When considering the ASUS Vivobook 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", the trade-offs are clear. The ASUS is much more affordable, with lower storage and memory, and is equipped with an i5 processor, making it suitable for general use and light tasks. It has a larger 14-inch screen but is slightly heavier, reducing its portability compared to the Surface Laptop. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop 5 carries an i7 processor with double the storage and memory, enhancing its performance for more intense tasks such as light gaming, 3D, or machine learning projects. It boasts a high-resolution 3:2 ratio screen that can make productivity tasks more enjoyable and is lighter and thinner, making it highly portable. Both laptops feature integrated graphics and are similar in terms of connectivity options, but the Surface Laptop has a slightly better build quality with an aluminum chassis and offers a touchscreen, which the Vivobook does not. 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 Vivobook 14
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13".
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a more powerful CPU, double the RAM and storage, and a superior-quality display with better resolution, brightness, and color accuracy than the ASUS Vivobook 14, contributing to its good rating for general use. Additionally, despite being slightly more compact and lighter, the Surface Laptop also has a slight edge in battery life and portability, which along with its touchscreen makes it well-suited for a variety of tasks on the go.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
7.1/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 14's modest processor, lower RAM, and average screen quality limit its suitability for demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which boasts a more powerful processor, double the RAM, and a higher-resolution screen with better color accuracy. While the Vivobook offers a larger screen and good portability, the Surface Laptop 5 excels with a higher quality keyboard, a more portable design, and a quieter operation, making it a better fit for intensive engineering and design use.
Content Creation
6.9/10
7.4/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
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
6.3/10
7.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Vivobook 14's screen may suffice for tasks like browsing and office applications where high resolution and panel quality are not critical, but it falls short for engineering applications with its limited color range and for gaming and 3D because of a refresh rate that doesn't deliver smooth motion. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 shines with a vibrant display that renders sharp images and true-to-life colors, appealing to users engaged in photo editing and design work, though gamers and 3D artists will miss the fluidity of action that comes with higher refresh rates. Both laptops, neither designed with high-end gaming or 3D rendering in mind, offer screen attributes better suited for productivity and creative professions where color accuracy and clarity take precedence over swift visual transitions.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook 14 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
$421
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has a price of $421 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are fair for gaming and 3D because they both have integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and 60Hz refresh rate screens, which can handle casual gaming but may not be optimal for high-end gaming or intensive 3D tasks. While the Surface Laptop has a slightly better CPU, higher screen resolution, and better screen quality, these improvements are subtle and may not significantly impact gaming and 3D performance compared to the Vivobook.
Software Development
6.8/10
7.2/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" to be good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has 7 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
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" to have excellent portability, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"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 Vivobook 14 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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