Surface Book 3 15” vs. Surface Book i7: Full specs comparison

We have comprehensively analyzed the technical specifications for the Surface Book 3 15” and Surface Book i7 models. Our report includes intricate details such as the CPU, memory, storage, battery life, display quality, and other features.

Surface Book 3 15” Pros

Reasons that Surface Book 3 15” is better than Surface Book i7.

Significantly newer manufacturing

2020 vs. 2016

Much faster CPU performance

Intel Core i7-1065G7 inside Surface Book 3 15” has a 134% better multi-core CPU performance score than the Intel Core i7-6600U inside Surface Book i7.

Geekbench 5 multi-core score
Surface Book 3 15” - Intel Core i7-1065G7
3,722
Surface Book i7 - Intel Core i7-6600U
1,584
Supports larger memory

Surface Book 3 15” supports a larger memory capacity than the Surface Book i7. It supports up to 32GB versus 16GB of system memory on the Surface Book i7.

Max system memory size
Surface Book 3 15”
32 GB
Surface Book i7
16 GB
Supports faster memory

Surface Book 3 15” supports a faster memory speed than the Surface Book i7. It supports up to 3733MHz versus 1866MHz of system memory on the Surface Book i7.

Memory type and speed
Surface Book 3 15” - LPDDR4X
3,733 MHz
Surface Book i7 - LPDDR3
1,866 MHz
11% larger display

Surface Book 3 15” has a 15-inch screen size 11% larger than the 13.5-inch Surface Book i7.

Display size
Surface Book 3 15”
15-inch
Surface Book i7
13.5-inch

Surface Book i7 Pros

Reasons that Surface Book i7 is better than Surface Book 3 15”.

About 13% lighter

Surface Book i7 weighed 3.68 pounds, 13% lighter than the 4.20 pounds Surface Book 3 15”.

WeightSurface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
Pound
4.20 lbs.
3.68 lbs.
Kilogram
1.91 kg
1.67 kg

Prices

Here are the latest price updates and offers for both devices.

Surface Book 3 15” Price
NEW Microsoft Surface Book 3 - 15" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum
NEW Microsoft Surface Book 3 - 15" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum
By Microsoft
$1,319.00
Microsoft Surface Book 3-15" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7-32GB Memory - 512GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum (Renewed)
Microsoft Surface Book 3-15" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7-32GB Memory - 512GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$1,369.00
Microsoft New Surface Book 3-15" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7-16GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum (Renewed)
Microsoft New Surface Book 3-15" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7-16GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$1,197.99
Surface Book i7 Price
Microsoft Surface Book 2 (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB) - 13.5in (Renewed)
Microsoft Surface Book 2 (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB) - 13.5in (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$599.98
Microsoft Surface Book 3 - 13.5" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum
Microsoft Surface Book 3 - 13.5" Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum
By Microsoft
$994.92
NEW Microsoft Surface Book 3 - 13.5 Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum (Renewed)
NEW Microsoft Surface Book 3 - 13.5 Touch-Screen - 10th Gen Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$910.99

Availability

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
Released20202016
Release Date
  • Introduced: May 6, 2020
  • Pre-ordered: May 6, 2020
  • Released: May 12, 2020
  • Introduced: October 26, 2016
  • Pre-ordered: October 26, 2016
  • Released: November 10, 2016
PricingFor Consumer
  • $2,299 - i7 | 16GB | 256GB | GTX 1660 Ti
  • $2,799 - i7 | 32GB | 512GB | GTX 1660 Ti
  • $2,999 - i7 | 32GB | 1TB | GTX 1660 Ti
  • $3,399 - i7 | 32GB | 2TB | GTX 1660 Ti
For Commercial
  • $2,399 - i7 | 16GB | 256GB | GTX 1660 Ti
  • $2,899 - i7 | 32GB | 512GB | GTX 1660 Ti
  • $3,099 - i7 | 32GB | 1TB | GTX 1660 Ti
  • $3,499 - i7 | 32GB | 2TB | GTX 1660 Ti
  • $3,499 - i7 | 32GB | 512GB | RTX 3000
  • $3,699 - i7 | 32GB | 1TB | RTX 3000
Starting at 2,399$
Generations

Exterior

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
Dimensions13.5” x 9.87” x 0.568-0.90” (343 mm x 251 mm x 15 mm-23 mm)12.3” x 9.14” x 0.59”-0.90” (312 mm x 232 mm x 15 mm-23 mm)
Weight
  • Total: 4.20 lbs (1,905 g)
  • Tablet: 1.80 lbs (817 g)
  • Tablet only: 1.6 lbs (726 g)
  • Total: 3.68 lbs (1,669 g)
Colors
Platinum
Platinum
Keyboard and Trackpad
  • Keyboard:
    • Full-size mechanical backlit keyset with 1.55mm travel.
    • Mechanical friction attaches the Clipboard to the keyboard.
  • Trackpad:
    • Larger size 105 mm x 70 mm, glass.
    • Supports up to Five-finger multitouch gesture.
  • Keyboard:
    • Full-size mechanical backlit keyset with 1.55mm travel.
    • Mechanical friction attaches the Clipboard to the keyboard.
  • Trackpad:
    • Larger size 105 mm x 70 mm, glass.
    • Supports up to Five-finger multitouch gesture.

Display

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
Size15 Inches13.5 Inches
Info 
  • Display Resolution: 3240 x 2160 (7M Pixels)
  • Display Density: 260 PPI
  • PixelSense™ Display
  • Aspect ratio: 3:2
  • Contrast ratio: 1600:1
  • Inking: designed together with Surface Pen
  • Touch: 10 points multi-touch
  • Display Resolution: 3000 x 2000 (6M Pixels)
  • Display Density: 267 PPI
  • PixelSense™ Display
  • Aspect ratio: 3:2
  • Contrast ratio: 1700:1
  • Inking: designed together with Surface Pen
  • Touch: 10 points multi-touch

Ports

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
Surface Book 3 15” Ports
Image Source: Microsoft
Left (3)
  • 2 x USB-A
    USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
  • 1 x full-size SD card slot
    UHS-II performance
Right (3)
  • 1 x power port
    Charging, Docking
  • 1 x USB-C
    USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), DisplayPort, Power Delivery
  • 1 x headphone jack
    Headphone/Microphone, On the tablet
Bottom (1)
  • 1 x power port
    Charging, Docking, On the tablet
Surface Book i7 Ports
Image Source: Microsoft
  • 2 x Full-size USB 3.0
  • 2 x Surface Connect™
    1 in tablet, 1 in keyboard base, both supports charging and docking.
  • 1 x Mini DisplayPort
  • 1 x Headset jack
  • 1 x Full-size SDXC card reader (UHS-II performance)

Internal Specs

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
Processor
  1. 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1065G7
    4 cores, 8 threads, 1.30 → 3.90 GHz, 8MB SmartCache, 15W
  1. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-6600U
    2 cores, 4 threads, 2.60 → 3.40 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 15W
Integrated Graphics
  1. 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-1065G7
    Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics
    64 Execution Units, 300 → 1100 MHz
  1. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-6600U
    Intel® HD Graphics 520
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 1050 MHz
Memory
16GB 32GB
3733 MHz LPDDR4x
8GB 16GB
1866 MHz LPDDR3 RAM
Discrete Graphics
  • NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q
    Turning Architecture, 6GB GDDR6, 192-bit, 1245 → 1425 MHz, 1536 CUDA Cores.
  • NVIDIA® Quadro® RTX™ 3000 with Max-Q
    Turning Architecture, 6GB GDDR6,  192-bit, 765 → 1305 MHz, 1920 CUDA Cores, 240 Tensor Cores, 30 RT Cores, Real-time ray tracing, AI hardware acceleration, ODE, QNF,
  • NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 965m
    Maxwell Architecture, 2GB GDDR5 128-bit, 924/935 - 950/1151 MHz, 1024 CUDA Cores.
Storage
256 GB 512 GB 1 TB 2TB
PCIe SSD
256 GB 512 GB 1 TB
Soldered PCIe 3.0 SSD

Connectivity

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
Wi-Fi
  • Wi-Fi 6: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax compatible.
  • Wi-Fi 5: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible.
Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth Wireless 5.0 technology
  • Bluetooth Wireless 4.0 technology
More
  • Xbox Wireless built-in
-

Battery

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
Size
  • Total: 90Wh
    Clipboard: 23Wh
    Base: 67Wh
  • Total: 81Wh
    Clipboard: 18Wh
    Base: 63Wh
Battery LifeUp to 17.5 hours of typical device usage
  • Up to 16 hours of video playback
Power Supply127W Surface Power Supply with USB-A (7W) charging port.102W power supply with USB-A (5W) charging port.

Software

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
OS
  • For Consumer: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
  • For Commercial: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Free upgrade to Windows 11
Windows 10 Pro
Built-in AppsMicrosoft Office 365 30-days trialMicrosoft Office 365 30-days trial

Camera & Audio

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
Camera
  • Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing)
  • 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p HD video
  • 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD video
  • Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing)
  • 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p HD video
  • 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD video
Audio
  • Dual far-field Studio Mics
  • Front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos®
    • Support for Windows Sonic for Headphones
    • Support for Dolby® Atmos for Headphones
  • Dual microphones
  • Front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby® Audio™ Premium

Misc

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
InkingSupports Surface Pen
4096 levels of pressure
Tilt sensing
Best in class latency
Paper feel
0.1mm precision
Supports Surface Pen
1024 levels of pressure
Magnetic storage
Sensors
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Proximity sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Magnetometer
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Proximity sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Magnetometer
Security
  • HW TPM 2.0 chip for enterprise security
  • Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in
  • HW TPM chip for enterprise security
  • Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in
In the box
  • Surface Book 3 15”
  • Power supply
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Safety and warranty documents
  • Surface Book
  • Surface Pen
  • Power supply
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Safety and warranty documents
WarrantyOne-year limited hardware warrantyOne-year limited hardware warranty
MoreSupports Surface Dial
Supports both on-screen and off-screen interaction.
Supports Surface Dial
Supports off-screen interaction only.

Key Features

Surface Book 3 15”Surface Book i7
At Glance
Released in Mid
2020
3:2 3.2K
15”
2160p 60Hz
Weight
4.20 lb
1.91 kg
Powered By
Intel Core i7-1065G7
4C/8T, 1.30 → 3.90 GHz
Geekbench 5
1,088
Single Core
Geekbench 5
3,722
Multi-Core
With integrated
Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics
64 Execution Units, 300 → 1100 MHz
Configurable up to
32GB
3733 MHz LPDDR4X
Surface Book 3 15” Ports
Nvidia GeForce
RTX 3000
6GB GDDR6 with Max-Q
Released in Late
2016
3:2 3K
13.5”
2000p 60Hz
Weight
3.68 lb
1.67 kg
Powered By
Intel Core i7-6600U
2C/4T, 2.60 → 3.40 GHz
Geekbench 5
745
Single Core
Geekbench 5
1,584
Multi-Core
With integrated
Intel® HD Graphics 520
24 Execution Units, 300 → 1050 MHz
Configurable up to
16GB
1866 MHz LPDDR3
Surface Book i7 Ports
Nvidia GeForce
GTX 965M
2GB GDDR5

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