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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the HP 17" Laptop and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, consider the following: the HP with a larger screen is well-suited for entertainment and multitasking but may be less portable due to its size and potentially heavier weight. In contrast, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers greater portability and is likely to have a more premium build and potentially better screen quality due to its smaller size, but with a higher price tag. If budget is a priority and screen real estate is important for you, the HP might be the better choice. However, if portability and build quality take precedence, and you're okay with spending a bit more, the Surface Laptop Go 2 could serve you better. Always check the specifications for performance and battery life as per your needs, as they can differ significantly between models. 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 HP 17" Laptop
- The HP 17" Laptop has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- Good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.6
6.9
17.3in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
287.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a better screen than the HP 17" Laptop for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the HP's larger screen size offers more viewing space, though its resolution and brightness may not match the sharper and brighter display of the smaller Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. In engineering and design, the Surface Laptop Go 2 has an advantage with better color accuracy and range, which are crucial for detailed and color-sensitive work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, but the HP's larger screen size may be slightly more immersive despite its limitations.
Battery
5.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The HP 17" Laptop has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 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
12.4in
4.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the HP 17" Laptop has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has good build quality, while the HP 17" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
287.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The HP 17" Laptop and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use.
The HP 17" Laptop, with a larger screen, more RAM, and a powerful AMD Ryzen processor, excels in CPU performance and multitasking which are very important for general use, although its bulkier size and shorter battery life may hinder portability. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, despite its smaller size and longer battery life making it more portable, has less RAM and a smaller, less powerful CPU, leading to merely fair performance in general use tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.0
3.6/10
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
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP 17" Laptop and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The HP 17" Laptop is suitable for gaming and 3D with its AMD Ryzen 7 7730U Vega 8 GPU and standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, but the large screen size may limit portability. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, with its Intel i5-1135G7 Iris Xe graphics and same 60Hz refresh rate, offers better portability due to its smaller screen, though performance may not match the HP due to its less powerful GPU.
Engineering and Design
6.8
6.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP 17" Laptop and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The HP 17" Laptop is packed with a more capable AMD Ryzen 7 processor and higher RAM, making it more suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks that require better processing power and multitasking capabilities, along with a larger screen for detailed work. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a lighter and more portable option with an Intel i5 processor and less RAM, catering to users who prioritize mobility and do lighter design work, though it may be less equipped for intensive tasks.
Content Creation
7.2
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP 17" Laptop and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
7.1
7.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP 17" Laptop and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development.
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.
Cost
$530
$519
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The HP 17" Laptop has a price of $530 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $519.
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How the HP 17" Laptop and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP 17" Laptop | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$530 | $519 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 10.2'' x 0.81'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.58 lbs | 2.48 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.78" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.15" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 287 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HP 17" Laptop
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | November 2022
"As far as starter laptops go, the HP Laptop 17 is a sound investment. Sure, it might not be the lightest of options, but what you get for the price is a well-rounded machine that fits multiple niches. Whether it be office duties that require you to multi-task between multiple programs, or study tasks in which you’ll spend hours browsing online, this laptop does it all. Plus, when it's time to unwind, you can watch your favorite shows or movies on a super-wide display. What's best of all is that you can do all this for about half a day on a single charge."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the HP 17" Laptop or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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.
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