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Updated January 16, 2024·
If you need high performance for tasks like gaming or engineering software, the Lenovo Legion 7i Pro with its powerful processor and graphics card is suitable, but it's heavier and less portable. For everyday use, browsing, and office applications, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is lighter, sleeker, and more affordable, though it won't handle demanding applications as well. The Lenovo also has a larger screen and higher refresh rate, which benefits gaming and multimedia, whereas the Surface Laptop gives you a more compact form and better portability with a screen aspect ratio better for document work. Battery life is generally longer on less powerful devices like the Surface Laptop, so for on-the-go use without frequent recharging, it's more convenient. 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 7i
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.4
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
469.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Lenovo Legion 7i Pro is outstanding for general use due to its beefier CPU, larger RAM, and superior screen quality with a high-refresh-rate display, though it is less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", which also offers good general performance with a more compact and lightweight design complemented by longer battery life for better on-the-go use. While the Lenovo excels in power and display, making it suitable for more demanding applications, the Surface Laptop 5 balances performance with mobility, making it a preferable option for users prioritizing ease of carrying and battery duration over top-tier specs.
Gaming and AI
9.1
6.1
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
240Hz
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 7i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i outshines in gaming and 3D because it packs a superior Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of up to 240 Hz, which are crucial for smooth and immersive gameplay. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 has an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz, which are adequate for casual gaming but may struggle with demanding 3D applications and high-frame-rate gaming.
Engineering and Design
9.3
7.1
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is excellent for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, typically equipped with a high-end CPU, ample RAM, and a dedicated GPU, delivers powerful performance and high-quality visuals crucial for demanding engineering applications, while the Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a more lightweight and portable design with a quality screen and a comfortable keyboard, making it a good fit for less intensive design work and everyday use. However, the Lenovo's gaming focus may lead to louder operating noise compared to the Surface's emphasis on a balance between performance and quiet operation.
Content Creation
8.5
7.4
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
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
8.2
7.2
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
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
8.7
7.2
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
469.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has a display with vibrant colors and sharp resolution which benefits both general use and detailed engineering tasks, providing clarity and color accuracy important for design work, but its lower refresh rate may not suffice for the smooth visuals crucial in high-paced gaming. Microsoft's Surface Laptop 5 offers a well-balanced screen with good brightness and resolution suited for everyday tasks and professional design applications, but it also lacks the high refresh rate demanded by gamers and 3D work. Thus, while both are suitable for general productivity and engineering, neither is optimized for the gaming or 3D rendering experience where fluid motion and split-second visual updates are key.
Battery
5.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has 5 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
Fair
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
6.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.8
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$1,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has a price of $2,000 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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How the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10.3'' x 0.94'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.17 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.32" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13900HX | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 469 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.5/10 | 9/10 | |
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 | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
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 | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | February 2023
"Passionate gamers who want to play demanding modern titles with maximum details and don't mind spending the moolah will find the Lenovo Legion 7 Pro to be the right choice. The bright, sharp, and color-accurate 16:10 QHD 240 Hz display makes for an immersive viewing experience. The hardware is housed in a stylish chassis that feels premium and scores well in terms of workmanship and stability. Other aspects such as sound quality, input devices, and connectivity also seem to be near-perfect."
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"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 Lenovo Legion Pro 7i or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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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