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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 14, 2024·
If saving money is a priority and your tasks are light, such as web browsing and document editing, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is a suitable choice with the added benefit of its ultra-portable design. However, if you need more power for tasks like advanced data analysis or photo editing, and you're willing to invest more, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x offers stronger performance. The ThinkBook also typically provides a more robust build quality and possibly better screen resolution, which could be advantageous if you spend long hours on your laptop or require precision in visual tasks. 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
- The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
7.2
7.9
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
337.0 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 3 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers a balance of portability and battery life suitable for everyday tasks, but it might lag in performance and screen quality when compared to the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, which has a more powerful CPU, higher RAM capacity, and superior screen, better aligning it with more demanding general use while still maintaining good portability. However, the ThinkBook 13x typically commands a higher price point, reflecting the bump in specifications and overall user experience in terms of performance and display clarity.
Engineering and Design
6.8
7.9
6.4/10
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 3 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, with less powerful CPU, GPU, and lower RAM, may struggle with demanding engineering software compared to the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, which has better performance in these areas, essential for such tasks. While the Surface may offer greater portability and quiet operation, the ThinkBook's superior screen quality, along with a more robust keyboard, makes it more conducive for extensive engineering and design work where detail and multitasking are crucial.
Content Creation
7.3
8.0
6.4/10
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 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
7.9
6.4/10
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 3 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
6.8
8.2
12.4in
SIZE
13.5in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
337.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x both have screens with resolutions and brightness that are suitable for everyday activities such as browsing, video streaming, and document editing, hence their good and very good screen quality for general use. When it comes to engineering and design, the quality of the screens on these laptops is appreciated for their color accuracy and range, making them viable for tasks that require precise color representation, but they might not cover the professional color gamuts fully. However, for gaming and 3D applications which demand high refresh rates for smoother visuals and quick response times, both laptops fall short, as their screens are not designed for the high refresh rates preferred in these scenarios.
Cost
$800
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a price of $800 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.1
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 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while having decent processors and good screen quality for general use, are equipped with integrated graphics that fall short for high-end gaming or intense 3D tasks which demand more robust dedicated GPUs and higher screen refresh rates for smoother visuals and better gaming experiences.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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 3 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
7.6
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13x |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$800 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | January 30, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 11.6'' x 8.1'' x 0.5'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.49 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 11.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 8.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 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 | 337 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 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."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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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