When deciding between the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", consider the following tradeoffs: The ASUS may offer a better price to performance ratio, making it suitable for tasks that require more computing power such as gaming or video editing, but it may be bulkier than the sleeker and more portable Microsoft Surface. Conversely, the Surface Laptop typically boasts superior build quality and a more premium feel, with potential advantages in screen quality and touch functionality, ideal for productivity tasks and general use. Battery life might be better on the Surface, offering longer use between charges, which is valuable if you're frequently on the move. Meanwhile, the lower cost of the ASUS could be a deciding factor if you prefer to save money while still getting robust performance. Consider your primary use — performance-intensive tasks or everyday portability and quality — and balance that against your budget to make the best 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 Pro 14
Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.4/10
7.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
385.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 boasts an impressive display with high resolution and strong color accuracy, making it ideal for engineering and design tasks that require precise color representation. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 also offers a quality display, with good resolution and panel type for sharp images and comfortable viewing in general use. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can lead to less smooth visuals in fast-paced environments where higher refresh rates are crucial.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$548
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 has a price of $548 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 offers a larger, high-quality OLED screen, ample storage and memory for basic tasks, but heavier weight and shorter battery life make it less portable than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which has a smaller touch-enabled IPS screen, double the memory and storage for smoother multitasking and more data, and better portability due to its lighter weight and thinner design.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 offers a higher screen refresh rate which provides smoother visuals, a feature important for gaming and 3D applications, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13” only provides the standard refresh rate. Both laptops are equipped with the same GPU series, which is adequate but not exceptional for gaming and 3D tasks, and their CPUs and screen quality are similarly matched, providing sufficient but not top-tier performance for such activities.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
7.1/10
5.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 is geared towards engineering and design tasks with its vibrant OLED screen and adequate processing power for multitasking, but limited storage and RAM compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which offers a higher-resolution touch screen and more memory to handle complex software, making it equally suitable for engineering and design work. While both have integrated graphics sufficient for less demanding design tasks, the more compact and lighter Surface Laptop 5 may be preferred for on-the-go productivity despite a slightly smaller screen and less battery capacity.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.4/10
5.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 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
7.2/10
7.2/10
5.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 has 8 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"The Asus Vivobook Pro 14 OLED is a Pantone Validated laptop that packs a lot of processing power. The Asus VivoBook Pro 14 OLED's highlight is its outstanding display: Featuring a 3K resolution in the 16:10 format and nearly a 100% coverage of the Display P3 color space, the display hardly leaves anything to be desired. The Asus laptop also shows impeccable rates in terms of general system performance. Combined with long battery life, low noise emissions, and relatively good speakers, the laptop can be recommended to users who can accept compromises in terms of connectivity."
"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 Pro 14 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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