The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 offers better performance for intensive engineering tasks with its higher-tier processor but is less portable and pricier than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. The latter is more affordable, extremely portable, and has a better battery life, making it suitable for general use and traveling. If you frequently run demanding applications, the ASUS may be worth the extra investment. However, for everyday tasks and ease of carrying around, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is an excellent choice. Both have limited upgradability, so consider if the storage and RAM will meet your long-term needs. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.8/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
314.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 have similar screen quality.
For general use, both the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 provide clear and bright displays with high resolution, which is essential for reading text, browsing the web, and watching videos. For engineering and design, they offer wide color gamuts allowing for precise color work, which is crucial when working with detailed graphics or color-sensitive projects. However, for gaming and 3D applications, they fall short as they lack high refresh rates, meaning they can't display fast-moving images as smoothly, which can be a disadvantage for fast-paced gaming or rendering 3D animations.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$999
$774
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has a price of $999 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $774.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 offers a higher performance CPU, more RAM, and a higher-quality screen which can be particularly beneficial for demanding applications and multitasking, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life which might compromise its portability. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, on the other hand, is lighter and has a better battery life, making it a more portable option, yet it has less storage and a less powerful CPU which could limit its ability in intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 both have limitations in gaming and 3D due to their integrated GPUs which are less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs, and their standard screen refresh rates are not as smooth for fast-paced games. While both can handle moderate gaming, the ASUS Zenbook Duo's slightly larger screen and higher screen quality might offer a better visual experience, but neither are ideal for high-end gaming or intensive 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
6.5/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for engineering and design.
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
7.3/10
7.1/10
5.5/10
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 ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
7.0/10
7.0/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
8.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has 8.5 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.8/10
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
"The Asus ZenBook Duo's second screen is like the Apple Touch Bar, but better. Most would agree that having two screens instead of one can really boost productivity and the ZenBook Duo is no different in this regard. It's tough going back to just one screen after becoming accustomed to spacious dual-screen setups. For a laptop form factor, however, users will have to accept some compromises. Firstly, weight is the most obvious drawback as the system is several hundred grams heavier than a regular ZenBook 14. Additionally, colors on the second screen will not be as vivid as the main display."
"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 Zenbook Duo 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.
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