ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
The Verdict
These laptops serve different purposes effectively. The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 packs a powerful 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS with 16GB DDR5 RAM and a 144Hz 1920x1080 display, making it a legitimate gaming machine capable of handling demanding titles at high refresh rates. Its 512GB NVMe storage and three USB-A ports provide practical connectivity for gamers. However, it weighs 2.20kg with a 22.9mm profile and manages only 10 hours of battery life. The Surface Laptop 5 prioritizes elegance and everyday performance with its 1.27kg aluminum chassis, 13.5-inch 2256x1504 PixelSense display (400 nits), and exceptional 18-hour battery life. Its 12th Gen Intel processor (i5-1235U or i7-1255U) with up to 16GB RAM handles productivity excellently but falls short for gaming at high settings. Storage starts at 256GB, and port selection is minimal with only USB-C and one USB-A. The ASUS costs $100 more and delivers superior gaming performance and expandability. The Surface excels in portability, battery endurance, and display quality for content creators. Choose the ASUS if gaming matters; pick the Surface for ultraportability and all-day battery without compromise.
Who Should Buy
Buy the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024) if…
- →RTX 4060 with Ryzen 7 8845HS is great value for 1080p gaming
- →90 Wh battery surprisingly good for a gaming laptop
- →MIL-STD-810H certified for durability
Buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 if…
- →Excellent 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touchscreen for productivity
- →Alcantara keyboard deck is comfortable and distinctive
- →Lightweight at 1.27 kg for easy portability
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024)
Pros
- RTX 4060 with Ryzen 7 8845HS is great value for 1080p gaming
- 90 Wh battery surprisingly good for a gaming laptop
- MIL-STD-810H certified for durability
- Upgradeable RAM and dual SSD slots
- Quiet under light workloads
Cons
- 1080p FHD display looks soft on a 15.6-inch screen
- 300-nit brightness is poor for well-lit rooms
- Plastic chassis lacks a premium feel
- No Thunderbolt support
- Fan noise escalates quickly under load
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Pros
- Excellent 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touchscreen for productivity
- Alcantara keyboard deck is comfortable and distinctive
- Lightweight at 1.27 kg for easy portability
- Up to 18 hours claimed battery life
- Removable SSD for easier data recovery
Cons
- Only one USB-C port and one USB-A port — very limited
- 60Hz display lacks the smoothness of 120Hz competitors
- No Thunderbolt 4 — USB-C is USB 4.0 with limited bandwidth
- Surface Connect charger is proprietary
- 8 GB base RAM is restrictive for multitasking
Full Specifications
| Spec | ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.20 kg | 1.27 kg |
| Material | Plastic with metal reinforcement | Aluminum and Alcantara |
| Dimensions | 354.9 x 251.9 x 22.9 mm | 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | — |
| USB-A ports | 3 | 1 |
| USB-C ports | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 0 | — |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Surface Connect | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours light use | Up to 18 hours |
| Capacity | 90 Wh | 47.4 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.6 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Type | FHD IPS 144Hz | PixelSense IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2256 x 1504 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 300 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | 256 GB / 512 GB (removable SSD) |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB DDR5 | 8 GB / 16 GB |
| Cores | 8-core / 16-thread | 10-core (2P + 8E) |
| Chipset | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U / i7-1255U |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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