Powerful Surface Book 3 Alternative

Flamingi · April 9, 2021

I'm in need for a new laptop as my current one is not cutting it anymore. Generally, I'm up to date with the current hardware, so I know what features I want, but unfortunately I can't find a model fitting my needs. I will list the features I want in descending priority

13-15" detachable, the tablet itself should be as light as possible (for reference the screen of the Surface Book 3 15" is 814g, I don't want anything significantly heavier). I don't care about the weight of the keyboard. This is a hard requirement I do not want a conventional laptop without a detachable keyboard. Ideally it's something like the mentioned Surface Book 3, where the discrete GPU and a larger battery is in the keyboard part (and hence making the screen part lighter).
8 core Zen 3 CPU (H, HS or HX version, would settle with the U version as well if it's necessary). ~~This is a hard requirement, I do not want a 6 core, 4 core, Zen 2 (there are also some Ryzen 5000 mobile that are still Zen 2 based) or Intel CPU~~. I would prefer those. (I know those are new, so if you know a laptop which meets my requirements, but has Zen 2, please still let me know, I will then watch out for an updated Zen 3 version)
Either 32GB of built in RAM or 16GB built in RAM + 1 free slot or any capacity if it has 2 dimm slots. Hard requirement are 16GB built in or 8Gb + 1 free slot. Would really prefer 32GB or 16GB + free slot though. Bonus points for so-dimm instead of soldered.
Either at least 1TB soldered SSD or M.2 slot. Bonus points for a second M.2 slot
screen resolution 2K-3K, 16:10 or taller preferred but not necessary. 4K is ok as well, but 1080p is not enough
If the laptop is similar to the Surface Book 3 (with additional battery in the keyboard), I want the screen part alone to have about 1.5-2h of battery life. The combined battery should get me through a day, i.e. 9h+ battery life. (browsing/office work in both scenarios)
(Near) silent operation in idle/light tasks such as browsing
Large trackpad, the bigger the better
Premium build quality (MacBook kind of quality)
144Hz, more is good too. I will survive with 60Hz, but you know 144 Hz feels just much smoother
slim bezels, if there is something with XPS bezels: nice, if not that's still ok. Just don't want old MacBook Air bezels
personal preference: Either no discrete GPU or at least a 3060. I feel like the 1650s are just a waste of power/money, as they can't do any serious gaming.

Some general information:

I'm from Germany, I can order worldwide.
Although I'm from Germany, the English keyboard layout is OK (the German one is OK too ofc, but no french, italian, spanish etc.)
I will spend what is necessary, but still as little as possible. I expect a laptop meeting my requirements will be ~$2500
I don't care about the brand (can be some weird Chinese brand as well) with the exception of no Gigabyte models

I know those are very very specific requirements, I'm pretty sure the laptop I'm asking for does not exist. I'm searching for one that comes as close as possible. I would be happy if it meets my hard criteria.

Entropy. · April 9, 2021

7 minutes ago, Flamingi said:

I'm in need for a new laptop as my current one is not cutting it anymore. Generally, I'm up to date with the current hardware, so I know what features I want, but unfortunately I can't find a model fitting my needs. I will list the features I want in descending priority

13-15" detachable, the tablet itself should be as light as possible (for reference the screen of the Surface Book 3 15" is 814g, I don't want anything significantly heavier). I don't care about the weight of the keyboard. This is a hard requirement I do not want a conventional laptop without a detachable keyboard. Ideally it's something like the mentioned Surface Book 3, where the discrete GPU and a larger battery is in the keyboard part (and hence making the screen part lighter).

8 core Zen 3 CPU (H, HS or HX version, would settle with the U version as well if it's necessary). This is a hard requirement, I do not want a 6 core, 4 core, Zen 2 (there are also some Ryzen 5000 mobile that are still Zen 2 based) or Intel CPU. (I know those are new, so if you know a laptop which meets my requirements, but has Zen 2, please still let me know, I will then watch out for an updated Zen 3 version)

Either 32GB of built in RAM or 16GB built in RAM + 1 free slot or any capacity if it has 2 dimm slots. Hard requirement are 16GB built in or 8Gb + 1 free slot. Would really prefer 32GB or 16GB + free slot though. Bonus points for so-dimm instead of soldered.

Either at least 1TB soldered SSD or M.2 slot. Bonus points for a second M.2 slot

screen resolution 2K-3K, 16:10 or taller preferred but not necessary. 4K is ok as well, but 1080p is not enough

If the laptop is similar to the Surface Book 3 (with additional battery in the keyboard), I want the screen part alone to have about 1.5-2h of battery life. The combined battery should get me through a day, i.e. 9h+ battery life. (browsing/office work in both scenarios)

(Near) silent operation in idle/light tasks such as browsing

Large trackpad, the bigger the better

Premium build quality (MacBook kind of quality)

144Hz, more is good too. I will survive with 60Hz, but you know 144 Hz feels just much smoother

slim bezels, if there is something with XPS bezels: nice, if not that's still ok. Just don't want old MacBook Air bezels

personal preference: Either no discrete GPU or at least a 3060. I feel like the 1650s are just a waste of power/money, as they can't do any serious gaming.

Some general information:

I'm from Germany, I can order worldwide.

Although I'm from Germany, the English keyboard layout is OK (the German one is OK too ofc, but no french, italian, spanish etc.)

I will spend what is necessary, but still as little as possible. I expect a laptop meeting my requirements will be ~$2500

I don't care about the brand (can be some weird Chinese brand as well) with the exception of no Gigabyte models

I know those are very very specific requirements, so feel free to also suggest models that don't meet all criteria (hard requirements are marked).

Your criteria won't be met by anything on the market. By itself there are VERY few detachable laptops on the market. Pair that with a ryzen 5000 cpu, something very few laptops have, a 1440p+ display in 16:10, ect. ect. and you're looking at a VERY expensive product, and something manufacturers haven't ever dreamt of making.

Flamingi · April 9, 2021

Yes, that's what I figured as well. I have not made it super clear in my post so I edited it. I'm aware that the product I'm asking for does not exist. I'd like to get something that comes as close as possible. I don't even know if there is anything else than the Surface Book 3 that comes even close to what I'd like to have. It basically already meets most of my criteria, but ugh, 4 cores are just not enough if I want to run my VMs. Is it even noticeably faster than my i5-8250U? (pcuserbenchmark says only 7% faster lol). Maybe the Surface Book 4 will be the unicorn I'm looking for...

As I mentioned, please feel free to suggest models which don't meet all criteria (I would be happy if it just meets my hard criteria).