The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is tailored for gaming and demanding tasks with its powerful processor and graphics card, perfect for engineering or 3D work but is heavier and bulkier, which compromises portability. It features a larger screen, which is great for seeing more content but might be less convenient for mobility. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, on the other hand, is more lightweight and portable with a smaller, high-resolution touchscreen, making it better for general use and on-the-go productivity. However, it's less suited for intensive tasks due to its less powerful integrated graphics. Both laptops offer the same amount of memory and are similarly priced, so the decision should hinge on whether you prioritize gaming and high-performance applications or portability and 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 TUF Gaming A17
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Good overall display quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
253.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 excels in general use due to its powerful CPU and ample storage, making it ideal for demanding applications and multitasking, although it is heavier and has shorter battery life than some, impacting its portability. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers excellent screen quality with higher resolution and portability due to its lighter weight and smaller size, but has less storage capacity and a less powerful GPU, making it less suitable for gaming or highly graphic-intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
8.1/10
6.1/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 boasts a high-performance GPU and a fast screen refresh rate, essential for smooth gameplay and rendering 3D graphics, making it very suitable for gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a less powerful GPU and a standard refresh rate, which means it can handle games and 3D tasks but not as effectively, making it only fair in those aspects.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
7.1/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.1/10
7.4/10
9.2/10
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 TUF Gaming A17 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.
Screen Quality
6.8/10
7.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
253.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for gaming and AI, software development, and content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17's screen may not have the high resolution and brightness often preferred for general use, nor the extensive color gamut needed for engineering and design work, which can lead to less detailed and vibrant visuals in these areas. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 offers a sharper display and higher brightness, enhancing readability and general visual experience, along with a wider color gamut that benefits accuracy in engineering and design tasks. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops have a lower refresh rate which may result in less fluid motion, thus not providing the optimal gaming experience that requires faster screen updates.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has 10 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
Fair
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS TUF Gaming A17 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,552
$1,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has a price of $1,552 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"There is one big question that needs an answer. Is the TUF Gaming A17 FA707 a better purchase than the ROG Strix G17 G713R (2022)? Well, it depends. Undoubtedly, the Strix is the more premium product. Arguably the biggest advantage it has over its TUF fellow is in regards to the display. ASUS TUF Gaming A17 A707’s IPS panel has a Full HD resolution, comfortable viewing angles, and a very good contrast ratio."
"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 TUF Gaming A17 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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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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