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Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Surface Laptop Go 2
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What we think

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Updated January 12, 2024·

Without specific model details, consider this general advice for choosing between a higher-priced Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the more affordable Surface Laptop Go 2. The Surface Laptop 5 tends to offer more powerful processors, larger and possibly higher resolution displays, and may include features aimed at more demanding tasks such as professional workloads, multitasking, and higher-end media consumption. Its build quality and specifications generally support intensive work such as video editing, software development, or 3D modeling. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a more portable package, better suited for on-the-go use, with a typically lower price reflecting its modest performance capabilities. It is often suitable for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and media streaming. If performance and high-spec features are less critical than budget and portability, the Surface Laptop Go 2 could serve well. However, for better performance and a more premium experience, the Surface Laptop 5 may be the better choice despite the higher cost. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
  • Good for engineering and design
  • Good overall display quality
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
  • The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13".

Key differences

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Engineering and Design

7.1
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Surface Laptop Go 2
6.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.

Screen Quality

7.2
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Surface Laptop Go 2
6.9
13.5in
SIZE
12.4in
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.

Cost

$1,200
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Surface Laptop Go 2
$774
Product image
Product image

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

$1,600

$1,800

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a price of $1,200 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $774.
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Key similarities

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General Use

7.4
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Surface Laptop Go 2
7.0
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use.

Gaming and AI

6.1
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Surface Laptop Go 2
6.0
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.

Content Creation

7.4
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Surface Laptop Go 2
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for content creation.

Software Development

7.2
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Surface Laptop Go 2
7.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development.

Battery

7.5 Hours
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Surface Laptop Go 2
8.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 hours of battery life.

Portability

Excellent
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Surface Laptop Go 2
Excellent
13.5in
SIZE
12.4in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.

Build Quality

7.8
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Surface Laptop Go 2
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 both have good build quality.

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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops

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Spec Comparison

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

GENERAL

Price
$1,200
$774
Release Date
October 1, 2022June 1, 2022
Overall Dimensions
12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57''11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62''
Weight
2.86 lbs2.48 lbs
Width
12.1"10.95"
Depth
8.8"8.12"

INTERNAL

Processor
Intel i7-1255UIntel i5-1135G7
RAM
16 GB8 GB
DDR Memory Version
54
RAM Slots
00
Storage
512 GB128 GB

BATTERY

Battery Life
7.5 Hours8 Hours
Battery Capacity
47.4 Wh41 Wh

SCREEN

Diagonal Size
13.5"12.4"
Display Technology
IPSIPS
Resolution
2256 x 15041536 x 1024
Refresh Rate
60Hz60Hz
Display Brightness
400 nits401 nits

RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS

Build Quality Score
7.8/107.8/10
Portability Score
9/109.3/10
Gaming Laptop Appearance
NoNo
Premium Business Laptop
NoNo
Fan Noise Score
7.5/107.5/10

HARDWARE FEATURES

Keyboard Quality Score
7/107/10
Speaker Quality Score
8.8/108.4/10
Webcam
720p720p
Fingerprint Reader
NoYes
Backlit Keyboard
YesNo
Number Pad
NoNo

CONNECTIVITY

USB Type-A
11
USB-C ports
11
USB-C Charging
YesNo
Display Outputs
11
Thunderbolt Version
4N/A

Shopping

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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."

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

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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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

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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Why trust us

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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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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.

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