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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
If you prioritize a lightweight machine for everyday tasks and value an elegant design, the Microsoft Surface Laptop might suit you better. However, if your work involves graphics design, video editing, or any resource-intensive software, the MSI Creator with its stronger performance focus would be a better fit as it is aimed at content creators who need more power. Keep in mind, more powerful laptops can sometimes have shorter battery life and could be heavier, making them less convenient for frequent travel. On the other hand, sleeker, more portable laptops like the Surface may not handle heavy tasks as well. 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"
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.0
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a balance of lightweight portability and screen quality that makes it well-suited for everyday tasks, with a reliable battery life to get you through the day. The MSI Creator M14, on the other hand, steps up performance with a stronger CPU and more RAM, making it a better fit for more demanding general use, though it may sacrifice a bit of battery life and portability due to these enhancements.
Gaming and AI
6.1
7.3
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a more modest GPU and standard screen refresh rate, making it suitable but not ideal for gaming and 3D tasks, whereas the MSI Creator M14 comes with a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, providing smoother and more detailed visual performance for gaming and 3D applications. While both have quality screens and capable CPUs, the GPU and screen refresh rate of the MSI Creator M14 give it an edge for gaming and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
7.1
8.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a balance of portability and performance with a high-quality keyboard and screen, ideal for on-the-go engineering tasks. The MSI Creator M14, with a stronger GPU and more RAM, better supports demanding applications and complex designs, but may be less convenient for travel due to increased weight and size.
Content Creation
7.4
8.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
7.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator M14 is somewhat better.
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
7.2
7.5
13.5in
SIZE
14.0in
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and MSI Creator M14 both have high resolution and brightness which make for crisp and clear displays suitable for general use where reading and web browsing are common. Their wide color gamuts deliver precise color accuracy that's beneficial for engineering and design tasks that require attention to detail in color-sensitive projects. However, for gaming and 3D applications which prioritize fluid motion, their lower refresh rates may not provide the smooth visuals that are preferred in fast-paced environments where quick screen updates are crucial.
Battery
7.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.5in
SIZE
14.0in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the MSI Creator M14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,200
$1,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a price of $1,200 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
7.8
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and MSI Creator M14 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,200 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.86 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.1" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.8" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 47.4 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.5" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2256 x 1504 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" or the MSI Creator M14
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.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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