The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" offers a larger screen, more storage, and additional RAM compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which may enhance performance for multitasking and more demanding applications. However, it is heavier, less portable, and generally pricier. The Surface Laptop Go 2 has a smaller, high-resolution touchscreen with a unique aspect ratio that's better for productivity tasks, and it is more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller footprint. If portability and a sharper display are priorities, consider the Surface Laptop Go 2; if performance and storage are more important, the IdeaPad may be 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.4/10
6.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for software development, and content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 with its basic resolution and lower brightness might suffice for tasks such as browsing and document editing but lacks wide color gamut coverage, essential for precision in engineering and design. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 boasts a higher resolution and better brightness, making it more suitable for detailed visual work, although it still doesn't address the higher color fidelity required for professional design tasks. Neither laptop is optimal for 3D work or gaming due to their lower refresh rates and limited resolutions which don't match the required fluidity and detail that such applications demand.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has 10 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
15.6in
SIZE
12.4in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$741
$565
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a price of $741 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $565.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" stands out for general use due to its stronger CPU, more RAM, and larger screen, which can handle more demanding tasks and provide a better multitasking experience compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which offers greater portability and battery life but with a smaller screen, less power, and lower storage capacity. While the IdeaPad is heavier and may not be as convenient to carry around, its capabilities and screen quality make it versatile for various tasks; on the other hand, the Surface Laptop Go 2, being lighter and with a better battery, is ideal for users prioritizing mobility and longer unplugged usage.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.0/10
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
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 with its AMD Ryzen CPU and integrated Vega 8 graphics delivers fair gaming and 3D performance, complemented by a 15.6-inch screen with a standard refresh rate of 60Hz. In comparison, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, powered by an Intel i5 CPU with Iris Xe graphics, also provides similar performance levels, albeit with a smaller 12.4-inch display, also at 60Hz, which contributes to its portability yet restricts the visual immersion for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
6.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
12.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" with its AMD Ryzen 7 series processor and Vega 8 graphics is reasonably capable for engineering tasks, but its larger size and weight may hinder portability compared to the more compact Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which offers an Intel i5 processor with Iris Xe graphics; the latter laptop's smaller, high-contrast screen may be easier to carry but may also provide less screen real estate for design work. Both laptops have solid state drives and a good amount of RAM, ensuring fair performance for design software, but they lack the raw power and high-end GPU that would make them optimal for very demanding engineering simulations or complex design tasks.
Content Creation
7.4/10
7.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
12.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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
7.3/10
7.0/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
12.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is affordable and pretty efficient. At the end of the day, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15″, 2023) is one of the better affordable laptops money can buy right now. It has a decent performance, albeit coming from a CPU that is based on old architecture. Playing low-intensity games is possible but at low to medium settings. We are really happy with the cooling setup, but the main event here is the battery life. We got 9 hours of either Web browsing or video playback, which is a great result. Especially if you compare this device with the ASUS E410."
"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 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
100,995
Recommendations made
21,883
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.