it on a given day.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/02/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%

80% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review (13.5in): don’t judge by the cover
Source: Stuff TV
In some ways the Laptop 5 is very much of the moment, with latest-gen Intel hardware and one of the best displays around. But yet again it feels like it has a foot stuck in the past with some ancient ports, a 720p webcam and large bezels. And that means you can do better with similar-priced options like Dell’s XPS 13.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 03/27/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%

80% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review: If it ain't broke...
Source: Pocket Lint
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is an interesting one. On one hand, there's barely anything new here, other than the processor, which makes it hard to get excited about. On the other, it's a small improvement to what was already one of our favourite laptops, which makes it very easy to recommend. It wouldn't have been hard to make this an appealing upgrade - updating the screen, shrinking the bezels and using a better webcam would have done just that. Instead, the only meaningful upgrades are the new processors and the addition of Thunderbolt 4. If you're a Surface Laptop 4 owner, there's no real reason to upgrade, unless you absolutely need Thunderbolt connectivity. But, if you're thinking of buying a Surface Laptop for the first time, this could be a great choice. It's the fastest Surface Laptop to date, it has a fetching additional colourway and it still has all of the features that made us fall in love with its predecessor - superb fit and finish, excellent keyboard and trackpad, a lovely screen and outstanding speakers. We think it's a solid purchase, though savvy shoppers might want to consider the older model instead, which offers most of the same experience at a lower cost.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/07/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%

80% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (13.5in) review: An almost-great business machine
Source: It Pro
After all those fairly good points, we still feel that the Surface Laptop 5 is lacking. It's not that we didn't like it, it's more that we sense it could be better. It has no glaring flaws that will make you balk at the price (it's under £1,000), it feels professional, and there isn't really anything that is annoying. Yes, people may want an AMD model, some may find the design tired, and there's that awful webcam and large bezel combo. It most certainly could be better. But, slightly better laptops are considerably more expensive (ThinkPads, MacBooks, MateBooks). What Microsoft has here is a competing product that costs just £833. So it's good value for money, if not particularly special.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/22/2022
Rating: Total score: 80%

80% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review: a stylish PC for everyday computing
Source: T3
If you’re searching for a combination of style, a good screen and a reliable system then the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is unlikely to disappoint. The sleek compact aluminium design looks premium and feels sturdy while the hardware inside lends itself well to productivity-based tasks, this is a great choice for busy workdays and evening entertainment, although it isn’t necessarily built for graphics-intensive tasks like videogames. What’s more is that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 has decent battery life and a fast charge time, so you’ll be able to pop this in your bag to use out and about without worrying too much about getting caught short. Some people might be looking for a few more ports around the frame like an SD card slot or an HDMI, but even so, I was pleased to see that they have added in the USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 support because it opens up a whole world of opportunity when it comes to hooking it up external monitors and all of your other devices. All in all, while it has its flaws, there isn’t that much bad to say about this PC. It’s a great choice if you’re willing to spend the money on it!
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/19/2022
Rating: Total score: 80%

60% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review: not good enough for the price
Source: Techradar
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is not the worst laptop in the world, but a combination of performance issues, an outdated look, a terrible port selection, and a trumped-up price tag leave it lagging behind plenty of rivals.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/21/2022
Rating: Total score: 60%

60% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 Review
Source: Trusted Reviews
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 has seen minor upgrades, with a slightly faster processor and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. But with an outdated design and underwhelming performance, it’s difficult to understand why anyone would be willing to purchase this laptop instead of a MacBook Air or Dell XPS 13.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/16/2022
Rating: Total score: 60%

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 Review - MacBook Air / Dell XPS Killer!?
Source: The Tech Chap
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/09/2022

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78% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review: This beautiful laptop is for Surface fans only
Source: PC World
Essentially, Surface devices have always commanded a premium. That’s fine, especially in niches (the Surface Pro tablet, the excellent Surface Laptop Studio) where the competition isn’t as fierce. As someone who uses laptops daily, the smooth, spacious design absolutely resonates. But with now three generations of Surface Laptops that Microsoft has left virtually unchanged, it’s best to conclude that Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 5 emphasizes design, not value or raw performance. Take your pick: buy the Microsoft Laptop 5 if you’re in the first camp. Otherwise, look elsewhere.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/25/2022
Rating: Total score: 78%

80% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (13.5-inch) review: a few steps forward and one big step back
Source: The Verge
Ultimately, the Laptop 5 continues to be a well-built and well-performing laptop that, while expensive, is not so high in the retail clouds that any substantial flaw is a nonstarter. (Cough, ThinkPads.) It is a good computer that I enjoy using. It has more than enough power for general use, while those who need heavier graphic chops may prefer the much heavier Surface Laptop Studio, which is available with discrete GPUs. But the battery life is not as good as last year’s AMD models were providing. It is legitimate to trade off some efficiency in exchange for additional power. It’s a tradeoff I’m sure some shoppers are happy to make. But it wasn’t one Microsoft needed to ask of them. Microsoft could’ve had it both ways.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/25/2022
Rating: Total score: 80%

60% Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review: running to stand still
Source: Digital Trends
The Surface Laptop 5 is a disappointment. It’s a design I like, and many of the essential elements are solid. The keyboard is great, the port selection has what you need, and the 3:2 display is pleasant to work on. But as a laptop released in 2022 at this price, it’s falling behind. The M1 MacBook Air often sells for hundreds of dollars cheaper, despite being a faster and longer-lasting laptop. Then there are laptops like the Dell XPS 13 or HP Envy x360 13, both of which are cheaper and offer more affordable configuration options. I like the 3:2 touchscreen that the Surface Laptop 5 includes all the way down the stack, but Microsoft’s overpriced storage and memory make it hard to recommend anything beyond the base configuration. Keeping an AMD model in the lineup may have made the Surface Laptop 5 a bit more competitive. But even still, there are a number of reasons the Surface Laptop 5 feels like it’s a few years old — because in many ways, it is.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/25/2022
Rating: Total score: 60%

Foreign Reviews

78% Test Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 : Un PC au look presque bien soigné
Source: Charles Tech FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 01/31/2023
Rating: Total score: 78% performance: 80% display: 70% mobility: 70%

70% Test Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 : l’ultraportable aussi beau que bon ?
Source: Journal du Geek FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/16/2022
Rating: Total score: 70%

70% Test Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 : élégant, plus puissant… mais indécrottable
Source: Clubic FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/23/2022
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 70% performance: 70% display: 80% mobility: 60% workmanship: 70%

78% Test du Surface Laptop 5 : on prend le même et on recommence
Source: 01Net FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/20/2022
Rating: Total score: 78% performance: 90% mobility: 80%

Comment

Intel Iris Xe G7 96EUs: Integrated graphics card in Intel Tiger Lake G4 SoCs based on the new Gen. 12 architecture with 96 EUs (Execution Units / Shader Cluster). The clock rate depends on the processor model. The Tiger Lake chips are produced in the modern 10nm+ process at Intel.

Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

i7-1255U: Alder Lake based mobile CPU with 2 performance cores and 8 efficient cores. The performance cores offer hyper threading, leading to 12 threads that can be processed. The CPU clocks from 1.2 to 4.7 GHz. The TDP is specified at 15 Watt.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

13.50":

There are hardly any tablets in this display size range anymore. For subnotebooks, on the other hand, it is the standard format.

The advantage of subnotebooks is that the entire laptop can be small and therefore easily portable. The smaller display also has the advantage of requiring less power, which further improves battery life and thus mobility. The disadvantage is that reading texts is more strenuous on the eyes. High resolutions are more likely to be found in standard laptops.

Microsoft:

Microsoft smartphones and tablets have been tested since 2012. There are many reviews with average ratings. The reader's interest is quite given, but the market share is not big enough for the Top 5 smartphone manufacturers (as of 2016).

72.93%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

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