The one new tweak for 2022 is support for Dolby Vision IQ, which automatically adjusts things like color profiles and contrast based on ambient conditions. It has good brightness that hit just under 400 nits on my light meter along with rich, saturated colors. Like its chassis, the 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 5 features the same 2,256 x 1,504 PixelSense touchscreen Microsoft used on the previous model and that's totally fine. Not only would getting rid of the Surface Connect port free up room for another USB-C jack - which is both smaller and more versatile - I find its weak magnets and awkward shape make it more difficult to use than USB-C. Due to recent regulations from the EU, we're on the brink of having all phones support USB-C for charging and data, and aside from the proprietary connectors Apple and Microsoft use on MacBooks and Surfaces, laptops aren't far behind.

Still, I think Microsoft is more than capable of tweaking the current chassis to accommodate new components without ruining its good looks.īut if you'll allow me to grandstand a bit, I sort of wish Microsoft would ditch the Surface Connect port entirely. It's thin and minimalist just like a MacBook, but different enough that you'll never get the two confused. The whole package is super sleek and in some respects, I can see why Microsoft doesn't want to mess with the design – it really is a thing of beauty. Our 13.5-inch review unit weighed in at 2.86 pounds and measured just 0.57 inches thick. Both the 13 and 15-inch models feature an aluminum body with tall 3:2 displays for enhanced productivity. I'm not going to spend too much time talking about the Surface Laptop 5's exterior because it's the same chassis Microsoft has been using for the last three or four generations. So while I'll never complain about getting a performance boost, it still feels like Microsoft could do better. And with the Surface Laptop 5, it feels like Microsoft is beginning to test that boundary because while the notebook is as sleek and elegant as ever, even with the inclusion of a new CPU, it's easy to see where its aging chassis could use a few updates or quality of life improvements. Now while that's often sage advice, obviously there's a limit to how long you can keep something going - especially a gadget - before it starts to lag behind. The old adage goes that if something ain't broke, don't fix it.

Microsoft surface laptop 5