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Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the Razer Blade 15, consider your primary needs. The Surface Laptop 5 is more portable and offers a touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio, which is optimal for productivity tasks and general use. Its performance is solid for day-to-day multitasking. On the other hand, the Razer Blade 15, with its high-performance components and dedicated graphics card, is better suited for intensive tasks such as gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning. It also has a higher-resolution display with a faster refresh rate, making it ideal for gaming and creative work. Expectedly, it's pricier and heavier, which might be a consideration if you value portability and plan to carry it around frequently. Additionally, it's known for shorter battery life due to its powerful hardware, whereas the Surface Laptop 5 may last longer on a single charge, making it more suited for on-the-go use. 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
Advantages of the Razer Blade 15
- 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
Gaming and AI
6.1
8.0
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.0/10
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
7.0/10
The Razer Blade 15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The Razer Blade 15 outperforms the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" in gaming and 3D applications primarily because it is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a significantly higher screen refresh rate, enhancing visual fluidity and gaming responsiveness. While the Surface Laptop has a fair integrated GPU and a standard refresh rate, these features are less suited for the demands of high-end gaming and 3D rendering compared to the Razer's dedicated gaming GPU and high-refresh display.
Engineering and Design
7.1
8.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Razer Blade 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Razer Blade 15 outperforms the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for engineering and design due to a more powerful main processor and higher-end GPU, which are crucial for intensive tasks and graphically demanding software common in these fields; additionally, the Razer's larger screen with higher resolution and refresh rate offers superior screen quality for detailed design work. While the Razer Blade 15 might be less portable and slightly nosier under load, these are acceptable tradeoffs for users prioritizing top-tier performance and display capabilities critical for engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
7.4
8.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Blade 15 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.
Screen Quality
7.2
8.2
13.5in
SIZE
15.6in
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
271.0 nits
The Razer Blade 15 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" and Razer Blade 15 both have high-resolution displays that offer sharp visuals and vibrant colors, providing clarity and detail important for general use and professional engineering and design tasks. While both laptops may boast panels with good color accuracy essential for design work, the Razer Blade 15 often comes optimized for broader color gamuts and more precise color reproduction that designers might prefer. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key, the typically lower refresh rates on these displays are not ideal compared to gaming-centric laptops designed with higher refresh rates for a more fluid visual experience.
Battery
7.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 15 has 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
15.6in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Razer Blade 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The Razer Blade 15 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
$2,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a price of $1,200 and the Razer Blade 15 costs $2,500.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.9
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
271.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Razer Blade 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers solid performance with a high-quality screen that's suitable for general use and its lightweight design improves portability and battery life, which is convenient for those who prioritize mobility. Whereas the Razer Blade 15 delivers excellent gaming-class performance with a larger and more vibrant screen, more powerful CPU and GPU, and superior speakers, keyboard, and build quality, making it ideal for multimedia and more demanding tasks, though it is heavier and has a shorter battery life.
Software Development
7.2
7.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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.
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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the Razer Blade 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" | Razer Blade 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,200 | $2,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | 14'' x 9.3'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.86 lbs | 4.4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.1" | 13.98" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.8" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-12800H | |
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 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 47.4 Wh | 80 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.5" | 15.6" | |
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 | 271 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 7.7/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
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."
Razer Blade 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2022
"The 2022 Blade 15 offers roughly 15 to 25 percent faster graphics performance and 20 percent faster CPU performance over last year's Core i7-11800H and RTX 3080 model. Thankfully, the system doesn't need to run noticeably louder or warmer to achieve faster results, but both power consumption and battery life take a hit. The higher consumption in particular appears to be a trend amongst many 12th gen Core laptops including the Schenker Uniwill Technology GM7AG8P or MSI Vector GP66 when compared to their previous generation counterparts. We're also glad to not see below-average CPU performance which was the case for the 10th gen Core i7-10875H model."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" or the Razer Blade 15
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 Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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