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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is more affordable, lighter, and offers solid performance and build quality for general use. It has a smaller screen and less storage than the Razer Book 13. The Razer Book is more expensive but provides superior general use and engineering performance due to its higher RAM and better processor. It also has a larger and sharper screen, longer battery life, and comes with more connectivity options including Thunderbolt ports. If your priority is portability and budget, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is suitable, while if you need more power for tasks like 3D and engineering, and value a better display, the Razer Book 13 is a better choice. 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
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Razer Book 13
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent battery life
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.8
7.3
12.4in
SIZE
13.4in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
337.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
507.0 nits
The Razer Book 13 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, both the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the Razer Book 13 have panels with adequate resolution and brightness, offering clear and vivid displays for everyday tasks. In engineering and design, they provide a wide array of colors, making them suitable for precision work that relies on accurate color representation. However, their moderate refresh rates can be a disadvantage for gaming and 3D applications, which benefit from higher refresh rates to ensure smoother motion and less visual lag.
Battery
8.0 Hours
14.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The Razer Book 13 has 14 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.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The Razer Book 13 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
$1,389
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a price of $800 and the Razer Book 13 costs $1,389.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.2
7.6
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
337.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
507.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
14.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Book 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for general use.
The Razer Book 13 offers a higher quality experience for general use primarily due to its superior CPU and double the RAM of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which contributes to better performance. Additionally, the Razer Book has a larger, higher resolution screen, and significantly longer battery life, all of which enhance its suitability for diverse tasks while still maintaining excellent portability.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Razer Book 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Razer Book 13 are fair for gaming and 3D tasks because they both use integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which offer decent but not top-tier gaming performance, and their screens have standard refresh rates of 60Hz, which is acceptable for casual gaming but not optimal for fast-paced games where higher refresh rates could provide smoother visuals. The Surface features a lesser screen resolution and smaller screen size which may affect the visual experience compared to the Razer's slightly superior screen quality, but both are limited by the same refresh rate, making neither ideal for the most demanding gaming or 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.8
7.1
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Razer Book 13 to be good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Razer Book 13 is deemed better for engineering and design because it's equipped with a higher-quality CPU and twice the RAM of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which are vital for complex tasks, along with a more detailed screen and a more robust GPU contributing to better overall performance. However, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is lighter and more portable, with a good enough performance for lighter engineering and design tasks, a decent screen, and a quieter operation which may still appeal to some users for its balance between functionality and portability.
Content Creation
7.3
7.6
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Book 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for content creation.
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
7.5
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Razer Book 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
Portability
Excellent
Excellent
12.4in
SIZE
13.4in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Razer Book 13 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the Razer Book 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 | Razer Book 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$800 | $1,389 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | April 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 11.6'' x 7.8'' x 0.6'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.49 lbs | 3.09 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 11.64" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 7.81" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | Intel i7-1165G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 14 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 55 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 12.4" | 13.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1536 x 1024 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 337 nits | 507 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 9.1/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
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 | 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."
Razer Book 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | December 2020
"The Razer Book is like an XPS 13, but faster. The Book 13 combines the design philosophy and performance of a Blade Stealth with the 16:10 display of a Dell XPS 13 for an impressive piece of hardware. Office users who want something more stylish than the typical Dell, HP or Lenovo will certainly find themselves drawn to this Razer subnotebook. If your priorities are to have the best-looking and fastest 13-inch laptop in the office over auxiliary features, however, then the Book 13 proudly fulfills that niche."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 or the Razer Book 13
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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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.
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About the laptop team
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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.
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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.
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