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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 13, 2024·
If you're on a budget and prefer a lighter device for basic tasks like browsing and document editing, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is a solid choice, whereas the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while more expensive, offers higher performance suitable for more demanding applications and multitasking. The ThinkBook usually boasts a better display and more robust build quality, which could be important if you prioritize screen real estate and durability. However, if portability and saving money are your primary concerns, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is more aligned with those needs. 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 Go 2
- The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.0
7.9
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
401.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is lighter and more compact making it highly portable, but has a lower-resolution screen and less powerful CPU, which may make it less suited for demanding tasks compared to the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, which offers a higher-resolution screen, better CPU performance, and longer battery life, all of which contribute to a more robust experience for a variety of applications. While both have high-quality keyboards and sufficient storage, the ThinkBook's superior screen and performance make it stand out for users needing more than just basic functionality.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while sporting decent CPUs and good screen quality, both have integrated graphics and typical 60Hz displays, which limit their gaming and 3D rendering capabilities. For tasks like high-end gaming or professional 3D work, laptops with dedicated GPUs and higher refresh rates are recommended.
Engineering and Design
6.5
7.9
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, with a more robust CPU and superior dedicated GPU, offers enhanced performance essential for demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which might lag behind due to its more modest specs. Although both have high-quality screens and keyboards, the ThinkBook's additional RAM also ensures smoother multitasking, making it better suited for complex software often used in engineering while maintaining decent portability and low operating noise.
Content Creation
7.1
8.0
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
7.0
7.9
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
6.9
8.2
12.4in
SIZE
13.5in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
401.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When selecting a laptop for general use, both the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x offer pleasing visuals with clear resolution and adequate brightness, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing. Engineers and designers would appreciate the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x's wider color gamut, which ensures more accurate color representation for tasks like photo editing or CAD work compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2. However, for gaming and 3D applications where motion clarity is crucial, neither laptop stands out due to their lower refresh rates, although they maintain decent resolution and quality for less demanding graphics tasks.
Cost
$774
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a price of $774 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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.
Portability
Excellent
Excellent
12.4in
SIZE
13.5in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
7.6
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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 Go 2 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13x |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$774 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | January 30, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 11.6'' x 8.1'' x 0.5'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.48 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 11.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 8.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 74 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 12.4" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1536 x 1024 | 2880 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 401 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 9.4/10 | |
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 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
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 Go 2 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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