The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is typically less expensive, smaller, lighter and offers better portability with its 12.4-inch screen, making it an easier device to carry around. It is well suited for general use and has a higher resolution 3:2 touchscreen that can be beneficial for productivity tasks. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 provides more powerful performance with its upgraded processor and doubled RAM, which is beneficial for more intensive tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or engineering software. The Galaxy Book3 360 also comes with a larger 15.6-inch OLED touchscreen display which is of higher quality in terms of color reproduction and is better for media consumption, though the device is heavier and may not be as convenient to transport. If battery life is a priority, the Galaxy Book3 360 outlasts the Surface Laptop Go 3 enabling longer usage between charges. Choose the Surface Laptop Go 3 for a balance of portability and price or the Galaxy Book3 360 for enhanced performance, a larger screen, and better battery life. 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 Samsung Galaxy Book3 360
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.2/10
7.8/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
337.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for general use, though the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 is somewhat better.
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 offers superior general use performance over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 due to its higher RAM, a more powerful processor, better screen quality including OLED technology, and longer battery life. Although the Surface Laptop Go 3 is lighter and more portable, the Galaxy Book3 360 also brings additional storage capacity and a larger screen size, which contributes to a more enjoyable user experience.
Engineering and Design
6.8/10
7.6/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.8/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for content creation, though the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 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
7.1/10
7.7/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for software development, though the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 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
6.8/10
7.7/10
12.4in
SIZE
15.6in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
337.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 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 clarity and comfort for daily tasks with decent resolution and brightness, but the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 surpasses it with higher resolution and better brightness, making it ideal for prolonged work. In engineering and design, both laptops offer good screen quality with the Surface Laptop Go 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 featuring adequate color gamut coverage for precise color work; however, the Galaxy Book has an edge with its slightly better range. When it comes to Gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short with lower refresh rates, which means less smooth visuals, but their resolutions and panel types are sufficient for casual use, with the Galaxy Book likely delivering a marginally better experience due to its superior resolution.
Battery
8.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 has 10 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
15.6in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$788
$1,299
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a price of $788 and the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 costs $1,299.
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 are fair for gaming and 3D largely due to shared integrated graphics, with the former featuring a slightly lower-tier CPU than the latter. While both have standard screen refresh rates, the Galaxy Book3 360 offers a bit better screen quality with its OLED display, which could enhance visual experiences despite neither pushing beyond the typical refresh rate for high-level gaming.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 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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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The Samsung Galaxy Book 3 360 isn’t a laptop that the Korean manufacturer has shouted from the rooftops about, and it seems to have gotten little attention from anywhere. But, it is absolutely a laptop worth paying attention to. Compared to higher-priced devices, like the Dell XPS 13 (2022) and Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023), it manages to offer a similar day-to-day experience despite the price difference. It’s really hard to justify the extra cash unless a boosted display is a requirement of yours."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 or the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360
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 Samsung
Samsung Electronics is one of the largest technology corporation by revenue. Based in South Korea, they are very well known for their wide range of phones, tablets, TVs and appliances. Their main line of laptops is the Galaxy Book series, launched in 2017. This range includes 2-in-1 convertible devices and standard notebooks, with a focus on portability and value for money.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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