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Updated January 10, 2024·
For better performance in demanding applications including 3D rendering and engineering software, the ASUS Zenbook 14X with a dedicated GPU and more RAM should handle those tasks more effectively. It's less portable than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which has a smaller screen and lighter build, making it better for on-the-go use. The Surface Laptop Go 3 also has a longer battery life, which could be crucial for traveling or extended periods away from power outlets, but it's less powerful for resource-intensive tasks due to its integrated graphics and less RAM. If screen quality is important to you, the ASUS's OLED display will provide more vibrant colors and higher contrast for multimedia and creative work. However, if touch capability and portability are your priorities, you might prefer the Surface Laptop Go 3. Remember, you'll pay a bit more for the ASUS, and endure a heavier device with a shorter battery life, but in return receive better performance for specialized and intensive 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
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.7
6.8
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
8.3
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X boasts a high-resolution display, making it sharp and vibrant for everyday tasks and detailed enough for engineering applications which benefit from its wide color gamuts. However, its lower refresh rate fails to cater to the fast-paced visuals needed in gaming and 3D environments. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while offering sufficient resolution and brightness for general use and adequate color reproduction for engineering, also falls short for gaming due to a similar limitation in refresh rate.
Battery
5.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.2
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X outperforms the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 with a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a higher resolution OLED screen, which explains its higher standing for general use; however, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to the lightweight and more portable Surface Laptop Go 3 with superior battery life, which still offers a touchscreen, albeit with less powerful internals.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.1
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
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 Go 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is fair for gaming and 3D tasks primarily because it possesses a dedicated Nvidia MX550 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 90Hz, which can render smoother visuals compared to standard displays. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 also achieves fair performance due to its Intel Iris Xe graphics, which, while integrated and generally less powerful than dedicated GPUs, still manages to deliver respectable graphics performance, albeit with a standard 60Hz refresh rate which might not be as fluid for fast-paced gaming or 3D rendering.
Content Creation
7.6
7.3
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
7.1
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
Build Quality
7.8
7.8
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$777
$788
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $788.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook 14X | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$777 | $788 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 2.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.25" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1260P | Intel i5-1235U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 63 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 339 nits | 337 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 9.3/10 | |
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 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
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 | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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 Go 3
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14X or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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