The Gateway 14.1" is a budget-friendly option with basic performance suitable for general tasks like web browsing and document editing; however, it has less storage and memory than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which may limit its speed and multitasking capabilities. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, costs more but offers better general and engineering performance with a faster processor, more memory, and larger storage. Its screen is smaller but higher quality with better color reproduction and touch capability, plus it's lighter, enhancing portability. Both laptops have similar battery life and are not suited for intensive gaming. If cost is a major concern and your needs are basic, the Gateway might suffice, but for more demanding tasks and a more premium feel, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is the better choice. 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 Gateway 14.1"
The Gateway 14.1" has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
7.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" provides a weaker computing experience for general use due to its less powerful Intel Celeron processor, half the RAM, and lower quality display compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which has a more capable Intel i5 processor, double the RAM and a higher quality screen with better color coverage and brightness. Additionally, the Gateway's larger size and lower portability score, when combined with its basic storage capacity and lack of premium features like backlit keyboards or fingerprint readers, make it less attractive next to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which is more portable, offers better battery life, and includes premium features like a touchscreen and facial recognition for improved user experience.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
6.1/10
3.5/10
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop has an Intel UHD Graphics 600 which is less capable for gaming and 3D applications compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3's Intel Iris Xe graphics, leading to its poorer performance in those areas. Additionally, the Gateway's lower screen quality and refresh rate further diminish its gaming and 3D capabilities, whereas the Surface Laptop Go 3 has a slightly better screen, contributing to its fair assessment in the same tasks.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
6.8/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
5.8/10
7.3/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
7.1/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
6.8/10
14.1in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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 basic display with adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, but its color accuracy and range may not meet the demands of engineering and design professionals who require precise color representation. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, with a higher-quality screen, offers better resolution and brightness suited for both general use and professional applications such as engineering and design due to its superior color gamut. However, neither laptop is optimal for gaming or 3D work because they lack the high refresh rates that are crucial for smooth visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.1in
SIZE
12.4in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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 Go 3 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
$789
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $789.
"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."
"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 Gateway 14.1" or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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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