The HP 250 G10 is a budget-friendly option, offering lower screen resolution and heavier build which might not be ideal for on-the-go use or for tasks requiring high-quality visuals. It’s suitable for basic computing needs. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs more but provides a sharper, higher resolution display and a lighter, more portable design, better suited for professionals who need power and mobility. The Surface also has a better build quality and performance suitable for intensive tasks, though it might be less appealing if budget constraints are a primary concern. 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 250 G10
The HP 250 G10 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
6.3/10
7.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
TN
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 250 G10 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a high-resolution IPS touchscreen with better color coverage and brightness, in addition to a stronger CPU, making it good for general use with sharp visuals and smooth performance. In contrast, the HP 250 G10 is equipped with a lower-resolution TN screen and a less powerful CPU, but it holds its ground with a full-size keyboard including a number pad and slightly more available ports, making it fair for general use at a potentially lower price point.
Engineering and Design
5.8/10
7.1/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for engineering and design, while the HP 250 G10 is poor.
The HP 250 G10's lower end CPU and graphics, combined with a less impressive screen, make it less suitable for the demands of engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a high-performance CPU with better integrated graphics and a high-resolution, color-accurate touchscreen, making it a better fit for such tasks. The enhanced portability, improved keyboard, and quieter operation of the Surface also support a superior experience for demanding professional use.
Content Creation
6.2/10
7.4/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for content creation, while the HP 250 G10 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
6.4/10
7.2/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
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 250 G10 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
5.3/10
7.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
TN
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 250 G10 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The HP 250 G10's display may not offer the sharpness, brightness, and vivid colors that one expects for daily tasks, engineering work, or immersive gaming experiences. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" boasts a high-quality display with better resolution and brightness, making it suitable for general use and professional design work, but it falls short for gaming and 3D applications due to a lower refresh rate which is less smooth for fast-paced visuals. The importance of color accuracy for engineering and design makes the Surface better for those fields, yet neither laptop is ideal for gaming or 3D creations where higher refresh rates are crucial.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP 250 G10 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
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the HP 250 G10 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 250 G10 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$349
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The HP 250 G10 has a price of $349 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 250 G10 is poor.
The HP 250 G10, with its basic Intel UHD graphical capabilities and lower screen resolution, lags in gaming and 3D tasks compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which benefits from the more powerful Intel i7-1255U Iris Xe GPU and a higher resolution screen. Though both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, the quality of the Microsoft's screen is better, offering crisper images and potentially richer colors for a more immersive gaming and 3D experience.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP 250 G10 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"The HP 250 G10 is a decent budget device that surprises us with its high CPU frequencies under load. Still, our configuration has a Core i5-1335U which doesn’t require significant cooling, if choose a 28W P-series processor, maybe the situation with the clocks could be different. If you want to play some casual game after work, a memory in dual-channel is a must because it increases greatly the iGPU performance."
"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 250 G10 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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