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Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the Lenovo V15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" involves several important considerations. The Lenovo V15 is significantly more budget-friendly, which could be a deciding factor if cost is a major concern. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 offers a higher-resolution and better-quality display which could be important for tasks that benefit from clear and sharp visuals, such as photo editing or video streaming. The Surface Laptop 5 is also lighter and thinner, making it a more portable option compared to the heavier and larger Lenovo V15. For more demanding software and multitasking needs, the Surface Laptop may have the edge with its latest Intel processor against the AMD processor in the Lenovo. On the other hand, the Lenovo V15 may boast a longer battery life, which is crucial if you're often working on the go without access to charging points. Ultimately, if you prioritize cost savings and battery life, the Lenovo V15 is an excellent choice, but for better display quality, portability, and potentially stronger performance, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 should be considered. 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 V15
- The Lenovo V15 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13".
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.3
7.1
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo V15 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is considered good for engineering and design use primarily due to its superior Intel i7 processor and Iris Xe integrated graphics, which provide better performance for demanding software used in these fields, as well as its high-resolution IPS display that supports touch and has a higher pixel density, offering better screen quality. Meanwhile, the Lenovo V15, with its AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Vega 7 integrated graphics, delivers fair performance that is adequate but not ideal for intensive tasks, and it has a TN panel with lower screen quality, which may not be as suitable for design work; although, it offers a larger screen and a numeric keypad, which might be beneficial for some engineering applications.
Screen Quality
5.4
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
231.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen than the Lenovo V15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Lenovo V15's screen may be less vivid and show duller colors due to its lower resolution and brightness, impacting daily tasks like browsing and watching videos. While the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 boasts a high-resolution display with better brightness, making it suitable for precise design work and general activities, it might fall short in gaming or 3D applications due to its average refresh rate. The V15's screen, though cost-effective, may not support the broad color gamuts essential for professional engineering and design tasks.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Lenovo V15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.7
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality, while the Lenovo V15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$579
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo V15 has a price of $579 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
231.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Lenovo V15 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo V15's AMD Ryzen processor and 16 GB of RAM make it capable for general computing tasks, while its traditional laptop design with a numpad and variety of ports is practical for everyday use. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" boasts a high-resolution touchscreen and compact form factor for enhanced portability, coupled with an Intel processor and the same amount of RAM, making it equally suitable for general use but offering more premium features like a superior screen and build quality.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.1
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo V15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
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.
Content Creation
7.3
7.4
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Lenovo V15 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.
Software Development
7.1
7.2
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Lenovo V15 are both good for software development.
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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Lenovo V15 has 8 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.
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How the Lenovo V15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo V15 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$579 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.78'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.75 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.1" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.3" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 38 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 231 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 4.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 480p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
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 | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo V15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marvin Gollor | April 2022
"The strengths of the Lenovo V15 G2 AMD lie in its expandability of the RAM and allowing you to use two SSDs, in its performance that goes beyond everyday applications thanks to AMD's hexa-core CPU and Vega-7 iGPU, in its good keyboard, and its relatively robust case. In addition, the battery life of the office laptop is also acceptable, and the device stays cool and relatively quiet."
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 V15 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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