A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If budget is a concern and you require a device that is easier to carry around, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 may be preferable. It is less expensive, lighter, and has a higher portability rating. However, the Razer Blade 18 stands out for high performance in gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning, in addition to having a larger, more color-accurate screen and significantly longer battery life. The Razer Blade also boasts a faster, more powerful processor and GPU, more RAM, and more storage. Choose the Surface Laptop Go 3 for everyday tasks and cost-efficiency, or the Razer Blade 18 for demanding applications and a higher quality build. 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
- Good battery life
Advantages of the Razer Blade 18
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.2
8.5
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
337.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.1/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers moderate storage and RAM, a lower-tier CPU, and integrated graphics, which suffice for general use but may struggle with demanding tasks, balanced with its increased portability and better battery life. In contrast, the Razer Blade 18 comes with a high-end CPU, significantly more RAM, a powerful dedicated GPU, and a superior screen, resulting in excellent performance for a range of uses, at the cost of less portability and shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.1
8.9
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Razer Blade 18 offers superior gaming and 3D performance to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, thanks to its high-end Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 240 Hz. Additionally, the Razer's advanced CPU and superior screen quality contribute to its excellence in these tasks, compared to the more modest capabilities of the Surface Laptop Go 3.
Engineering and Design
6.8
9.3
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Razer Blade 18 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Razer Blade 18 offers superior CPU, RAM, and GPU capabilities with a high-quality screen, catering excellently to demanding engineering and design tasks, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 provides fair performance with less powerful specs, though it is more portable and has a high-quality touchscreen which might appeal for certain design uses. However, the Razer Blade 18's hefty build affects portability and it also produces more operating noise, a trade-off for its top-tier performance and larger, premium display.
Content Creation
7.3
8.6
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
7.1
8.5
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is good.
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
8.9
12.4in
SIZE
18.0in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
337.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
The Razer Blade 18 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 Surface Laptop Go 3 offers a clear, crisp display with adequate resolution and brightness that makes everyday tasks pleasant on the eyes, while the Razer Blade 18's higher resolution improves this experience further. In engineering and design work, accurate colors are crucial, and while both laptops offer good color reproduction, the Razer has a slight edge with its wider color gamuts that ensure better precision. However, for gaming and 3D applications, a high refresh rate is key for smooth motion, and both laptops underperform in this area, which could lead to less fluid visuals during fast-paced scenes.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 18 has 4 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
Fair
12.4in
SIZE
18.0in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the Razer Blade 18 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The Razer Blade 18 has very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$800
$3,200
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a price of $800 and the Razer Blade 18 costs $3,200.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the Razer Blade 18 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 | Razer Blade 18 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$800 | $3,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.49 lbs | 6.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 15.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 10.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | Intel i9-13950HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 91.7 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 12.4" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1536 x 1024 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 337 nits | 524 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 6.2/10 | |
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 | 7.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1440p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | 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 | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
See more
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."
Razer Blade 18
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | March 2023
"Razer made a powerful laptop in the Blade 18, showing off a beautiful and fast display and the same high-quality build we’ve come to expect from this product line. It’s also quite expensive, which is hardly a surprise, but bears repeating even in this price range. It’s pricier than the Scar 18 despite an inferior GPU and half the storage, so you really have to want the Blade 18’s design to justify the cost."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 or the Razer Blade 18
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 vs. Acer Aspire 5 15
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 vs. Dell Inpsiron 14 7435
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 vs. HP Envy x360 15"
VS
Compare Razer Blade 18 vs. MSI GE66 Raider
VS
Compare Razer Blade 18 vs. Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
VS
Compare Razer Blade 18 vs. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
124,995
Recommendations made
27,083
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
