The Gateway 14.1" has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13".
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" provides weaker performance for general use due to its lower-end Intel Celeron processor and only 4 GB of RAM, which might struggle with multitasking, while its screen quality and lower brightness may not offer the best viewing experience. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" shines with a more powerful Intel i7 processor, ample 16 GB of RAM for smooth multitasking, a higher resolution touchscreen with better brightness, and importantly, it remains lightweight and offers a longer battery life, making it a more balanced choice for everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
6.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has a less capable Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, which limit its gaming and 3D performance, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" includes the more powerful Intel Iris Xe graphics, offering better handling of gaming and 3D applications although still below what dedicated gaming laptops would provide.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
7.1/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop's Intel Celeron processor, basic integrated graphics, and minimal RAM make it poorly suited for the demands of engineering and design tasks, which often require more computing power and memory. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" boasts a more robust Intel i7 processor, advanced Iris Xe graphics, and significantly more RAM, alongside a higher-resolution screen, making it well-equipped for such intensive work.
Content Creation
5.8/10
7.4/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
5.8/10
7.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
6.0/10
7.2/10
14.1in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop likely has a lower resolution or less vibrant panel that's adequate for daily tasks, but it doesn't provide the sharpness and color range needed for detailed design work or the fast refresh rates for smooth gaming. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" probably features a higher-quality display with better resolution and brightness, making it suitable for detailed engineering and design work due to its ability to reproduce colors accurately, but still falls short for gaming due to a lower refresh rate. Since neither laptop is optimized for gaming, they don't offer the high refresh rates required for a fluid 3D gaming experience.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.1in
SIZE
13.5in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Gateway 14.1" has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$99
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
"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 Gateway 14.1" or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.