Microsoft adds 12th Gen processors to the Surface Laptop 5, not much else

Microsoft is holding its annual October hardware event today and has launched the Surface Laptop 5 alongside the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Studio 2+. While the Surface Pro 8 received a major redesign last year, launching alongside the innovative Surface Laptop Studio was a redesigned Surface Book, many expected a lot from the Surface Laptop 5.

Unfortunately, there’s not much to look at here, and the product hasn’t received many of the improvements that other Surface products have received. In fact, these are improvements that everyone The Premium Surface has since received a 120Hz display and an FHD webcam.

12th generation Intel processors

The biggest change to the Surface Laptop 5 is that both the 13.5- and 15-inch models come with Intel’s 12th Gen U-series processors, either a Core i5-1235U or a Core i7- 1255U in the 13.5-inch model and only the Core i7 in the 15-inch version.

Yes, that means the rumors are true and there is no AMD model. The last two iterations of the Surface Laptop have offered both Intel and AMD options, and Microsoft has typically used last-gen AMD chips and current-gen Intel processors; However, according to rumors, the Surface Laptop 5 was designed for Ryzen 6000. It’s unclear which of the two companies pulled out.

“With each product, and with the goal of delighting customers, we select the right components for the shape, scenarios and customer we envision,” a Microsoft spokesman said in a statement to XDA. “It’s a deliberate process where we work closely with our partners to fine-tune and perfect the overall experience. In this product we are happy about the processors of the 12th generation from Intel. This chipset is based on the Intel Evo platform and helps the Surface Laptop 5 achieve the perfect balance of style and performance. This balance has led to the Surface Laptop being our most popular Surface device.”

All Intel processors, of course, mean that the Surface Laptop 5 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 for the first time. That means you can use this port for something as simple as charging, or you can use it to light up two 4K monitors. It’s the most versatile port out there.

Unfortunately, Microsoft still only uses one USB Type-C connector as it sticks to its proprietary Surface Connect connector. There is also a USB 3.1 Type-A port.

This year’s new color is sage, but there’s no Alcantara

There’s at least one new color of Surface Laptop every year. While the Surface Laptop 5 hasn’t really been modernized, it comes in the Sage color that debuted with the Surface Laptop Go 2. To make room for it, the Ice Blue color that was introduced in the previous generation is going on sale for the curb.

The Surface Laptop 5 15 is still only available in Platinum and Matte Black, while the Surface Laptop 5 13.5 is available in Platinum, Sage, Matte Black, and Sandstone. The 13.5-inch platinum model is the only one that still has Alcantara cloth on the keyboard, something that was once a hallmark of the Surface Laptop.

As mentioned above, Microsoft hasn’t added the improvements it has added in other products. The screen is 201ppi and still 60Hz on both the 13.5-inch and 15-inch models. The webcam is also still 720p, although the company has used at least one 1080p sensor in the Surface Pro since 2014. In fact, since it’s a recommended part of Intel’s Evo specification, most of the industry uses at least one FHD webcam in premium products.

The Surface Laptop 5 is scheduled to arrive on October 25th. It will be available in the following configurations: