While design is simple and speakers could use some help, we wrap up our Microsoft Surface Book 3 13-5-inch review with one clear thought: Microsoft improved every aspect the Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 had to offer, from battery life to graphical power.

It might cost a pretty penny, but gives a lot in return, even more so with a Surface Connect attached to its Surface Connect Port. Instead of Intel’s integrated graphics, the Surface Book 3 is fitted with some serious graphic power with its NVIDIA GTX Max Q, outclassing every laptop on our list-even the Razer Blade Stealth 13 gaming laptop. By fitting it with a 10th gen Intel Core i7, you’ll experience the major strides in performance Microsoft was aiming for.

For example, you can pick an Intel Core i5, but the Surface Book 2 had one. The value of the new Surface Book 3 fluctuates based on the specifications you choose. It’s equipped with two USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, one USB C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and an SDXC card reader in addition to Wi Fi and Bluetooth, something the 13-inch MacBook Pro lacks. Fit it with a Surface Pen and you’ve got yourself a design station. Detaching the screen from the keyboard base turns it into a tablet, and feels like a Surface Pro.

It’s designed for functionality over looks. The design of the Microsoft Surface Book 3 is certainly sleek, with its silver finish, but the 13.5-inch Surface Book 3 is simple, though notably better looking than the Lenovo Yoga 720. Overall, it outperformed the ASUS Zenbook 14. When sent it through a battery test, it definitely performed at and around that number. Battery life on the Microsoft Surface Book 3 is rated at 15.5 hours. Gaming? Microsoft surprised us with its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti, though that’s limited to its i7 13.5-inch and or 15-inch models. Daily use? Absolutely! You can save a little by choosing an Intel Core i5, or you can beef up the processing power with the Intel Core i7, fitted with 8, 16, or 32GB of RAM. The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is ready to handle anything you throw at it.

Microsoft surface 3 review