Microsoft Surface 5 laptop: everything we know so far
Since its five-year debut, the Surface Laptop has consistently ranked among the best thin and light laptops you can buy. 2020 was the first year without a new device in the lineup, but Microsoft fixed that just a few months later.
The Surface Laptop 4 arrived in the spring slot usually associated with minor hardware upgrades, and it was undoubtedly a discreet upgrade. Despite impressive numbers in key areas such as display, performance and battery life, it’s clear that Microsoft can go further to make the device the best in its class.
That’s exactly what we expect from the Surface Laptop 5, which could arrive in just a few weeks. Here’s everything we know at this stage.
When will the Surface Laptop 5 be released?
- Rumored October announcement
- It will most likely go on sale in a couple of weeks.
Microsoft hasn’t even confirmed the existence of the Surface Laptop 5 yet, but it looks like the device will be available before the end of 2022.
According to Windows Central’s Zach Bowden, it was originally speculated to be spring, possibly alongside the Surface Laptop Go 2. However, Microsoft’s usual fall/fall slot is now the most likely:
A lot of people ask if I’ve heard anything about the Surface Laptop “5” coming soon. Late last year, I was told that the release of the Notebook 5 had been pushed back from spring to fall due to ongoing component shortages. AFAIK, that hasn’t changed. Expect Notebook 5 in October — Zac Bowden (@zacbowden)
April 12, 2022
If this is true, then the generation gap will be about the same as that of his predecessors.:
- Surface Laptop – June 2017
- Surface Notebook 2 – October 2018
- Surface Notebook 3 – October 2019
- Surface Notebook 4 – April 2021
How much will the Surface Laptop 5 cost?
- Probably a similar starting price (£799/$899)
- Cheaper models may still use AMD Ryzen processors.
- Intel Core processors, most likely only for more expensive models
Microsoft first introduced AMD Ryzen processors for the 13.5-inch Surface 4 laptop. This reduced the starting price as they belong to the older (but still very powerful) Ryzen 4000 series. Here’s how it compares to previous generations:
- Surface Laptop – Starting at £649 / $799.
- Surface Laptop 2 – Starting at £979 / $999.
- Surface Laptop 3 – Starting at £999 / $999 (13.5in), £1199 / $1199 (15in)
- Surface Laptop 4 – Starting at £799 / $899 (13.5″), £1299 / $1199.99.
However, according to Windows Central, the Surface Laptop 5 is expected to be able to install the latest Intel and AMD processors. This may result in a slight price increase.
Remember that the 15-inch model was only introduced in the Surface Laptop 3. We expect Microsoft to continue using both screen sizes in the Laptop 5.
Rumors about Surface Laptop 5 design and new features
- New Intel and AMD processors expected
- 120Hz display and Thunderbolt support likely
- Maybe a new design
The first big news comes from WindowsPrime, where you’ll find the full specs of the device claiming to be the Surface Laptop 5. Its layout reflects what you’ll find on Microsoft’s website for existing Surface products, but that doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to be accurate. It’s the only page on the entire site, and WindowsPrime has no track record when it comes to leaks. However, the characteristics it predicts don’t seem too far off the mark.
Presumably, Microsoft will stick with the 13.5-inch and 15-inch models for the Surface Laptop 5, although both will presumably feature 120Hz refresh rates. The latter is what Daniel Rubino of Windows Central also talked about in an August 2022 video, and mirrors what we’ve seen with the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio. The Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) feature of Windows 11 is now available, so the Notebook 5 should be able to automatically adjust the refresh rate depending on what you’re doing. It will probably benefit the battery life.
Speaking of battery life, the Notebook 5 will have a capacity somewhere between 53 Wh and 58 Wh. Windows Prime. Depending on the processor and size, this will apparently give you between 17.5 and 21 hours of maximum battery life.
The main processors available will be from Intel’s 12th generation lineup (i5 or i7), although special Ryzen 6000 series chips (Ryzen 5 or 7) will also be offered. This is also reported by Windows Central, with author Zac Bowden suggesting in a separate tweet that the Intel silicon will be taken from the performance-focused P series:
P most likely — Zac Bowden (@zacbowden)
April 12, 2022
These processors are expected to be paired with Iris Xe (Intel) and Radeon (AMD) integrated graphics, respectively.
The only other new features worth mentioning are the new 1080p webcam (up from 720p on the laptop 4) and Windows 11 working out of the box. You’ll still get 8/16/32GB of RAM and SSDs ranging from 256GB to 1TB, and there’s still a relatively limited choice of ports – meaning Surface Connect is the main charging method.
everything is possible References to WindowsPrime will make it into the final product, but it hasn’t been revealed if the Surface Laptop 5 will be redesigned. Its predecessor is starting to look dated, so it would be nice to see something similar to the Pro 8. In a Windows Central video from August 2022, Daniel Rubino suggested we might get thinner bezels on the Notebook 5 and hopes to see some upgrades that will make the 15-inch model a more attractive device. Can we see an option with Intel Arc graphics?
In the same video, Zach Bowden suggests that Microsoft could make a thin and light version of the Surface Laptop Studio, albeit without a retractable display.
We will update this article if any additional information is revealed or additional sources become available to consolidate these leaks.
