The ASUS Vivobook 17 generally offers a larger screen which may be better for multitasking or viewing media, but this can also make the laptop bulkier and less portable compared to the more compact Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13". The Surface Laptop tends to have a higher build quality and a premium feel, coupled with better portability due to its smaller size and lighter weight, but it comes at a higher cost. If performance for intensive tasks is crucial for you, and you don't mind the larger size and lower portability, the ASUS could be a good choice. However, if you prefer a more portable and premium device for everyday use and are willing to pay a premium, the Surface Laptop could suit you better. Keep in mind that the cheaper option may have tradeoffs in terms of performance, build quality, and features such as display resolution or touch screen capabilities. 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 17
The ASUS Vivobook 17 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
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
7.1/10
6.2/10
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 17 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is deemed better for engineering and design use due to its higher-quality CPU, more RAM, and more capable integrated graphics, coupled with a high-resolution touchscreen which aids in detailed design work, in comparison to the ASUS Vivobook 17 which has a lower-tier CPU, less RAM, and lower resolution screen. While the Vivobook offers a larger screen size, the Surface Laptop's superior performance and screen quality, alongside its more compact and lightweight form factor, make it more suitable for engineering tasks that require more computing power and better visual fidelity.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
7.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
263.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a high-resolution display and notable brightness, enhancing readability and clarity for both everyday tasks and detailed engineering work; it also covers wider color gamuts, essential for accurate design visualization. Although the ASUS Vivobook 17 has a larger screen that may benefit general tasks and engineering designs by providing more workspace, its overall screen quality is lower due to less vibrant color reproduction and lower brightness, which affects visibility under bright conditions. Both laptops are not ideal for gaming and 3D purposes due to their lack of high refresh rates necessary for smooth motion rendering, but they can handle such tasks at a basic level.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has 6 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
Good
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$429
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a price of $429 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the RAM, and a higher resolution touchscreen display compared to the ASUS Vivobook 17's Intel i3 processor, non-touchscreen, and basic display, thus providing better performance and screen quality. Despite its larger screen, the Vivobook 17 is less portable due to its greater weight and size, and both laptops have comparable battery life, making the Surface Laptop 5 more versatile for general use.
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
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a larger screen but uses a basic GPU that isn't ideal for gaming and 3D applications, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 has a more capable GPU that better supports such tasks, despite its smaller screen size and lower battery capacity. Screen refresh rates for both laptops are standard, thus not optimized for the high frame rates desired in gaming, and while both have quality IPS displays, the CPUs in each are not the most powerful, affecting gaming and 3D performance to some extent.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.4/10
6.2/10
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 17 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
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
6.0/10
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 17 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.
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How the ASUS Vivobook 17 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"The ASUS Vivobook 17 is an affordable 17-inch laptop with passive cooling. On one hand, you get a really quiet and cool work device with a good system performance, many connections, good maintenance options, speakers acceptable for multimedia enjoyment, and a sharp and clear matte FHD IPS display with the Asus VivoBook 17 (F712JA). On the other hand, the USB-C port lacks Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and the display, a higher brightness and better color space coverage."
"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 17 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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