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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming or performance for tasks like 3D rendering and engineering software, the ASUS TUF Gaming F17, with its dedicated graphics card, larger screen, and higher refresh rate, offers better suitability but at the expense of portability and battery life. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, being lighter and more compact with a significantly longer battery life and a touchscreen, is more suited for general use and portability. It also has a higher screen pixel density which may be preferable for tasks involving detailed visuals. Keep in mind the Surface Laptop Go 3 has half the storage capacity of the ASUS and lacks a dedicated graphics card making it less suited for intensive graphics tasks. 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 F17
- The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
- Good for software development
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9
6.8
17.3in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
264.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a better screen for engineering and design, and content creation.
For general tasks like web browsing or streaming video, both laptops provide clear and bright displays with plenty of detail, ensuring comfortable viewing. When working on engineering and design projects where precise color reproduction is crucial, the Surface Laptop Go 3 offers superior color accuracy with a wider range of colors available, vital for professionals in those fields. Meanwhile, the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 falls short for gaming and 3D applications due to its lower refresh rate, which means less fluid motion during fast-paced scenes or when working on motion-intensive projects.
Battery
4.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has 4.5 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
Fair
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
12.4in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$791
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a price of $1,000 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $791.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.1
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
264.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17, with its gaming-oriented CPU and larger screen, excels in performance but is less portable and may have shorter battery life than the slim, lightweight Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which offers better portability and battery life but might have lower performance due to its less powerful CPU and less RAM. Both laptops have fair screen quality, and while the TUF's larger display is ideal for immersion, the Surface's smaller size contributes to its portability; storage, keyboard, and speaker quality, as well as managing operating noise and heat are other considerations that may affect user satisfaction but are of secondary importance.
Gaming and AI
6.6
6.1
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 144 Hz, which is better suited for gaming and 3D applications than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 that uses the Intel Iris Xe graphics and a lower screen refresh rate of 60 Hz. However, the CPU and screen quality of both laptops are somewhat comparable, with the Surface Laptop Go 3 offering a higher resolution and touchscreen, which might be preferable for certain users despite its smaller screen size.
Engineering and Design
6.9
6.8
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 offers a more powerful CPU and dedicated GPU, making it suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks, coupled with a larger screen that has a higher refresh rate, which is favorable for detailed work. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, with its more compact and lightweight design, better portability, and high-quality display might appeal to those who prioritize mobility and good screen quality for less intensive workloads.
Content Creation
7.1
7.3
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 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
6.7
7.1
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 to be good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
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 F17 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS TUF Gaming F17 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $791 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.6'' x 0.91'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 2.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.71" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.59" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-11400H | Intel i5-1235U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 48 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 264 nits | 337 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
ASUS TUF Gaming F17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | April 2022
"One of the Asus TUF Gaming F17’s highlights is without a doubt its excellent gaming performance. The fact that Asus configured the RTX 3060 GPU for its specified maximum of 140 W is became immediately noticeable in our benchmarks. For a 17-inch notebook the F17 also offers a very long battery life, which makes it somewhat portable. On the flip side is the display. It may be saved by its good overall contrast ratio, but its overall brightness is simply too low, and its response times are too slow for a gaming device. The F17’s successor needs to improve upon this."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"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 TUF Gaming F17 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.
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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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