If you prioritize a larger screen and cost savings, the ASUS Vivobook 15X stands out as the more affordable option with a 15.6-inch display. However, if you're looking for stronger performance and higher portability, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" might suit you better with its advanced Intel processor, lighter weight, and compact form factor at 13.5 inches. The Surface also offers a higher resolution and different aspect ratio screen which can be preferable for productivity tasks, though it does come at a higher price. Keep in mind, the ASUS model may be better suited for casual use and basic tasks, while the Surface is better equipped for demanding software and multitasking, thanks both to its processor and having twice the RAM. 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 15X
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13".
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
7.1/10
5.6/10
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 15X is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is often favored for engineering and design due to its higher RAM and superior integrated graphics from Intel Iris Xe, which together boost its overall performance, along with its higher resolution and brighter screen enhancing visual tasks. In contrast, the ASUS Vivobook 15X, while offering a larger screen for possibly more expansive working space, falls short with less RAM and a less powerful AMD integrated GPU, which may limit its efficiency in demanding computational and graphical tasks.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
7.2/10
15.6in
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 15X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a higher-resolution display with better brightness and color accuracy, making it preferred for general use and design tasks where clarity and color representation are crucial. Though the ASUS Vivobook 15X is adequate for general use and design work, its screen quality is hampered by less impressive brightness and color gamut. Neither laptop is ideal for 3D work or gaming, as both lack the high refresh rates required for smooth visuals in these applications, but resolution and panel quality would still matter when choosing between them.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the ASUS Vivobook 15X has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook 15X 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
$525
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has a price of $525 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook 15X are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has a fair amount of RAM and a less powerful CPU compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which has higher RAM and a more robust CPU, thus offering better performance for general use. Additionally, the Surface Laptop 5 boasts a higher resolution touchscreen with better color accuracy and is more portable with longer battery life, making it more suitable for users who prioritize screen quality and need to work on the go.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook 15X are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook 15X, equipped with an AMD GPU, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 with an Intel Iris Xe GPU, both offer middling performance for gaming and 3D applications due to their non-specialized integrated graphics and standard screen refresh rates of 60Hz. While the Vivobook may benefit from a slightly larger screen, the Surface Laptop compensates with a higher screen pixel density and overall quality, which may enhance visual detail and sharpness during use.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.4/10
5.6/10
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" and ASUS Vivobook 15X 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
6.9/10
7.2/10
5.6/10
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 15X 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
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has 8 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook 15X and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"All in all, my day on the Vivobook had its ups and downs. It is a really pretty and well-built device, and it had all of the functionality I needed to get me through my browser-based workload. But the speakers weren’t my favorite, and the battery life was just too short."
"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 15X 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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