For a balance of performance and portability with a focus on engineering tasks, the ASUS Vivobook 16X is a strong contender. It offers a larger screen with a resolution well-suited for detailed work, and its dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU will handle demanding graphics tasks with ease. The higher PPI and better color coverage also make it ideal for tasks that require color accuracy. However, it's heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to the Surface Laptop, which might be a drawback if you need to work on the go for extended periods.
On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" shines in terms of portability and battery life, making it an excellent choice for professionals who are always on the move. Its touchscreen and higher brightness enhance usability and visibility in various lighting conditions. The Surface Laptop also comes with Windows 11 Pro, which may offer better security and management features for business users. However, its Intel Arc GPU is less powerful than the ASUS's RTX 4060, which means it might struggle with intensive 3D rendering or machine learning tasks.
In summary, if you prioritize performance for graphics-intensive tasks and don't mind a bit of extra weight, the ASUS Vivobook 16X is the way to go. But if you value a lighter, longer-lasting device with a touchscreen for general productivity and business features, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" is the better choice. 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
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15"
Very good overall display quality
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
6.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2496 x 1664
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16X is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" 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.
Screen Quality
7.3/10
8.1/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2496 x 1664
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 16X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
PerfectRec’s screen quality scores take into account various important factors that are relevant for different use cases.
Battery
5.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has 5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" has 9 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.
Cost
$1,100
$1,200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has a price of $1,100 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" costs $1,200.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" and ASUS Vivobook 16X are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.8/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook 16X to be very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.8/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2496 x 1664
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" and ASUS Vivobook 16X 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
7.4/10
7.8/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2496 x 1664
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" and ASUS Vivobook 16X 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.0in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" and ASUS Vivobook 16X both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.4/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" and ASUS Vivobook 16X both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook 16X and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15" compare to other laptops
"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."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook 16X or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 15"
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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