Surface Laptop 3 brings 15-inch model, USB-C, and offers all-metal option

What you need to know

  • Microsoft announced the refreshed Surface Laptop 3 at its October Surface event.
  • The 13-inch model feels largely the same, but Microsoft has added USB-C, a new 15-inch model, and an all-metal option that ditches Alcantara fabric..
  • For the first time, Microsoft is also offering an option with custom AMD Ryzen 7 processors on the 15-inch model.
  • Both Surface Laptop 3 models are available to preorder today starting at $999 and will launch on October 22.

Microsoft took the wraps off of the new Surface Laptop 3 at its October 2 event in New York City today. While leaks ahead of the event may have taken some of the surprise away, we now have a much better look at how Microsoft has evolved the laptop for 2019.

The largest change here is that there's now a 15-inch version of the Surface Laptop, in addition to the upgraded 13-inch model. Both models now include a USB-C port, which is something of a trend this year, as Microsoft also brought USB-C to the Surface Pro 7.

However, what's more interesting is that you'll be able to get the Surface Pro 3 without its signature Alcantara fabric covering around the keyboard with the 15-inch model. Instead, you'll get a full-metal chassis, making the Surface Laptop 3 look more like other premium laptops in this segment. That'll come as good news for those who had been looking to pick up a Surface Laptop, but were hesitant because of potential wear on the fabric.

In addition to the two new sizes, Microsoft has debuted a ne color option as well. Now, you'll be able to pick up the Surface Laptop 3 in a new sandstone finish. There's also fast charging (up to 80 percent in under an hour), a 20 percent larger trackpad, and "all-day battery life."

As for specs, the 15-inch model looks to be the workhorse of the two. You'll be able to select, for the first time, AMD Ryzen 7 custom processors that Microsoft developed with AMD on the larger Laptop 3. The 15-inch model can also be equipped with up to 32GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. What's more, the Surface Laptop 3 now includes a replaceable SSD, so you can upgrade the storage at any time.

For the 13-inch model, you'll get a selection of Intel's latest 10th Gen Core CPUs, ranging up to a Core i7 chip. You're more limited on RAM options here, with a cap of 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM. You'll also be able to get up to 1TB of SSD storage, but, like the 15-inch model, you can also upgrade the drive yourself if needed.

Here's everything Microsoft announced at its Surface 2019 event

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl