If you prioritize high performance for tasks like gaming or demanding software, the ASUS ROG Strix may be worth the extra cost, albeit it's less portable due to its size and weight. Conversely, if your main concerns are budget, portability, and battery life for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, or light photo editing, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a more suitable and cost-effective choice. 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 G18 (2024)
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.7/10
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 boasts high-end CPU and RAM, making it excellent for demanding tasks and multitasking, yet its size and shorter battery life affect portability; the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 offers a balance with very good CPU and RAM, superior screen quality and portability, plus longer battery life, making it ideal for those prioritizing mobility and everyday tasks. While the ASUS excels in raw power and gaming, the Surface Laptop 5 shines in on-the-go productivity with a more tactile keyboard and quieter operation.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.1/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
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 G18 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 boasts a high-performance GPU and a screen with a fast refresh rate, making it well-suited for gaming and 3D applications, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 has a less powerful GPU and a standard refresh rate screen, rendering it adequate for less demanding gaming and 3D tasks but not optimal for high-end performance. The Surface Laptop 5 emphasizes screen quality and a capable CPU, but these factors are less crucial than the GPU and refresh rate for gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
9.2/10
7.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is excellent for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 boasts a high-performance CPU, more RAM, and a powerful GPU which are crucial for demanding engineering software and graphics work, plus it offers superior screen quality for detailed visual tasks; however, it tends to be less portable and noisier under load. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" provides good CPU and GPU capabilities with a smaller, high-quality screen, and is more portable and quieter, but it has less RAM, which may limit performance with complex engineering applications.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.4/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
8.5/10
7.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
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
8.7/10
7.2/10
18.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, a laptop like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, with a high-resolution display and bright screen, provides a pleasant visual experience for daily tasks like browsing and video streaming. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 would be preferable for engineering and design work, as it typically includes a wider color gamut ensuring more accurate color reproduction, crucial for detail-oriented tasks. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the higher refresh rate found on many gaming-specific laptops is missing from both models, which means motion may be less smooth and responsive, impacting immersive experiences negatively.
Portability
Poor
Excellent
18.0in
SIZE
13.5in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,203
$1,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has a price of $2,203 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
"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 G18 (2024) 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.
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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