A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 could be a better fit if high performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering is needed, given its more powerful AMD processor and Nvidia graphics, along with better overall performance and a larger screen that may be better for multitasking. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 offers greater portability with its lighter weight and smaller form factor, as well as a touchscreen. It's more suitable for general everyday tasks and on-the-go use but has less storage and a less powerful processor, making it less suitable for intensive workloads. Both laptops have a similar price, so choose based on whether performance or portability is more important for your needs. 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 Slim 7 16
- Good for engineering and design
- Very 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
7.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
500.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
9.5 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 Slim 7 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo Slim 7 16 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Slim 7 16, boasting a powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and generous RAM, is well-suited for various tasks, complemented by a high-resolution screen, which enhances the overall user experience, although it is less portable and has a relatively shorter battery life. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 offers greater portability and an excellent battery life, but its less robust CPU and smaller RAM may limit performance for demanding applications, and a lower resolution screen might not be as sharp for detailed work.
Gaming and AI
6.6
6.0
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo Slim 7 16 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Slim 7 16, equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, offers better graphics performance for gaming and 3D tasks compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which uses integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and a standard refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
7.5
6.5
7.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 is better suited for engineering and design tasks because it boasts a high-performance AMD Ryzen CPU, a discrete Nvidia RTX GPU, more RAM, and a higher-resolution screen, which provide the horsepower and visual clarity needed for intensive applications.
Software Development
7.6
7.0
7.2/10
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 Slim 7 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo Slim 7 16 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
8.3
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
500.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 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 Slim 7 16 excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high resolution and brightness, which provide clear and vivid images, alongside a wide color gamut ensuring accurate color reproduction essential for design work. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, where smoother motion is a priority. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, while also offering a quality display for general use and engineering tasks, falls short for gaming and 3D uses because of a similarly limited refresh rate, even though the resolution and panel quality are sufficient for less demanding activities.
Battery
9.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has 9.5 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
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo Slim 7 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,440
$774
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has a price of $1,440 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $774.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Content Creation
7.6
7.1
7.2/10
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 Slim 7 16 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.
Build Quality
7.8
7.8
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo Slim 7 16 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Slim 7 16 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,440 | $774 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.7'' x 0.69'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.6 lbs | 2.48 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.68" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 75 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 | 500 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 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 | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Slim 7 16
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Eric Grevstad | March 2022
"At $1,011, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro is a real bargain among full-sized laptops, with a handsome 16-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio touch screen, a speedy CPU, a comfortable keyboard, ample memory, and a roomy solid-state drive. It's not a blazing gaming rig or mobile workstation, but it doesn't pretend to be. Its biggest negative is that it may be hard to find—during our review, it sold out and was marked "Temporarily Unavailable" on Lenovo's site."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
See more
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 Slim 7 16 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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Lenovo Slim 7 16 vs. Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
VS
Compare Lenovo Slim 7 16 vs. Lenovo ThinkPad P16
VS
Compare Lenovo Slim 7 16 vs. LG Gram 16
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 vs. ASUS Zenbook 14X
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 vs. Lenovo Flex 5 16
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 vs. Dell Inpsiron 14 7435
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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
129,795
Recommendations made
28,123
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.
Featured in
