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 Pro 9i will cost you more but offers superior performance with a better processor, more memory and storage, and a dedicated graphics card, making it suitable for intensive engineering tasks, 3D modeling, machine learning, and gaming. It also has a higher resolution Mini LED display with a higher refresh rate, but this also means it has lower battery life and is heavier, which could make it less portable. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is more affordable and lighter with longer battery life, making it highly portable, yet it has lesser performance capabilities due to a lower-tier processor, integrated graphics, and less memory and storage, designed for general use like web browsing, document editing, and light media consumption. 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 Pro 9i
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Best in class overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.5
7.0
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
618.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is good.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i boasts a more powerful CPU and quadruple the RAM of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, contributing to better performance for multitasking and demanding applications; its high-quality, larger Mini LED screen also enhances visual experience for content, although this comes at the cost of some portability and a lower battery life compared to the lighter and longer-lasting Surface Laptop Go 2, which may be easier to carry around but offers a smaller IPS screen with lower resolution and less powerful internals suited for more basic tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.6
6.0
6.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i offers superior gaming and 3D capabilities due to its Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 165, which are crucial for demanding visual tasks, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, equipped with the less powerful Intel i5-1135G7 Iris Xe graphics and a lower refresh rate of 60, is less suited for these intensive applications. Additionally, the CPU and screen quality are better in the Lenovo, contributing to a more responsive and vibrant gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
8.9
6.5
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
6.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i excels in engineering and design use due to its high-performance CPU, substantial RAM and advanced GPU, paired with an exceptional Mini LED screen which supports a high resolution, brightness, and color coverage, making it suitable for detailed graphical tasks.
Content Creation
8.5
7.1
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
8.3
7.0
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
9.6
6.9
14.5in
SIZE
12.4in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
618.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 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 Pro 9i boasts a high-resolution display with bright and color-accurate panels, making it excellent for both general use and professional engineering and design tasks that demand precise color representation. However, it falls short for gaming and 3D applications because it likely has a lower refresh rate, which is less optimal for the fluid motion required in these scenarios. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, while also offering a good display with decent resolution and brightness for general and design-related tasks, similarly lacks the high refresh rate needed for the best gaming and 3D experience.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 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
14.5in
SIZE
12.4in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,500
$774
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has a price of $1,500 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $774.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Build Quality
8.0
7.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Slim Pro 9i to have very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 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 Pro 9i and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Slim Pro 9i | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,500 | $774 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.9'' x 9.6'' x 0.85'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.7 lbs | 2.48 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.9" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.64" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13705H | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 75 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.5" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3072 x 1920 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 618 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 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 | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | August 2023
"The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is an impressive laptop with a brilliant Mini-LED display, a powerful 100-watt version of Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, and excellent connectivity. Having run the Cinebench benchmark again, we were impressed with the CPU performance. That makes the Slim Pro 9i is an easy recommendation, especially for those who care about GPU and CPU performance. It’s also a fantastic choice if you frequently view HDR movies and games on your laptop."
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 Pro 9i 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 Pro 9i vs. ASUS TUF Gaming F15
VS
Compare Lenovo Slim Pro 9i vs. ASUS TUF Dash 15
VS
Compare Lenovo Slim Pro 9i vs. ASUS Zenbook Pro 17
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
128,895
Recommendations made
27,928
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
