Surface Laptop 3: A 15-inch variant and AMD Ryzen 3000 SKUs?

Few OEMs currently offer AMD processors in their high-end laptops. HP, Huawei and Lenovo do, for example, but until now Microsoft has only equipped its Surface products with Intel CPUs. According to new leaks from reliable tipster Roland Quandt, the Redmond-based company is set to change that, with it bringing AMD chips to its next Surface Laptop, presumably called the Surface Laptop 3.

Moreover, the release of an AMD-powered Surface product will coincide with a 15-inch version of the Surface Laptop. A 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 will be Microsoft's second 15-inch laptop if one includes the Surface Book 2 15. Currently, there is no word on whether Microsoft will extend AMD processors to the 13.5-inch variant too, or if the 15-inch model will be AMD exclusive.

Quandt also states that he has received no information about which APUs Microsoft will equip its first AMD-powered laptop. We have seen the 35 W Ryzen 5 3550H and Ryzen 7 3750H in 15-inch chassis before, but not in form factors as thin as the Surface Laptop. Hence, we expect Microsoft to go with the Ryzen 3000 U series instead, which are 15 W processors like their Intel Core counterparts.

Microsoft has already announced that it will host a Surface event on October 2, where it is expected to reveal not only the Surface Laptop 3 but also the Surface Pro 7. According to recent leaks, the latter may feature 10 nm Intel Ice Lake processors and up to 16 GB of RAM. A dual-screen device codenamed 'Centaurus' may even make an appearance too. We will keep you informed about any developments before the event as and when we hear of them.