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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a more budget-friendly and portable option, suitable for everyday tasks, with good battery life for those on the go. On the other hand, the MSI Raider GE77Hx, while more expensive, offers superior performance which is ideal for demanding uses like gaming, 3D rendering, or complex engineering software; however, its larger size and usually shorter battery life reduce its portability. Choose the Surface if you prioritize a light, thin laptop with good battery life and affordability, or opt for the Raider if you need top-tier performance and are okay with a heavier machine and premium price. 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 Raider GE77Hx
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.0
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is appreciated for its portability and solid build quality, offering a high-quality keyboard and good battery life that suits everyday tasks, whereas the MSI Raider GE77Hx, with its superior processor and dedicated graphics, has better performance for intensive applications but is less portable and has a shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.1
8.7
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is considered very good for gaming and 3D because it is equipped with a high-performance Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a high refresh rate screen, which greatly enhances the visual experience and smoothness in games and 3D applications. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compromises on these crucial gaming elements with a more modest Intel Iris Xe graphics and a standard refresh rate screen, making it fair for gaming and 3D use, but not as visually impressive or fluid.
Engineering and Design
7.1
8.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is preferred for engineering and design because it includes a powerful Intel i7 processor and a high-end Nvidia RTX GPU, which together support demanding software and multitasking more effectively than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5's less powerful Intel i7 processor and integrated graphics. While the Surface Laptop 5 offers better portability and battery life, the Raider GE77Hx's larger and high-refresh-rate screen provides a more detailed and smoother visual experience which is crucial for design precision and engineering simulations.
Content Creation
7.4
8.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE77Hx 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
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for software development, though the MSI Raider GE77Hx 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
8.4
13.5in
SIZE
17.3in
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE77Hx has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers crisp resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its refresh rate is low, which is not ideal for the fast-paced visuals required in gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the MSI Raider GE77Hx features a display that excels in both resolution and color accuracy for professionals in engineering and design, while still offering high resolution and an adequate panel type for general use. However, its lower refresh rate does not provide the smooth motion needed for optimal gaming and 3D experiences.
Battery
7.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE77Hx has 5.5 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
Poor
13.5in
SIZE
17.3in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The MSI Raider GE77Hx has very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,200
$1,999
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a price of $1,200 and the MSI Raider GE77Hx costs $1,999.
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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the MSI Raider GE77Hx compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" | MSI Raider GE77Hx |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,200 | $1,999 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | 15.6'' x 11.2'' x 1.02'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.86 lbs | 6.39 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.1" | 15.63" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.8" | 11.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-12800HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 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 | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 47.4 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.5" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2256 x 1504 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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."
MSI Raider GE77Hx
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | July 2022
"The MSI Raider GE77 offers a lot of power for a lot of money. The main components consist of a Core i9-12900HX CPU, a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU (175 watts TGP, 16 GB VRAM), and 64 GB of RAM, which makes for a high overall performance level. The GeForce GPU in particular scores some of the highest scores we have seen from this chip. Both the CPU and the GPU are able to run at continuously high clock speeds. The relatively high heat and noise emissions match our expectations for this device class. With approximately 5.5 to 6.5 hours, the battery life is good for a powerful 4K laptop."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" or the MSI Raider GE77Hx
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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