Microsoft Floor Laptop computer Four comes with Intel or AMD chips and begins at $ 999

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

Microsoft

Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop 4 on Tuesday, which competes most closely with Apple’s MacBook Air.

Customers can choose between Intel or AMD processors in two sizes, a 13.5-inch laptop or a 15-inch model.

It shows that Microsoft is taking a different route to its devices than Apple, which has abandoned the use of Intel processors in its new computers in favor of its own chips. It also shows that Intel is still struggling where it once dominated.

Intel chips were the standard processor in most notebooks. However, companies across the board continue to offer AMD options, which sometimes offer better performance for the price. Last year, Microsoft only offered the option for its larger 15-inch laptops.

The Surface Laptop 4 is similar to the Surface Laptop 3. Microsoft promises a battery life of up to 19 hours – in contrast to 11.5 hours for the previous model – and an increase in performance of up to 70%.

Surface Pro 4 offers Dolby Atmos support for improved sound and a new 32GB storage option. However, Microsoft opted for a 720p webcam, which can also be found on a MacBook Air. It’s not as sharp as what you get from a standalone webcam or the camera on your smartphone. It also includes things not available on Macbooks like a full-sized USB port and a touchscreen display.

Microsoft wasn’t sure where consumers should choose the AMD or Intel models from. However, the company said the AMD models will offer better gaming performance. Microsoft also said that AMD models will be more attractive to people who work with photo and video software given the improved graphics. Part of that decision is made for the consumer based on how much they want to spend. The entry-level model only comes with an AMD chip.

The 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 4 ranges from $ 999 for the 13.5-inch entry-level model with an AMD Ryzen chip and 256GB of storage to $ 2,299 with an Intel Core i7 processor and 1 TB storage. The 15-inch model starts at $ 1,299 with an AMD Ryzen processor and costs up to $ 2,399 with an Intel Core i7 chip.

The Surface Laptop 4 is available in the United States, Canada, and Japan and will ship on Thursday. It will be launched in other markets in the coming weeks.