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Performance Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13-inch in Sandstone Joel Chokkattu / Digital Trends
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The lack of Thunderbolt 3 makes Microsoft’s laptop less flexible in terms of external display and GPU enclosure support, but you won’t need as many dongles. The Surface Laptop 3 has a USB-A port, a USB-C port, and a Surface Connect port for charging and docking. The MacBook Air has just two USB-C ports that support Thunderbolt 3 for transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps. Microsoft’s laptop benefits from a touch display and Surface Pen support, though, making it more flexible.Ĭonnectivity is another significant difference. The MacBook Air’s huge Force Touch touchpad is excellent, while the Surface Laptop 3’s smaller Precision touchpad is good but can’t quite keep up - Microsoft certainly could have been a little more generous with its size. The Surface Laptop 3’s keyboard has significantly more travel and is just as snappy, making it by far our preferred input option. The MacBook Air uses Apple’s new Magic Keyboard, which swaps out the troublesome butterfly switches with scissor switches for a better typing experience. However, they weigh almost the same: The Air at 2.8 pounds versus 2.79 to 2.84 pounds across the three Surface units, depending on the finish. The MacBook Air is a bit thicker than the Surface Laptop 3 at 0.63-inches versus 0.57-inches. These include a slightly larger trackpad and the introduction of all-metal chassis in addition to the usual Alcantara fabric finish.īoth laptops are extremely well-built, with rigid aluminum chassis and zero flexing or bending. The Surface Laptop 3 sports a few changes over its predecessor. It’s available in Gold, Silver, and Space Gray colors accented by black bezels. It fits Apple’s usual design aesthetic that’s elegant and not at all ostentatious. The MacBook Air resembles the original version, albeit with a slightly thinner chassis and smaller bezels.