When selecting between the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, consider your needs carefully. If performance for heavy tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming is a priority, and you don't mind a heavier device with a shorter battery life, the Lenovo is the better choice. It offers a more powerful processor, dedicated graphics card, and higher RAM, which are great for engineering applications. However, if you value longer battery life, a lighter laptop for easy portability, and a touchscreen, then the Surface Laptop Go 2 is preferable, though it has lower storage capacity and less computing power. 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 Pro 5i
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
409.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i surpasses the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use due to its more robust CPU, additional RAM, higher resolution and bigger screen, and a dedicated GPU which contribute significantly to its better performance. While the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers superior portability and a longer battery life, its smaller storage, less powerful integrated graphics, and a smaller screen with lower resolution make it less suitable for demanding tasks despite being easier to carry around.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.0/10
6.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is geared towards gaming and 3D applications with its Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card and a screen that refreshes 120 times per second, delivering smoother visuals and better performance for demanding tasks compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which includes Intel's integrated Iris Xe graphics and a screen with a 60 Hz refresh rate, offering more modest capabilities suitable for less intensive gaming and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
6.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
6.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i excels in engineering and design due to a high-performance CPU and GPU, more RAM for complex tasks, and a high-quality screen with better resolution and refresh rate, essential for detailed engineering work. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a more modest processor, less RAM, and a lower-resolution display, making it adequate for lighter tasks but less suited for the demands of engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is somewhat better.
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
7.7/10
7.0/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is somewhat better.
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
7.8/10
6.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
409.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i likely has a display with high resolution and brightness, which explains its very good screen quality for general tasks, but it may lack a high refresh rate essential for the smooth visuals important in gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 also offers a display that's pleasing for general tasks and detailed enough for design work, thanks to a balance of resolution and color accuracy. However, just like the IdeaPad, it probably doesn't offer the high refresh rate gamers need for optimal performance.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has 6 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
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$880
$565
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has a price of $880 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $565.
"Lenovo’s IdeaPad Pro 5i represents an impressive opening salvo for Meteor Lake in the ultraportable space against familiar foes from AMD and Apple. Not only does the Core Ultra 5 125H processor provide good performance across the board, but battery life remains a strong point against the Acer Swift Edge 16 with its AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor. It can’t quite match the endurance of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the gap is shrinking."
"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 Pro 5i 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.
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