Microsoft won’t upgrade your Surface Laptop 3’s SSD at a Microsoft Store, for now - knoxmersed70

Piece Microsoft touted the serviceability of the SSD inside the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Pro X at the launch, Microsoft Stack away servicing agents recount PCWorld that the drive off is standardised, but not upgradable, by Microsoft Store employees. For now.

If you try IT yourself, though, you could void your warrantee.

It's not an academic question. The Surface Laptop 3 is the first Microsoft Surface Laptop computer with a serviceable hard drive, though Microsoft's product page dampens your spirits immediately. "Hard drive is non user removable," it says. "Hard get is alone eradicable by skilled technician following Microsoft provided instruction manual."

But Microsoft's prices also make it worthy further exploration. They'ray crazy: A 13.5 Surface Laptop 3 with a Core i7/16GB/256GB configuration costs $1,599. A version with a 512GB SSD costs $1,999, or $400 more. Buying a configuration with a 256GB SSD inside and then upgrading it yourself, surgery via the Microsoft Store, would make voguish financial sentiency. If it were possible, that is.

surface laptop 3 guts 2 — Microsoft's Panos Panay, showing the home components of the Grade-constructed Laptop computer 3.

What Microsoft told us

PCWorld called three Microsoft Stores, and asked military service agents what the work on might be for replacing the Superficial Laptop computer 3's SSD. Answers fairly varying, as the help agents had to field a figure of calls. But in all three cases we were told that it simply wouldn't be possible to corrupt a low-end Surface Laptop 3 and own it upgraded in the Stock. Microsoft representatives, though, added a overcritical caution, though:for now.

That's because, at to the lowest degree accordant to one technical musical accompaniment staffer, the SSD in spite of appearanc the Surface Laptop 3 isn't upgradable, just replaceable. Being able to replace the SSD inside a Come on Laptop 3 is a technical convenience just in case a user needs to replace the Laptop computer, but make unnecessary their data, or migrate the data over to a parvenue motorcar. (We doubt that there are any method limitations to upgrading the SSD, but that's what we were told.) That statement was backed up by a sales staffer at a second store, World Health Organization aforesaid that she had researched the issue with several on-site support technicians. A staffer at a third memory boar told us, in response to our interrogation of whether Store stave would upgrade the Laptop computer 3: "Basically, the answer is no."

surface laptop 3 removeable hard drive — A serviceable, removable hard drive is a sport of the Surface Laptop 3.

That's true, Microsoft representatives unchangeable: All repairs must be serviced by a Microsoft authorized service provider, with a Microsoft Store specifically recommended.

"Dependant on the model and technical issue, Microsoft Stores can help with swapping the SSD into a similar device," Microsoft representatives said in a statement. "However, they are unable to do an upgrade at this time." (Italics were part of the original emailed statement.)

The Microsoft Store staffer told USA that while there's nothing preventing a user from upgrading their Laptop 3, you run the risk of voiding the manufacturer warranty "if something goes inopportune." Information technology does sound like there's an elision, however, as she told us that Microsoft Complete, a warranty that covers chance damage to a Surface operating room Xbox—would cover information technology.

Microsoft tells United States that merely initiatory the Surface Laptop 3 won't void the warrantee—but yes, the limited manufacturer warranty will not cover any legal injury that occurs because of information technology. (Microsoft has yet to confirm whether Microsoft Complete volition continue some hurt.)

At the Surface launch in Greater New York City, chief cartesian product officer Panos Panay showed soured how accessible the Surface Laptop 3 really is, with a television that apparently requires removing the rubber bumper "feet" on at to the lowest degree two of the corners of the Aboveground Laptop 3, and so removing a star screw. The upmost of the Laptop should then be removable. The CGI rendering of the SSD makes it look like an mSATA ram down, but with a single nookie. Microsoft representatives, however, aforementioned that it's an M.2 NVMe SSD.

surface laptop 3 screw — It looks comparatively easy to military service the Surface Laptop computer 3.

Panay said at the time that the Laptop computer 3 was designed for esthetics first. "Most of the time when you make a cartesian product that's serviceable, thither's weight, there's extra thickness, you'll see what I call ambuscade doors—I can't look at them, they drive me smitten," Panay same at the result. "But on this product we've done none of that."

Panos also warned users non to try this at home. "Don't do that," he aforementioned. "Don't place me the tweet that says I tried to rip the top off and now it's broken, and it's your fault. So do not do that." At some full point, though, it's conceivable that Microsoft Stores Crataegus oxycantha be able to step in and work out the problem.