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Updated January 12, 2024·
I can provide general advice to help you make a decision. Choosing between the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" involves several considerations. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 generally offers superior performance for intensive tasks, such as engineering software, 3D modeling, or gaming, due to its larger size and hardware capabilities. However, this also means it is less portable than the smaller Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which may be more suitable for frequent travel or commuting. The Surface Laptop 5 also often has a more premium build and a touch screen, which could be beneficial for creative tasks or presentations. Consider the Surface Laptop if you prioritize portability and touch capabilities, and the Zenbook Pro if performance for demanding applications is a must, acknowledging that this will typically come at a higher cost and increased weight. 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 17
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Excellent portability
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.3
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 excels in general use due to its powerful CPU, abundant RAM, and larger screen, which also boasts decent color coverage, but it is heavier and offers less portability than the lighter Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which has a higher-resolution touchscreen but comes with less RAM and a less powerful CPU, making it a compact choice with a balance of portability and adequate performance for everyday tasks. While the ASUS provides a robust battery life and ample storage, the Surface Laptop 5 stands out for its superior keyboard quality and manages to hold its own in screen quality with a sharper display, even if it doesn't last as long on a single charge.
Gaming and AI
6.9
6.1
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
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 17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a larger screen that grants it superior gaming and 3D capabilities over the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which uses an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU, generally less powerful for these tasks despite having the same screen refresh rate. While both share similar max refresh rates, which is vital for gaming, the dedicated Nvidia graphics in the ASUS contribute significantly to its 'better' designation, as screen refresh rates only benefit fully with a GPU that can keep up with high frame rates.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.1
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is geared towards engineering and design with its high-performance AMD Ryzen 9 processor, dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics, and ample 32GB of RAM, plus a large 17-inch screen ensuring detailed visuals, although it is heavier and less portable. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", with its efficient Intel i7 processor and integrated graphics, is more portable and offers a high-quality 13.5-inch touchscreen display and good build, but its performance is better suited for less demanding engineering tasks due to its lower RAM and lack of a dedicated GPU.
Content Creation
8.2
7.4
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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
7.9
7.2
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for software development, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is somewhat better.
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
7.2
7.2
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offer high-resolution displays with bright panels, which enhance visibility and detail for daily tasks, benefiting general use. Engineers and designers will appreciate the wide color gamuts on these laptops, providing a broader spectrum of accurate colors for their high-precision work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops lack high refresh rates which are crucial for smooth motion and better user experience in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has 9 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.
Portability
Good
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,500
$1,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a price of $1,500 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,500 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 10.2'' x 0.74'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.18 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.55" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.18" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 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 | 9 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 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 | 6.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 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 | 2 | 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 | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
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 17 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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