The ASUS Vivobook Go 14 is a budget-friendly option, typically far less costly than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. It offers more storage with a 256 GB drive, compared to the Surface's 128 GB. The ASUS has a larger 14-inch screen, but without touch capability, while the Surface Laptop Go 2 has a brighter, touch-enabled 12.4-inch display. With its AMD Ryzen processor and AMD Radeon graphics, the ASUS is suitable for general tasks, but if you need better graphic performance for more intensive visual tasks, the Surface with its Intel i5 processor and Iris Xe graphics would be more appropriate despite its slightly higher price. The Surface also benefits from a more compact and lighter build, making it more portable, while both are similar in terms of battery capacity and are equipped with Windows 11 Home. If budget is your main concern and you need more storage, go for the ASUS; if you can spend more for enhanced graphics and portability, choose the Surface. 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 Go 14
The ASUS Vivobook Go 14 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.2/10
7.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both rated fair for general use; the ASUS has decent CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, with average screen quality and a lighter weight enhancing portability, but modest battery life. Conversely, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers slightly better battery life and a higher-quality screen, yet it sacrifices some portability due to being heavier, with its CPU and RAM still suitable for general purposes.
Engineering and Design
5.9/10
6.5/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 14 is poor.
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
6.5/10
7.1/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 14 is only fair.
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
6.4/10
7.0/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 14 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.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a higher resolution and brighter display compared to the ASUS Vivobook Go 14, making it better for daily tasks like browsing and watching videos. When it comes to engineering and design, the Surface Laptop Go 2 provides a wider color range, which is essential for accurately rendering designs and detailed color work. However, neither is ideal for 3D work or gaming because both lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals needed in these areas.
Battery
7.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook Go 14 has 7 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
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 14 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$450
$565
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The ASUS Vivobook Go 14 has a price of $450 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $565.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 14 is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 14 has an AMD Radeon 610M GPU, which is less capable for gaming and 3D applications compared to the Intel i5-1135G7 Iris Xe GPU found in the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. Additionally, the Surface Laptop Go 2 boasts better screen quality, including higher brightness and a wider color coverage, which enhances the visual experience for gaming and 3D tasks.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook Go 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
"The lack of a backlit keyboard in this price segment shouldn't sway the buyer the other way. However, it still comes down to user preference. The Vivobook Go 14 is a decent laptop in an extremely competitive price segment. A few omissions are a part of the balancing to reach the price segment. The Asus Vivobook Go 14 is a rare find when it comes to the price to performance ratio."
"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 Go 14 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.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
101,595
Recommendations made
22,013
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.