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What we think
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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Gigabyte G5 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" serve different purposes; if you're looking for a laptop primarily for gaming or heavy tasks, the Gigabyte G5 offers better value due to its stronger performance hardware despite being less expensive. However, the Surface Laptop 5 excels in portability, has a more premium build, and offers better battery life, making it ideal for general use, business tasks, and on-the-go productivity. If your priority is to have a lightweight and stylish laptop with touch screen capabilities and you're willing to pay a premium, the Surface Laptop 5 will suit you better. 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 Gigabyte G5
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.3
6.1
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Gigabyte G5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The Gigabyte G5 offers a superior gaming and 3D experience primarily due to its dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, enhancing visual fluidity and rendering more frames per second, which is crucial for these activities.
Screen Quality
6.8
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
248.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Gigabyte G5 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" boasts a higher-resolution display with superior brightness and color accuracy, making it well-suited for general use and detailed engineering tasks that benefit from these features. However, both laptops have screens that lack the high refresh rates desired for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications. Despite this, the Gigabyte G5's display, while adequate for routine tasks and engineering software, falls behind in color precision and brightness compared to the Surface, making it less optimal for professionals who prioritize these aspects for design work.
Battery
3.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Gigabyte G5 has 3.5 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
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Gigabyte G5 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 Gigabyte G5 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
$868
$1,200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Gigabyte G5 has a price of $868 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.1
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
248.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Gigabyte G5 are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" excels in general use with its higher RAM capacity, brighter and higher resolution touchscreen, and is more portable due to its lower weight and longer battery life, making it an attractive option for users valuing performance and mobility.
Engineering and Design
7.6
7.1
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte G5 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for engineering and design.
The Gigabyte G5, with a more powerful GPU, is well-suited for demanding engineering and design applications, though it's larger and heavier which can impact portability. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers better portability and a higher resolution screen, making it attractive for design work that benefits from precise visuals but it might not handle graphic-intensive tasks as well due to a less powerful GPU.
Content Creation
7.2
7.4
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Gigabyte G5 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
6.8
7.2
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" to be good for software development, while the Gigabyte G5 is only fair.
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.
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How the Gigabyte G5 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gigabyte G5 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$868 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.4'' x 0.89'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.2" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-12500H | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 248 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | 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 | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Gigabyte G5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam | April 2023
"The Gigabyte G5 KE is a midrange gaming laptop that checks most boxes. Gigabyte makes good use of the Core i5-12500H and RTX 3060 Laptop GPU combo, and we find no untoward issues with overall performance. The dual-fan quad-heatpipe cooling arrangement does well to ensure that the underlying hardware doesn't throttle under load. That being said, the display is below par when compared to 2023 standards, especially when competing devices."
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 Gigabyte G5 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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