ASUS Vivobook S 15 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

The ASUS Vivobook S 15 stands out for general use with a more powerful CPU, double the RAM for multitasking, and a larger, albeit lower-resolution, screen that lacks touch capability, compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which offers a higher-resolution touchscreen in a more compact and lighter form factor. Although both have fair battery life, the Surface Laptop Go 2's superior portability and screen quality may appeal to users who prioritize mobility and display sharpness, while the Vivobook's performance and larger storage capacity cater to those needing more robust capabilities for everyday tasks.

The ASUS Vivobook S 15, with its higher RAM and a more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU, is better equipped for demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which offers less RAM and a less powerful Intel CPU; additionally, the Vivobook's dedicated Vega GPU and larger, high-quality IPS screen further enhance performance and visual detail important in these fields.

Based on your needs, the ASUS VivoBook S 15's display may not be as sharp or vibrant as the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which could affect your experience in day-to-day tasks and professional design work where clarity and color accuracy are crucial. Despite both laptops not being ideal for gaming or 3D rendering due to lower refresh rates, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers better general and engineering use with its higher resolution, brighter screen, and more accurate color representation. If screen quality is a top priority for you, especially for general and design tasks, the Surface Laptop Go 2 stands out, while the ASUS may still be a viable cost-effective option if you are less concerned with visual fidelity.

PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.

The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both fair for gaming and 3D tasks because they are equipped with integrated GPUs, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Vega 8 and Intel i5-1135G7 Iris Xe respectively, which are less powerful than dedicated gaming graphics cards, limiting their performance in demanding games and 3D applications. Additionally, both have a 60Hz screen refresh rate, which is standard for general use but lower than the preferred higher refresh rates for a smoother gaming experience.

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.

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 life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.