The takeaway I got from this review is basically: " the detachable form factor of the SurfaceBook limits the CPU it can use. Other laptops have better performance per dollar, and that's why SB3 is bad" Where as people interested in buying this device are perfectly fine taking that trade off because the unique form factor is specifically the appeal of the device. 15 inch detachable tablet that runs full windows is very unique and useful to some people (and surprisingly light irl). SB3 stands in a league of it's own because for some people, anything else besides it is a compromise - either tablet first with no discrete GPU, or powerful with no detachable screen. Etc.
Good call. Finally someone that understand my point. I want something from both worlds and a Surface Book definitely can do that. Comparing it to Notebooks like Apple does not make any sense, because of more space available in the base while the Surface has its power in a small room behind the screen. These tech geek morons just dont understand this...
Quite right, the amount of reviewers that compare this machine to an xps and the apple product is surprising. As far as laptops go they really couldnt be more different. Im not going game or draw on a dull ole macbook.
@@jackjude exactly. Actually these people use the device for like 4-5 days before publishing their "reviews" and the main thing they do on it during review period is watching TH-cam and browsing web. People will buy this for the form factor. It's unfair to compare this with other traditional laptops
That's what I find to be so interesting about this review. Why wouldn't you want a lot of space to write and take notes?? I use the 15" SB2 and can snap a web page to the left and OneNote to the right and have a nice setup for studying and notetaking. I would have also like to have seen comments on whether or not the target audience would suffer from a 4 core vs 6 core machine. I wonder why no comments on the new 32gb of Ram config either. Finally, all accessories are extra for most devices. Why nitpick here on the surface pen being extra? The iPad pro doesn't come with a pen or the $299 keyboard. I guess to each their own, right?
@@srikanthav I have used my Thinkpad X1 Yoga for four years on my lap for note taking. It works well and it will work much better with the Surface Book as the screen detaches and as a tablet it is a lot lighter than all the other 2-in-1s. But it might depend on your size, too. Human beings come in all kinds of different configurations and what is large for some, is tiny for others...
I don't know why reviewers question these laptops Surely you don't draw or take notes That doesn't means no one takes Just cause it wouldn't fit you it's not a bad machine
Don't forget, the Surface Book line is meant to be a tablet AND laptop in one. Even if you get the MBP 16, you'd have to buy an iPad just to get the same functionality, which adds to the already higher base price for the Macbook. That would make it not only the least practical option, but also the priciest.
Thing is you're also getting worse version of both tablet AND laptop. Ipad is objectively better than tablet mode SB3 and MBP is objectively better than SB3. I think it depends on the person. If power/performance isn't too big of a deal then SB3 is fine. For people who actually need powerful laptop, SB3 can't do it unfortunately due to the design limitation of having a hot burning CPU behind screen.
@@hunterma2589 he meant to say it doesnt boost for long. It cant hold sustained boost clocks as it thermal throttles, decreasing performance and decreasing the lifespan of the cpu
(full disclaimer: I'm a MacBook user) It really annoys me that these reviewers never talk about reliability, firmware, quality, they just go over the benchmarks--Dell's firmware is garbage and they have a ton of terrible bloatware that's almost impossible to uninstall. You see the same thing in car reviews. They look at all of the new shiny features of the car. They'll compare a Toyota to a Nissan and say "ohh well, X on Toyota feels outdated, 6/10." Yeah because they engineer stuff *right* and it doesn't fall apart after two years, because they're not constantly reengineering everything. I have friend who has an original surface book that still holds a good charge and never had any problems, and it still feels snappy. The screen has large bezels because it needs them in detachable mode (so you're not activating the touchscreen on the sides). Seems pretty obvious, dunno what's up with this reviewer. A lot of times these reviewers are seeing products and asking, "can I do 8k video editing on this??" That's not what Microsoft's market is. They're targeting business users, and they just want a good quality laptop with decent performance and a cool form factor.
Most people don't understand the use case of Microsoft Surface book 3 It becomes a tablet on which you can write on plus an excellent laptop It's the best combo one could ever get for this price In terms of mac book you have to carry different devices to do those things also for money
This the basis for most Surface devices. The Pro and the Go too. Something lost on reviewers. Being able to carry one device, not two is awesome. Pro X owner.
I have this with my mobile studio pro. If I don’t want to have a keyboard I’ll just chuck my Bluetooth keyboard out the window. I just need a descent pen, and it doesn’t get better than Wacom EMR. I have an iPad Pro too, it’s great, but I like the sharper tip of a Wacom pen or better Spen better.
Joseph Cherian if amd becomes number 1 don’t you think they’ll have their fair share of exploits exposed? It’s like Macs it’s not that their are no viruses for them less people have them so they’re are less hackers targeting them.
@@Frznwhrlpll I would say the 16 inch MacBook Pro is pretty good the previous models were wayyy over priced for the performance. for windows id look at the prev model of the XPS 15 as you can get a top spec one for under $2000. If you absolutely need the pen input id probably just going with the SB2 and save some money.
Agree with the consensus that Engadget is going down hill in their critiques. A little fair against MS claims, but unfair against the product category. If I need a power house, I would build a desktop.
You shouldn’t be this aggressive or hateful with this device. Yes some flaws are there, but still!! Also, this isn’t a complete review. Audio quality isn’t covered. Audio is definitely not par with MBP.
It's definitely not. MBP 16 new sound system is so much better. SB3 has to put in speaker behind the screen so they are limited hardware wise what they can put in.
What I have just watched? A performance to price ratio review? Of course that's not gonna be great on the SB3, cause it offers more than just a laptop. Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15 with Ryzen 7 4800U offer better performance to price ratio than MacBook Pro 13 and 15, XPS13, 15 and 17 and the likes. But performannce is not everything. You even compared it to the Asus Zephyrus G14 saying it's more powerful at a lower price (summary of the review), but what about the screen quality, build quality, touch capabilities, pen capabilities, detachable capabilities, temperatures and noise, ...yeah. Not sure what is wrong with Engadget lately. It is some kind of business strategy to get more comments?
Fr, the screen quality is amazing and so is the engineering and build quality. I preordred the 15" book 3 because I wanted a relatively powerful laptop but also a touchscreen for when I'm in class doing work and this review just doesn't represent anything similar to that use case
Do you have some personal vengeance with Microsoft? , Because i see it as a quite overall perfect laptop. Not best at particularly something like gaming, editing etc. but excellent at everything
So the new Macbook Pro has a detachable touchscreen now? If not, why mention it? Apply fanboys just can't help themselves. And for the record, the Surface Pen is great for taking notes (unlike the long, thin, eraser-less Apple Pencil) because it is the same size as high-quality writing pens.
The 2nd gen Apple Pencil has touch capability which means you can switch between tools by tapping the pen. Though they can both be attached magnetically, Apple Pencil does include wireless charging while Surface Pen uses battery. I've been using Appel Pencil for months and also tried Surface Pen before, and as far as I and most of my friends concern, Apple pencil does offer a superior writing experience and I would consider it to be the best stylus on the market right now.
Please have a competent reviewer for a specialized/niche device like this. Apparently this one has no idea how to think outside of his book and put himself into an artist's, developer's or engineer's shoes.
@@stevenc9207 he's constantly comparing the book to two very different products - specifically two traditional laptop devices, its quite ridiculous. Can you draw directly on a mac pro screen? Can you write notes on it? Can you game AAA titles on it? Can it run windows mixed reality VR? Does its screen detach? No, No, No, No, No. So why is the review built around constant comparison, when there is essentially none.
Terrible review... many of his points are nonsensical and half the time he constantly compares completely dif things to each other as if it's a relevant point. What a casual...
agreed. he's confusing the viewers and mocking the product. there's literally nobody that packs that performance in such a light and thin frame along with a removable tablet screen. and on top of that, it runs a full fledged OS, not some rinky dink mobile OS.
You from a a technical standpoint this review is right but the reviewer really under appreciates how nice the surfacebook feels to touch and how awesome it is to have a tablet when I want to. Very happy with my sb3 purchase and wouldn’t trade it for some other boring laptop
From a technical standpoint the review is crap too, he says the trackpad is 'roomy' even though it's one of the smallest ones I've seen in a long time, doesn't talk about thermals or audio quality at all. The hell is happening tu endgadget??
Correct me if I am wrong but the new MacBooks lineup does not support any kind of pen support (or touch for that matter) and I think that is important for creative work. This review is too tinted by Apple marketing.
You "think" that is? Do you do creative work? Or do you know a large number of creatives? What does "creative work" mean to you? Might want to double check your experience and bias before pointing the finger.
You should compare it to not only the MacBook but the iPad together, the surface book is those combined. I have the surface book 2 and it is the versatility you are buying (your missing the point of it)
I love the work Microsoft has done over the years with the Surface. They are rethinking how computers should be used. However, as a creative professional myself, I think some of their decisions are way too much of a compromise to even consider it as a machine for my work. The lack of a higher performing CPU, lack of thunderbolt 3 on any of their devices and the always last generation specs on their Surface Studio. No doubt that the Studio, book and Pro are exciting and innovative products but they are not enough to get me to purchase them. Some of these things may be great for some people, but sometimes I wish Microsoft would just design a really powerful laptop that didn’t do all the cool things of the surface book but had the power I needed, because that’s more useful to me. - my 2 cents
I'm on the same boat. I own a SB2 15". I love it. It's build quality its fantastic. Almost two years in and I still love using it. That said, it shows its limitations eventually. I mostly use it for personal use, which consists of web browsing, taking notes and editing Lightroom. Not too much problems there, except for my slow external SSD that might affect LR performance. Now that I'm WFH, I have to edit more videos, render in After Effects and design on Photoshop, while I have to edit and Excel doc while having multiple web tabs open. Is in those activities when it starts to fall behind; not tragically, but still. I really enjoy the design and its approach. But, in a couple years where I might have to upgrade on a computer, I might shift to a Dell XPS unless Microsoft makes an important jump on performance. Perhaps if there is a significant upgrande on the CPU or they move to Ryzen. I'll wait.
surface products are mainly for graphic design, photoediting and illustration note taking sketching, coding. those are perfect use scenarios if i needed heavy 3d rendering 4k video editing i would build a desktop tbh
MacBook Pro? Eh?? From os they use to form factor they are completely different , surface book is different catagory What is this a macbook pro review? , Or just showing how much you like your new Dell XPS ?
I had the surface book 2 for this last academic year (mathematics graduate student) and it was the best device I ever owned. The statement "its too large for note-taking" does not resonate with me at all. If anything, the size made taking notes so great! It is an all in one device, if you want a note taking device boom got it, need a workhorse boom got it. It isn't something that is going to be a professional device for hardcore video and 3d image editing but for anyone doing work on the day to day it is amazing. Everyone always overestimates the power they need in a device anyways. You don't need 5.1ghz to scroll through TH-cam all day (which is what most college students do anyway with their device). Now it is pricey but if you add up the cost for a laptop just as powerful and a tablet with the same writing capabilities you are getting close to the same price as the surface book. Is it the best laptop? No, is it the best tablet? No. Is it the best 2-1 laptop tablet hybrid? Absolutely. (Although it is a bummer it didn't have a 6-core processor in this generation)
And this isn't to knock any of apples products. I just felt like this review didn't do this device justice. If you need the amount of power the mac-book has and have no need for a touchscreen/digital note-taking device then go for it! Get the device that suites your needs! Just don't trash a device because it has features you arn't looking for.
Sorry Dude, but you didn't really get the device nor what potential user of such a device need! All that spec comparing is useless for most people. And you what, then it takes 1 minute longer to compile something, so what? Get a cup of tea in the meantime and that's that. This is a device for people needing a convertable, a sturdy laptop with huge battery capacity, as well a spacious tablet - all in one, so that you do not have to maintain three different devices.
This laptop is better in several ways compared to the MacBook. First, touch and pen input. Second, you have the option to turn it into a tablet rather than your boring everyday laptop form factor. And if you don't like the innovative tech that you have possession of, then give it away and don't complain about it.
@1:10 you say "it is not like a normal laptop; its components limits its potential" I am sorry that is pure nonsense; there are quite a few 15watts CPUs including say Razer Stealth or LG 15 with similar power, and nobody says those are not real laptops. if you want to argue there are more powerful 15" laptops, of course. but dont say it is not a real laptop.
I have always loved the idea of the Surface Book but never understood why MS never built a damn kickstand within the tablet portion of the Surface Book. To me, that makes sense along with building a USB within it. If they did that I would be more tempted to buy the Surface Book over the Surface Pro but until then I'm sticking with my SP4 :) Nice video by the way!
Engadget completely misses the point of the device, as expected. Put an Apple logo on it, and it gets a 5 star, even if the product they are reviewing should have done what it currently does years ago.
When you compare the fps from the different laptops, dont forget that the sb3 has a higher resolution than the fullHD laptops and therefor has less fps.
Having the processor in the screen half has its unique set of pros and cons. Yeah, you're not going to jam in a Macbook Pro/XPS 15 45W processor in there without that being a throttling hot mess, but at the same time you can pack some nice GPU wattage into the keyboard half it gets to itself thermally.
Comparing the Surface Book 3 against Macbook and XPS is dumb... Neither of those have pen capabilities... You compare Surface Book against 2-in-1s/convertibles and none of them can beat it... At best, a 15 inch 2 in 1 will have a 1650 TI Max Q vs 1660 Ti Max Q on the Surface Book 3. And when you compare 13 Inches, it's even more dominant since majority has either IGPU or MX vs Surface Book 3's 1650 Ti Max Q. I do agree that it's overpriced, has some weak sauce CPUs, the bezels are horrible and the lack of Ryzen or Thunderbolt 3 is stupid. But comparing a Surface Book 3 against laptops who can't even do Pen is also stupid since the primary purpose of the Surface Book is different than the primary purpose of a laptop...
People who buy already know the main selling is you can use notebook and tablet at the same device. They dont want bringing 2 devices (macbook and ipad tablet) on bag
The reason why Microsoft use 1065g7 is because of the integrated graphics which the tablet mode needs. Other cpu with more cores do not come with good enough gpu. SB3 is not slower than MBP on graphic related work. Since MBP has slow gpu. Also MBP can't handle the heat better than SB3. This review is really bias. Comparing cpu with XPS and gpu to gaming laptops is just stupid. You should do one on one comparison on all hardwares, not just comparing to random computer with their best hardware.
"one benefit of being so large is the surface book is able to fit a roomy keyboard and a large touch pad" Pfft. I don't know what kind of laptops this guy has been using, but the touch pad is normal sized. Nothing large about about it. For the past 5 years or so it has baffled me why manufacturers refrain from making truly large TouchPad like apple has done recently.
As a user of the SB3 coming from my SB1, it does everything I expect it to but the limitations are there. As a workflow device for photo/video editing its unmatched, and it will handle some tasks like light gaming as well. I wouldnt recommend this as someones only workhorse, but to compliment a solid desktop its the best device on the market
I have the surface book 2 15. Notable issues which a lot of SB2 users have had in common: -GPU disconnecting / detection issues (Could happen with previous updates, but they released an irreversible firmware update around May 2019 along with Windows 10 version 1903 which took out my dGPU. It took them around 5 months to "fix" it, October 2019, but by this time, my gpu was already damaged and out of warranty). Basically microsoft updates killed their own flagship device -Wifi was slow, inconsistent and also kept disconnecting, hopefully that got fixed this time -The screen glass has a chance of breaking randomly if you put enough pressure on the lid (maybe when you close it or it's squeezed in your bag) - because all the force is concentrated at the edge of the screen (for that hinge design) and some users have said it's because of the sharp corners at the touch pad / lid notch -No thunderbolt port - whatever. How about just letting people have TB and let them take the 'risks' -Limited upgrade / repair options - It is really hard to take apart, you can only replace the SSD. Replacing your thermal paste is even harder And for SB3 they decided to use the same design lol
MAC OS and Windows is two different system, you cant comparing them.... Also, the surface book is not just about a detachable screen... its also have a screen which can draw on it with good color accuracy, have a pen that can draw on a screen is important for photo editing....
Not only is it the same processor that is used in the Surface Laptop, the Core i7 processor in the 15" model (1065G7) is the same one that's in the Surface Pro 7. It's still an awesome piece of industrial design, but as a workhorse for creatives it's now definitely a questionable proposition at its pricepoint.
I've always been a mac user. However I purchased a SB2 3 years ago and it still runs like new. Only issue is I bought the 13inch model and want a larger screen. I've searched hi and low for a new laptop that's 15inch and every other laptop seems likes there's a compromise I'm not willing to take. The only logical choice for me is this SB3 in its Quadro form. I am a designer and nothing beats this laptops versatility
I think you might be forgetting that a main demographic for this device is artists who draw on the tablet. I was shocked when you mocked its use as a tablet and its larger size, because any digital artist will appreciate the tablet mode. Most people draw with the screen flipped and attached to the computer. And.... yes, it is a laptop. It's not a.... tablet, with an attachable keyboard... try the surface pro for that...
Yeah it's actually great for digital art, since you can either literally take just the tablet portion without for lighter weight and not bulky like most 2-in-1 laptops. If you dock the screen flipped, you got angled position with GPU. Thing is there is nothing in the market like this and actually pretty balance in terms of features and spec. It is certainly not the most powerful but not your typical ultrabook as well. Not to mention it's keyboard is still excellent. My only caveat with this is that the track pad were not updated to larger size, especially for 15 inch. Also the screen were also not improved its color gamut to cover all AdobeRGB space.
Why not get a Surface Pro? It's lighter weight and also better for desk work due to the kickstand. Pair it with a bluetooth keyboard instead of a type cover and you'll get hotkeys and an erganomic drawing setup. The only downside is the smaller screen. If you want a couch sketching device you might be better off with an ipad pro. It's cheaper and has a better pen.
@@JayJapanB For me at least having all in one device that allows me to these things. I can game, video edit in DaVinci, draw and graphic design, even make 3D objects in Blender, write and compile code. All not having to carry multiple devices. iPad Pro is great and iPadOS have its own merits like huge tablet app library, consistent UI of the OS, great pen. But there are still things that I can't do with iPad Pro like I mentioned above except for drawing which is great at. Surely there are people and organization found its use. Problem is it doesn't come cheap.
@@kornkernel2232 Power to you if you're enjoying it. As someone who uses photoshop and 3D software a lot I can't understand the formfactor of the surface book. I need a keyboard when doing work with the pen, thus completely ruining the ergonomics, or it being an all in one(if you plan on carrying two keyboards). On top of that, the gpu power just seems underwhelming. I exclusively use desktops with wacom tablets at work and home, and a surface pro now and then. If I need portable power in future, the plan is a cintiq/laptop setup. If I want something less clunky, I'll use a physical sketchbook. (very underrated) Surface Pro with apple keyboard I've enjoyed. Just can't do 3D. Surface book isn't a solution to that in my eyes. Which it seems like it is trying to be.
You realize USB-C is not descriptive enough is it 3.1gen 2 gen 1 3.0. @6:24 ish in the video, is it the same standard as the other side just type c connector?
Seems like there are A LOT of empty space on the left/right side of the keyboard. Then, why not add a vertical key row on each side, instead of requiring FN combinations to press HOME or END? I mean, on the right, there could be a row for HOME,END,INSERT, PrintScren, etc, and on the left, there could be several programmable hot keys. I just don't understand why those engineers don't come up with such things.
I was a mad surface fan ever since the pro 4, but I'll admit, the book is now their weekest product. They should have made then slightly larger to accommodate higher end CPUs, more battery, airflow etc. I'll still stick by the surface pen for being the best on a Windows computer though, so if you wanna take notes/draw, that's the one to go for
So now I'm gonna pick up a MacBook pro 16, an apple pen and use it like a surface book... Ohh.. Wait.. I can't, but they told me macbook is better... Soo? How can I use my pen with my MacBook? Mhhh
It baffles me that a lot of reviewers seem to miss the point of the Surface line. They are 2-in-1 PCs, so they're for people who want BOTH tablet/inking and laptop functionality in one device. Most reviews just boil this down to a laptop, and of course there are more powerful laptops out there for the price. But there is literally nothing else on the market like this Surface Book.
I was planning on buying the 15-inch version of this, but that was over a year ago while we were still waiting for the Book 3 to be announced. Looking at the current laptop market I agree with this video, if you don't need (or really want) the tablet functionality, you really are throwing performance out of the window when purchasing this one over a MacBook Pro 16/Dell XPS 15. I think the 13.5-inch is a spectacular product, but the 15-inch is just strange with that slow CPU for it's size.
seriously, you want to make fun of the thick bezels? how would you hold the tablet side with a bezel? Macbook Pro does not even has a touchscreen so it is not as functional and hence not comparable; and if you try to get the same two-in-one you have to do a iPad as a second screen.
Microsoft refreshed the surface book 2 to 8th gen from 7th gen completely last year after its launch. Do you think that we will get Tiger late on Surfave Book 3? Are they likely making it Icelake temporarily? Since Tiger Lake is not yet ready that is why the majority of its competitors are all 9th gen...
Sorry but this is laptop is meant for artist. Pretty much everything you talk about does not affect artists. Heck my surface Book 2 run full maya without issues and can run after effects, premiere Pro, Photoshop all at once and there’s a beautiful job. And The touch sensitivity for drawing is amazing.
I am a student and still enjoy my Surface Book 2 :)) I love being able to have a powerful laptop to do my assignments on, and then take the screen off to scribble down some notes or ideas in class, and I am in no way creatively inclined. l think what makes the book line particularly special is that anyone can find their own unique use for it.
Considering the bigger bezels as a disadvantage shows that youdon't have an idea of the different use cases of the Surface Book. I have the SB2 15" and often take the tablet alone for reading/writing on my couch or in bed. Guess how great a zero bezel tablet would be to keep in hand... don't compare apple's (and Dell's) apples with this multi purpose orange. Few people will be able and willing to use all its abilities, but for those who do it's a pretty perfect piece of technique.
In my opinion, you can't really compare the surface book 3 with the Dell XPS 15 (2020) or MacBook Pro, they have not any 2 in 1 characteristic, you should compare them with the dell XPS 13 2 in 1 or the Hp Spectre 360. This machine can hold inside a 13'5 inch laptop a GTX 1650, nowadays only Razer has done something like this, but it's not even a 2 in 1. I'm sorry, I respect your review but I don't agree with you.
The laptop is a master of none but good at everything. A bit like a Swiss knife. It can detach like a tablet, use its discrete GPU for machine learning or gaming, amazing screen and pen functionality for media and art hobbyists/professionals, excellent battery life, great track pad and keyboard, portable, and all-round amazing
For classroom it form isn’t great because of how long it takes from eject to take notes. Not to mention fragility of the screen where cracks appear at the contact point of keyboard
You have $1700 to spend to last a minimum 4 years. What do you get? 1. Surface laptop 2 i5 ($750) renewed 2. Surface laptop 3 i5 ($1150) 3. Surface Go ($400) renewed 4. Surface Go 2 ($750) 5. Surface Book 2 i7 ($1500) 6. Surface Pen ($100) 7. Keyboard type cover ($100) Any other suggestions are welcome I just want a good productivity laptop for university and some photo editing as well as a device that I can hand write on. I know the surface book 2 covers all that and has deidicated graphics and that's what I'm leaning towards now. My only concern is that it is 8th gen Intel and I don't know if that will hold up for 5 years. Another suggestions for devices are good although I am trying to stay away from Apple as I do not want to get sucked into their ecosystem and I already have a newer android phone.
I've returned this to store because it wasn't able to connect to two FHD monitors through WD19 docking station. All possible updates were installed BTW.
Review missed the whole point of this device - versatility. You can use it as laptop and run your CAD, PS, watch movie when screen is in reverse, or read a book, use it as a tablet, draw on it, take notes, record and livestream meetings with rear camera, use it as a tablet with dedicated gpu, you name it. You can use it under load on any surface, on laps or in bed as it does not have air intakes on the bottom. Perfect device for those who want one pc to do it all. Not perfect in every task, but it does them all. 15 inch SB2 is awesome for notes and management projects.
Bezels - _an obsession_ . I dont want my fingers on the screen when I'm holding it as a tablet, I also don't want my vulnerable screen right near the edge of machine Im carrying around. So many machines essentially broken on ebay with cracks on screen where the bezel should be.
"Liability" what? "Thick screen bezels" because its also a tablet genius. He also said the clipboard weighs too much, so im assuming an ipad Pro must be the worst right? "I wouldnt use it for note taking, its a bit too large" wtf does that even mean. This is probably one of the most biased reviews iv ever watched. Stick to your macbooks and stop making videos about other products because these are just embarrassing
i have the SB1. amd seeing the SB3 i feel this device has untapped potential which Microsoft needs to exploit. a good powerhouse of a device with room for improvement rather than just refreshing and tweaking. if it aint broke dont fix it isnt always the way to go
My Surface Book 1 has problems with a faulty Marvell WiFi Adapter which disconnects the WiFi very often. Until now, couldn't find a fix and to my knowledge, it affect quite a handful of users.
Has anyone else had over heating issues? I sent my first one back. They were pretty quick with the second which I bet is a refurbished model because it didn't come in original packaging. And this second one now overheats too. When I say over heats, it gets so hot it shuts itself down and displays a thermometer
fair points on performance but you ignored the unique selling points this device crosses so many categories and does it fairly well the screen "clipboard" is very light and overall the surface book line has proven to be sturdy and reliable
The G14 wrecks everything listed here more often than not. It doesn't have the best of screens (but not bad either), or the best thermals (but not bad either), but it DOES wreck everything here in terms of performance. It runs circles around everything listed. Personally performance > anything else for me. If I do color grading I wouldn't do it on the built in display anyway. I would connect to a high res and color accurate reference monitor. Which in turn make the performance advantages of the G14 even more prevalent.
I'm glad reviewers have started calling out the Book for what it is: A Windows tablet computer with an expansion base. That makes the Book for people who want a 15" Surface Pro and occasionally have use for a GPU. That still describes me but I can't justify the price-size-weight-performance score. Although I want a 13" to 15" Surface Pro, I won't want to pay $2500 to $3000 for it. I think I'll just keep my Surface Pro, build a tower for video editing, and try to find a smooth way to transition back and forth between the two.
The only thing I support of this video is that the 13.5" model might be better to cater needs of Tablet-like experience. 15" could be indeed quite large. Any SB2 users here who can share some input?
So according to this reviewer; he wonders who holds a tablet to watch Netflix! Was he that critical to the iPad then when Netflix launched on the App Store, also when Apple weren't selling the kickstand / keyboard stand? As David Mena in the comments typed: "this is just an ad for the MacBook". Bias & Unprofessional! Almost every sentence was comparing to Apple products. You want to learn how to review tech products? watch Dave Lee do his reviews, or any other PROFESSIONAL tech reviewer - or even a better company like the Verge! & not just on a Microsoft product, but any tech!
I admit I have a soft spot for MacBook Pro, especially for the bone and then for the build quality of the MacBook Pro (except for the disastrous butterfly keyboard) However, I took a surface Book 2 just to change a little. At first I found the 13 inch version too big and bulky. But with time I must say that I am seduced. Microsoft has managed to release a range of products with same quality of MacBook. As mentioned above, power isn't everything. An asus Zephyrus G14' despite the good reviews is a noisy laptop, with a screen quality I can't explain. In short, the surface is in my opinion an excellent product. The cpu is clearly powerful enough for office, dev and gaming. Not everyone is a youtuber and we don't spend our time encoding 4K videos
I think the draw to the surface book are its looks and its ability to game and do GPU intesive stuff. I would be interested in comparing the Dell XPS 15 and the Surface Book in terms of gaming, and video processing.
I see that you are speaking about performance per dollar as the only value metric for this device and you seem to completely ignore the multiple uses this device has. I'm a professional illustrator and this is a device that I can use as a laptop, as a cintiq, as an iPad, and i can also game batter than a console. Just the money I'm saving on having to buy a cintiq alone justifies the price of this device. It's a Laptop AND a Cintiq I can take anywhere. Wacom even offers a similar device and while the pen is better in their device, which is basically a 16 inch tablet, runs for $3500. With no keyboard, trackpad, and a very low battery life. Because reviewers of tech devices can't draw to save their lives, they seem to forget that this is a touch and pen device that can be used as a portable digital studio.
These types of reviewers of the Surface Book obviously doesn't know it's targeted market. Who really needs overkill versus function these days with these powerful even midtier chips? Obviously this reviewer doesn't try to understand that the people who he is basing his opinions on with these elite dedicated laptops would not watch his videos on Surface Books as they already know what it does. 🤦🏾♂️
So, you have to be corporate buyer to exploit its full potential? I'm not a gamer so, its still far and above better than the others. My version one is my favorite by far. I have Apple, Lenovo, and Microsoft. It just works and it is durable. the only reason why I am researching for another Surface Book is because I have handled my old one roughly (subconsciously on purpose), and I am having problems with the volume button. I have dropped it too many times. I will be getting the 15 inch, and the Duo. Thanks for the review ;-) Side note, is the 16 touchscreen? Stop comparing Apples to Oranges while trying to keep the same price point.
Although I am an MSFT fanboy, I think you were a little too tough on this review, as evidence by all the commits below. We all agree the SB3 is by no means perfect, but yeah this review was too harsh . I would recommend a rebuff video for redemption.
The takeaway I got from this review is basically: " the detachable form factor of the SurfaceBook limits the CPU it can use. Other laptops have better performance per dollar, and that's why SB3 is bad"
Where as people interested in buying this device are perfectly fine taking that trade off because the unique form factor is specifically the appeal of the device.
15 inch detachable tablet that runs full windows is very unique and useful to some people (and surprisingly light irl).
SB3 stands in a league of it's own because for some people, anything else besides it is a compromise - either tablet first with no discrete GPU, or powerful with no detachable screen. Etc.
Good call. Finally someone that understand my point. I want something from both worlds and a Surface Book definitely can do that. Comparing it to Notebooks like Apple does not make any sense, because of more space available in the base while the Surface has its power in a small room behind the screen. These tech geek morons just dont understand this...
Quite right, the amount of reviewers that compare this machine to an xps and the apple product is surprising. As far as laptops go they really couldnt be more different. Im not going game or draw on a dull ole macbook.
@@jackjude exactly. Actually these people use the device for like 4-5 days before publishing their "reviews" and the main thing they do on it during review period is watching TH-cam and browsing web. People will buy this for the form factor. It's unfair to compare this with other traditional laptops
"I wouldn't use it for note taking its too large"
??
I would want a large screen for note taking as it would give me large space to write or even draw
That's what I find to be so interesting about this review. Why wouldn't you want a lot of space to write and take notes?? I use the 15" SB2 and can snap a web page to the left and OneNote to the right and have a nice setup for studying and notetaking.
I would have also like to have seen comments on whether or not the target audience would suffer from a 4 core vs 6 core machine. I wonder why no comments on the new 32gb of Ram config either.
Finally, all accessories are extra for most devices. Why nitpick here on the surface pen being extra? The iPad pro doesn't come with a pen or the $299 keyboard.
I guess to each their own, right?
@@MarkitoMagic He's not a reviewer. He is a low-key Apple marketer. That is why his reviews never make sense...
Exactly! I had a X1 Yoga before and look forward to using 15" 3:2 space for note taking!
It becomes uncomfortable to hold in hand or lap for note taking. You’ll only want to use it on a desk. Might as well keep it attached.
@@srikanthav I have used my Thinkpad X1 Yoga for four years on my lap for note taking. It works well and it will work much better with the Surface Book as the screen detaches and as a tablet it is a lot lighter than all the other 2-in-1s. But it might depend on your size, too. Human beings come in all kinds of different configurations and what is large for some, is tiny for others...
I don't know why reviewers question these laptops
Surely you don't draw or take notes
That doesn't means no one takes
Just cause it wouldn't fit you it's not a bad machine
Don't forget, the Surface Book line is meant to be a tablet AND laptop in one. Even if you get the MBP 16, you'd have to buy an iPad just to get the same functionality, which adds to the already higher base price for the Macbook. That would make it not only the least practical option, but also the priciest.
Thing is you're also getting worse version of both tablet AND laptop. Ipad is objectively better than tablet mode SB3 and MBP is objectively better than SB3. I think it depends on the person. If power/performance isn't too big of a deal then SB3 is fine. For people who actually need powerful laptop, SB3 can't do it unfortunately due to the design limitation of having a hot burning CPU behind screen.
S J tell that to i9 macbook 16 that keeps throttling below base clock after ten secs.
@@elijahtrenton8351 Actually it doesn't and it stays well above the base clock for quite a long time.
@@hunterma2589 he meant to say it doesnt boost for long. It cant hold sustained boost clocks as it thermal throttles, decreasing performance and decreasing the lifespan of the cpu
@@TheJeonyboy I would disagree with the tablet bit. I'd much rather use a Windows based tablet than an ipad Pro
(full disclaimer: I'm a MacBook user) It really annoys me that these reviewers never talk about reliability, firmware, quality, they just go over the benchmarks--Dell's firmware is garbage and they have a ton of terrible bloatware that's almost impossible to uninstall. You see the same thing in car reviews. They look at all of the new shiny features of the car. They'll compare a Toyota to a Nissan and say "ohh well, X on Toyota feels outdated, 6/10." Yeah because they engineer stuff *right* and it doesn't fall apart after two years, because they're not constantly reengineering everything. I have friend who has an original surface book that still holds a good charge and never had any problems, and it still feels snappy.
The screen has large bezels because it needs them in detachable mode (so you're not activating the touchscreen on the sides). Seems pretty obvious, dunno what's up with this reviewer.
A lot of times these reviewers are seeing products and asking, "can I do 8k video editing on this??" That's not what Microsoft's market is. They're targeting business users, and they just want a good quality laptop with decent performance and a cool form factor.
Most people don't understand the use case of Microsoft Surface book 3
It becomes a tablet on which you can write on plus an excellent laptop
It's the best combo one could ever get for this price
In terms of mac book you have to carry different devices to do those things also for money
Exactly!
Exactly but this only really works for the 13.5". The 15" is just too big.
This the basis for most Surface devices. The Pro and the Go too. Something lost on reviewers. Being able to carry one device, not two is awesome. Pro X owner.
I have this with my mobile studio pro. If I don’t want to have a keyboard I’ll just chuck my Bluetooth keyboard out the window. I just need a descent pen, and it doesn’t get better than Wacom EMR. I have an iPad Pro too, it’s great, but I like the sharper tip of a Wacom pen or better Spen better.
the price is excessive, I would just buy a laptop with some good cpu and a gpu and an ipad lmao.
Thanks for bursting my SB3 bubble... but I'm still gonna get it.
Just wait a bit
justshady totally happy with sb3 , people are boring if they can’t see the fun use they can get out of sb3 compared to other laptops
wait till SB comes with AMD
@@DarkPa1adin Exactly!!! I don't want any nasty Intel Spectre exploits with patches than slow you down significantly.
Joseph Cherian if amd becomes number 1 don’t you think they’ll have their fair share of exploits exposed? It’s like Macs it’s not that their are no viruses for them less people have them so they’re are less hackers targeting them.
When you come here for a surface book 3 review, but it's just an ad for a macbook
The SB3 is the new MacBook. Overpriced hardware that is advertised as a workhorse machine.
@@eliott970 well what's the right piece of hardware for the price?
@@Frznwhrlpll I would say the 16 inch MacBook Pro is pretty good the previous models were wayyy over priced for the performance. for windows id look at the prev model of the XPS 15 as you can get a top spec one for under $2000. If you absolutely need the pen input id probably just going with the SB2 and save some money.
The truth only hurts fanboys....the rest of us just go with the manufacturer that does it best
Agree with the consensus that Engadget is going down hill in their critiques. A little fair against MS claims, but unfair against the product category. If I need a power house, I would build a desktop.
You're a darling
You shouldn’t be this aggressive or hateful with this device. Yes some flaws are there, but still!! Also, this isn’t a complete review. Audio quality isn’t covered. Audio is definitely not par with MBP.
which is better? MBP is class leading just that it is not front facing (but up firing)
It's definitely not. MBP 16 new sound system is so much better. SB3 has to put in speaker behind the screen so they are limited hardware wise what they can put in.
@@TheJeonyboy logic agrees with you. less space for fewer Watt speakers
@@TheJeonyboy not really, the clipboard is about as thick as the base of the macbook
What I have just watched? A performance to price ratio review? Of course that's not gonna be great on the SB3, cause it offers more than just a laptop.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15 with Ryzen 7 4800U offer better performance to price ratio than MacBook Pro 13 and 15, XPS13, 15 and 17 and the likes. But performannce is not everything.
You even compared it to the Asus Zephyrus G14 saying it's more powerful at a lower price (summary of the review), but what about the screen quality, build quality, touch capabilities, pen capabilities, detachable capabilities, temperatures and noise, ...yeah.
Not sure what is wrong with Engadget lately. It is some kind of business strategy to get more comments?
Fr, the screen quality is amazing and so is the engineering and build quality. I preordred the 15" book 3 because I wanted a relatively powerful laptop but also a touchscreen for when I'm in class doing work and this review just doesn't represent anything similar to that use case
Don't forget the Microsoft dial
Seems he works for apple now ..
Do you have some personal vengeance with Microsoft? , Because i see it as a quite overall perfect laptop. Not best at particularly something like gaming, editing etc. but excellent at everything
Thank you!!! It's a servant for all and master of none and very versatile
No, he probably just don’t give special credit to gimmicks laptops. When your “ultra” laptop can’t outperform an ultrabook it’s an issue.
@@kgotter you dont know what a 2 in 1 Laptop is , right? You should not compare it with traditional laptop coz it's different category. ok?!
@@kgotter Gimmicks laptop? So the iPad Pro with the magic keyboard it's a gimmick tablet? And let's not talk about the touch bar....
He is an Apple shill. Not to mention apples gpu performance is shit compared to this
Suggesting acer trident 900 rotating screen over this?
🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Man you should take up a different job
What's wrong with you
Kishore S I don’t understand, does he honestly like that thing more than the surface book 3. It’s so ugly 😭😰
😂
Yo... Where do they find these people. The only thing I agreed with you on is the bezels and no thunderbolt
But it would be really annoying to use it as a tablet if it had ultra thin bezels. But i agree on thunderbolt.
So the new Macbook Pro has a detachable touchscreen now? If not, why mention it? Apply fanboys just can't help themselves. And for the record, the Surface Pen is great for taking notes (unlike the long, thin, eraser-less Apple Pencil) because it is the same size as high-quality writing pens.
The 2nd gen Apple Pencil has touch capability which means you can switch between tools by tapping the pen. Though they can both be attached magnetically, Apple Pencil does include wireless charging while Surface Pen uses battery. I've been using Appel Pencil for months and also tried Surface Pen before, and as far as I and most of my friends concern, Apple pencil does offer a superior writing experience and I would consider it to be the best stylus on the market right now.
@@hunterma2589 you haven't been using Apple pencil with a Macbook and you certainly aren't doing serious graphics editing with an iPad.
Please have a competent reviewer for a specialized/niche device like this. Apparently this one has no idea how to think outside of his book and put himself into an artist's, developer's or engineer's shoes.
What exactly did he say that wasn’t accurate or worth discussing?
@@stevenc9207 he's constantly comparing the book to two very different products - specifically two traditional laptop devices, its quite ridiculous. Can you draw directly on a mac pro screen? Can you write notes on it? Can you game AAA titles on it? Can it run windows mixed reality VR? Does its screen detach? No, No, No, No, No. So why is the review built around constant comparison, when there is essentially none.
2 in 1 devices are not laptops so dont compare them with laptops
Simple
However, if it is priced comparatively to a high end laptop, it is difficult not to...
ashutosh s it’s also in the same price range as high end TVs. Doesn’t mean they should be compared
Terrible review... many of his points are nonsensical and half the time he constantly compares completely dif things to each other as if it's a relevant point. What a casual...
agreed. he's confusing the viewers and mocking the product. there's literally nobody that packs that performance in such a light and thin frame along with a removable tablet screen. and on top of that, it runs a full fledged OS, not some rinky dink mobile OS.
You from a a technical standpoint this review is right but the reviewer really under appreciates how nice the surfacebook feels to touch and how awesome it is to have a tablet when I want to. Very happy with my sb3 purchase and wouldn’t trade it for some other boring laptop
From a technical standpoint the review is crap too, he says the trackpad is 'roomy' even though it's one of the smallest ones I've seen in a long time, doesn't talk about thermals or audio quality at all.
The hell is happening tu endgadget??
talha hussain you this felt just very all around shit review
Very bad critique, the surface book is in a league of it's own.
That's what people don't understand.. There no device like it.. It stands out
Kinda like AAA baseball or the junior pro golf circuits. Very few sponsors or spectators.
Agreed!
Engadget having a rough quarantine huh? 😂
Correct me if I am wrong but the new MacBooks lineup does not support any kind of pen support (or touch for that matter) and I think that is important for creative work. This review is too tinted by Apple marketing.
You "think" that is? Do you do creative work? Or do you know a large number of creatives? What does "creative work" mean to you? Might want to double check your experience and bias before pointing the finger.
JayJapanB surface book 3 is dope
JayJapanB all the laptops he mentioned have keyboards worse than surface book 3
@@easyebs5841 So the selling point and reason people get the Surface Book is now the keyboard?
@@JayJapanB creative work as in drawing using a touch screen with pen support.
You should compare it to not only the MacBook but the iPad together, the surface book is those combined. I have the surface book 2 and it is the versatility you are buying (your missing the point of it)
I love the work Microsoft has done over the years with the Surface. They are rethinking how computers should be used. However, as a creative professional myself, I think some of their decisions are way too much of a compromise to even consider it as a machine for my work. The lack of a higher performing CPU, lack of thunderbolt 3 on any of their devices and the always last generation specs on their Surface Studio. No doubt that the Studio, book and Pro are exciting and innovative products but they are not enough to get me to purchase them. Some of these things may be great for some people, but sometimes I wish Microsoft would just design a really powerful laptop that didn’t do all the cool things of the surface book but had the power I needed, because that’s more useful to me. - my 2 cents
Exactly! I would so buy a laptop from them if they had the specs that I'm looking for. I do love the design though too.
John Boy the Surface Laptop 4 15inch with AMD will probably that.
I'm on the same boat. I own a SB2 15". I love it. It's build quality its fantastic. Almost two years in and I still love using it. That said, it shows its limitations eventually. I mostly use it for personal use, which consists of web browsing, taking notes and editing Lightroom. Not too much problems there, except for my slow external SSD that might affect LR performance. Now that I'm WFH, I have to edit more videos, render in After Effects and design on Photoshop, while I have to edit and Excel doc while having multiple web tabs open. Is in those activities when it starts to fall behind; not tragically, but still.
I really enjoy the design and its approach. But, in a couple years where I might have to upgrade on a computer, I might shift to a Dell XPS unless Microsoft makes an important jump on performance. Perhaps if there is a significant upgrande on the CPU or they move to Ryzen. I'll wait.
surface products are mainly for graphic design, photoediting and illustration note taking sketching, coding. those are perfect use scenarios if i needed heavy 3d rendering 4k video editing i would build a desktop tbh
if you dont need the portability and pen ypu should not pay the premium and just grt a normal bulky ugly gaming notebook.
MacBook Pro? Eh?? From os they use to form factor they are completely different , surface book is different catagory
What is this a macbook pro review? , Or just showing how much you like your new Dell XPS ?
Blame Panos Panay for that. He keeps directly targeting MacBook Pro in his presentations. Microsoft started this fight.
"Apple's providing the better value" never though I'd hear these words uttered in a tech review video.
BOOM. God bless you
Engadget does reviews?
I just got a i7 Surface Laptop 3 and it's performance is similar to my base model 2017 MacBook Pro.
I had the surface book 2 for this last academic year (mathematics graduate student) and it was the best device I ever owned. The statement "its too large for note-taking" does not resonate with me at all. If anything, the size made taking notes so great! It is an all in one device, if you want a note taking device boom got it, need a workhorse boom got it. It isn't something that is going to be a professional device for hardcore video and 3d image editing but for anyone doing work on the day to day it is amazing. Everyone always overestimates the power they need in a device anyways. You don't need 5.1ghz to scroll through TH-cam all day (which is what most college students do anyway with their device). Now it is pricey but if you add up the cost for a laptop just as powerful and a tablet with the same writing capabilities you are getting close to the same price as the surface book. Is it the best laptop? No, is it the best tablet? No. Is it the best 2-1 laptop tablet hybrid? Absolutely. (Although it is a bummer it didn't have a 6-core processor in this generation)
And this isn't to knock any of apples products. I just felt like this review didn't do this device justice. If you need the amount of power the mac-book has and have no need for a touchscreen/digital note-taking device then go for it! Get the device that suites your needs! Just don't trash a device because it has features you arn't looking for.
Lucas Goad love you for this
Sorry Dude, but you didn't really get the device nor what potential user of such a device need! All that spec comparing is useless for most people. And you what, then it takes 1 minute longer to compile something, so what? Get a cup of tea in the meantime and that's that. This is a device for people needing a convertable, a sturdy laptop with huge battery capacity, as well a spacious tablet - all in one, so that you do not have to maintain three different devices.
Idiotic review... TOTALLY misses the entire point of this device...
Yup
This is not just a laptop that's what most TH-camrs don't get
This laptop is better in several ways compared to the MacBook. First, touch and pen input. Second, you have the option to turn it into a tablet rather than your boring everyday laptop form factor. And if you don't like the innovative tech that you have possession of, then give it away and don't complain about it.
@1:10 you say "it is not like a normal laptop; its components limits its potential" I am sorry that is pure nonsense; there are quite a few 15watts CPUs including say Razer Stealth or LG 15 with similar power, and nobody says those are not real laptops. if you want to argue there are more powerful 15" laptops, of course. but dont say it is not a real laptop.
I have always loved the idea of the Surface Book but never understood why MS never built a damn kickstand within the tablet portion of the Surface Book. To me, that makes sense along with building a USB within it. If they did that I would be more tempted to buy the Surface Book over the Surface Pro but until then I'm sticking with my SP4 :) Nice video by the way!
Engadget completely misses the point of the device, as expected. Put an Apple logo on it, and it gets a 5 star, even if the product they are reviewing should have done what it currently does years ago.
When you compare the fps from the different laptops, dont forget that the sb3 has a higher resolution than the fullHD laptops and therefor has less fps.
3:40 roomy touchpad!? Look at ANY of the laptops your mentioned, that's ROOMY
Having the processor in the screen half has its unique set of pros and cons. Yeah, you're not going to jam in a Macbook Pro/XPS 15 45W processor in there without that being a throttling hot mess, but at the same time you can pack some nice GPU wattage into the keyboard half it gets to itself thermally.
Comparing the Surface Book 3 against Macbook and XPS is dumb... Neither of those have pen capabilities... You compare Surface Book against 2-in-1s/convertibles and none of them can beat it... At best, a 15 inch 2 in 1 will have a 1650 TI Max Q vs 1660 Ti Max Q on the Surface Book 3. And when you compare 13 Inches, it's even more dominant since majority has either IGPU or MX vs Surface Book 3's 1650 Ti Max Q. I do agree that it's overpriced, has some weak sauce CPUs, the bezels are horrible and the lack of Ryzen or Thunderbolt 3 is stupid. But comparing a Surface Book 3 against laptops who can't even do Pen is also stupid since the primary purpose of the Surface Book is different than the primary purpose of a laptop...
People who buy already know the main selling is you can use notebook and tablet at the same device. They dont want bringing 2 devices (macbook and ipad tablet) on bag
The reason why Microsoft use 1065g7 is because of the integrated graphics which the tablet mode needs. Other cpu with more cores do not come with good enough gpu.
SB3 is not slower than MBP on graphic related work. Since MBP has slow gpu.
Also MBP can't handle the heat better than SB3.
This review is really bias. Comparing cpu with XPS and gpu to gaming laptops is just stupid.
You should do one on one comparison on all hardwares, not just comparing to random computer with their best hardware.
There is a lot of hardware out there. However, I choose to stick with surface book line since the surface book one. Am getting this one too.
"one benefit of being so large is the surface book is able to fit a roomy keyboard and a large touch pad"
Pfft. I don't know what kind of laptops this guy has been using, but the touch pad is normal sized. Nothing large about about it.
For the past 5 years or so it has baffled me why manufacturers refrain from making truly large TouchPad like apple has done recently.
Plus force touch and the taptic engine
As a user of the SB3 coming from my SB1, it does everything I expect it to but the limitations are there. As a workflow device for photo/video editing its unmatched, and it will handle some tasks like light gaming as well. I wouldnt recommend this as someones only workhorse, but to compliment a solid desktop its the best device on the market
I have the surface book 2 15. Notable issues which a lot of SB2 users have had in common:
-GPU disconnecting / detection issues (Could happen with previous updates, but they released an irreversible firmware update around May 2019 along with Windows 10 version 1903 which took out my dGPU. It took them around 5 months to "fix" it, October 2019, but by this time, my gpu was already damaged and out of warranty). Basically microsoft updates killed their own flagship device
-Wifi was slow, inconsistent and also kept disconnecting, hopefully that got fixed this time
-The screen glass has a chance of breaking randomly if you put enough pressure on the lid (maybe when you close it or it's squeezed in your bag) - because all the force is concentrated at the edge of the screen (for that hinge design) and some users have said it's because of the sharp corners at the touch pad / lid notch
-No thunderbolt port - whatever. How about just letting people have TB and let them take the 'risks'
-Limited upgrade / repair options - It is really hard to take apart, you can only replace the SSD. Replacing your thermal paste is even harder
And for SB3 they decided to use the same design lol
MAC OS and Windows is two different system, you cant comparing them.... Also, the surface book is not just about a detachable screen... its also have a screen which can draw on it with good color accuracy, have a pen that can draw on a screen is important for photo editing....
Not only is it the same processor that is used in the Surface Laptop, the Core i7 processor in the 15" model (1065G7) is the same one that's in the Surface Pro 7. It's still an awesome piece of industrial design, but as a workhorse for creatives it's now definitely a questionable proposition at its pricepoint.
I've always been a mac user. However I purchased a SB2 3 years ago and it still runs like new. Only issue is I bought the 13inch model and want a larger screen. I've searched hi and low for a new laptop that's 15inch and every other laptop seems likes there's a compromise I'm not willing to take. The only logical choice for me is this SB3 in its Quadro form. I am a designer and nothing beats this laptops versatility
I think you might be forgetting that a main demographic for this device is artists who draw on the tablet. I was shocked when you mocked its use as a tablet and its larger size, because any digital artist will appreciate the tablet mode. Most people draw with the screen flipped and attached to the computer. And.... yes, it is a laptop. It's not a.... tablet, with an attachable keyboard... try the surface pro for that...
One of the worst reviewers, don't understand why Engadget keeps him
Can you guys release an actual review?
I know right.. I'm getting annoyed
Yall fat-shamed a laptop!
I'm gonna get the book 3. it's perfect for drawing comics.
Yeah it's actually great for digital art, since you can either literally take just the tablet portion without for lighter weight and not bulky like most 2-in-1 laptops. If you dock the screen flipped, you got angled position with GPU.
Thing is there is nothing in the market like this and actually pretty balance in terms of features and spec. It is certainly not the most powerful but not your typical ultrabook as well.
Not to mention it's keyboard is still excellent.
My only caveat with this is that the track pad were not updated to larger size, especially for 15 inch. Also the screen were also not improved its color gamut to cover all AdobeRGB space.
Why not get a Surface Pro? It's lighter weight and also better for desk work due to the kickstand. Pair it with a bluetooth keyboard instead of a type cover and you'll get hotkeys and an erganomic drawing setup. The only downside is the smaller screen. If you want a couch sketching device you might be better off with an ipad pro. It's cheaper and has a better pen.
@@JayJapanB For me at least having all in one device that allows me to these things. I can game, video edit in DaVinci, draw and graphic design, even make 3D objects in Blender, write and compile code. All not having to carry multiple devices.
iPad Pro is great and iPadOS have its own merits like huge tablet app library, consistent UI of the OS, great pen. But there are still things that I can't do with iPad Pro like I mentioned above except for drawing which is great at.
Surely there are people and organization found its use. Problem is it doesn't come cheap.
@@kornkernel2232 Power to you if you're enjoying it. As someone who uses photoshop and 3D software a lot I can't understand the formfactor of the surface book.
I need a keyboard when doing work with the pen, thus completely ruining the ergonomics, or it being an all in one(if you plan on carrying two keyboards). On top of that, the gpu power just seems underwhelming. I exclusively use desktops with wacom tablets at work and home, and a surface pro now and then. If I need portable power in future, the plan is a cintiq/laptop setup. If I want something less clunky, I'll use a physical sketchbook. (very underrated)
Surface Pro with apple keyboard I've enjoyed. Just can't do 3D. Surface book isn't a solution to that in my eyes. Which it seems like it is trying to be.
You realize USB-C is not descriptive enough is it 3.1gen 2 gen 1 3.0. @6:24 ish in the video, is it the same standard as the other side just type c connector?
It is a 3.1 gen 2 USB c
All the usbs are 10gb but the surface dock provides a ton more data capacity
Seems like there are A LOT of empty space on the left/right side of the keyboard. Then, why not add a vertical key row on each side, instead of requiring FN combinations to press HOME or END? I mean, on the right, there could be a row for HOME,END,INSERT, PrintScren, etc, and on the left, there could be several programmable hot keys. I just don't understand why those engineers don't come up with such things.
I was a mad surface fan ever since the pro 4, but I'll admit, the book is now their weekest product. They should have made then slightly larger to accommodate higher end CPUs, more battery, airflow etc. I'll still stick by the surface pen for being the best on a Windows computer though, so if you wanna take notes/draw, that's the one to go for
Does MacBookPro have touch screen? NO!
Can Dell XPS detach the screen and use it as a tablet? NO!
So now I'm gonna pick up a MacBook pro 16, an apple pen and use it like a surface book... Ohh.. Wait.. I can't, but they told me macbook is better... Soo? How can I use my pen with my MacBook? Mhhh
It baffles me that a lot of reviewers seem to miss the point of the Surface line. They are 2-in-1 PCs, so they're for people who want BOTH tablet/inking and laptop functionality in one device. Most reviews just boil this down to a laptop, and of course there are more powerful laptops out there for the price. But there is literally nothing else on the market like this Surface Book.
I was planning on buying the 15-inch version of this, but that was over a year ago while we were still waiting for the Book 3 to be announced. Looking at the current laptop market I agree with this video, if you don't need (or really want) the tablet functionality, you really are throwing performance out of the window when purchasing this one over a MacBook Pro 16/Dell XPS 15.
I think the 13.5-inch is a spectacular product, but the 15-inch is just strange with that slow CPU for it's size.
seriously, you want to make fun of the thick bezels? how would you hold the tablet side with a bezel? Macbook Pro does not even has a touchscreen so it is not as functional and hence not comparable; and if you try to get the same two-in-one you have to do a iPad as a second screen.
Microsoft refreshed the surface book 2 to 8th gen from 7th gen completely last year after its launch. Do you think that we will get Tiger late on Surfave Book 3?
Are they likely making it Icelake temporarily? Since Tiger Lake is not yet ready that is why the majority of its competitors are all 9th gen...
Sorry but this is laptop is meant for artist. Pretty much everything you talk about does not affect artists. Heck my surface Book 2 run full maya without issues and can run after effects, premiere Pro, Photoshop all at once and there’s a beautiful job. And The touch sensitivity for drawing is amazing.
If you don't want your surface book 3, can I have it?
You totally loose the point of this device. You are not equipped to review this device.
This is for creatives only!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a student and still enjoy my Surface Book 2 :)) I love being able to have a powerful laptop to do my assignments on, and then take the screen off to scribble down some notes or ideas in class, and I am in no way creatively inclined. l think what makes the book line particularly special is that anyone can find their own unique use for it.
Considering the bigger bezels as a disadvantage shows that youdon't have an idea of the different use cases of the Surface Book. I have the SB2 15" and often take the tablet alone for reading/writing on my couch or in bed. Guess how great a zero bezel tablet would be to keep in hand... don't compare apple's (and Dell's) apples with this multi purpose orange.
Few people will be able and willing to use all its abilities, but for those who do it's a pretty perfect piece of technique.
In my opinion, you can't really compare the surface book 3 with the Dell XPS 15 (2020) or MacBook Pro, they have not any 2 in 1 characteristic, you should compare them with the dell XPS 13 2 in 1 or the Hp Spectre 360. This machine can hold inside a 13'5 inch laptop a GTX 1650, nowadays only Razer has done something like this, but it's not even a 2 in 1. I'm sorry, I respect your review but I don't agree with you.
Engadget: How does SB3 compare with SB2? Should I upgrade my SB2?
The laptop is a master of none but good at everything. A bit like a Swiss knife. It can detach like a tablet, use its discrete GPU for machine learning or gaming, amazing screen and pen functionality for media and art hobbyists/professionals, excellent battery life, great track pad and keyboard, portable, and all-round amazing
For classroom it form isn’t great because of how long it takes from eject to take notes. Not to mention fragility of the screen where cracks appear at the contact point of keyboard
Over the Tab S8 Ultra, The iPad Pro, The Surface Pro 8, I want this more than all of them.
None dared to mimic the books approach:
Pixel slate with brydge keyboard: Am I a joke to you?
You have $1700 to spend to last a minimum 4 years. What do you get?
1. Surface laptop 2 i5 ($750) renewed
2. Surface laptop 3 i5 ($1150)
3. Surface Go ($400) renewed
4. Surface Go 2 ($750)
5. Surface Book 2 i7 ($1500)
6. Surface Pen ($100)
7. Keyboard type cover ($100)
Any other suggestions are welcome I just want a good productivity laptop for university and some photo editing as well as a device that I can hand write on. I know the surface book 2 covers all that and has deidicated graphics and that's what I'm leaning towards now. My only concern is that it is 8th gen Intel and I don't know if that will hold up for 5 years.
Another suggestions for devices are good although I am trying to stay away from Apple as I do not want to get sucked into their ecosystem and I already have a newer android phone.
I've returned this to store because it wasn't able to connect to two FHD monitors through WD19 docking station. All possible updates were installed BTW.
Review missed the whole point of this device - versatility. You can use it as laptop and run your CAD, PS, watch movie when screen is in reverse, or read a book, use it as a tablet, draw on it, take notes, record and livestream meetings with rear camera, use it as a tablet with dedicated gpu, you name it. You can use it under load on any surface, on laps or in bed as it does not have air intakes on the bottom. Perfect device for those who want one pc to do it all. Not perfect in every task, but it does them all. 15 inch SB2 is awesome for notes and management projects.
I think also discussion of screen ratio should be discussed that make 16” move usable
What about a jitter test? I'm an artist, so I need to know how it performs for apps like photoshop while drawing clean lines slowly.
I'm watching this on 12.9 1st gen iPad Pro. It'll be great to get that size iPad.
Bezels - _an obsession_ . I dont want my fingers on the screen when I'm holding it as a tablet, I also don't want my vulnerable screen right near the edge of machine Im carrying around. So many machines essentially broken on ebay with cracks on screen where the bezel should be.
You know there's a 13 inch version too right?
Surely the point of the bezel is so you can hold it as a tablet?
"Liability" what? "Thick screen bezels" because its also a tablet genius. He also said the clipboard weighs too much, so im assuming an ipad Pro must be the worst right? "I wouldnt use it for note taking, its a bit too large" wtf does that even mean. This is probably one of the most biased reviews iv ever watched. Stick to your macbooks and stop making videos about other products because these are just embarrassing
i have the SB1. amd seeing the SB3 i feel this device has untapped potential which Microsoft needs to exploit. a good powerhouse of a device with room for improvement rather than just refreshing and tweaking. if it aint broke dont fix it isnt always the way to go
My Surface Book 1 has problems with a faulty Marvell WiFi Adapter which disconnects the WiFi very often. Until now, couldn't find a fix and to my knowledge, it affect quite a handful of users.
Has anyone else had over heating issues? I sent my first one back. They were pretty quick with the second which I bet is a refurbished model because it didn't come in original packaging. And this second one now overheats too. When I say over heats, it gets so hot it shuts itself down and displays a thermometer
The 13.5" has worth, but the 15" always was an odd idea and now when it can no longer compete on power seems even less like a good idea.
fair points on performance but you ignored the unique selling points
this device crosses so many categories and does it fairly well
the screen "clipboard" is very light and overall the surface book line has proven to be sturdy and reliable
Make it with ryzen 4000 and you’ll get more power for the same thermals
The G14 wrecks everything listed here more often than not. It doesn't have the best of screens (but not bad either), or the best thermals (but not bad either), but it DOES wreck everything here in terms of performance.
It runs circles around everything listed.
Personally performance > anything else for me.
If I do color grading I wouldn't do it on the built in display anyway. I would connect to a high res and color accurate reference monitor. Which in turn make the performance advantages of the G14 even more prevalent.
I'm glad reviewers have started calling out the Book for what it is: A Windows tablet computer with an expansion base.
That makes the Book for people who want a 15" Surface Pro and occasionally have use for a GPU.
That still describes me but I can't justify the price-size-weight-performance score. Although I want a 13" to 15" Surface Pro, I won't want to pay $2500 to $3000 for it.
I think I'll just keep my Surface Pro, build a tower for video editing, and try to find a smooth way to transition back and forth between the two.
hope Surface next gen will have all AMD chips!
Like they did with the surface laptop
The only thing I support of this video is that the 13.5" model might be better to cater needs of Tablet-like experience. 15" could be indeed quite large.
Any SB2 users here who can share some input?
So according to this reviewer; he wonders who holds a tablet to watch Netflix! Was he that critical to the iPad then when Netflix launched on the App Store, also when Apple weren't selling the kickstand / keyboard stand?
As David Mena in the comments typed: "this is just an ad for the MacBook". Bias & Unprofessional!
Almost every sentence was comparing to Apple products. You want to learn how to review tech products? watch Dave Lee do his reviews, or any other PROFESSIONAL tech reviewer - or even a better company like the Verge! & not just on a Microsoft product, but any tech!
I admit I have a soft spot for MacBook Pro, especially for the bone and then for the build quality of the MacBook Pro (except for the disastrous butterfly keyboard)
However, I took a surface Book 2 just to change a little.
At first I found the 13 inch version too big and bulky.
But with time I must say that I am seduced.
Microsoft has managed to release a range of products with same quality of MacBook.
As mentioned above, power isn't everything.
An asus Zephyrus G14' despite the good reviews is a noisy laptop, with a screen quality I can't explain.
In short, the surface is in my opinion an excellent product.
The cpu is clearly powerful enough for office, dev and gaming.
Not everyone is a youtuber and we don't spend our time encoding 4K videos
You are comparing the surface Book with laptop. Compare it with 2in1 devices. Your video is not justified. Dislike it.
I think the draw to the surface book are its looks and its ability to game and do GPU intesive stuff. I would be interested in comparing the Dell XPS 15 and the Surface Book in terms of gaming, and video processing.
ya your pretty much right on this one... hope MS redesign 15 inch for more power and better screen.
I see that you are speaking about performance per dollar as the only value metric for this device and you seem to completely ignore the multiple uses this device has. I'm a professional illustrator and this is a device that I can use as a laptop, as a cintiq, as an iPad, and i can also game batter than a console. Just the money I'm saving on having to buy a cintiq alone justifies the price of this device.
It's a Laptop AND a Cintiq I can take anywhere. Wacom even offers a similar device and while the pen is better in their device, which is basically a 16 inch tablet, runs for $3500. With no keyboard, trackpad, and a very low battery life.
Because reviewers of tech devices can't draw to save their lives, they seem to forget that this is a touch and pen device that can be used as a portable digital studio.
These types of reviewers of the Surface Book obviously doesn't know it's targeted market. Who really needs overkill versus function these days with these powerful even midtier chips? Obviously this reviewer doesn't try to understand that the people who he is basing his opinions on with these elite dedicated laptops would not watch his videos on Surface Books as they already know what it does. 🤦🏾♂️
So, you have to be corporate buyer to exploit its full potential? I'm not a gamer so, its still far and above better than the others. My version one is my favorite by far. I have Apple, Lenovo, and Microsoft. It just works and it is durable. the only reason why I am researching for another Surface Book is because I have handled my old one roughly (subconsciously on purpose), and I am having problems with the volume button. I have dropped it too many times. I will be getting the 15 inch, and the Duo. Thanks for the review ;-) Side note, is the 16 touchscreen? Stop comparing Apples to Oranges while trying to keep the same price point.
Although I am an MSFT fanboy, I think you were a little too tough on this review, as evidence by all the commits below. We all agree the SB3 is by no means perfect, but yeah this review was too harsh . I would recommend a rebuff video for redemption.
Isn't the GPU on this thing better than anything the MacBook pro can offer tho?