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Updated January 10, 2024·
To help you decide between the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, consider the following tradeoffs: the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro typically offers higher performance suitable for gaming, 3D rendering, and intensive engineering tasks due to more powerful processors and graphics cards, but this often comes with a heavier build and shorter battery life, making it less portable. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is more lightweight and portable with better battery life, making it ideal for general use like browsing, office applications, and media consumption, but it isn't as well-suited for demanding tasks. The price of the Lenovo might also be higher due to its advanced capabilities. Choose the Lenovo if high performance for demanding tasks is your priority or the Surface if portability and battery life for everyday tasks are more important. 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 Legion Pro 5
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.8
7.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
340.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro offers stronger performance for general use due to its more powerful CPU, greater RAM, and higher resolution screen, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which though not as powerful, offers excellent portability and longer battery life, making it more convenient for on-the-go use.
Gaming and AI
8.4
6.0
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 outperforms the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 in gaming and 3D tasks mainly because it has a significantly more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate which is essential for smooth visuals in fast-paced games. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Go 2, with its Intel Iris Xe graphics, provides basic performance suitable for casual gaming, and the lower refresh rate screen also reflects a less optimized experience for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.5
6.5
9.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 is superior for engineering and design due to its high-performing AMD Ryzen CPU, ample RAM, powerful Nvidia RTX GPU, and high-quality IPS screen, making it well-suited for intensive tasks. Conversely, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, while more portable and featuring a good-quality IPS screen, is held back by its less powerful Intel CPU, integrated graphics, and less RAM, limiting its capability for demanding engineering applications.
Content Creation
7.8
7.1
9.3/10
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 Legion Pro 5 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 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
7.6
7.0
9.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 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
8.0
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
340.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 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.
If you prioritize everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, both laptops offer screens that provide clear images and comfortable brightness. For engineering and design work, where precise color representation matters, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 excels with better color accuracy. However, for fast-paced gaming or 3D modeling, neither laptop is ideal because they lack the high refresh rates required for smooth motion and quick graphics rendering.
Battery
3.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has 3.5 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
Fair
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,170
$565
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has a price of $1,170 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $565.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Lenovo Legion Pro 5 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 Legion Pro 5 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,170 | $565 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10.3'' x 0.97'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.6 lbs | 2.48 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.31" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.25" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX | 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 | 1024 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 80 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 340 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.6/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 4 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Legion Pro 5
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | July 2023
"It doesn't quite match its Legion Pro 7i sibling as an Editors' Choice winner, but Lenovo's AMD-powered Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 is a stylish, well-built gaming laptop with solid performance at both 1080p and its sharper native resolution. It's cheaper than some comparably equipped machines and better than some similarly priced ones. That's a recipe for success, even without its frequent availability of discounts or sales. A brighter screen and longer battery life would be nice, but even as is the Legion Pro 5 earns a solid recommendation."
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 Lenovo Legion Pro 5 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.
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