Microsoft surface laptop 3 review in Spanish (complete analysis)

Microsoft and Apple have experienced fierce competition in the computer world from the beginning of their careers. Be they laptops or desktops, there are always detractors and supporters on both sides ready to defend their champions. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is a laptop designed to compete with Apple's MacBook Air line. Of course, will it measure up? Let's see it

Microsoft is one of the benchmark companies in the world of technology, its Windows operating system has reached every corner of the world and its peripherals follow the same path.

Unboxing of Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 comes to us in an untreated cardboard box with a chest opening. Outside we only found a sticker with the serial number along with other manufacturer information.

When we go to its opening we are greeted by a second natural cardboard mold treated to preserve rigidity and high density. Inside a white fine-cloth sleeve is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3.

Once we take out the computer we see under it two compartments where there are a couple of small boxes of less thickness. In them we have Microsoft documentation and the charger wiring.

The contents of the box are summarized in:

• Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 Quick Start Guide Warranty and Recycling Documentation Power Connector Cable Charger with Power Supply

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 design

In this section we will discuss the aesthetic and functional issues of the main aspects of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3. Starting with its dimensions, Surface Laptop 3 has two possible sizes depending on the inches of its screen, 13.5 or 15. In our case, being the 15 ”model the dimensions of the laptop are 339.5 mm x 244 mm x 14.69 mm.

Finishes

The finish of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 that we bring you for this analysis is Black Metal, but you can also choose the Platinum Metal and Platinum Alcantara variants. Due to the choice of material, the laptop gains a lot of resistance, reaching a weight of 1, 542 grams.

On its cover we find the only identification of being a Microsoft product, in this case the Windows logo engraved with a polished black finish.

Some of us have missed that it does not have some type of backlight when the computer is in use, although it is evident that Windows has opted with this model to eliminate all the elements that are not essential, achieving a slim and minimalist design that transmits great cleanliness.

If we turn it around, we find four small non-slip rubber supports that hide the opening screws in case repair services are needed.

Just in the upper margin we see the Microsoft logo printed in gray along with the European Quality Certificate and sustainable recycling, among others.

We can also see in this area the band of ventilation slots just on the back with a very discreet format. This continues along the entire posterior edge until reaching the adjustment of the hinges.

When we continue inside we find a matte black finish identical to the outside and totally free of corporate marks or Pentium Inside stickers or other hardware features. The glass of the screen in turn extends right to the limits of the structure and is surrounded by the silhouette of the cover.

The Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Audio sound are housed under a thin plastic section in the distance between the screen and the start of the keyboard, thus being completely hidden so as not to visually interrupt the eclectic effect of the design.

screen

The screen of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 has PixelSense technology and a total of 15 inches. Its maximum resolution reaches 2496 x 1664 pixels, about 201px per inch. Its aspect ratio is 3: 2 (15:10), which is the standard most widely used by 35mm film cameras and other digital devices.

In this model Microsoft has opted for a highly reflective glossy screen. The margin between the glass and the operating IPS panel varies depending on the area, although the approximate measurement is about 100mm.

The preference to keep this frame and not extend the active screen until the entire frame is somewhat surprising, although we assume that this is related to the choice of the 3: 2 aspect ratio. As usual we also find a 720p HD f2.0 high definition camera and two far-field studio microphones, one on each side. All this is discreetly integrated into the tempered glass.

Regarding PixelSense technology, this is the quality incorporated by Microsoft for its Surface range that allows the tactile and multi-touch use of 10 points on its screens. As an addition we have compatibility with the Surface Pen, although the latter we must buy separately.

Keyboard

The keyboard presented by the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is a model without a numerical keyboard (TKL) that is contained with very generous 300 mm side margins in the base chassis.

The keys on the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 have Chiclet-style butterfly switches. The structure of the base panel itself shows a soft concave depression in which we find the keyboard.

This allows its keys to be at the same height as the chassis and not collide with the screen when closed. The finish of this area is without edges and both the corners and the descent are prolonged with a particularly noticeable soft curve in its front area.

Regarding the finish of the keys, these are made of ABS plastic with a matte black tone extremely faithful to the metal of the chassis. The corners of them describe a rounded silhouette and the chosen sans serif typeface is quite fine and of good readability.

As a peculiarity, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 presents us with a backlit keyboard with white LEDs that have ambient light sensors to automatically regulate its brightness. This lighting disappears after about 40 seconds of inactivity, thus promoting energy savings.

Trackpad

For the trackpad we found that its surface consists of a single piece of black plastic with no visible buttons. Under it we can perceive the buttons for right and left click, both with a very muted sound.

Ports and connections

Turning to talk about physical ports, in the wired connections we find:

• USB Type A 3.0 Port USB Type C Port 3.1 Mixed 3.5mm Jack for Headphones Surface Connect Port for Surface Dial Compatible Charger

For its part for wireless connections we have:

• Bluetooth 5.0 Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac

The availability of a USB Type-C offers us a wide range of possibilities when it comes to establishing multi-port connectors since it is possible that some users find a single USB Type-A somewhat scarce on a day-to-day basis.

Going to comment on the wiring, it is divided into two separate sections.

• The first segment is the Surface Connect port for both the charger and the Surface Screen off-screen interaction and is 1.5m in length. The second segment starts from the power supply and consists of a cable for connection to the electrical grid, also one meter long.

Regarding its transformer that includes Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, it is quite small and presents a compact format of 90mm x 50mm x 25mm. Another interesting fact is that the connector with Surface Connect port (charger and Surface Dial) is magnetic and can be placed in both directions as if it were a USB Type-C.

This has its advantages and disadvantages. Initially it is extremely practical and makes it very easy to install, but it can also be somewhat unstable since a sudden movement or pull will make it detach easily from the laptop. Because of its internal structure, we should not worry because it will be difficult to damage despite its delicate appearance.

Internal hardware

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is not a computer designed to open and tinkle your guts. Following the minimalist line, Microsoft presents us with a design in which to access the components it is necessary to remove the anti-slip rubbers on the reverse side under which the screws are hidden. We take the first look with CPU-Z, our trusted reporter for more specific, real-time data on advanced features.

Internal components

To start with, the processor present in our 15 ”model is a tenth generation Intel Core i7. This specific model, the i7-1065G7, works at a base frequency of 1.30GHz with four cores and eight threads. Its maximum TDP consumption is designed for a maximum of 15W, which places it below the current standard (20-45W) with an L3 cache of 8MB.

The graphics card here is a model with Ice Lake GT2 chipset. This consists of 10nm technology and a capacity of 64 EUs (parallel execution units), with a maximum frequency of 1.1GHz.

Accompanying it we have an integrated Intel Iris Plus graphics card with DDR4 memory. This works based on a frequency of 300 MHZ, although with Boost mode it can reach 1100 MHz always with a communication speed of 128 bits. In it we find version 12 of DirectX.

Disk and RAM storage

In this case, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 has a 512 GB M2 SSD with NVM Express (1.3) interface with PCIe 3.0 x 4 transfer, thus reaching 128b / 130b online transmission speed. Finally we have in Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 with a single RAM memory unit, although this is 16 GB and reaches 2666 MHz of reading.

Refrigeration system

We find here a system model that has a single fan to dissipate the heat generated by the integrated processor and graphics. Its format is extremely fine, which is surprising when later in the category of putting temperatures in use we check the low noise that it emits under stress.

Two copper heat pipes are directly attached to the CPU and GPU cover to try to trap and redirect the heat in the most fluid way possible by means of the air flow generated by the fan that passes to expel it through the rear strip of the base that we discussed at the beginning.

On the other hand, it is also convenient to keep in mind that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is a laptop model that is committed to reducing consumption and optimizing performance, which is why its integrated graphics of only 10 nanometers, which is capable of working without generating huge amounts of heat.

Putting Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 into use

The Microsoft LSurface Laptop 3 is a laptop designed for everyday work and leisure. Its focus on a fast boot operating system and optimized speed make it a ready device for both document and image editing, streaming viewing, browsing and other everyday activities.

The maximum brightness of the display allows excellent readability in office environments and is also viable in open spaces in daylight. Its glossy effect makes it very reflective and this is noticeable when its lighting is low or we are in dimmer environments.

The distortion and reading of the image in forced perspectives remains very correct and this occurs laterally as well as vertically. The change in the perception of colors does occur, although we must note that the difference is quite small.

At the base, a minimal elevation is noticeable in the rear area, thus seeking improved ergonomics for the keyboard. It is not an extremely notable issue given the ultra-fine design factor but it is a detail that we appreciate.

It is also interesting that we can lift the laptop lid with a single finger without the base moving or lifting on the table, which indicates good mobility in the hinges and correct weight distribution.

The keyboard itself gives us a very satisfying feel when typing. Its sound is short and muted and the pressure required to activate the keys requires that we press them all the way down. Without a doubt, the smart backlight is a great point in its favor and is totally independent of the amount of brightness that the screen has at that moment.

Integrated camera, microphones and speakers

As we mentioned in the specifications, Microsoft Laptop 3 has a 720p HD f2.0 camera. Testing it we have been able to verify that it presents facial recognition and additionally has a certain degree of focus for nearby objects. Within its basic configuration it presents a total of four different resolution and aspect ratio formats:

• 0.9MP 16: 9 (1280x720p) 0.4MP 1: 1 (640x640p) 0.3MP 4: 3 (640x480p) 0.2MP 16: 9 (640x360p)

The photos that we bring you for testing have been made with 0.9MP at 16: 9 and using the maximum available resolution: 1280x720p. As you can see there is a certain smoothing (fluff effect) and the default saturation is a little low. Also commenting on the video options we can record at a maximum quality of 720p with 30fps, which is somewhat modest but functional. Finally we have an option to reduce flicker in the video and set it to 50Hz or 60Hz.

Moving on to comment on the sound, the recording of the two far-field microphones is quite satisfactory if we consider that their use is intended for video call functions or the like. We can say that it is in the same position as the camera when affirming that they perform well although they are not miraculous.

Finally, the question of speakers. Something that has pleasantly surprised us is the maximum volume level, which is quite high. Another point in favor is that with this intensity we do not perceive treble “cracked”, although the bass is not that they are especially deep. In general they are integrated speakers that perform very well and are pleasant to use. The sound is quite neutral and manages to vibrate the keyboard over 50% of its volume.

Screen qualities

From the outset we find an IPS panel with a resolution of 2496 x 1664 pixels. We continue our walk through the most outstanding features of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 making the inevitable stop on the color quality, saturation, gamma and luminosity of it.

As a good IPS panel that is, the colors that we see from the beginning are very pure and vibrant, even more remarkable if we set the brightness to the maximum. This is where we passed the first software test to take a look at its factory features with the HCFR Colorimeter program.

The tests carried out have been carried out with colorimeter and maximum brightness, obtaining results on the Light Response, Gamma, Gray Scale and Color Temperature.

• Light Response: The default statistic on the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (yellow) is well above the optimal (cyan) or neutral (gray) curve. Gamma: The gamma light emission, again highlighted in yellow, deviates greatly from the standard parameters at all levels. When the ideal average should be around 2.20 points, here the average moves between 1.4 and 1.1, which makes it less than desirable. Gray scale (without gamma): the percentage of gray, marked in pink, shows a stability that dances within 1-2 points. We can consider it acceptable. Color temperature: 6500K being the reference average, we will note that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 has a trend towards warm colors that remains stable, so we will tend to perceive a predominance of red versus all bluish ones.

Given all of the above, it is time to go to Display CAL and check the color reliability in various areas of the screen. For this we make a sweep with the colorimeter for a total of nine sectors.

We find that in general the screen of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 presents by default a very little contrast deviation, being at its lowest rate of 0.48% and maximum of 1.99%. In any case, all sections pass the recommended controls, although the lower central third lags somewhat behind the others.

Optimal calibration and performance

By default, we already perceive a dazzling color quality, although at first glance it is difficult to define if the screen tends to emphasize contrast or prioritize one color range over another. It is to evaluate these issues when we go from the previous observation to the improvement of the parameters by calibrating to obtain the best possible color quality.

We have carried out this process with a ColorMunki Display colorimeter.

It is then time to perform a screen calibration to be able to objectively observe its optimal qualities. After the process, we found that the color coverage indexes are very favorable for sRGB, although not so much in Adobe RGB.

In turn, we can see that the deviation of the results against the average of each category (dashed triangle) is quite small. This is broadly good news since sRGB is the current standard for digital publishing and design related activities. On the other hand, those who use the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 may notice a lower color fidelity for jobs whose final product is printed, for which a higher percentage of Adobe RGB would be ideal.

For those less knowledgeable about color and screens you can take a look at: RGB vs CMYK: All the notions you should know.

Going to observe the RGB and gray color balance after calibration, we see that the strong warm trend on the monitor is much lower and we can find a closer RGB balance to each other. It is after this process when we can observe a noticeable improvement between the levels that we could observe at the factory with those obtained after the calibration process:

In short, the summary and general observations on the color on the screen of Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 exceeds the average of Delta E (1.50) reaching 2.52 points. However we can consider that the permissible limit resides in the 5 points, so that within the bad it is acceptable.

Default levels (factory)

Measurements	Contrast	Gamma value	Black level	Color temperature	Brightness (lumens)
@ 100% gloss	300.3: 1	2.60	0.3663 cd / m²	6540	110 cd / m²

Levels after calibration with colorimeter

Measurements	Contrast	Gamma value	Black level	Color temperature	Brightness (lumens)
@ 100% gloss	1358.5: 1	2.20	0.0654 cd / m²	6553	88.8 cd / m²

On the other hand, we have the advantage that the contrast ratio increases significantly, achieving very deep blacks. The gamma also improves significantly, reaching the ideal neutral of 2.20. However, the color temperature remains high compared to the average and it is not an option that we can manually calibrate.

Test of performance

It's time to give the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 a few laps and check how far its benefits go. For this we have used the program tests:

• CineBench R15 CineBench R20 Crystal Disk Mark 7.0.0 Time Spy (3DMark) Fire Strike (3DMark) Fire Strike Ultra (3DMark)

CPU comparison

Generally we always start the Hardware performance tests with comparisons with respect to competing laptop models, although this time we will start by comparing the capacity of the Intel i7.1065G7 processor with others present in the market:

The conclusions obtained in CineBench R15 and R20 are quite positive, especially if we look at the results of the threads individually.

SSD storage performance

The test bench for reading and writing data is carried out as always with our ace in the hole, the Crystal Disk Mark current version 7.0.0.

In this case we observe a great reading rate that reaches 2043 MB / s and a write that could be closer to 1000 MB / s, although 807 MB / s are still quite satisfactory. There are no big surprises in this section.

CPU and GPU performance

Things get a little rough when it comes to the GPU performance test comparing the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 versus competing notebooks. It is clear that although the performance of each thread is quite efficient, this is not a computer to move games at 60FPS in 2K.

This question is even more obvious when we pass the FireStrike and Time Spy tests. The performance and number of frames per second plummet, reaching skip tests that failed to show the kinematics in question.

We can speculate that perhaps the results of all the above tests could be better if the RAM were set to a dual 8GB channel rather than a single 16GB drive, but this is difficult to confirm.

Battery and autonomy

The battery that we find inside all Microsoft Surface Laptops is a lithium model that has a charge of 45.8 Wh (Watts per hour). This allows us a standard autonomy of around 10 hours with an intermediate use: surfing the internet, watching live streaming broadcasts or using the Office package and even Adobe.

However, the level of brightness intensity as well as the number of programs and applications running will also affect the autonomy that we can find available:

• With an energy plan located in High Performance and the maximum screen brightness we can count on about four hours of autonomy. Balanced power plan and intermediate brightness can extend autonomy up to about eight hours. Economical and medium brightness, on the other hand, works the miracle and lasts around 11 and a half hours.

The Surface Connect system present in the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 allows a quick charge from 0% to 100% in an estimated time of one and a half hours. At the same time and as data of interest we have in the charger itself a USB type A port in which to connect another device to be charged.

Temperatures

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is not a laptop that heats up easily. Its average temperature with the use of Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator cutting applications while we have music on YouTube or Streaming in the background remains unchanged at an average of 32º or 35º. We can experience maximum peaks that reach no more than 72º to 76º while with slightly more demanding activities we can obtain a constant average temperature of 51º.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is prepared to work with a minimum temperature in its CPU that is around 23 to 25 degrees, while the maximum ones reach around 76º.

How do these numbers transfer to the thermal sensation of the surface of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3? We will notice a slight heat in the central area under the keyboard, under which is the CPU and GPU. The fan's sound output remains fairly low despite everything, perceived more as a faint hum that goes unnoticed in environments with ambient noise.

Final words on Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

Things with the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 are very clear from the first moment. It is a model of laptop clearly focused on leisure use combined with office activities and even graphic design. Its 15 ”screen has a resolution (2496 x 1464p) and pixel density (201 per inch) that make it a great workspace. Undoubtedly, the margin of a centimeter that it presents around it has been somewhat thick and we consider that not having taken the screen to the limits of the frame is a wasted opportunity, especially considering that it is the extension of the glass.

The overall finish of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is clean, minimalist, and delicate. The metal used in all its surfaces is undoubtedly a very good option since it offers a greater sense of solidity to counter its apparent delicacy. About the IPS panel of the screen and its assembly, we must say that it can be easily curved, so in that aspect we must treat it with care.

Another of the most satisfactory experiences of its use is the keyboard, which presents a very pleasant tactile sensation when working with it and the complement of the white backlight is just the icing on the cake in this aspect. We have used the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 both to write this article and navigate, watch Twitch live and some series. Its general performance has not given us any problems with programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator and throughout the week that we have been using it there are aspects that have left us very satisfied:

• The performance of your battery meets. With a good screen brightness and high performance we can be working with it for periods of five to six hours using editing programs at the same time as video playback and online browsing. It is not that its battery is spectacular but it fulfills what was promised. It is silent. No matter what we are doing, the Microsoft Surface 3 fan never shows signs of complaining. Yes, it is true that this is not a laptop model designed for gaming and the rendering and stress tests for the CPU and GPU indicate this. Even in these circumstances the sound of the fan is rather a low hum that can go unnoticed in environments with ambient noise. The touch screen is a statement of intent for use in a work or leisure context since it provides that extra comfort and functionality typical of tablets. That added fluidity is a complement that gives it versatility.

We recommend reading: Best laptops on the market.

Before concluding, we must bear in mind that this is a great laptop for daily use if we are very active people looking for a good device that is light and portable. For those who value a design with no frills, they will find the Microsoft Surface 3 a perfect candidate. We must however remember that its graphics and processor capabilities are not for extremely demanding activities such as 3D rendering or gaming, so this is not the type of audience it is aimed at.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 reaches the market with a price of € 1, 149.00, which varies according to the dimensions (13.5 ”or 15”) and the materials of the finish. Our overall experience with it has been pretty good even though there are issues that might turn around on future models. In any case, as an alternative to MacBook Air, Microsoft fans will find here an aesthetically very similar model that comes with the Windows 10 Home operating system and a 30-day trial of the Office package. It's just turn on and start!

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
EXTRAFINE, MINIMALIST DESIGN WITH GOOD FINISHES	NOT AN IDEAL LAPTOP FOR GAMES
BACKLIGHT KEYBOARD VERY SATISFACTORY TO USE	THE MARGIN BETWEEN THE SCREEN AND THE FRAME IS SO WIDE
GOOD AUTONOMY

The Professional Review team awards him the Gold Medal:

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

DESIGN - 90%

MATERIALS AND FINISHES - 85%

DISPLAY - 85%

REFRIGERATION - 90%

PERFORMANCE - 80%

PRICE - 80%

85%