The HP 15" Laptop would be a more budget-friendly option and features a larger screen which may be more comfortable for watching videos and multitasking. However, it is heavier and thicker than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", making it less ideal for frequent travel. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop is more portable and provides a higher resolution and a better performance thanks to its more powerful processor, but it comes with a higher price tag. The Surface also offers better graphics and a longer battery life, making it suitable for heavier workloads and on-the-go use. If you need advanced features like a touchscreen, better portability, and superior performance for tasks such as photo editing or 3D modeling, and you're willing to spend more, the Surface Laptop 5 could be the better choice. However, for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document editing, or media consumption, the HP 15" Laptop would be quite sufficient and more economical. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the HP 15" Laptop
The HP 15" Laptop 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
6.7/10
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for general use, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The HP 15" Laptop offers a fair experience for general use due in part to its more modest CPU, screen quality, and battery life, all of which fall short compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" which delivers a good general use experience with a higher performance CPU, superior screen quality, and longer-lasting battery life; the Surface's higher RAM also contributes to smoother multitasking and overall performance. While the HP is slightly less portable due to its larger size and heavier weight, the Surface Laptop 5's smaller size and lighter weight make it more portable, but it may come at a higher cost.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for engineering and design, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is better suited for engineering and design tasks due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the amount of RAM, and superior Intel Iris Xe graphics compared to the HP 15" Laptop's Intel i3 processor, less RAM, and basic UHD graphics. Additionally, the Surface Laptop boasts a higher-resolution touchscreen with better color accuracy and contrast, which enhances the visual experience for design work, though it trades off some portability due to its smaller screen and higher-quality build components.
Content Creation
6.9/10
7.4/10
5.8/10
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" is good for content creation, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
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
6.7/10
7.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for software development, while the HP 15" Laptop 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.
Screen Quality
6.3/10
7.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen than the HP 15" Laptop for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The HP 15" Laptop features a screen that offers adequate resolution and brightness which suits everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, but its limited color gamut and standard refresh rate might not address the precise needs of engineers and designers or provide the immersive experience wanted by gamers. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" provides a higher-quality display with better resolution and brighter visuals, making it a good fit for both general users and professionals in engineering and design due to its wider color gamut for more accurate color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications, neither laptop offers the high refresh rates required for smooth motion, with their displays being more geared towards productivity and media consumption than high-end gaming experiences.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP 15" Laptop has 6 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
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the HP 15" Laptop has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality, while the HP 15" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$378
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The HP 15" Laptop has a price of $378 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP 15" Laptop is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
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How the HP 15" Laptop and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"Chances are high that the HP 15 is one of the first laptops to pop up when you search for an inexpensive notebook. Indeed, its price tag is very tempting for many, and of course, this is the reason for its popularity. However, the HP 15" suffers from poor performance due to low power consumption. On the bright side, one of the good things about it is the port selection. On the inside, this includes two SODIMM slots for memory, an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for storage, and a SATA drive bay. However, the TN panel, and mediocre input devices are not ideal."
"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 HP 15" Laptop or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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