When considering the ASUS ROG Strix and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go, reflect on your primary needs. The ASUS offers top-notch performance for gaming, 3D work, or intensive engineering software, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life. The Surface Laptop Go, on the other hand, is more affordable, lightweight, and has longer battery life, but it is less powerful and not ideal for demanding tasks. The right choice hinges on whether you prioritize performance and specific high-demand applications, or portability and cost for general everyday use. 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 Go 3
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.7/10
7.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
8.0 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 G18 (2024) is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 boasts a powerful CPU and ample RAM, which ensures smooth performance for demanding tasks, along with a high-quality screen, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life than lighter laptops. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers increased portability and better battery life, making it easy to carry and use on the go, while it has sufficient CPU and RAM for everyday tasks and a decent screen, though it's not as well-suited for very intensive applications.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.1/10
8.9/10
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 G18 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is equipped with a high-end GPU and a screen with a fast refresh rate, making it excellent for gaming and 3D applications that require smooth and detailed visuals. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while having a capable CPU and decent screen quality, lacks the powerful GPU and high refresh rate screen necessary for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
9.2/10
6.8/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is excellent for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 boasts a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU suitable for demanding engineering tasks, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers moderate performance with lower-tier specifications that may struggle with complex applications. Additionally, the ROG's superior screen quality enhances detailed work, though it sacrifices portability and may have louder operating noise compared to the more portable, quieter Surface Laptop Go 3 with its decent keyboard and speaker quality.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.3/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) 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
8.5/10
7.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
32.0 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 G18 (2024) is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
6.8/10
18.0in
SIZE
12.4in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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 G18 offers a high-resolution display and excellent color accuracy which benefits engineers and designers, but the lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications that demand smoother visuals. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3's display provides sufficient resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and professional design work, but like the ASUS, the refresh rate isn't high enough for optimal gaming and 3D experience. Both laptops are tailored more to productivity and creative work rather than high-performance gaming where screen fluidity is critical.
Portability
Poor
Excellent
18.0in
SIZE
12.4in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
$788
$0
$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 Go 3 costs $788.
"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."
"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 G18 (2024) 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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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