Microsoft Surface Laptop review: a powerful and enjoyable laptop. Battery life

Just a year and a half later, Microsoft released the Surface Laptop 2. As with the Surface Pro 6, there isn't much new, but the revamped processor and black color scheme make this laptop even more attractive. However, it is not perfect, this version could be called Surface Laptop 1.5 rather than 2. And here's why.

About this review

This review uses the black version with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage and a processor. Intel Core-i5 8250U, the business version with Windows 10 Pro will cost you 114,990 rubles in our store. The cheapest - 95,000 rubles (only in platinum color), this version has a Core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. A more advanced model - Core i7, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage - will also go on sale soon. Available in Platinum, Black, Burgundy and Cobalt.

As with the Surface Pro 6, there are only two changes to the Surface Laptop 2:

• new 8th generation processors from Intel- from dual-core to quad-core for better performance. The new Surface Laptop 2 is much faster than its predecessor, according to the manufacturer - by a whopping 85%, thanks to the new Intel Core i5-8250U and Core i7-8650U processors. Also in the laptop, the cooling system has been updated to avoid overheating, while it works quite quietly.

• Black color- Surface Laptop 2 is now available in black, in addition to the other three that arrived in 2018.

Other minor changes include the ability to instantly turn on and log in using the WIndows Hello recognition engine, as well as improved SSD operation.

No more Surface Laptop with Intel Core m3 processor for $ 799 with RAM and internal memory 4 GB and 128 GB respectively. Instead, a model with a quad-core Core i5 and the same amount of memory is available for $ 999 - quite a significant difference in price, but the performance is noticeably better.

Also, the model with Intel Graphics Iris Plus 640, as Intel discontinued such a GPU for the 8th Gen 15 watt processors. Instead, the Surface Laptop 2 now has Intel Graphics UHD 620. Due to the higher performance of the new quad-core processors, the manufacturer also updated the cooling system - both heat pipes and cooler. It is now much quieter.

Among other things, Microsoft has moved Windows 10 S laptop to Windows 10 Home. Previously, users could switch from S to Pro mode for free, but now they need to pay $ 99 to upgrade or select the business version of the computer that comes with Windows license 10 Pro. At the same time, many applications from the manufacturer, including those needed for study, work only with the Pro version.

Surface Laptop 2 Specifications

Little has changed since last year, and nevertheless

Dual-core processors swapped for quad-core i5 and i7 processors, a trend that emerged in 2017 when Intel released the new Core i5-8250U and Core i7-8650U. They are part of the so-called Coffee Lake era, as opposed to the even newer and improved Whiskey Lake, which are only now starting to appear in laptops. The big advantage of these processors is the drivers, they provide more uniform operation.

While in words the move to quad-cores may seem like a minor detail, the result is an incredible difference in power. Add to that a great battery and faster SSD performance, and you realize that the Surface Laptop 2 case is more of an improvement than a complete change. It's a shame the Iris Plus 640 GPU is no longer available, but that's not Microsoft's fault. For the new quad-core processors, Intel does not yet offer anything better than the UHD 620, most likely due to the changed temperature limits. However, UHD 620 is a great option for most users.

Surface Laptop 2 design

Nothing has changed in design since the first generation of Surface Laptop.

Still a great aluminum body, sleek with no noticeable seams, screws or seams. Everything from the fan grill to the display looks perfectly symmetrical and flawless. Just like last year.

The only change is that the black color is now available. The matte finish of the Surface Laptop 2 is paired with Alcantara and black USB and other ports for a stylish look. This is a striking combination, and it turns out to be very difficult to choose between black and classic burgundy, which we also love incredibly. A fifth, pink version called "blush" is also available in China.

On the black version, fingerprints are much better visible than on lighter models, and you will have to wipe the case periodically. However, since the fabric is inside, most of the moisture will practically be absorbed.

Alcantara holds up quite well, although many worried that it might start to get greasy from prolonged use. However, spots are sometimes visible, mainly on platinum-colored models.

We have not carried out any tests, but, most likely, like the previous model, the aluminum case is extremely susceptible to physical damage, such as scratches caused by metal objects.

Alas, the set of ports has not changed either. There is still USB-A and mini DisplayPort. Type-C with 3.1 support for charging, display and data transfer, unfortunately, did not appear, despite its presence on the budget Surface Go, which is rather strange for the end of 2018.

Surface Laptop 2 display

The display, although slightly changed, is still one of the best in its class. Surface Laptop 2 has a 2256 x 1504 (201 ppi) PixelSense touchscreen display. The resolution is slightly lower than the 12.5-inch Surface Pro 6 (2736 x 1824 (267 ppi)) and the 13.5-inch Surface Book 2 (3000 x 2000 (267 ppi)), but it's hard to see with the naked eye.

The bezel around the screen is thin. You can also use the Surface Pen with the Surface Laptop 2, but this will be more convenient for quickly signing documents or sketches than for full drawing. The display is great, but perhaps too shiny. It is grease-resistant so it shouldn't be fingerprinted. According to Microsoft, this is the thinnest and lowest parallax LCD touchscreen available in a laptop to date.

Gorilla Glass 3 protects the screen from scratches, each display is calibrated to 100% sRGB profile. Our test results in 99% sRGB and 81% AdobeRGB. For comparison, the Surface Pro 6 scored 79% in the second case.

The brightness of the screen reaches 330 nits in the center, which is above average but below the Surface Pro 6's 470 nits.

Unfortunately, since the previous model, the screen has not been improved in contrast. The Surface Pro 6 has an enhanced brightness mode besides the sRGB profile, but here it does not.

Surface Laptop 2 keyboard and trackpad

The Surface Laptop 2 has a full-size keyboard with 1.5mm miniature keys (Surface Pro 6 has 1.3mm) and three backlighting modes. This is an amazing keyboard, especially considering the non-metallic keys, the pleasant touch and the soft Alcantara finish. Overall, the print experience is luxurious. A rarity for laptops.

Some say the keyboard is also quieter than it was that year, but on the original Surface Laptop it was already incredibly quiet, so there isn't much improvement here.

The huge track pad measuring 105mm x 70mm and covered with glass is also unchanged from last year. That's okay, because the Surface Laptop's trackpad is one of the best.

Surface Laptop 2 Sound

Speaker or microphone grids are nowhere to be seen, so the laptop looks very solid compared to anything else on the market. Microsoft has removed the speakers under the keyboard, which may seem like an odd move, but it works great. The sound is much better than the Surface Pro and Surface Book thanks to the acoustics. Due to the location of the speakers on the bottom of the laptop, the sound can resonate more, you may even feel it physically at a certain volume. The sound is clear, loud and clear. Thanks to support for Dolby Audio Premium and all sorts of improvements - volume, bass - it can be tailored to suit you.

In short, these are excellent speakers, and in combination with a large 3: 2 screen you get a device for comfortable viewing of videos and other things.

Performance, heat, noise Surface Laptop 2

The original Surface Laptop was often complained about because of the SSD speed, which was completely out of step with the laptop's class and price.

Microsoft sorted out this problem, and in the new Surface Laptop 2, the built-in memory of which is 256 GB KBG30ZPZ256G from Toshiba, the read speed has almost tripled: from 486 mb / s to 1,500 mb / s. Write speed has also gone up from 244 MB / s to a much more manageable 811 MB / s.

However, these specs are still lower than most high-end laptops, but not bad enough. Faster speeds are to be expected from 512GB or 1TB models thanks to NAND technology.

Test results

CPU

Based on the benchmark results, the Core i5-8250U is doing just fine. Although according to the data from one core, the Core i5 lags behind last year's i7, but not much. Multi-core speeds - 13,233 - surpassed the i7's 9.535 mark last year.

Unfortunately, we didn't have the opportunity to test the new Surface Laptop 2 with a Core i7 processor, but the Core i5-8250U works fine and will suit most users.

GPU

Although the Intel Graphics UHD 620 is not as powerful as the Iris Plus 640, due to the doubled graphics lanes - 48 versus 24 - it performed well on the Open CL benchmark, performing better than its predecessor.

SSD

With SSD speeds, the Surface line has never been great. The results, as a rule, come out above average, but they do not pull to the top positions. In 2018, the situation has not changed, however, compared to last year's model, the Surface Laptop 2 has changed for the better. The speeds have tripled, which is extremely important for use.

With a vastly improved processor and SSD speed, the laptop powers up instantly. The time it takes to turn on and recognize the face is much less than last year's model. Microsoft has clearly worked on a whole bunch of little things, as well as the operating system and drivers, to achieve this effect, and it worked.

Although the Surface Laptop 2 does not yet pull on a gaming laptop, and it does not yet occupy the top positions in performance, thanks to all the improvements it is incredibly pleasant to use it.

Regarding heat and noise: the Core i5 model runs quietly and does not overheat. Even better than the first Surface Laptop. The fan practically did not turn on, and if it did, it was barely audible.

Temperature readings are comparable to last year - 40 degrees maximum at the bottom of the laptop and 38 at the top after 10 minutes of intensive work. Warm, but not hot.

V simple games the speed jumped from 32.4 frames per second to 40.1.

Surface Laptop 2 Battery

As with the Surface Pro 6, the battery life on the Surafec Laptop 2 has been improved. The battery test, which involves heavy CPU and GPU workloads with a variety of repetitive tasks - internet use, gaming, photo manipulation, video chat - showed that the new model outperformed the original Surface Laptop by an hour.

These results are lower than the manufacturer's promised 14.5 hours, but with normal use, the Surface Laptop 2 can last 8 hours, perhaps 10 hours. Compared to the previous model, this is an hour longer.

Increased runtime, improved performance and a quiet cooler make Surface Laptop 2 a great laptop for both work and play.

Outcomes

One of the nicest, nicest, and most expensive laptops on the market, but it faces fierce competition.

If you take the Surface Pro, Microsoft doesn't have much competition here, everyone has similar devices, but much weaker than the polished Surface Pro.

This is not the case with standard laptops. Dell, HP, Lenovo and even Huawei have shown that they can create outstanding devices in terms of hardware, with high performance, which will still look great. And all this at a much lower cost. So, it becomes difficult to advise Surface Laptop 2 when you can find more functional and cheaper equipment from competitors.

Perhaps the biggest problem is the lack of a USB-C port. It seems foolish to pay $ 2,700 for a laptop that does not support Thunderbolt 3. This makes it unwise to buy it - expensive, fewer features than other laptops, requires extreme care.

And yet we like it.

The tricky part is always explaining how enjoyable it is to use any device in the Surface line. Keyboard, trackpad, display, weight, build, colors, fast loading, debugged OS and cool design - all of this is almost perfect. Even just opening and closing this laptop is a pleasure. What can we say about warm and soft Alcantara. While other laptops can do more for less, they are not as enjoyable to use.

A good move is to pick a Core i5 model with RAM 8 GB and 256 GB internal storage. It makes no sense to take a model based on the i7 processor if its power is not important to you. By color: the best choice is black or burgundy, but cobalt and platinum look pretty too.

4.5 out of 5

Microsoft has created a laptop that's more about art than functionality. Such a ratio is not to everyone's taste, but why not present such an option on the market? If something brings you pleasure and pleasing to the eye, this is already valuable. This is why we are in awe of the Surface Laptop 2, an amazing blend of art and technology for those who want a laptop in the classic sense of the word. Maybe this is unreasonable, but love is always like that, even if it seems that it could be better.

pros

• new powerful quad core processor
• better SSD performance
• incredibly beautiful black color

Minuses

• no USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 support
• does not support 4G and LTE
• expensive

Read the article: 472

The 15-inch version of the Surface Laptop 3 represents the biggest change to this traditional laptop since Microsoft introduced the first model in 2017. At the same time, there is a lot in common with previous models. Despite the fact that the new variant has become larger and works on a different processor.

Such similarities make it difficult to understand who exactly the new model was released for. The laptop is not as light and portable as the Surface Laptop 3 with a 13.5 "screen, Acer Swift 5 or LG Gram 15. At the same time, it is not as powerful and functional as many other 15" laptops, including Microsoft Surface Book 2, Dell XPS 15, Apple MacBook Pro and game models.

After a week of testing, it seems like the $ 1,699 laptop in question is for those who love the design and build of other Surface Laptop models but lack the old screen. Or for those who love a 3: 2 ratio with a 15 "size. But he doesn't want to carry a monster like the Surface Book 2 with him.

Aside from the odd positioning in the laptop segment, the Surface Laptop 3 15 has some great qualities. However, in some ways it needs to be improved.

pros

• Lovely keyboard and trackpad
• Strong build
• Good performance for everyday work
• 3: 2 screen great for office work
• Small amount of pre-installed software
• Windows Hello face unlock works great

Minuses

• Only two USB ports
• Missing Thunderbolt 3 ports
• No SD card slot
• Matte black model gets dirty quickly with fingerprints
• Problems editing and even playing 4K video

If you've seen the first two generations of Surface Laptops, the new model will look familiar to you. It has essentially the same design, only it's larger. The thickness at the thinnest point of the case does not exceed 15 mm, the device weighs 1.54 kg. This is not too much, especially for a 15 "laptop, but more compared to the 13" model and even more compared to the LG Gram 15 or Acer Swift 5. Still, with such a laptop you can walk around during the day with a bag or backpack.

The body is made of aluminum, not magnesium like the Surface Pro. Build quality is solid, as it should be at this price point. Almost nothing dangles when you hold the laptop with one hand, and you can open the screen with just one finger. The upper half is also made of aluminum, without any fabrics, as is the case on other Microsoft devices. As a result, you immediately realize that this is a classic laptop. Of course, some people will miss the soft feeling of touching the fabric under the palms when typing, but the fabric can wear out over time. There will be no such problem here.

When you take the black laptop out of the box, it looks gorgeous. But as soon as you pick it up, spots appear on the body. It turns out not too pretty.

When the laptop is plugged into an outlet and charging, it vibrates when touched. Microsoft says this is normal and has stricter current requirements than regulators. In general, there should be no problems.

Microsoft has worked to make the laptop easier to repair and update internals. This was already confirmed when specialists from the iFixit website disassembled the case and gave a maintainability rating of 5 on a 10-point system. True, you can only update a solid-state drive here, but it is advisable not to do it yourself. Microsoft recommends that you take your laptop to an authorized service center, otherwise you could damage the device.

The increase in size has two advantages over the 13.5-inch version. Firstly, the screen itself has grown, it is touch-sensitive and has a resolution of 2496 x 1664 pixels. There is also support for the Microsoft Surface Pen, which is not included in the box. Another advantage is the larger touchpad under the keyboard.

Like the 13 "Laptop 3, the 15" has a luxurious screen. It has vibrant colors, wide viewing angles and a typical Surface aspect ratio of 3: 2. This allows you to work more comfortably on it than on 16: 9 screens. The screen is touch-sensitive, although not everyone likes to poke a finger into a laptop. However, if necessary, there is such an opportunity here.

The keyboard is one of the strongest points of this laptop. Perhaps the most comfortable keyboard I've ever used to type. There is ample space between buttons, good key travel and good tactile response. I would not like to throw words like "perfect", but it is impossible to imagine how you can make this keyboard even better. Apple needs to follow Microsoft's example in the production of its laptops.

The touchpad on the Laptop 3 is also impressive. It's large and sleek, with a glass finish and great gesture and tracking support. No problem recognizing accidental palm touches. This is arguably the best touchpad on modern Windows laptops. MacBook Pro 15 has the largest touchpad yet this case he is good.

In terms of I / O ports, there is just one USB-A, one USB-C, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a proprietary Microsoft Surface Connect charging port. USB-C has appeared in Microsoft laptops for the first time, replacing the old Mini Display. You can use it for recharging, connect external screens, transfer data via the USB 3.2 protocol at a speed of 10 Gbps. But there is no Thunderbolt 3 support here, so you won't be able to connect even faster ones. external storage, docking station, or graphics card. Almost all other laptops at this price point have Thunderbolt 3 support, and without it, the device's capabilities are more limited.

There is no SD card slot, which would be nice too. In general, the choice of connectors is rather meager, although better than the previous one.

Inside the case, the changes are more significant compared to the previous Surface Laptop. Instead of the usual Core i5 and Core i7 processors, AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 and up to 32 GB of RAM are used. This is the first Surface product to be powered by AMD processors, and generally one of the few notebooks to use them. These processors are also 4-core with a TDP of 15 W. The main difference is the slightly higher clock speed on the Ryzen 7.

Microsoft has talked about its quality GPUs, which are part of the Ryzen chips and have an additional core for better performance over integrated graphics. This does not mean that the laptop can play the most difficult modern games on high graphics settings. The same applies to video editing.

This review focuses on a Ryzen 5 laptop with Vega 9 graphics and 16GB of memory. For work, the performance is sufficient. You can open a dozen browser tabs, work in Office, switch between virtual desktops, and launch applications like Slack. When you try to play on the Laptop 3, it reaches its limit pretty quickly. Can't get enough high frequency frames even at low resolutions with low details in games like Battlefield V, Star Wars Battlefront II, or even Overwatch. Unless the game Forza Horizon 4 performed well at 1920 x 1200 pixels and low details. Microsoft and AMD have worked together to optimize this game. All in all, the Surface Laptop 3 is not a gaming laptop.

It's also not worth buying for video editing. Attempting to export a video that is 5 minutes 33 seconds long from Adobe applications Premiere Pro with 4K resolution and H.264 codec showed that it will take more than 3 hours. After 51 minutes, the process was only 25% complete and the decision was made to surrender. For comparison, a 2016 MacBook Pro with a 16GB Core i7 processor and AMD graphics Radeon Pro 450 coped with this task in 17 minutes 55 seconds.

You can still live through this, but suddenly there were problems with playing 4K 60 fps videos on YouTube. V Chrome browsers and Microsoft Edge video slows down, although the speed of Internet access is quite high. It's hard to remember another laptop that couldn't play YouTube videos like this smoothly. The 13.5-inch Laptop 3 with an Intel processor does not have these same issues over the same Wi-Fi network.

All of these results are not surprising, apart from the problem with YouTube. Considering that AMD processors relatively low-power, only 15 W versus 45 W on the Macbook Pro. Plus, the latest-generation 15-inch MacBook Pro is $ 1200 more expensive than the Laptop 3 15. I just wish I had a better understanding of what this laptop is capable of and what it isn't.

Despite the low power, the runtime is poor. Microsoft promises 11.5 hours, but testing was conducted with a low screen brightness of only 150 nits. If you raise the brightness to a more practical value of about 50%, you get less than 6 hours of operation at average load. This means working in a browser, Slack, email, Twitter, Word, etc. across multiple virtual desktops. This is less than a typical 13-inch thin-and-light laptop, so the device is disappointing in this respect too.

Fortunately, there is at least a quick charge, from zero to 80%, the laptop charges in less than an hour. That's according to Microsoft itself. Independent tests have shown a zero to 39% charge in 30 minutes using the included 65W adapter. Fully recharged in over an hour using the charger USB-C devices with a power of 87 watts.

Notebook fans are quiet in most cases. Even when they go into action, the volume is significantly lower than on Macbook Pro and other powerful laptops. The case never gets very hot, so you can hold it in your hands without any problems.

If you're looking for a 15-inch laptop for office work, writing and more, the Surface Laptop 3 is a great choice. There is only one you don't need a full day without an outlet. Liked the increase in screen size and aspect ratio compared to other 15-inch laptops. The keyboard and touchpad are among the best. The quality of the finish is on par with other Microsoft Surface models, and the design looks great on a modern desktop. It is a wonderful thin and light computer for office workers.

If you want something more powerful, you will have to look for another option. Fortunately, the choice is quite rich, including Apple MacBook Pro, Dell XPS 15, Microsoft Surface Book 2.

Microsoft is celebrating two premieres with the Surface Laptop. We have before us not only the first classic laptop Microsoft, but also the first computer with the operating system Windows 10 S. However, as our test showed, Microsoft approached many things too conservatively, so competitors can not worry.

The Surface Laptop looks a lot like the Surface Pro and. But the similarities are not only visual: the Microsoft Surface Laptop builds on key features from two sister models; these include compatibility with Surface Pen and a 3: 2 display format. There are few surprises, both positive and negative.

With the Surface Laptop, Microsoft has offered the first classic laptop.

Four configurations are available. Surface Laptop Model entry level with Core i5-7200U, 4 GB RAM and 128 GB SSD will cost from 65 thousand rubles or 1.149 euros. A laptop with the same processor, but with memory and storage twice as large, will cost from 76.5 thousand rubles or 1.449 euros. We received just such a configuration for tests. Microsoft offers two "senior" configurations with the Core i7-7500U processor. A laptop with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD costs from 111 thousand rubles or 1.799 euros. Finally, the most expensive Surface Laptop comes with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. We did not find it in Russia, but in Europe you can buy a laptop from 2.499 euros. Available in burgundy red, platinum gray, cobalt blue and graphite gold. But only for the second oldest model.

Considering that the operating Windows system 10 S is aimed at educational use, the price seems very high. But Microsoft sees the Surface Laptop as the flagship of its platform, and mainstream Windows 10 S laptops will be much cheaper. Still, the main competitor here is the Chromebook. In addition, in a few steps, you can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, after which the laptop turns into a full-fledged Windows computer... But you will also have to pay about 50 euros. Unless until the end of 2017, there will be a free transition. In addition, it is only officially possible to switch from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro, but not back. However, you can download the corresponding system images from Microsoft.

We ran all tests under Windows 10 Pro. The reason lies in the limitations of Windows 10 S: a new version operating system allows you to install applications only from Windows Store... But there are no test packages there. Microsoft claims Surface Laptop running Windows 10 S gives better time autonomous work, and in some scenarios, for example, during system startup, a higher level of performance and a lower response time. None of this could be confirmed in our tests.

Not many interfaces

Even before turning on the Surface Laptop, you pay attention to significant disadvantage... In terms of interfaces, Microsoft's equipment cannot be called modern. Excluding the Surface Connect power supply, there are only three physical interfaces left: an audio jack, a mini-DisplayPort output, and one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A port. No Thunderbolt 2 or 3, nor USB Type C, which for 2017 is not entirely clear given the price. If you need more ports, you will have to buy a Surface Dock from 17.2 thousand rubles or 229 euros, but the dock is focused on stationary use. It is too bulky for travel. Why Microsoft didn't install a more modern set of interfaces, like the same, remains a mystery.

One USB and one Mini-DisplayPort each: Microsoft Surface Laptop doesn't have many interfaces

By wireless interfaces the situation is a little better. Surface Laptop is equipped with a dual-band WLAN module with support for 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0.

The TPM chip provides additional security, including webcam logon that is compatible with Windows Hello facial recognition technology. In tests, she performed well, but not perfect. The reason lies in the speed of face recognition, entering a password or PIN code is faster.

WLAN AC and Bluetooth 4.0 complement Surface Laptop's suite of interfaces, but docking station is optionally available

The stereo speakers located under the keyboard have received Dolby Audio Premium certification. They provide more than adequate volume levels. Mid and low frequencies are palpable, there is no distortion even at maximum volume. However, for listening to music, we still recommend using headphones, since the design of such acoustics still leads to compromises in quality.

For video calls and other similar scenarios, an array of microphones will be useful. It reliably captures the user's voice and filters out unwanted noise. We liked the 720p webcam less. It only gives acceptable quality in well-lit environments, otherwise you have to put up with noise and other problems.

Not always the best stuff

The Surface Laptop's design can be said to be quite modest. Microsoft focused on the looks of the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, but added some minor accents. It is possible to note antenna insulators on the left and right ends, the transition from the side ends to the bottom of the case, or ventilation holes under the display hinge. Finally, the shape of the laptop is slightly wedge-shaped, so the Surface Laptop can look different from different angles.

Alcantara instead of aluminum: Microsoft used a fabric covering inside the Surface Laptop

Two design elements draw attention: the Windows logo on the lid and the fabric interior covering, namely the palm rest panels and the area around the keyboard. Microsoft used faux suede or alcantara. This microfiber is commonly used in the light and automotive industries and is considered a high quality alternative to leather. This material gives the Surface Laptop a touch of style that contrasts with the rest of the chassis design. Of course, appearance is a matter of personal taste. But still there are doubts about the durability of such a coating and its hygiene.

Of course, the fabric coating seems to be of high quality, but it still wears out, and much more than aluminum or plastic. If you constantly use a laptop, then sooner or later, dirty or faded areas, etc., will begin to appear on the fabric.

The Surface Laptop is visually similar to the Surface Book, but it also has unique features.

Aside from this potential drawback, the Surface Laptop leaves a high quality impression. In addition to Alcantara, Microsoft used aluminum and Gorilla Glass to protect the display from damage. The dimensions of the laptop are 308.0 x 223.2 x 14.5 mm, and the weight is about 1.3 kg. In addition to the not very neatly embedded touchpad, the workmanship of the laptop raises no objections, which is due to the solid construction of the case. Even with strong pressure, we could not push the case, nothing crackled, and the Gorilla Glass coating gives additional strength to the display lid. The hinges of the display lid hold it well, they do not give in even with strong shocks. However, the display cover can be opened with one hand without holding the main body.

There is one more small remark. Microsoft paid attention to high quality workmanship, but ignored the issue of ease of access to components. The laptop does not have a removable bottom panel, all components are simply glued. As a result, if possible, repair.

Touchscreen and Surface Pen

Contrary to the general trend, Microsoft has equipped the Surface Laptop with a touchscreen in an attempt to create a versatile model. Still, classic laptops today are rarely equipped with a touchscreen - although such an option is sometimes available for a surcharge. But support for the Surface Pen, one of the best models on the market. The stylus recognizes between 4,096 clicks, and tilt recognition for shading is also supported. Unfortunately, the Surface Pen is not included with the Surface Laptop, so we didn't include it in our tests. The price is about 10 thousand rubles in Russia or 110 euros in Europe, which is not cheap at all.

The maximum brightness of 400 cd / m² of a Microsoft Surface laptop is not enough to effectively combat reflections

The Microsoft laptop display has an unusual 3: 2 aspect ratio. The 13.5 "IPS panel from Panasonic has a resolution of 2.256 x 1.504 pixels. The built-in sensor detects ten clicks, the panel is protected by Gorilla Glass, but the coating results in a lot of reflections.

In our tests we got a maximum brightness level of 408 cd / m², which seems to be sufficient, but working outdoors is not always comfortable. Look for a shady location as the screen is not bright enough to compensate for glare in direct sunlight. In addition, the backlight uniformity was only about 85%, the brightness drops, in particular, in the corners of the laptop. On a completely black screen, the difference is visible to the naked eye. Contrast is better with the Surface Laptop at 1.316: 1 - a good value for a laptop.

Microsoft talks about an ultra-thin bezel, in fact it is only slightly thinner than the usual level

Not everything is good in terms of color rendition. Regularly, the display is adjusted to a very cold temperature of 7.400 K, so the swells give off blue. If you equip yourself with a colorimeter, then you can squeeze out 6.800 K, which is also not optimal. In terms of color gamut, the situation is better. AdobeRGB space is 60% closed, sRGB - 92%. Subjectively, the colors are saturated, but not overly, they retain their naturalness. So if you work with photos often, then you will surely be satisfied.

Oddly enough, Microsoft emphasizes the Surface Laptop's ultra-thin bezel. In fact, it is much wider than the same Dell XPS 13 or Huawei MateBook X, from the sides we get about 11 mm, from the top - 9 mm. Of course, this shortcoming cannot be called serious, but as a result, the Microsoft laptop turned out to be larger than the MateBook X. The 3% increase in display area resulted in a 13% increase in the base.

Since ancient times, it has become a custom that only developed countries can fully enjoy technical innovations and other benefits of civilization at the best prices. Developing people get everything in the last place, overpaying many times, but something does not reach at all.

I made a selection of several laptops that are not officially sold in our country, but certainly deserve attention.

Huawei Matebook X

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Core ™ i7-7500U / i5-7200U (7th generation processors)
• Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics 620
• Memory: 4/8 GB LPDDR3 / 256/512 GB SSD
• Screen: 13 inches, IPS LCD, 2160 x 1440 pixels, 200 ppi, aspect ratio 3: 2, brightness 350 nits, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Battery: Lithium Polymer 41.4 W * h (5449 [email protected] V) (claimed 10 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, Hall sensor, 2 x USB 3.0 USB A, USB Type-C, VGA, Mini HDMI, 3.5 mm jack, IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac , 2.4 / 5 GHz 2 x 2 MIMO, Bluetooth 4.1
• Webcam: 720p
• Misc: keyboard backlight, 3 RAM slots, no memory card reader
• Dimensions: 286 x 211 x 12.5 mm, weight 1.05 kg
• Price: 750 USD

V recent times Huawei's business is not just good, but wonderful: beautiful smartphones in different price ranges are quickly appearing on the shelves, the Honor brand is shining brighter, and a collaboration with Porsche Design is regularly released. And, apparently, Huawei, feeling that the ground under its feet is solid, decided to experiment, flex its muscles and make a laptop.

Looking at the snow-white box with laconic inscriptions, and the design of the laptop itself, we can confidently say: Huawei did not peep anywhere and created a truly original design. And don't believe someone who says that from a couple of meters you can be confused with Apple's MacBook. Absolutely impossible, since a bitten apple is painted on the lid, and here in big letters written by HUAWEI.

Actually, with the dimensions similar to the MacBook, the Matebook X, due to the ultra-thin frames, fit the 13-inch screen.

By the way, there is also the Matebook D, which, according to the company, is perceived in size as a 14-inch laptop, and itself has a screen of as much as 15.6 inches. This laptop will interest those who want more impressive graphics, there NVIDIA GeForce 940MX Graphics with 2GB GDDR5. While the Matebook X has Intel's usual ultrabook graphics - HD Graphics 620.

The Huawei laptop attracted me for a number of reasons, but one of the main ones is that just six months after the announcement, it can already be purchased for a modest $ 750 instead of the $ 1,100 originally announced. To the strengths of the laptop, I would include a good screen, covered with Gorilla Glass. The brightness is 350 nits, the screen resolution and color rendition are also at the level, and this laptop is quite capable of correcting a few photos, processing video. The laptop has a fingerprint scanner, keyboard backlight, and the battery, judging by the tests, is enough for 7-8 hours of operation.

Separately, it should be noted that you can independently expand both the hard disk and RAM. The disadvantages include the fact that under load the laptop heats up quite a lot, which is due to its design with a passive cooling system, but thanks to this, the laptop is silent. It's a little strange that the screen was not made touch-sensitive, and I also don't like the lack of a memory card slot. The closest competitors are the MacBook, Asus Zenbook 3, and Dell XPS 13. However, with overall similar performance and battery life, Huawei's current market price is the most tempting.

Lg gram

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Core ™ i7-8550U 1.80GHz / 4.00GHz (8th generation processors)
• Graphics: Intel® UHD Graphics 620
• Memory: 16GB DDR4 2400MHz (8 GB x 2) / 1TB (512GB x 2) M.2 SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home
• Screen: 15.6 inches, IPS LCD, FHD (1920 x 1080), 16: 9, 255 nits, touch
• Battery: Lithium Polymer 72 W * h (claimed 16.5 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: fingerprint scanner, Wi-Fi 802.11 A / C (2X2), Bluetooth 4.1, HDMI, USB 3.0 Type-C, USB 3.0 x 3, microSD, 3.5 mm jack, RJ45 Ethernet (adapter via USB Type -C)
• Webcam: 720p
• Misc: Keyboard Backlight, 1.5W x 2 Sound, MIL-STD 810G, Nano Carbon and Magnesium Alloy
• Dimensions: 35.8 x 22.86 x 1.78 mm, weight 1095 grams
• Price: 1999.99 USD

LG has updated its Gram with eighth-generation processors. I must say right away that, according to tradition, LG has done the lineup with a margin: there are models with a screen from 12 to 15.6 inches, and the price tag is from $ 899. However, I decided to write about the most "juicy" model at the maximum cost. The laptop has several strengths that account for its impressive price tag. I don’t know whether you noticed or not, but the screen is 15.6 inches, and the weight is still “gram” - 1095 grams. If you are still wondering whether to be impressed or not, then I will add that there is 16 GB of RAM, 1 TB SSD drive, a powerful eighth generation i7 processor. At this point, you should whistle in surprise, since such characteristics are rarely found in a compact body, but further - even more surprising. Battery life is announced up to 16.5 hours. The 72Wh battery speaks for itself. And remember that the weight of the device is only a kilogram. And then LG, apparently freaked out and decided to go for broke, adding touch screen and MIL-STD 810G protection, allowing women to drop and even step on it in high-heeled shoes.

The laptop has 3 USB 3.0 ports, there is Type-C, HDMI and even an Ethernet adapter was made. We didn’t forget about the fingerprint scanner.

I believe that your inner toad is now in a quandary, because, without irony or sarcasm, LG has created something unique, but it costs $ 2,000, so you urgently need to justify why you won't buy a laptop. So, first, the Full HD resolution. Well, where have you seen this in 2018?

The second disadvantage is more significant: the screen brightness is only 255 nits. Theoretically, this is quite enough, but on the street, and just in a bright room, this may not be enough. Typical brightness is around 300 nits. The premium segment usually "shines" 350-400 nits. Probably, for the sake of battery life, LG decided to "cut" the brightness, but it would be better left the choice for the user.

I believe that such a laptop is suitable for those who are often on the road and are often forced to work in adverse conditions far from the outlet. Long battery life and enhanced protection will come in handy in this case.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i7-8550U Quad Core 1.8GHz up to 4.0GHz (8th generation processors)
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU, GDDR5 2GB
• Memory: 8/16 GB DDR4 RAM / 256GB SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home
• Screen: 15.6 inches, Full HD, 16: 9, 300 nits, Gorilla Glass 3
• Battery: Li-Pol 60 W * h (claimed up to 9 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: Fingerprint reader, USB Type-C x 2, USB 3.0 x 2, HDMI, 3.5 mm jack, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1
• Webcam: 720p
• Other: there is a keyboard backlight, the system start time is 10 seconds, the sound is 2.5Wx2 (Harman tuning)
• Dimensions: 360.7 x 243.6 x 15.9 mm, weight 1.95 kg
• Price: from 57,000 rubles

Officially in Russia, the new device from Xiaomi is not yet on sale, but those who are not afraid of the Chinese Windows versions, can already purchase a laptop for a modest 57,000 rubles (with an i5 processor). Xiaomi, as always, is great - and the characteristics are pleasant, and the design, and even the price is good. Externally, the laptop looks quite premium, especially in a color that Apple calls Space Gray.

In short, it can be confused with a MacBook, as the colors, design and materials of the case are similar. Xiaomi, like Cupertino, made the RAM soldered on the board, so you are unlikely to be able to buy 8 GB and upgrade yourself, but there is room in the case for installing a second SSD drive. It's funny, but even the lettering on the bottom cover looks like Apple. On apple products, you can find a note: “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China ". In the case of Xiaomi, the text reads: “Designed by Xiaomi in Beijing. Made in China ".

But, unlike Apple, the Chinese did not skimp on ports: 2 USB Type-C, 2 USB 3.0, full HDMI and a memory card slot. The keyboard is good too. Island type, 1.5 mm key travel, which is more than a MacBook, and is enough for comfortable typing. In the upper right corner of the touchpad, there is a fingerprint scanner, in which there is nothing remarkable.

The undoubted plus of the laptop is powerful and clear sound. Usually, the volume of the speakers in laptops is at the level of 1.5 - 2 watts, Xiaomi has generous with two speakers of 2.5 watts.

However, when creating a laptop, a number of compromises had to be made, showing that Xiaomi has not yet reached the heights of the engineering genius of Cupertino and that it is still not the best, but just a good product. For example, I was surprised by the ventilation grilles on the lower metal cover. The speakers are also located there, so if you want to get the most out of the bright and loud sound tuned by Harman, then the laptop should be on a level surface. There are two graphs here. One is an integrated solution from Intel, the second is from NVIDIA with an impressive 2 GB of memory. However, in fact, the MX 150 is only about 2 times more powerful than the UHD 620. You cannot play powerful games, but judging by the tests, in the same GTA 5 on pleasant settings, but not in Full HD, you can get 30 frames per second. And in general it is wonderful to play in WoT. Another compromise is keyboard backlighting. She has one mode of operation and one color (white).

In fact, one keyboard backlight mode is nonsense, which you will not pay attention to, but it is also a kind of indicator: they say, we are doing it based on the best solutions, but no frills. This is an example of Xiaomi philosophy. I didn't like the battery life too much. Depending on the settings, you will get from 5 to 7 hours. The general conclusion, however, is that the laptop is excellent.

Microsoft Surface Laptop

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core m3, i5 or i7 (7th generation processors)
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 (m3) / Intel HD Graphics 620 (i5) / Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 (i7)
• Storage: 4/8/16 GB / 128 GB - 1 TB SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 S (upgradeable to Windows 10 Pro)
• Screen: 13.5 inches, 2256 x 1504 pixels, 3: 4, 201 ppi, touchscreen with Surface Pen support, Corning Gorilla Glass
• Battery: up to 14.5 hours of video playback
• Ports, connectors and sensors: ambient light sensor, Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0, 3.5 mm jack, mini DisplayPort
• Webcam: 720p with Windows Hello support
• Other: Supports up to 2 4K UHD (@ 30Hz), no SD card slot
• Dimensions: 308.02 x 223.20 x 14.47 mm, weight 1.28 kg
• Price: from 799 USD

To be honest, the entire Surface line impresses me, both externally and with the filling. Sometimes, however, I don't like the price, but these are my personal shortcomings. I always look at Microsoft's troubles with Windows with affection. And now the corporation did not disappoint and "rolled out" Windows S. For those who do not know, I will explain that this is a new idea of ​​Redmond to create a safe environment. The "S" version only supports programs available in the Microsoft Store. Actually, this greatly increases the protection of the operating system from various viruses and Trojan horses. After all, easy installation of any software is both a plus and a minus of Windows. Now, even with a strong desire, you will not be able to install a new antivirus from the browser page, which found 100 critical errors on the computer. However, the sad side of the limitations is the fact that only a scanty App Store is available, where, for example, there is no Google Chrome. For this reason, you will have to use Edge browser, in which, despite my good attitude towards him, there are still flaws. In any case, if you are confident in your abilities and know that you cannot poke at everything on the Internet, then in a couple of minutes you can get rid of all restrictions and get a full-fledged Windows 10 Pro.

An initial laptop with an m3 processor and 4GB of RAM starts at $ 799. Adequate configuration for i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 SSD will cost you $ 1,299. Most of all, the Surface Laptop reminds me of the MacBook Air. In my opinion, this is how Apple's laptop should have looked if the company had not abandoned this line.

Firstly, it has a beautiful screen with good resolution, which the Air lacks so much. The screen is touch-sensitive and supports pen operation. Separately, I note that I like that recently there has been a tendency to make laptops with an aspect ratio of 3: 4 and 3: 2. Secondly, the battery life here is "honest" 14.5 hours. Third, the laptop's performance is good enough for any task on the go. Fourth, the dimensions and weight are almost the same as those of the Air line. The disadvantages of the device include a rather meager set of ports, outdated bluetooth version 4.0 and Wi-Fi only a / b / g / n. And it is completely incomprehensible why they decided to abandon the memory card slot. If, when looking at the pictures, it seems to you that you see a connector where you can insert a memory card, then I will disappoint you. This is Surface Connect. Almost as useful as Windows S, except that it cannot be converted into something useful in a couple of minutes.

To summarize, the new Surface Laptop is one of the best options if you want a lightweight, compact, stylish and powerful Windows device at a nice price.

Microsoft Surface Book 2

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i7-8650U (quad-core) up to 4.20 GHz Max Turbo (8th generation processors)
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 6GB GDDR5
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR3 / up to 1TB SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 Pro
• Screen: 15 inches, 3000 x 2000 pixels, 3: 2, 260 ppi, touch with support for Surface Pen
• Battery: Li-Pol 90 W * h (up to 17 hours of video playback)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: Wi-Fi: 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, USB 3.0 x 2, USB Type-C, UHS-II SDXC card reader, 3.5 mm jack, light sensor, proximity, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer
• Webcam: 5 MP front camera with Windows Hello / 8 MP main camera
• Misc: Supports Xbox Wireless, magnesium alloy body
• Dimensions: 343.00 x 251.00 x 15.00-23.00 mm, weight 1.9 kg including keyboard
• Price: from 2,499 USD

Another laptop from Microsoft in the Surface family. In terms of naming, the corporation from Redmond, of course, has problems: it is very easy to get confused where is the laptop, where is the tablet, where is the desktop computer.

Microsoft calls it a 2-in-1 device because you can unfasten the screen and play with a 15-inch tablet if you want.

I'll start off with a compliment, saying that Microsoft is a fast learner and has adopted Apple's tactics for cleverly orchestrating iPencil sales. I guess the whole "electronic" world was shocked when the apple company started selling a pencil for $ 100. Probably, there were many meetings where marketers were sneezed for nothing, and the main question was - is it really possible ?! It turns out that you can, so Microsoft, overwhelmed by such a discovery, decided not to get lost by releasing the Surface Pen for $ 99. An additional piquancy of the situation is given by the fact that the optimal configuration of the laptop has an impressive $ 3,299 on the price tag, and the "handle", which does not fit into the price, must be purchased separately.

In short, continuous innovation. I can't even imagine what kind of Microsoft and Windows fan you have to be to uncover your wallet, because it's hard to find a rational explanation for this price. Perhaps in the company at a certain stage, inspired by the actions of Apple and the desire to compensate for the spent on the burned-out Windows Phone billions, they just decided to do the research and see what would happen if you put a cosmic price.

Cost aside, the device certainly deserves admiration, since it is to some extent an engineering masterpiece, both from the technical point of view and from the point of view of optimizing Windows for a particular device. No joke, judging by the first tests, the device with a 15-inch screen can play video for more than 20 hours, while browsing websites works for almost 16. If the laptop is fully loaded, the battery life will be about 7 hours. This is a truly new level. For example, the recent favorite in terms of battery life Lenovo Yoga 920 lasted only 3.5 hours in similar conditions.

There is nothing bad to say about performance either. I don't think you need to introduce and explain the capabilities of the GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB GDDR5 on board? For example, in the notorious Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the laptop "knocked out" 40 frames per second in Full HD. While the same Yoga generally considered the attempt to launch the Deus Ex as a flat joke.

It seems Microsoft has made the perfect device. At least at a price of $ 3,300, he must not only be so, but he must also be able to predict the wishes of the owner, and in his free time he can do mining bitcoins just out of gratitude that he was bought. However, nothing of the kind. Firstly, for some reason no one thought that the same games could run crookedly due to the 3: 2 screen format. On the one hand, this is not Microsoft's fault, on the other - well, have you seen the price tag? Secondly, the battery of the device under heavy load can slowly discharge, even if connected to a charger. Thirdly, I did not find anything else and did not come up with anything, since the device had just come out. Well, maybe the speakers are a little louder ...

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Core ™ i7-7500U, 2.7GHz - 3.5GHz (7th generation processors)
• Graphics: Radeon 540, GDDR5 2GB
• Memory: 16GB DDR4 / 256GB SSD
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home
• Screen: 15 inches, IPS LED, Full HD, 16: 9, 350 nits, touch with stylus support, rotates 360 degrees
• Battery: Li-ion 54 W * h, 3530 mA * h (declared up to 11.5 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: USB Type-C, HDMI, microSD slot, 3.5 mm jack
• Webcam: 720p
• Miscellaneous: Sound 2 x 1.5W, Keyboard Backlit
• Dimensions: 34.72 x 23.9 x 1.7 mm, weight 1.71 kg
• Price: 1 299 USD

Unfortunately, at a certain stage of life, Samsung decided that there was no point in officially selling laptops in Russia. However, laptops are fairly easy to acquire in the gray market. The gadget from Samsung slightly stands out from the background of laptops from the selection, since, at first glance, there is nothing unique and striking in it, but, in my opinion, this is one of the most balanced in terms of price-performance-quality specimens. If you try to find a definition, then I would say "rational premium". The laptop has cool features, good performance, nice appearance, but it looks quiet and modest. Let's walk through the strengths. The screen is 15 inches with IPS technology, but not LCD, but LED, which definitely has a positive effect on battery life. Above average brightness - 350 nits. The screen can be opened up to 360 degrees, making a tablet out of a laptop.

Surprisingly, Samsung is still holding on: the stylus is included in the kit for nothing. The laptop is made of a mix of plastic and aluminum and, of course, does not look so advantageous against the background of colleagues completely clad in armor. But everything is utilitarian here: the top cover is for protection, the bottom is made of plastic for weight and convenience. The video card of stars from the sky is not enough, but in the same Witcher or GTA 5 it is quite possible to play and brighten up the time. Battery life is 7-8 hours.

Samsung has a kind of compromise. There is a proprietary stylus that works no worse, and according to some reviews, even better than the analog from Microsoft. Separately, I would like to note that Samsung was not too lazy to make a separate connector on the case, where the stylus can be hidden. By the way, guess who sells a very expensive laptop, but didn't think of it before?

The video card is at an acceptable level, and the battery life is not amazing, but it will not disappoint either. When visualized, the laptop appears to be a typical office clerk in a neat suit, doing a good job and not wanting to attract much attention. The disadvantages of this laptop can be attributed only to the insufficiently loud sound. This is doubly strange, considering that the Harman postscript is found, in my opinion, already everywhere where possible, except for Samsung, which bought this company. Well, and it seems to me that in terms of autonomous Samsung work, with so many technologies, could have invented something other than LED backlighting to get 10 hours of work consistently.

Chromebook "and

ASUS Chromebook Flip C302CA

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Core ™ M 6Y75 Processor
• Memory: 4/8 GB / 32/64/128 GB
• Screen: 12.5 inches, LED, 16: 9, Full HD, touch
• Battery: Li-ion 39 W * h (declared up to 10 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: USB Type-C x 2, microSD slot, 3.5 mm jack, Wi-Fi 802.11 AC, Bluetooth 4.0
• Webcam: 720p
• Other: keyboard backlit
• Dimensions: 304 x 210 x 13.7 mm, weight 1.2 kg
• Price: 499 USD

Samsung Chromebook Pro

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel® Core ™ m3 Processor 6Y30, 0.9GHz - 2.2GHz
• Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics 515
• Memory: 4GB LPDDR3 / 32GB
• Operating system: Chrome OS
• Screen: 12.3 inches, 2400 x 1600 dots, 3: 2, 400 nits, 360 degrees, touch, stylus support
• Battery: Li-ion 39 W * h (declared up to 9 hours)
• Ports, connectors and sensors: USB Type-C x 2, microSD slot, 3.5 mm jack, Wi-Fi 802.11 AC, Bluetooth 4.1
• Webcam: 720p
• Other: sound 2 x 1.5 W, protection against water spills on the keyboard 60 seconds
• Dimensions: 281 x 221 x 14 mm, weight 1.08 kg
• Price: 599 USD

Finally, I decided to take a couple of typical models of Chromebooks that interested me. In general, the devices are similar, since they have the same key feature - a 360-degree opening screen that turns the gadget into a tablet.

Samsung, which costs $ 100 more, added a stylus to the Pixelbook.

However, in addition to the stylus, the Samsung laptop has a higher screen resolution, the backlight is 400 nits, there is protection against water spilled on the keyboard. In a word, they collected a number of little things that gave the moral right to raise the price tag. A few words about the prices of Chromebooks. At first glance, they are all similar in characteristics, but the most basic models sell for $ 200: they have bad screens and the build leaves much to be desired. At the top is the $ 999 Pixelbook, which has design and materials. But the laptop from Google did not even bother to consider, as I would rather agree that Microsoft installed an adequate price on their Surface than Google. In my opinion, $ 599 for a Samsung is the maximum amount you can pay for a Chromebook.

Unfortunately, Chromebooks have not taken root in Russia. Although, in my opinion, these are ideal devices for a number of users. Firstly, they are ideal for children if you want to have complete control over your child's computer activity. Access to the history of your Google account, the inability to catch a virus by installing an incomprehensible application from the network. Still, Google is more or less in control of the situation in its store. The second category for whom Chromebooks are suitable are elderly or simply undemanding users who surf the Internet, watch videos, communicate with family members via Skype or messengers.

For such people, a Chromebook is also ideal because it is almost impossible to break anything there by accidentally deleting it. And in general, the device is as simple as possible in terms of operation. And if you run into problems, you can always help by connecting remotely via Google Chrome. In general, the Chromebook will suit the typical normal user who knows to play on the PlayStation. If at the dawn of its appearance the Chromebook was extremely limited in software, now the Google Store offers a full range of necessary programs: there are office suites for every taste, simple and advanced photo and video editors, a whole scattering of browsers and video players. And games on Android have been pretty good lately.

Instead of a conclusion

In my opinion, the selection turned out to be quite interesting. Any of the laptops can be considered a bargain - it will delight both in performance and design. One of the most balanced solutions is Samsung. I also suggest that you independently pay attention to the laptops of this manufacturer. There are interesting models under other numbers. For example, the seventh episode is also very good. I chose the most expensive laptop from LG, but the company offers a wide range, both in terms of performance and screen size. All LG devices are not afraid of falls, they work for a long time and the weight is close to a kilogram. Huawei has made a beautiful and productive laptop, which is much more interesting in terms of price-quality criterion than the same MacBook.

I would also like to point out the Chromebooks, many of which can be purchased on ebay. In my opinion, these devices are underestimated. They are more than appropriate to use for certain categories of undemanding users. Let us know your opinion in the comments. Write, and what kind of laptop, not officially sold in Russia, would you like (indicate the approximate price right away). I will say to myself that my favorite is certainly the expensive Surface Book 2, about which you can dream and not buy. And I would choose Samsung or Surface Laptop for purchase. Both support a stylus, but Samsung has discrete graphics, while the Surface has better battery life.

In the spring of this year, a presentation of a professional notebook from MS took place, which is designed to perform a wide range of tasks.

Today, Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 is the choice for users looking for a Windows 10-based gadget that doesn't compromise on performance, ergonomics or convenience.

The visual design is both laconic and simple, as it provides maximum convenience. The body is made of an aluminum alloy with the addition of a separate Alcantara material.

The surface is velvety to the touch and feels better than plastic or solid metal. Among gadgets based on the Win operating system, such a scrupulous approach is rare.

Main characteristics

Matrix with a diagonal of 13.5 "displays the picture in a resolution of 2256 × 1504, which corresponds to an aspect ratio of 3: 2 and looks impressive. Compared to the Pro version of the laptop, the changes are cosmetic in nature, but have a positive effect on the total cost of the product.

SRGB color rendition is in demand among artists, designers, photo processing specialists. The price of Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 ranges from $ 1,000 to $ 1,530, depending on the amount of memory and other characteristics.

The most important aspect is performance. It uses Intel Core i5-i7 microprocessors, working in tandem with an SSD drive and fast RAM. Office suites, Full HD video editing, sound editors - everything works at high speed.

Users who often type large amounts of text will appreciate the quality of the keyboard and touchpad. The latter is compatible with Windows Precision gestures used to scale windows.

An unusual decision by the manufacturer was the location of the speakers with Dolby support. They are located under the keyboard, which provides a resonant reflection of sound from the table surface. The result is a loud and rich sound with full frequency spectrum coverage. Autonomy - about 8 hours without recharging.