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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is generally more affordable and offers higher portability with a lighter weight and small screen size, making it suitable for general day-to-day tasks and those who value mobility. Its battery life should manage a full day of typical use. On the other hand, the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo, while costlier, provides a larger, higher-resolution screen, more storage, and double the RAM, making it better suited for more demanding tasks such as engineering software, 3D rendering, or machine learning projects. It comes with a better performing processor and is designed with premium business users in mind. Both laptops have touchscreens and similar integrated graphics suitable for less graphics-intensive tasks, but neither is ideal for intensive gaming due to the lack of dedicated gaming GPUs. 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 3
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.2
7.8
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
337.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
468.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for general use, though the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is somewhat better.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller screen, offers less power with an i5 CPU and less RAM compared to the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo's i7 CPU and greater RAM, which contributes to its better performance for general use; the Summit E14 also has a higher-resolution screen and longer battery life, which are desirable for longer and more visually-intensive sessions, but it is somewhat heavier, which may affect its portability.
Engineering and Design
6.8
7.7
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is better suited for engineering and design tasks because it has a higher-end CPU, more RAM, and a higher resolution screen, which are critical for demanding applications. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, with a less powerful CPU and less RAM, as well as a lower resolution screen, may not handle intensive tasks as efficiently, despite being more portable and quieter in operation.
Content Creation
7.3
7.8
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is somewhat better.
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
7.1
7.7
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for software development, though the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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
6.8
7.7
12.4in
SIZE
14.0in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
337.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
468.0 nits
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 provides a pleasant viewing experience with its adequate resolution and brightness, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo offers sharper visuals and better brightness, enhancing the clarity and comfort for everyday tasks. When it comes to engineering and design, the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo stands out with its wider color gamuts, presenting more accurate colors essential for professional creative work, whereas the Surface Laptop Go 3 delivers satisfactory but less precise color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications where high refresh rates are crucial for smooth visuals, both laptops fall short, lacking the fast display refresh rates needed for optimal performance in these areas.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has 7 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
Very Good
12.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$788
$1,599
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a price of $788 and the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo costs $1,599.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.5
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo are only fair for gaming and 3D because they both utilize integrated graphics from their processors, which offer limited gaming performance compared to dedicated GPUs, and both have screen refresh rates capped at 60Hz, which is lower than the rates preferred for high-level gaming. The MSI has a stronger CPU and higher resolution display, which slightly enhances performance and screen quality, but neither can compete with gaming-specific laptops that usually feature more powerful GPUs and faster refresh rates.
Build Quality
7.8
7.4
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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 3 and the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 | MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$788 | $1,599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 12.6'' x 8.6'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.49 lbs | 3.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 12.56" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 8.62" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 12.4" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1536 x 1024 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 337 nits | 468 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
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 | 6/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
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 3
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | July 2022
"The MSI Summit E14 Flip convertible review: a legit alternative to HP, Dell or Lenovo. Instead of taking the 13-inch Summit E13 Flip and simply enlarging it for a 14-inch form factor, the Summit E14 Flip is the full chassis redesign we've been looking for. It loses some of the golden trims of its smaller sibling, but the gains in rigidity and build quality are arguably worth it especially from a professional standpoint where reliability takes priority. It doesn't quite feel as strong as the HP Spectre just yet, but it's certainly getting close."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 or the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
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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