The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro typically costs a bit more and offers a larger storage capacity and more RAM, making it better suited for more intensive tasks and multitasking. It has a higher resolution and a larger screen, which can be beneficial for detailed work, though this contributes to it being heavier and slightly less portable than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which is lighter and thus easier to carry around. The Surface Laptop Go 2 is usually less expensive but comes with less storage and RAM, making it more suited for basic tasks and general use. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
6.5/10
5.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a higher-resolution display, enhancing multitasking and detailed visualization capabilities, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, while more portable and having a quieter operating noise, offers lower performance with a less powerful CPU, less RAM, and a lower-resolution screen. Additionally, the IdeaPad's superior screen quality with better color coverage is crucial for design accuracy, a significant advantage over the Surface Laptop Go 2's screen which still offers good color accuracy but is less precise for professional design work.
Screen Quality
7.7/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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.
When choosing between the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, the Lenovo typically provides a sharper image and more vivid colors due to its higher resolution and brightness, enhancing the viewing experience for everyday tasks and media consumption. The Lenovo also excels in engineering and design applications, offering broader color gamuts that ensure accurate color reproduction, crucial for professionals in fields requiring precision in color work. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications as they lack the high refresh rates preferred for smooth motion and responsiveness, with the Lenovo's superior resolution and panel type providing only marginal benefits in these scenarios.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$799
$565
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has a price of $799 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $565.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has advantages in CPU performance, higher RAM, and superior screen quality with a higher resolution and better contrast ratio, contributing to better overall performance for general use. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 offers more portability due to its lower weight and smaller size but compromises on screen size, resolution, and has half the storage and RAM of the Lenovo, which may affect multitasking and storage-intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is better suited for gaming and 3D tasks than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 due to its higher screen refresh rate, which can provide smoother motion handling, particularly important in fast-paced games. However, both laptops have an integrated GPU, limiting their ability to handle more graphics-intensive games and 3D applications compared to laptops with dedicated gaming GPUs.
Content Creation
7.4/10
7.1/10
5.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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
5.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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.
Battery
8.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has 8.5 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.8/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
"The main selling point of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro versus a regular IdeaPad Slim 7 is its faster Core H-series CPU. In reality, the Core i7-11370H is only marginally faster than the U-series Core i7-1165G7 to the point where most users are not likely to notice the benefits. The slight performance uptick comes at the cost of slightly higher power consumption as well meaning owners will have to deal with potentially warmer temperatures or louder fans to compensate. Unless if you happen to be a power user, then the regular non-Pro model will be more than enough. Once you go 90 Hz, you can't go back."
"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 Slim 7i Pro 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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