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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS Vivobook 16X is typically more costly but offers better performance with higher storage capacity and advanced graphics, suitable for intensive tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, and gaming. It has a larger screen and higher refresh rate, but this also makes it heavier, less portable, and it may have a shorter battery life. Conversely, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is less expensive, more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, and has a touchscreen. It's more suited for general use and routine tasks with modest performance needs. It also has a longer battery life, which is advantageous for on-the-go usage. 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 16X
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.6
7.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16X and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use, though the ASUS Vivobook 16X is somewhat better.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X is better for general use due to its more powerful Intel i7 CPU and greater RAM, facilitating smoother multitasking and heavier applications, alongside a high-quality screen and ample storage, but its larger size and heavier weight detracts from portability compared to the more compact and lighter Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which offers decent performance for lighter tasks with its Intel i5 CPU and less RAM, and boasts a longer battery life, making it more suitable for on-the-go use despite its lower screen resolution and smaller storage capacity.
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.0
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16X is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.2
6.5
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Vivobook 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X boasts a robust Intel i7 processor, ample 16GB of RAM, and a dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU, aligning with the demanding needs of engineering and design, and features a quality screen, although it sacrifices some portability and has less impressive battery life. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, while highly portable and offering longer battery life, falls short for engineering and design owing to its weaker Intel i5 processor, limited 8GB of RAM, and integrated graphics, coupled with a smaller and lower-resolution screen.
Content Creation
7.7
7.1
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook 16X and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for content creation, though the ASUS Vivobook 16X is somewhat better.
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
7.3
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS Vivobook 16X and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are equipped with displays that offer clear visuals and adequate brightness, making web browsing, document editing, and video streaming enjoyable. Their color accuracy and wide color gamuts make them suitable for engineering and design tasks where precise color representation is crucial. However, for gaming and 3D applications, they fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can lead to less fluid motion and longer response times, affecting the overall visual experience.
Battery
5.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has 5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the ASUS Vivobook 16X has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and ASUS Vivobook 16X both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,200
$600
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has a price of $1,200 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $600.
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Key similarities
Software Development
7.4
7.0
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16X and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook 16X and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Vivobook 16X | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,200 | $600 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.8'' x 0.74'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.25 lbs | 2.48 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.12" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 70 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | 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 | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Vivobook 16X
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Tech Critter
Kok Kee | February 2023
"I think the ASUS Vivobook 16X is fantastic. Great performance, decent battery life, good keyboard and trackpad, and a massive screen – just that the screen quality itself is kinda subpar. If you’re okay with the screen, then I think this is an okay laptop. However, I’d like to see a price drop."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook 16X or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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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