Microsoft Surface Book 3 vs Surface Pro 7 (2020)

Microsoft has been rumored to be releasing a new Surface Book 3 in 2020, but it may not have the same design as today’s model. This article takes a look at what changes are expected with the release of the next generation Surface Pro 7.

The “surface pro 7 vs surface book 3 reddit” is a debate that has been going on for a while. The Surface Book 3 was announced in 2020, but it’s not yet clear if the Surface Pro 7 will be able to compete with it.

We put the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 to the test and compared it against the Surface Book 3 in terms of performance, display quality, price, battery life, portability, and more.

The rankings with test results can be seen above, while in-depth reviews on the two Microsoft Surface Laptops can be found below.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is in first place.

Exceptional performance (speed; gaming; heavy workload)
Included is a Surface Pen.
It’s a great webcam for business meetings since it’s small and light.

Surface Book 3 is more costly.

The Surface Pro 7 is Microsoft’s newest 2-in-1 convertible featuring an x86 processor. We’re seeing whether the performance of the new version matches that of its predecessors.

Our Surface Pro 7 has an i7 processor from the current version. The 10 nanometer fabrication method employed here has been a long time coming for the hardware world.

For the first time, it offers a significantly higher efficacy in its mobile version. So electricity should be restored, but our test will confirm this. First, let’s look at the other technical information:

Design

The Surface Pro 7 is Microsoft’s latest attempt to take on Cupertino’s competitors, as seen by the package. Everything is preserved in a simple white color scheme, and the box is well-made. At a price of about $1250 for our test gadget, you can also anticipate a touch of luxury. The Surface Pro 7, as well as the handbook and charger, are included in the package.

Microsoft also provided us the Surface Pro Type Cover, which is a magnetic keyboard that attaches to the Surface Pro. This is what transforms the Surface Pro 7 into a laptop. The Surface Pen and the sleek Arc Mouse round out the set. Overall, you will be charged more than $1300.

The red Surface Pro Type Cover, like the previous one, is held in place by a magnet. All you have to do is hold it against the Surface Pro 7’s left edge.

The magnets then contract to a satisfying degree. The keyboard is bombproof once mounted, and it also doubles as a screen protector. The model is also available in traditional black if red isn’t your style.

The region surrounding the buttons and trackpad has been roughened to give it an Alcantara-like feel. The Surface Pro 7 keyboard offers key lighting despite being just a few millimeters high. The keys feature a nice pressure point and a short stroke length. Nothing wobbles when it’s opened and closed, and it’s quite quiet even when you’re typing a lot.

From the first contact, the trackpad gives a pleasing impression. It is precise in operation and has a lovely soft surface.

Regrettably, the Surface Pro 7 has a broader display edge than its ARM sibling, the Surface Pro X. It has a more angular appearance than many of its rivals, but its rounded corners make it feel quite comfortable in the hand.

The casing is made of magnesium unibody once again by Microsoft. Because of the somewhat roughened but yet extremely soft surface, fingerprints aren’t an issue. Only the Windows logo is vulnerable to this since it is the only section of the rear with a glossy texture.

The Surface Pro 7 is the ideal everyday companion, weighing just 1.74 pounds. When I was lugging it around during the exam, the weight never bothered me. It’s well-balanced, with nice pressure points on the volume and display buttons.

The rear hinge of the stand also makes an excellent impact. It shuts flush with the wall and does not sag in the least. It ensures that the Surface Pro 7 remains sturdy at all angles of tilt.

In general, the processing is visible: there are no excessive gap dimensions. Everything is treated to a high degree of quality, and everything is made to fit exactly, so it more than justifies its price.

Ports

At first sight, Microsoft didn’t seem to be very ambitious when it came to connections: USB, 3.5mm jack, and – ultimately – USB-C. There is also a connector for the Surface Type Cover on one side.

It also has an SD card reader, so you can rapidly load your images into the Surface Pro 7. It’s good not to have to deal with those inconvenient converters. When you connect a USB hub to the Surface Pro 7, it becomes (nearly) a full-fledged workstation.

It’s even more perplexing that Microsoft doesn’t support Thunderbolt 3 in the USB-C connector. As a result, for the time being, there is no way to attach an external GPU to the Surface Pro 7.

External displays may be connected to the USB-C connector if you still need extra display area. You’ll probably use the integrated display the most of the time anyhow. In the following stage, we’ll go further into this.

Display

For a convertible, the display gets very bright: For midsummer outings to the park, an average of 388 nits is sufficient. However, since the display surface is reflective – as is typical with tablets – you should sit in the shade. In addition, the lighting is adequate.

Unfortunately, the variation in brightness between the brightest and darkest spots is less than 10%. In most circumstances, though, you should not see any of this in normal life.

You can expect a razor-sharp presentation of every material thanks to the 27361824 pixels. After a little acclimation, I find the uncommon aspect ratio of 3:2 to be really pleasing. It’s easy to wonder why more manufacturers don’t use it. Because the 12.3-inch display is capable of multitasking without difficulty.

Only a few color changes are noticeable after calibrating. As a result, you may anticipate a well-prepared presentation. It has an above-average contrast of 1230:1 and extremely broad viewing angles as an IPS screen, making it ideal for evening Netflix marathons. Due to the architecture, black in fully dark spaces will seem greyish to you. Most rivals without OLED panels, on the other hand, are in the same boat.

It covers 96 percent of the sRGB color space and 75 percent of the AdobeRGB color space, making it appropriate for most sorts of picture modification. There are significantly better models, especially for the sRGB color space. Nonetheless, nothing should stand in the way of on-the-go editing.

Performance

In our test device, data is stored on a fast NVMe-SSD. Here, a picture is worth a thousand words:

When working with huge files, the built-in model shines. Loading times, on the other hand, are mostly a thing of the past, even for smaller files. Although some full-fledged laptops are a touch faster, the Surface Pro 7 is an amazing powerhouse for a 2-in-1 gadget.

The new 10th generation i7 processor is at the core of the smartphone. This clock is normally set to a bit more than one gigahertz. For this, you’ll receive a 3.5 GHz boost clock on all cores at the same time, and 3.9 GHz on one.

The primary memory is likewise exceptionally fast: 16GB LPDDR4x RAM with a frequency speed of 3733MHz provides a lightning-fast memory connection.

The processor demonstrates its merits in our Photoshop test and can compete with “full-fledged” computers. As a result, the CPU is far and by the quickest 15W chip. With almost 11 percent more power, the latest generation’s efficiency boost is very amazing. And all of this with the same consumption and a shorter cycle time.

In comparison to its predecessor, the integrated graphics solution has taken a significant leap forward. In recent years, this hasn’t always been the case at Intel.

In terms of performance, the Iris Plus falls in between an Nvidia MX 250 and a Vega 10. So there’s nothing stopping you from playing in 1080p on low settings every now and then. Hardcore gamers, on the other hand, should search elsewhere.

The active cooling system performs well and keeps the i7 in control. The four cores and eight threads operate at 1.1 Ghz and an average temperature of 38 degrees in regular operation. Even while doing strenuous work, the Surface 7 Pro’s casing is hardly heated.

Only in our stress test does the fan make an appearance, and it is plainly heard from a seat distance of roughly 80cm. However, he never becomes uncomfortably loud. Even when the CPU is fully loaded, it maintains an outstanding temperature of 86 degrees. This indicates we’re still a long way from the maximum temperature of 100 degrees.

This will be especially useful to the chip’s lifetime. Let’s have a look at how the battery is affected by the new manufacturing method.

Life of the battery

According to Intel, the battery life is 10.5 hours. I was skeptical at first since the battery had shrunk just little compared to the Surface Pro 6’s predecessor.

For our battery test, I set the Surface’s display to roughly 200 nits and operate with many tabs. This is equivalent to around 75% of the maximum brightness. Working with Photoshop and 4K YouTube videos are two of the more difficult jobs the Surface Pro 7 must do.

Finally, the battery life of Microsoft’s new 2-in-1 gadget is about 340 minutes. Because of the Surface Pro 7’s extremely reflective display, this is the very minimum you should use it with outside.

As a result, the new Surface takes a little step backwards, at least in one application area. You can easily approach 10 hours if you turn the display down and utilize the Surface at roughly 55 percent display brightness.

Microsoft has merely promised a smidgeon too much in terms of office tasks. Nonetheless, it’s unfortunate that they’re treading water here.

Webcam

The two cameras are unlikely to do miracles. On the front, you got 5 megapixels, which is more than enough for occasional selfies. Microsoft, on the other hand, included an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus on the rear.

Snapshots may also be made using this method. However, most mobile phone cameras are better than those of the Surface Pro 7 in ordinary life. A 1080p video feature for Skype or Messenger meetings is even more necessary. Both cameras are excellent for this task.

Sound

In meetings, sound is often just as crucial. The Surface Pro 7 performs well in terms of recording: Two high-quality far-field studio microphones guarantee that your counterpart’s voice is crystal clear.

Regrettably, the same cannot be true for playback: bass is almost non-existent. With such a little resonating body, it’s no surprise. Mids and highs, after all, are pretty straightforward to distinguish from the hearing and do not collide.

Furthermore, stereo loudspeakers have been fitted, providing a somewhat larger sound picture. External speakers are required if you wish to listen to music or watch movies on the Surface.

With a 3.5mm connection, USB, USB-C, and Bluetooth, you can connect to almost anything on the market. The Surface Pro 7’s built-in speakers, on the other hand, are adequate for the odd Netflix series.

Surface Pen & Software

Microsoft has always been wary about bloatware. On the Surface Pro, Candy Crush is also accessible, although only in one version. Farm Heroes Saga is still included for this reason.

Aside from that, the gadget only comes with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Companion and Spotify as a third-party app. However, as compared to other manufacturers, this is essentially non-existent. I’m delighted it’s still around.

Microsoft has once again provided us with the ultimate creative tool with the Surface Pen. To launch the Microsoft Whiteboard, tap the button at the top. Its user-friendly interface encourages you to be creative. The pen glides effortlessly over the screen, provides excellent feedback, and transmits data quickly.

As you can see from the photos, I don’t consider myself to be a brilliant artist. You can probably predict how strong and flexible the Surface Pen is already.

Verdict

With the Surface Pro 7, Microsoft has once again delivered a top-of-the-line tablet with its speed and superb design. In compared to its immediate predecessor, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, yet it can outperform it in every way except battery life. You receive additional power thanks to the more efficient new chipset, which should be plenty for a while.

No other technology elicits the same immediate “want to have” response. The processing is top-notch. Everything is well-integrated, portable, and functional. It’s tough to go back to a “regular” laptop after working with it.

In contrast, even 13-inch devices seem awkward. I also like the 3:2 aspect ratio. Despite being smaller than most other compact Ultrabooks, it seems to provide greater workspace.

Surface Pro 6 owners are not required to upgrade and are allowed to wait for the next model. Energy savers may also rely on the Intel® CoreTM i5-1035G7 if the last ounce of performance isn’t crucial.

You receive around 7% less power at the peak, but you save about 20%. This one will keep you on the road for the next several years, which is why the Surface Pro 7 is a better choice than the Microsoft Surface Book 3.

Microsoft Surface Book 3 is ranked second.

Work at a rapid pace
A better deal than the Surface Pro 7.
Quiet

The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is a powerful convertible with a stunning display. However, the all-around worry-free bundle in top quality comes at a considerable cost. The test demonstrates the laptop’s capabilities.

First, the bad news: all Surface Book 3 laptops are pricey, particularly ones with a bigger 15-inch display. Even the cheapest model is worth $1000 here.

The Surface Book 3 15 inch is the most expensive laptop on the market, but it’s also the best. The “techtestreport” assessment reveals all of the top laptop’s pros and shortcomings.

Display

The screen size is the most significant difference between the two Surface Book 3 models: 13.5′′ and 15′′ are offered. Both are very high quality and are in the 3:2 ratio, which is relatively uncommon. The display on the 13.5-inch model is 30002000 pixels, while the display on the 15-inch variant is 32402160 pixels.

When viewing films, the slightly higher screen format gives black additional bars at the top and bottom, but when working, it provides more room for texts and tables. Because it uses the same page format as many high-end cameras, it’s ideal for picture editing.

Also excellent for picture editing: the 15-inch display has a strong contrast ratio and correctly reproduces colors. It’s also possible to remove the display and use it as a tablet.

Those who like delicate tools, such as the brush in Adobe Photoshop CC, may utilize the Surface Pen ($75), which has a built-in touch screen that can be controlled not just with a finger, but (much more accurately) with a pen.

Performance

Microsoft has improved the computational capability of the Surface Book 2 significantly over its predecessor: The Redmonders always install a Core i7 in the bigger 15-inch variant.

The Core i7-1065G7 is part of Intel’s current Ice Lake series (also known as 10th generation) and has lots of power — office applications are nearly too much for it.

When utilizing power-hungry applications for video or picture processing, such as Photoshop, the increased power is obvious when compared to lesser CPUs, such as a Core i5. As a result, the Surface Book 3 scores well in both tempo disciplines.

The graphics chip is also new. The Geforce GTX 1660 Ti is included in the 15-inch model. It excelled in the speed test, calculating a respectable 119 frames per second at a decreased resolution (1366 768 pixels). After all, there were 37 frames per second due to the very high display resolution (32402160 pixels).

Even the significantly more complicated DirectX 12 games operate flawlessly on the 15er with up to 57 frames per second at reduced resolution. For gambling, Surface users don’t necessarily need a gaming laptop.

Only those who wish to experiment with the maximum resolution (32402160 pixels) or even 4K (38402160 pixels) will need a laptop with a more powerful graphics processor (like GTX 2080). They are, however, often significantly heavier and clunkier, since they are designed for professional gamblers.

Levels of noise

Top: Despite its powerful processors, the Surface Book 3 15 inch is surprisingly quiet. To hear the fans in regular operation (0.1 sone), the user needs already place one ear on the operating laptop.

Even better, the fan noise is negligible even when the CPUs are fully loaded: Despite having better visuals, the bigger 15-inch model is just 0.1 sone louder than the smaller 13.5-inch model, which is 0.9 sone louder (and correspondingly higher waste heat due to the higher power consumption).

Life of the battery

Building a laptop with an Ice Lake CPU that has a long battery life? It’s not excellent art, but it’s close to it. Things seem to be significantly different with a fast graphics unit and a high-resolution monitor. Fortunately, the Surface Book 3 has two batteries: one below the display and one behind the keyboard.

They deliver a combined battery life of almost seven hours: seven hours and 40 minutes while viewing movies and a solid seven hours when working. When charging, the user simply observes that the battery is even bigger than the 13.5’s. The 15-inch model takes 10 minutes longer in this case (two hours and 43 minutes).