Microsoft Surface Laptop 5vsLenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2

We compare these two popular phones to help you decide which one fits your needs and budget better.

Microsoft
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Surface Laptop 5

Quick Stats

The Surface Laptop 5 offers solid performance for everyday tasks, balancing battery life with productivity capabilities.
The laptop's all-aluminum case provides a premium feel, but lacks customization options for a more personalized build.
The most important takeaway is that the Surface Laptop 5 has a stunning, crisp 13.5-inch display with extra vertical space.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 features a 12th gen Intel Core i7 processor, impressive.
Lenovo
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2
ThinkPad P14s Gen 2

Quick Stats

The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 delivers acceptable performance suitable for light to medium usage purposes.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2's impressive build quality makes it a durable and premium mobile workstation experience.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 features a stunning 4K display with impressive brightness and vibrant colors.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 boasts an impressive array of features, including a Quadro T500 graphics and Thunderbolt ports.
Key Differences

No significant specification differences found between these devices.

Rank
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
#422
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2
Winner
#417
Scores by Category
Rankings
Connectivity
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
#571
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2
#353
Winner
Display
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
#285
Winner
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2
#511
Performance
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
#575
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2
#433
Winner
Build
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
#335
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2
#310
Winner
Features
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
#592
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2
#523
Winner

Note: Lower rank number indicates a better position in category.

Specifications Comparison
Specification
Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Lenovo Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2
up to 32GB
up to 48GB
up to 1000GB SSD
up to 4000GB SSD
Intel Core i7-1260P
Intel Core i7-1185G7
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EU)
NVIDIA T500
1x 2230 M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 
1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 See photo

Note: Highlighted specifications show differences between the two devices.

Pros and Cons

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5

Strengths

It has an all-aluminum case, which reminds me a little bit of the MacBook.
The laptop itself is very small and lightweight, coming in right under three pounds.
This is really perfect for on-the-go productivity, so say you're an office worker going off to a meeting or maybe you're a student going to work on a class project.
The screen looks fantastic. You can't detect any of the pixels.
The laptop has a touch screen, and I frequently find myself reaching to the screen to move around.
You have two microphones, so you would expect them to be pretty good.
It includes integrated speakers, and at least when I played some videos it sounded like it had some good volume and the quality was decent for speakers in a laptop.
Windows 11 is a pretty decent and solid operating system.

Weaknesses

The processor can probably not take care of playing triple A titles with high frame rates or doing heavy video editing or maybe even fluid simulations.
It uses an Intel Iris Xe graphics card, which handles things like productivity software, web browsing, or watching videos well, but may not be the best for heavy gaming or video editing.
The memory and storage space options may be limited for those who want more.
You can't get a better resolution webcam on this laptop, especially with working from home in mind.
The keyboard felt good to type on, but there's no mention of any specific features it has over other keyboards.
It depends on what type of user you are - office worker or student may find it suitable, but gamers and creators may not.
The price ranges between $900 up to $2,160 depending on how you customize the machine, which might be a bit steep for some users.
There's no mention of any specific features that make this laptop stand out from others in its class.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2

Strengths

The laptop has a nice and tactile keyboard with reasonable key travel, perfect for programmers and those who need to show CAD designs.
It features a sharp 4k display option that's not found on Lenovo's T series of laptops, making it stand out from the crowd.
The ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 has a lot of ports, including USB-C, which is great for productivity and connectivity.
The laptop's battery life is decent, with up to 9-10 hours of use in business light mode, thanks to its 51Wh battery.
It comes with a 65W fast charger that plugs into the USB-C port, making it easy to top up the battery quickly.

Weaknesses

The laptop's performance is not exactly stellar, with the Nvidia T500 card not being enough for serious CAD or architectural work.
The fans can get a bit loud when pushing the laptop hard, although they're well-tuned and not roaringly loud.
Surface temperatures can get hot on the underside if you push the laptop to its limits, but it's not usually an issue in normal use.
Replacing the RAM or Wi-Fi card is difficult due to their soldered-down nature, which may be a problem for some users.
The laptop's design, while nice to touch, can feel a bit cheap compared to other ultrabooks on the market.
Read Full Reviews

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a premium laptop designed for on-the-go productivity. Its sleek all-aluminum case and compact size make it ideal for office workers and students who need to stay productive while mobile. With its powerful 12th generation Intel Core i5 or i7 EVO processor, this laptop handles productivity software, web browsing, and light gaming with ease. But is it the right choice for you?

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2

The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 is a mobile workstation that diverges from the company's traditional bulkier designs. This Intel-based model boasts a slim and lightweight profile, with a 4K display option that sets it apart from the T-series laptops. With AMD Ryzen counterparts offering similar specifications, the P14s aims to cater to programmers and designers who require a portable yet capable machine for their tasks.

Need help choosing?

Read our detailed reviews to understand which device is better for your specific needs and budget.

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