Redmond introduces new Surface model with laptop form factor

May 2, 2017 14:55 GMT  ·  By

After taking the wraps off Windows 10 S, Microsoft also launched the Surface Laptop, a brand new device that runs this Windows Store-limited operating system and adopts a traditional form factor.

The Surface Laptop is so “meticulously crafted,” Microsoft’s Panos Panay said today at the company’s press conference in New York. “It’s the one that you’ll want.”

The device is 14.5 mm thin and has a weight of 2.76 lbs (1.2 kg). The display measures 13.5 inches and has a 3:2 aspect ratio, with minimal bezels. “There’s no plastic bumper, there’s no hinge,” Panay explained. The display boasts 3.4 million pixels and it’s the thinnest LCD touch module on a laptop.

Panos Panay praised the speed of the Surface Laptop, showing how fast it can resume from standby - this is actually one of the top features of Windows 10 S, with leaked specs showing that Microsoft is putting the focus on boot times for all devices running its OS.

Up to i7 CPU, 14.5-hour battery life

The device is powered by Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, and offers 14.5-hour battery life, at least in official figures, but you should get 10 hours of autonomy anyway. The version coming with Intel Core i5 and 4GB RAM will be available for $999.

The Surface Laptop is a perfectly balanced product, Panos Panay said, as it makes no compromise. It’s 50 percent faster than the MacBook Air, and it’s faster than the i7 MacBook Pro.

We have more battery life than any MacBook today, Panay added, and it is the most balanced laptop you will ever find.

As rumored, the keyboard is covered in Alcantara and features 1.55 mm travel keys with backlighting. You get the perfect light, Panay said. “It’s buttery smooth, and it feels so good,” he added.

There are no speaker grilles and holes, and the speakers are placed underneath the keyboard. It features Dolby Premium Audio, and “the sound is coming at you while you are working.”

The Surface Laptop can already be pre-ordered and will become available on June 15.

Microsoft Surface Laptop (5 Images)

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