The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is the better choice if you need superior performance for gaming or intensive engineering tasks, thanks to its high-end processor and graphics card, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is more portable with longer battery life and a touchscreen, making it suitable for general use and mobility, although it doesn't have the power for demanding applications. Consider the importance of portability and battery life against performance needs when making your decision. 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 G17
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
Excellent portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
320.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for general use, though the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17, with its powerful CPU and high-quality screen, suits users needing performance for intensive tasks but has poor portability due to its larger size and weight. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while less powerful with a smaller screen, offers excellent portability and longer battery life, catering to users who prioritize ease of transport and longer usage on the go.
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
6.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
8.8/10
6.8/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is equipped with a high-end Ryzen processor and a powerful Nvidia GPU, essential for demanding engineering and design tasks, along with ample RAM and a large, high-quality display; whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a mid-range Intel processor with integrated graphics, less RAM, and a smaller, albeit sharp, touchscreen display, making it less capable for intensive applications but more portable and with better battery life.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.3/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is good.
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
7.7/10
7.1/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for software development, though the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
12.4in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
320.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 offers superior resolution and brightness, making it excellent for general activities and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate limits its appeal to gamers seeking fluid visuals in fast-paced games. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, with its balanced resolution and decent brightness, provides a satisfactory experience for everyday tasks and non-intensive design projects but falls short for gaming, particularly in screen responsiveness. Both laptops, though equipped with quality panels and good color coverage, don't meet the high refresh rate demands for optimal gaming and 3D rendering experiences.
Battery
3.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has 3 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 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
Poor
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
12.4in
6.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,391
$788
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a price of $1,391 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $788.
"The Asus ROG Strix G17 is an attractive but unbalanced gaming laptop. Its potent AMD Ryzen 9 processor excels in 1080p gaming, but playing at 1440p leaves the middling GeForce RTX 4060 GPU shouldering most of the burden. The display is exceptionally colorful, which is handy for content creators, but since this is a gaming laptop it would be better served with improved HDR capabilities. If battery life isn't a priority, the Strix G17 could serve as a designer by day and a gamer by night."
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G17 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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