We’ve come a long way from 2015, right? Kinda, sort of, but not really. That’s the story of the Microsoft Surface Book 3.
A lot has changed since Microsoft first launched the Surface Book five years ago, when it generated excitement for its laptop-to-tablet convertible form factor and its claim to offer users the best combination of power and mobility.
Fast forward to today, and the field is crowded with lots of convertibles and high powered laptops. So how does the new Microsoft Surface Book 3 – which comes in 13.5” and 15” form factors – stack up?
Let’s see what the experts say.
Iconic Design
The exterior design of the Microsoft Surface Book 3 hasn’t noticeably changed from its predecessors, and that’s not all bad.
It’s overall build quality is still very high. And it gets high marks for its keyboard and trackpad, although the relatively small footprint of the trackpad is a minor gripe.
It also received a lot of praise for its improved detach functionality, as Linus Tech Tips describes below.
Linus Tech Tips On The Improved Detach Functionality
But some aspects of this iconic design haven’t aged well. The beefy hinge remains the same, making the Surface Book 3 noticeably thicker than other devices in its price range.
Photo Credit: Karl Conrad
And the bezel. Lordy, the bezel was not well liked. It gives the Surface Book 3 a dated look, although Microsoft claims the thicker bezel is intended to make it easier to hold and work with as a tablet.
Lisa from MobileTechReview nicely sums up the general issue with the Surface Book 3 design.
MobileTechReview On The Surface Book 3 Design
Under the Hood(s)
As with its predecessors, the story of the Surface Book 3 is its ability to function in both tablet and laptop format.
Its base houses a dedicated Nvidia GPU that enables graphically intensive workloads, like video rendering and mid-tier gaming. The 13.5” version sports an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti Max Q, while the 15” model comes with its cousin the GTX 1650.
As Sara Dietschy points out, its dedicated GPU is what makes the machine so attractive to photographers, designers and other creatives looking for the best of mobility and power.
Sara Dietschy On The Dedicated GPU
But where the system falls surprisingly short is its CPU in the display that enables it to operate as a tablet. The Surface Book 3 uses the Quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. Given that the competition has moved to six and eight core processors, this may be a deal breaker for a lot of buyers as Linus Tech Tips points out.
Linus Tech Tips On The CPU
On a brighter note, Microsoft has improved battery life. While connected to its base, users get up to 17.5 hours of battery.
Ports
The Surface Pro 3 has X USB-C ports and X USB-A ports. It also includes a full-size SD card slot, which is a big attraction for creatives.
But here’s where it gets weird…no Thunderbolt 3 port. MobileTechReview calls B.S. on Microsoft’s claim that forgoing it was a security measure.
MobileTechReview On The Lack Of Thunderbolt 3
Final Verdict
There’s a lot to like about the Microsoft Surface Book 3. But it’s hefty price point, outdated design elements and underpowered CPU makes us wonder if Microsoft missed an opportunity to stand out with the Microsoft Surface Book 3 like it did with its predecessors.
Click below to hear what other reviewers thought.