Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen4 Vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

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  DannyC on 11/09/2020 - 18:11

  +1

  If it comes down to screen and battery, both have decent battery life.

  Screen wise that 3:2 ratio of the Surface Laptop 3 is nice to have as it is taller (as your workflow has multiple windows open) vs the Yoga.

  I think a bit more screen real estate is better though, maybe consider say a 15.6" inch device VS a 13 or 14 inch.

  • 

    fd9 on 11/09/2020 - 18:28

    Thanks for the reply.

    Have you used the X1 Yoga before? Any annoyances? I've never used one before and thats my main concern (nor used a QHD laptop).

    Like for example I bought a Surface Book thinking it would be perfect - but then after using it found it was impossible to use on the lap as the tablet part is too heavy and just makes it fall over.

    I've had the X1 Carbon before.

    I did look at 15". The Surface Laptop 3 15" is just a bit too big for portability and to whip out on the train and stuff.
    I wanted to get the XPS 15 9500 (as its in a 14" frame) but they keyboard is trash * (I tested the 13" keyboard of the same generation as couldn't find anywhere with the 15 9500 on display, I assume they have the same keyboard).

    • 

      DannyC on 11/09/2020 - 19:46

      Haven't had hands on experience with the X1 Yoga unfortunately. But i have heard that on some models of the Yoga the 2k screen is very dim.. around 270 nits? I would look a bit more into it. My work use Surface Laptops though.

      Most of my experiences have been with Asus and their Zenbook lines. A number of Ozbargainers on here are fans of their latest offerings and I have one personally.

    • 

      kerfuffle on 11/09/2020 - 19:51

      +1

      The Surface Laptop 3 15" is just a bit too big for portability and to whip out on the train and stuff.

      No it isn't. It's basically the same size as a X1 Carbon 14" (not sure what the Yoga is like size wise).

      Source: Surface Laptop 3 as personal laptop, X1 Carbon 3rd gen as work laptop

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  Neptunesblood on 11/09/2020 - 20:36

  +1

  Yoga is brilliant. We use them at work. We have just bought the Gen 5 and they are second to none as I have also used the Surface.

  • 

    fd9 on 11/09/2020 - 20:51

    Interesting! Any difference between Gen 5 and 4? Upon goolging I think the only differences are WiFi6 and VPro?

    Any annoyances with the yoga that won't become apparent until using it for a week?

    eg Surface Book Toppling Over
    eg Surface Pro Hinge being annoying as hell to use.
    eg XPS 7390 maglev keyboard being unbareable with no travel.

    Also what things about the Yoga do u prefer over the Surface Laptop?

    Thank you

    • 

      Neptunesblood on 11/09/2020 - 21:06

      The Surface is a tablet first and foremost but the Yoga is a laptop that turns into a tablet. It’s just a slick laptop.

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  Neptunesblood on 11/09/2020 - 21:04

  Yeah very minor differences. But they finally got there act together and you can have LTE and windows IR camera at the same time. The one thing that annoys me about the yoga and it’s a small annoyance is the hard wired ram. Unable to be upgraded.

  • 

    fd9 on 11/09/2020 - 21:06

    Ah okay.

    I'm okay with hard-wired ram as I don't run that many programs.

    Im glad to here that there aren't any daily use kind of annoyances. Lenovo charge a 20% restocking fee (unlike Microsoft 0%) - I will pretty much know the day I get it if its the laptop for me or if theres something untolerable about it.

    Cheers

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  RobBoss on 13/09/2020 - 15:37

  +1

  I’d go with the Surface for Microsoft’s hassle-free customer service and that 3:2 ratio is nice for multiple windows. But for anything else, I’d go with the Yoga. Microsoft is loosing their touch recycling designs every year.

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  bennoz on 15/09/2020 - 06:06

  i own the Yoga gen 4 and use the SL 2 for work.

  Both really great laptops but i think the yoga is amazing and beats the SL2 for my needs

  i study an MBA and need to read ALOT of documents. The yoga screen may not be 3:2 ratio but it comes into its own when you flip into a ipad device and read documents vertically. coupled with the stylus and ability to annotate on screen, its really useful.

  The yoga also has many more ports. I need to use a dongle for everything using the SL 2, but the yoga has just enough of everything (including HDMI and a SD card reader - i have the 4G version).

  I also like the built in camera privacy switch on the Yoga. I dont use the red nipple. my wife prefers the youga because there are two buttons (L-R) on the mouse trackpad lol

  The SL2 is a great laptop, and i do like the 3:2 screen but its not a dealbreaker for me. I also use the SL2 with an additional monitor at work

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    fd9 on 15/09/2020 - 07:44

    Thanks mate! Just bought the Yoga 4! You convinced me :D Excited