ASUS Vivobook 16 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

The ASUS Vivobook 16 offers a more powerful CPU and double the RAM than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which contributes to better performance for general use; additionally, it has a larger screen with acceptable quality, though it is less portable and has a heavier build than the highly portable Surface Laptop Go 2 with its smaller screen and lightweight design, but comparatively lesser performance. While both laptops have similar battery life, the Vivobook's screen size and performance capabilities make it better suited for general use despite being less convenient to carry around.

The ASUS Vivobook 16 is equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen processor and Vega 8 graphics, offering better performance for engineering and design software, and a higher-resolution, larger screen for clearer visuals, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a weaker Intel i5 processor and integrated graphics, and a smaller, lower-resolution screen, making it less suited for intensive tasks and detailed work. However, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is more portable and has a higher build quality and speaker quality, which may appeal to users who prioritize mobility and multimedia experience over raw performance.

The ASUS Vivobook 16's screen offers adequate resolution and brightness for daily tasks and productivity software, but its less vibrant color spectrum may not be ideal for precision tasks in engineering and design. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a display with higher resolution and brightness, providing sharper images and better visibility, which is advantageous for both general use and detailed design work, though its color range may still be limiting for high-end design accuracy. Neither laptop's screen is optimized for gaming or 3D rendering due to lower refresh rates, resulting in potential motion blur and less fluid visuals in fast-paced scenarios.

PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.

The ASUS Vivobook 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are fair for gaming and 3D tasks mainly due to their integrated graphics; the Vivobook has the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U Vega 8 while the Surface Laptop Go 2 is equipped with the Intel i5-1135G7 Iris Xe, neither of which match the performance of dedicated gaming GPUs. Both have 60Hz refresh rates, which is standard for casual gaming but lower than the high refresh rates preferred for competitive gaming, and while their CPUs and screen qualities are decent, with the Vivobook offering a slightly larger screen and the Surface having higher color accuracy, the GPU and refresh rates are the primary limiting factors for gaming performance.

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.

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 life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.