If performance is a priority for you, especially for engineering tasks or 3D/machine learning applications, and you don't mind spending more and having less portability, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is a suitable choice. It comes with more powerful hardware such as a high-end processor and dedicated GPU, more storage, and a high-resolution screen, but it's heavier and bulkier. By contrast, if you want something more affordable, lightweight, and with a touchscreen, consider the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3. It's less powerful with less storage and weaker integrated graphics, so it's best for general use and not demanding tasks. The Surface Laptop Go 3 is more portable but offers lower performance and shorter battery life. 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 ThinkPad P16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Excellent speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
7.2/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
569.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is rated better for general use because it has a higher-performing CPU, more RAM, and a superior screen quality which is crucial for multitasking and clarity, although it is less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which is lighter and has longer battery life but comes with a less powerful CPU, less RAM, and a lower resolution screen, making it suitable for lighter tasks and better for on-the-go usage. The ThinkPad P16’s drawbacks in portability and battery are offset by its advantages in performance and display for those who require more robust capabilities for complex tasks, while the Surface Laptop Go 3, despite its performance limitations, offers greater convenience for users with more basic computing needs.
Gaming and AI
6.9/10
6.1/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
6.8/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 offers a high-end CPU, double the RAM, and a dedicated GPU, which are essential for the computational and graphics processing demands of engineering and design; it also boasts a superior screen with a higher resolution and color accuracy. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a mid-range CPU, half the RAM, and integrated graphics, rendering it less capable for intensive tasks, despite being more portable and having better speakers and quieter operating noise.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.3/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
8.4/10
7.1/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
8.2/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
569.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16's high-resolution, bright display with its panel type offers crisp and clear visuals, making it very good, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3's slightly lower resolution and brightness provide a still good but less sharp experience. In engineering and design, the ThinkPad P16's wider color gamuts ensure accurate color representation, crucial for detail-oriented work, while the Surface Laptop Go 3, with decent color coverage, offers competency but not the same level of precision. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which means less fluid motion compared to laptops designed specifically with high refresh rates for such purposes.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has 10 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
Poor
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
6.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,449
$800
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a price of $1,449 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $800.
"It's only a few months since we gave the MSI CreatorPro X17 one of our rare 4.5-star ratings and our top mobile workstation honor, but the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 matches that achievement in a more premium overall build. Ultimately, its build quality, screen, and keyboard give our latest Editors' Choice nod to the Lenovo—it's enough of a monster on almost all fronts that it simply cannot be ignored."
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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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