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Updated January 12, 2024·
For robust performance in intensive tasks like 3D, machine learning, and gaming, the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is a better choice due to its powerful AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX graphics card, at the expense of being less portable due to its larger and heavier form. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", on the other hand, is more suitable for general use and offers better portability and a higher-resolution display with touch capability, but it has integrated graphics that are less suitable for demanding graphics work. Consider battery life as well, as the G15 may not last as long as the Surface Laptop 5 on a single charge. 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 ASUS ROG Strix G15
- 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
7.0
6.1
5.6/10
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
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.6
7.1
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
5.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU, making it well-suited for demanding engineering and design work, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a balance between performance, with its 11th Gen Intel i7 CPU and integrated Iris Xe graphics, and portability with its lighter build and longer battery life. Both laptops have quality IPS displays, but the ROG Strix G15's larger screen and high refresh rate cater to detailed and smooth visuals, which are crucial for design tasks, while the Surface Laptop 5’s higher resolution and touchscreen add versatility for engineering design, along with a better keyboard and build quality that enhance the overall user experience.
Screen Quality
7.1
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
284.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for gaming and AI, and content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the ASUS ROG Strix G15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 offer high-quality panels with sufficient resolution and brightness, ensuring crisp, clear visuals for everyday tasks and media consumption. When it comes to engineering and design, they both provide good coverage of color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, which is crucial for accurate color representation in professional creative work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, they fall short as their refresh rates are not as high as dedicated gaming laptops, making them less suitable for fast-paced visuals that demand smooth motion.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 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
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
284.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix G15, with a robust AMD Ryzen CPU and dedicated Nvidia graphics, is better for performance-driven tasks and has a high-refresh-rate screen, which is beneficial for smooth visuals; however, it is less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, which offers excellent portability and longer battery life, better screen resolution with a touchscreen feature, but is equipped with integrated graphics and thus not as suited for intensive tasks.
Content Creation
7.7
7.4
7.8/10
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 ASUS ROG Strix G15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
7.2
7.8/10
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 ASUS ROG Strix G15 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
7.8
7.8
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$1,200
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 has a price of $1,249 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Strix G15 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,249 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 10.2'' x 0.92'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.94" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | 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 | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 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 | 284 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.3/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | No Webcam | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Strix G15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marius Schell | February 2021
"The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is a successful high-performance 15-inch laptop. The Asus ROG Strix impresses with an elaborate design and fast hardware. The latter can unleash its potential well in the large 15-inch case and achieve a decent performance boost compared to the previous generation. Especially the stunning 300 Hz display as well as the RTX 3070 and its generous TDP give gamers their money's worth. Asus didn't neglect seemingly small details, either, such as the keyboard and the maintenance options. The ROG Strix G15 offers a lot of pure performance and excellent workmanship in a 15-inch format, but connectivity leaves something to be desired."
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 ASUS ROG Strix G15 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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