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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Predator Triton 300 outperforms the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" in gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning due to its dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card. However, the Surface Laptop 5 offers greater portability and a higher-resolution touchscreen display, making it more suited for general use and professionals on the move. The Predator has a larger screen and a high refresh rate, making it better for intensive tasks but at the cost of heavier weight and reduced battery life compared to the Surface Laptop 5. If gaming and performance are your priorities, and you don't mind the extra weight and shorter battery life, the Acer is the better choice. Otherwise, for lightweight daily computing and enhanced mobility, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 would be more suitable. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Predator Triton 300
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.1
6.1
6.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Triton 300 is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The Acer Predator Triton 300 is considered good for gaming and 3D because it boasts a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a 144Hz screen refresh rate, attributes that enhance graphic performance and smooth visuals critical for gaming. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a less capable Intel Iris Xe GPU and a lower 60Hz screen refresh rate, which are adequate for less demanding tasks but may not maintain the same level of performance under intensive gaming and 3D applications.
Screen Quality
7.3
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Acer Predator Triton 300 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen for engineering and design.
For general use, both the Acer Predator Triton 300 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 offer displays with the necessary resolution, panel type, and brightness, providing clear and vivid visuals suitable for browsing, video streaming, and productivity tasks. When it comes to engineering and design work, their good screen quality is attributed to their wide color gamuts, ensuring designers have accurate color representation for precise visual work. However, their poor screen quality for gaming and 3D is due to lower refresh rates, which results in less fluid motion and can detract from the immersive gaming experience where smooth and rapid visuals are crucial.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Triton 300 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Acer Predator Triton 300 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Acer Predator Triton 300 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Triton 300 offers a powerful CPU and dedicated graphics, making it great for demanding tasks, but it is heavier, which may compromise portability and has a modest battery life. In comparison, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a touch screen with higher resolution and aspect ratio for better screen quality, and its lighter weight and longer-lasting battery make it highly portable, although it may not handle intense graphics tasks as well due to integrated graphics.
Engineering and Design
7.5
7.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
6.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Triton 300 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for engineering and design.
The Acer Predator Triton 300 is geared towards engineering and design due to its high-performance CPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU, which enhance intensive tasks and 3D work, but it is less portable and has a heavier build. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a balance of performance and portability with a solid CPU and integrated graphics, suitable for less demanding engineering tasks, and it boasts a higher-resolution touchscreen but might struggle with more graphics-intensive applications.
Content Creation
7.3
7.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Acer Predator Triton 300 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.1
7.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Acer Predator Triton 300 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Build Quality
7.6
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Acer Predator Triton 300 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,150
$1,200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Acer Predator Triton 300 has a price of $1,150 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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How the Acer Predator Triton 300 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Triton 300 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,150 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.9" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Predator Triton 300
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mike Wobker | December 2020
"In our particular review configuration, the Acer Predator Triton 300 turned out to be a fairly powerful gaming notebook. Both CPU and GPU performance were at a high level, and the aluminum case turned out to be fairly robust. Only the display lid could have been a bit more robust. For customers on a budget that do not mind tinkering with the device’s fan management the Acer Predator Triton 300 can be worth a closer look."
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Triton 300 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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