Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Book4 15"
The Verdict
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 excels as a premium ultrabook with superior display quality, exceptional 18-hour battery life, and a refined 13.5-inch PixelSense screen at 2256 x 1504 resolution with 400 nits brightness. Samsung Galaxy Book4 15 offers better value at $749, featuring a larger 15.6-inch display, more RAM (16GB standard), and faster PCIe Gen 4 storage, though its 1080p resolution feels dated for this price tier and battery life trails significantly at 10 hours. Surface Laptop 5's Alcantara design and lighter 1.27kg chassis provide superior portability despite the smaller screen. Galaxy Book4 15 justifies consideration primarily for budget-conscious buyers needing extra screen real estate and RAM. For most users prioritizing performance, display quality, and battery endurance, Surface Laptop 5 delivers the more complete package, though Galaxy Book4 15 offers compelling value for light tasks requiring a larger work area.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 if…
- →Excellent 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touchscreen for productivity
- →Alcantara keyboard deck is comfortable and distinctive
- →Lightweight at 1.27 kg for easy portability
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Book4 15" if…
- →Lightweight at 3.44 lbs with an aluminum build for the price
- →Full-HD display is sufficient for everyday productivity
- →Samsung ecosystem features like Quick Share and Phone Link
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Pros
- Excellent 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touchscreen for productivity
- Alcantara keyboard deck is comfortable and distinctive
- Lightweight at 1.27 kg for easy portability
- Up to 18 hours claimed battery life
- Removable SSD for easier data recovery
Cons
- Only one USB-C port and one USB-A port — very limited
- 60Hz display lacks the smoothness of 120Hz competitors
- No Thunderbolt 4 — USB-C is USB 4.0 with limited bandwidth
- Surface Connect charger is proprietary
- 8 GB base RAM is restrictive for multitasking
Samsung Galaxy Book4 15"
Pros
- Lightweight at 3.44 lbs with an aluminum build for the price
- Full-HD display is sufficient for everyday productivity
- Samsung ecosystem features like Quick Share and Phone Link
- 10-hour battery life handles a full school or work day
- HDMI port included — avoids dongles for presentations
Cons
- 60Hz FHD display is unremarkable at the $749 price point
- Only one USB-C and one USB-A port is limiting
- Soldered RAM and SSD — zero upgradeability
- No Thunderbolt or high-speed USB-C
- Integrated graphics only — no discrete GPU option
Full Specifications
| Spec | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 | Samsung Galaxy Book4 15" |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.27 kg | 3.44 lbs (1.56 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum and Alcantara | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm | 14.00 x 8.93 x 0.61 inches |
| Ports | ||
| USB-A ports | 1 | 1 |
| USB-C ports | 1 | 1 |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Surface Connect | — | |
| HDMI | — | |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Capacity | 47.4 Wh | 54 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.5 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Type | PixelSense IPS LCD | IPS anti-glare |
| Resolution | 2256 x 1504 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 400 | 300 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB / 512 GB (removable SSD) | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB / 16 GB | 16 GB LPDDR5 |
| Cores | 10-core (2P + 8E) | 10 cores (2P + 8E) |
| Chipset | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U / i7-1255U | Intel Core i7-1355U (13th Gen) |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in laptops, see all Microsoft products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 or the Samsung Galaxy Book4 15".