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Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" boils down to your key priorities. The ASUS has a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, making it better suited for light gaming or graphic design, while the Surface Laptop's integrated graphics are sufficient for everyday tasks. The ASUS also offers a higher resolution OLED screen, which is ideal for vibrant visuals and media consumption, but this can drain the battery quicker than the Surface's IPS display. If weight and thinness are critical, the Surface Laptop is lighter and slimmer, enhancing portability. For extended work without a power outlet, consider that the ASUS has a larger battery, which could mean longer battery life, but actual duration varies based on usage. Both laptops are equipped with quality processors and ample memory for smooth multitasking, making them excellent for general use and productivity tasks. 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 Zenbook 14X
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.7
7.1
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for engineering and design, though the ASUS Zenbook 14X is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers an OLED screen with higher resolution, which is excellent for design works requiring color accuracy and detail, and it includes a dedicated Nvidia MX550 GPU to better handle engineering software. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a high-quality IPS touchscreen for direct interaction with designs and offers better portability due to its lighter weight and longer battery life, but it relies on integrated graphics, which may not be as powerful for demanding engineering tasks.
Screen Quality
8.3
7.2
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers superior screen quality for general use and engineering tasks due to its high resolution and brightness, along with wide color coverage that assures precise color representation essential for design work. However, its refresh rate isn't high enough for optimal gaming and 3D rendering, which can detract from the smoothness of fast-paced visuals. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 with its good screen resolution and brightness provides an adequate display for everyday tasks and design projects but, like the Zenbook, falls short in gaming and 3D applications due to a less suitable refresh rate.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 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.
Cost
$777
$1,200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.4
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers a strong combination of CPU and discrete graphics, which is complemented by a high-quality OLED screen, making it suitable for a variety of tasks, but with moderate battery life and a slightly heavier build, it's less portable.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.1
3.9/10
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
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X, with its dedicated Nvidia MX550 GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 90 Hz, offers better graphics performance and smoother visuals for gaming and 3D applications compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, which relies on an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and has a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz. However, the Surface Laptop has a slightly better screen quality due to its higher brightness and 3:2 aspect ratio which might be preferred for productivity tasks, although its shorter battery life may limit lengthy unplugged use.
Content Creation
7.6
7.4
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" to have excellent portability, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
7.8
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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 Zenbook 14X and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook 14X | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$777 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.25" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1260P | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 63 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 339 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook 14X
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | April 2022
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"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 Zenbook 14X 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.
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