Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (15-Inch): Excellent Choice

The 15-inch version of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 offers one of the most refined computing experiences of any Windows laptop. With two color options and excellent build quality, it’s a standout big-screen notebook.

- TOM BRANT

New for 2021, processor options from both AMD and Intel make this fourth-generation laptop’s performance even better. The Surface Laptop 4 now clinches an Editors’ Choice award as our top pick among premium 15-inch models. It’s ideal for general-purpose computing on a big screen.

THE BREAD-AND-BUTTER SURFACE

The Surface Laptop and the Surface Laptop Go are the youngest members of Microsoft’s Surface family of Windows devices, but they’ve quickly become the bread and butter. All of the other Surfaces (the Surface Pro, the Surface Go, and the Surface Book) are futuristic 2-in-1 detachable machines. The Surface Laptop 4 is, as its name suggests, a straight-up clamshell-style laptop. Its screen doesn’t rotate or detach, and it’s not a gaming powerhouse. Still, with a snazzy design and a keyboard and touchpad far more comfortable than most detachable laptops offer, it’s an excellent example of a classic laptop.

Like its predecessors, the Surface Laptop 4 is available in two screen sizes. The 15-inch version reviewed here complements a smaller 13-inch model, which starts at $999 and is also updated for 2021 with new AMD and Intel processors. The 13-inch starting configuration has an AMD Ryzen 5 4680U mobile CPU, 8GB of memory, and a 256GB SSD. CPU options include an Intel Core i5-1135G7 or Core i7-1185G7, as well as RAM and storage upticks (up to 32GB of memory, and up to 1TB of solid-state storage).

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (15-Inch)

PROS

Lightweight and stylish. Sunny, razor-sharp screen with 3:2 aspect ratio. Comfortable touchpad. Excellent performance from AMD Ryzen 7. Intel Core i7 models available, too.