Microsoft just announced another version of its Surface Laptop: this time, with 5G connectivity.
The Surface Laptop 5G is a 13.8-inch laptop powered by Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) chips and an integrated 5G modem designed for business users to stay permanently connected. It comes with both NanoSIM and eSIM options, and Microsoft says it’s compatible with over 100 mobile operators worldwide.
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The strength of this kind of laptop lies in its ability to connect via both 5G and Wi-Fi, transitioning between the two in the background as the user moves between different environments with always-on access to the cloud in the process.
Perhaps even more handy, this also allows it to act as a hotspot for other devices, sharing connectivity while in the field, on a train, or that coffee shop with unreliable Wi-Fi.
To achieve this, the Surface Laptop 5G has what Microsoft is calling a “dynamic antenna system” featuring a total of six antennas that adjust their strength and signal paths based on the device’s placement or how it’s being used.
To maintain signal strength, the laptop is made of a custom multi-layered laminate designed to facilitate signal strength while retaining durability. I’m especially interested to see how this feels, as 5G laptops typically aren’t the lightest, but Microsoft says the Surface Laptop 5G will still clock in at under three pounds.
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The Surface Laptop 5G follows up on the $899 13-inch Surface Laptop Microsoft released earlier this year as a budget-friendly, lightweight device with a marathon battery. I tested the 15-inch Surface Laptop last summer and was impressed with its performance and build.
The Surface Laptop 5G rounds out its laptop lineup with a device for business users who can’t gamble with connectivity or are working in spaces without Wi-Fi.
Announced today, the Surface Laptop 5G will begin shipping on August 26, and Microsoft has not yet announced pricing. With the added cost of a 5G network plan, it would make sense for slightly more modest hardware to keep prices accessible.
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