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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers superior performance, especially for engineering and more demanding tasks like 3D work, gaming, or machine learning, thanks to its robust processor and dedicated graphics card. However, it's heftier and less portable than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13". The Surface is more mobile, lighter, has a high-resolution touchscreen, and should still handle general use efficiently despite having an integrated graphics card which is less powerful than the ASUS's. So if you prioritize portability and touch capability for everyday tasks, the Surface is suitable. If performance for intensive tasks is paramount and you can handle a larger laptop, go with the ASUS. 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 Pro 16X
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.3
7.4
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
354.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X excels in performance with a high-end CPU and GPU, making it very versatile, but it is less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the lighter and more energy-efficient Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which offers good performance for general use with a strong screen quality though its graphics are less powerful.
Gaming and AI
7.5
6.1
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is better suited for gaming and 3D due to its Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, which is more powerful compared to the Intel Iris Xe GPU in the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13". Both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, but the superior GPU in the ASUS improves visual performance in demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.6
7.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X surpasses the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for engineering and design mainly due to its superior CPU and GPU, which offer better performance for demanding tasks, along with a larger, higher quality OLED screen that provides exceptional color accuracy and contrast, essential for detailed design work. However, the Surface Laptop emphasizes portability and has a higher resolution touchscreen with a unique aspect ratio that could benefit certain engineering designs, although its integrated GPU is less powerful for graphics-intensive tasks.
Content Creation
8.5
7.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
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
8.2
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
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.
Screen Quality
8.3
7.2
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
354.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering general use, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X excels with its high-resolution display and superior brightness, making it ideal for everyday activities like web browsing and document editing. For engineers and designers, its wider color gamut coverage ensures more accurate color representation, which is crucial for tasks like photo editing or CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate compared to dedicated gaming laptops means it won't deliver as smooth visuals, which are important for fast-paced games and immersive 3D experiences.
Portability
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,300
$1,200
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a price of $1,300 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
Battery
7.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has 7 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
7.6
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.29 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | 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 | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 354 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | 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 Pro 16X
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter, Alex Wätzel | November 2023
"The new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
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 Pro 16X 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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