The Microsoft Surface device series is a series of office and learning devices that focus on a combination of productivity and premium aesthetics using components that are powerful enough for everyday use.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is the fifth generation laptop computer developed by Microsoft itself and on this model, we have been given the opportunity to test this latest laptop model which is powered by Intel's 12th generation U-series processing chip.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
15-inch PixelSense screen (2496 x 1664)
Intel Core i7-1255U CPU
Intel Iris Xe GPU
RAM 16GB DDR4
512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe storage
Primary Camera 1080p Infrared
I/O 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
1 x Thunderbolt 4
Kensington lock
Battery 47.4 WHr
65W charging
SIM/Telephony None
WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Audio Jack Yes
Waterproof None
Windows Hello Face Scan System
Selling Price RM9399
Screen
The screen display of the Microsoft Surface device series, which is PixelSense can be said to be one of the most beautiful screen displays that can be seen on a device running the Microsoft operating system, and with the Surface Laptop 5 model, users are given the choice of a 13.5-inch display with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 or 15 inch model with 2496 x 1664 resolution.
Like all their devices, this screen display comes with a 3:2 display ratio that resembles an A4 paper. All Surface Laptop 5 models also come with a touch screen and this gives users the option to use this laptop traditionally or want to access a file or perform an action more quickly.
As usual, the color processing of this PixelSense display is very accurate, beautiful and vibrant and it can be seen from almost any angle of this display, except perhaps when the glare of light reflects off the glossy surface of this display.
With a brightness value of around 500 nits, the PixelSense screen display on the Surface Laptop 5 is also bright enough to display a bright screen even though the brightness value is set at around 50 percent only.
No matter what kind of Surface device it's on, the PixelSense display never disappoints, just maybe if you're someone who often uses touch functions because the glossy display surface will trap fingerprints and smudges easily.
Oh yes, this PixelSense display also still only has a 60Hz refresh rate which is probably too slow for modern use even if it's just for productivity purposes.
Shape
The design of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 still uses aluminum metal even though the Surface Pro and Surface Go devices are made of magnesium.
Aluminum is heavier compared to magnesium, but this allows this laptop to come in a number of different colors such as Platinum, Graphite, Sandstone, and Sage, but this offering is only shown on the 13.5-inch model. For the 15-inch model, only the Platinum and Graphite offerings are shown.
Yes, compared to some other laptops of the same size, the Surface Laptop 5 may feel heavier, but its minimalist design with no sharp corners and smooth surface gives it an elegant and premium look that few other brands can match.
Another thing I really like about this laptop is how the display can be opened with one hand easily and the bottom doesn't lift up when you do.
Combined with the touch pad surface made of glass, the design of this Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 can be said to be on par with laptops such as MacBook Pro and Dell XPS.
Keyboard
The keyboard of any Microsoft Surface device is very comfortable to use, and it's not too different from the Surface Laptop 5. It has a key size and depth that makes it comfortable to use even when I'm typing for long periods of time.
It also has a backlight system that allows it to be easily seen in the dark, but not so bright that it hurts your eyes when you're typing.
To be honest, for me, even though the Surface Laptop keyboard is very comfortable to use for typing, the distance between the keys is a little further than usual, causing me to have to adjust my fingers to type at the pace I'm used to.
But this is just one minor complaint I have about this keyboard. It still gives me a comfortable enough typing experience myself where I just have to get used to a few "typo" problems when I first use it.
Specifications And User Experience
The somewhat clumsy launch timing of the Microsoft Surface series of tablets and laptops when compared to the launch of new CPU components resulted in these device series being launched at the end of the Intel and even AMD CPU cycles.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 we received for this review is powered by an Intel Core i7-1255U processor chip with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. If you need it, you can also get memory options and even higher storage capacity if desired.
For office productivity use, especially for me who uses this laptop for the purpose of writing daily reports and editing daily photos, this Surface Laptop 5 looks like an extreme laptop for that purpose.
But I also always say that an overkill laptop is a laptop that you won't complain about when it comes to important things like efficiency and performance. I'm also sure that this laptop is also powerful enough for more technical purposes such as video editing, creating digital artwork, data processing and so on.
Like all previous Microsoft Surface devices, it also comes with Surface Connect 65W charging, but for these latest models, users can also use USB-C charging to charge this laptop.
One issue I have with this laptop is that while it has a large design that should accommodate more plugs, the Surface Laptop 5 only has one USB Type-C plug which is a Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 plug, one USB Type-C plug -A and one 3.5mm audio plug.
In short, if you need more than one USB Type-C and Type-A plug, you will need to purchase an additional plug accessory to use with this laptop.
If you are someone who often works from home or outside the office, this will help in reducing the number of charging plugs that need to be brought along. If you have a GaN multiport charger, one of those plugs can be used to charge this laptop without any problems.
Audio
In terms of audio quality, Surface Laptop 5 comes with Omnisonic speakers on the side of this laptop which also has Dolby Atmos support.
There is not much I can say about this speaker except that it has good enough quality for a variety of purposes, including listening to songs, watching videos and even when you are in a teleconference session.
It's also loud enough that the entire area of a medium-sized living room can hear it, but it's not so loud that the audio coming out of the speakers breaks at too high a volume.
But I will also say that the bass level of the built-in speakers is not that strong, but this is perhaps a slightly exaggerated compliment for this laptop package.
Battery
The battery life of this Surface Laptop 5 during my usage is around 8-9 hours with a full charge and the display brightness value is set at around 50 percent.
There are reports saying that the lifespan of this laptop is not as good as the Surface Laptop 4 which has a battery life that exceeds 10 hours. In my opinion, the use of a more recent, powerful processing chip that has new features that users can take advantage of may have benefits with a battery life that is 2-3 hours lower than before.
In the box
Not much is offered in the box of this Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 although it comes with a rather premium price tag.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Surface Connect charger
3-pin header cable
Manual book
Conclusion
If you want a productivity laptop with a premium design and have the money to own it, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 might be one of the options you can consider.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
This laptop has no problems at all in terms of performance, battery life and ease of carrying anywhere for productivity inside and outside the office. However, if you are someone who needs to connect more than one device to your computer wired, the limited choice of plugs on this laptop will make your decision difficult.
PROs and advantages
Sleek laptop design
PixelSense screen display that always gives vibrant colors
Great performance
Long battery life
USB-C charging
CONS and shortcomings
The distance between the keys is a little clumsy
Too limited plug options
The price tag can be seen