If you're in the market for an all-powerful pro-spec 2-in-1 then the Surface Book 3 is hard to beat. But we know Microsoft has the potential to turn things up to 11 for a fourth-gen model - so if you're not in a rush you might want to wait for the goodness that brings.
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If you need your laptop to convert into a tablet, the Surface Book 3 is as close to true hybrid nirvana as you're likely going to get. But it's not the best tablet, the best laptop, or the best 2-in-1.
The Surface Book is a minor upgrade over its predecessor, and some clear shortcomings mean it’s starting to look a bit dated when compared to the competition.
Don't buy the Surface Book 3 as a gaming laptop. Buy the Surface Book 3 as a workstation, and then use it in your downtime for gaming. There are far more powerful gaming laptops available for a lot less money. But for someone who appreciates the Surface Book 3 design and Microsoft's approach to hardware, the Book 3 gets the job done in a sneakily fun way.
If you're in the market for an all-powerful pro-spec 2-in-1 then the Surface Book 3 is hard to beat. But we know Microsoft has the potential to turn things up to 11 for a fourth-gen model - so if you're not in a rush you might want to wait for the goodness that brings.
But at such a hefty price, the Surface Book 3 should be great in all those ways. That cost makes it hard to recommend to just anyone. It's not that the Surface Book 3 is too expensive, rather that the average person is unlikely to take advantage of its many luxuries. But if you are one of those people -- a creative, someone looking for a graphically capable 13-inch laptop, or just a person looking for a deluxe device to indulge in -- the 13.5-inch Surface Book 3 becomes a much easier recommendation.
I hope that Microsoft comes out swinging with a Surface Book 4 featuring a slim hinge, USB-C ports galore, a screen that matches its premium competitors, and a Tablet Mode that’s a joy to use. If not, I’m not sure where else this line can go.
Microsoft's Surface Book 3 upgrades the CPU and GPU options, while leaving the rest of this convertible 2-in-1 largely unchanged. In a rapidly changing and improving landscape, that stability's a bit of a liability.
Hands on: As with Apple and its new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, my first impression is that Microsoft has done an excellent job executing on the idea of the Surface Book 3 — but I don’t think it’s the right idea for me. Whether it could be for you is a question for the review, and both Monica Chin and Tom Warren will have one for you in the near future.