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Updated January 10, 2024·
If your priority is longer battery life and better performance for general use, engineering tasks, or 3D/machine learning applications, the LG Ultra 13 with its more powerful processor and greater memory capacity could be the better choice. It also offers a slightly lower price point compared to the Microsoft option. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while having a shorter battery life and less memory, has a touchscreen and a higher-resolution display with more vibrant colors, making it potentially more suitable for tasks that benefit from direct screen interaction and high-quality visuals. The Surface Laptop Go 3 is also slightly lighter and therefore might be easier to carry around. Both laptops have similar portability, but the LG edges out slightly in 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 LG Ultra 13
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9
6.8
13.3in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The LG Ultra 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 have similar screen quality.
If you prioritize a clear, sharp display for browsing and productivity, both the LG Ultra 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offer panels with good resolution and brightness. Those involved in engineering and design will appreciate their wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color reproduction crucial for their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications that benefit from smoother motion and quick screen refreshes, both laptops may fall short as their refresh rates are not high enough to provide the optimal experience.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The LG Ultra 13 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.
Cost
$529
$788
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The LG Ultra 13 has a price of $529 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $788.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.2
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and LG Ultra 13 are both good for general use.
The LG Ultra 13 is considered better for general use primarily because it has more RAM and a more powerful CPU, which contribute to smoother multitasking and overall performance, and its larger battery and screen provide good longevity and a higher resolution for crisper visuals. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has less RAM and a less powerful CPU, which may limit performance under heavier usage, and its smaller battery offers shorter usage time, although its compact size and light weight give it an edge in portability.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.1
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and LG Ultra 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The LG Ultra 13, with an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and integrated Vega 7 graphics, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which sports an Intel i5 CPU and Iris Xe graphics, both offer moderate gaming and 3D capabilities; however, their gaming potential is limited by their standard 60Hz screen refresh rates and integrated GPUs that are less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs. While both have adequate CPUs and high-quality IPS screens, neither is equipped with hardware specifically tailored for high-end gaming or professional 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.6
6.8
4.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and LG Ultra 13 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The LG Ultra 13, with a stronger CPU and more RAM, offers more robust performance for engineering and design tasks compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which although it has a higher resolution touchscreen, comes with less RAM and a less powerful CPU. However, both laptops have fair screen quality and portability, with adequate keyboard and speaker quality, and manage heat and operating noise well, which are important for extended work sessions but are not the primary performance drivers for engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
7.2
7.3
4.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and LG Ultra 13 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
7.2
7.1
4.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The LG Ultra 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
Portability
Excellent
Excellent
13.3in
SIZE
12.4in
2.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The LG Ultra 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and LG Ultra 13 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the LG Ultra 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG Ultra 13 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$529 | $788 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2021 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.1'' x 8.1'' x 0.6'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.16 lbs | 2.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.08" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.14" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 4700U | Intel i5-1235U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 337 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 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 | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
LG Ultra 13
See more
Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Joshua Goldman | April 2017
"The 13.3-inch LG Gram is a fine fit if you need to travel as light as possible for as long as possible without spending a fortune to do it. It might not be particularly sturdy or have an eye-catching design and its webcam is less than ideal, but with its sharp touch display, comfortable backlit keyboard, responsive touchpad and a fingerprint reader for extra security, the Gram makes a respectible everyday laptop for business or school work."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"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 LG Ultra 13 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
About LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, 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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