Microsoft Surface Laptop SE vs Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel Comparison

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Microsoft Surface Laptop SE

11.6 inches | November 2021

Speed 1

Size 9

Display 2

Gaming 0.5

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Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel

14 inches | January 2020

Speed 1

Size 8.5

Display 1.5

Gaming 0.5

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Microsoft Surface Laptop SE vs Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Surface Laptop SE and IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel, two laptops from Microsoft and Lenovo. Microsoft Surface Laptop SE was introduced to market in November 2021 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel was launched in January 2020. There is 22 months difference between Surface Laptop SE and IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel so it would still give an advantage to younger Surface Laptop SE.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Microsoft Surface Laptop SE and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE Key Specs

Launched in November 2021
11.6" TFT VA, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Celeron N4020
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 600
4GB Ram
283.7 x 193 x 17.85 mm (11.17 x 7.6 x 0.7 inches)
Weight: 1.11 kg (2.45 lbs)

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel Key Specs

Launched in January 2020
14.0" TN LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Celeron N4020
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 600
4GB Ram
327.1 x 235 x 17.7 mm (12.88 x 9.25 x 0.7 inches)
Weight: 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Surface Laptop SE and IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Microsoft Surface Laptop SE over Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel

Weight	1.11 kg vs 1.40 kg	0.29 kg lighter
Screen PPI	135 ppi vs 112 ppi	More pixels per inch
Bluetooth	v5 vs v4.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Webcam Resolution	1280 x 720 vs 640 x 480	Higher Resolution Camera

Reasons to choose Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel over Microsoft Surface Laptop SE

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~70.3% vs ~67.8%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	8.6 mm vs 13.4 mm	4.8 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	14 inches vs 11.6 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs No	Easily increase the Storage when needed
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Number of Microphones	2 vs 1	Better Sound capture
Number of USB-A Ports	2x USB 3.2 vs 1x USB 3.0	Connect more device at the same time
USB-A Port Type	3.2 vs 3.0	Faster USB-A
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 1.4 vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader

Common Strengths of Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel and Microsoft Surface Laptop SE

Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable

Common Weaknesses of Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel and Microsoft Surface Laptop SE

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE vs Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Microsoft Surface Laptop SE and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.11 kg (2.45 lbs)	1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)
Surface Area	548 cm2 (84.9 inches2)	769 cm2 (119.1 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~67.8%	~70.3%
Side Bezel Thickness	~13.4 mm	~8.6 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.10 kg/inch	0.10 kg/inch
	0.22 lbs/inch	0.22 lbs/inch
Colors	White	Gray, Blue, Orange
Cover Opening Angle	135Â°	140Â°

Comparison of the Microsoft Surface Laptop SE and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel External Dimensions

Weight

Surface Laptop SE weighs 1.11 kg (2.45 lbs), whereas the IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel weighs 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE

Avg: up to 12"

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Thickness Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE

Avg: up to 12"

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Microsoft Surface Laptop SE is 0.10 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel is 0.10 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE vs Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Celeron N4020 Intel Celeron N4120	Intel Celeron N4020 Intel Celeron N4120 Intel Pentium Silver N5030 Intel Pentium Silver N6000
Base Frequency	1.1 GHz	1.1 GHz
Number of Cores	2	2
Number of Threads	2	2
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics 600	Intel UHD Graphics 600
CPU Fabrication Process	14 nm	14 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	470	470
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	864	864
Cinebench 23 (Single)	457	457
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	783	783

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Microsoft Surface Laptop SE and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( Intel Celeron N4020 ) and compare them:

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 600	Intel UHD Graphics 600
Base Clock Frequency	200 MHz	200 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	750 MHz	650 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	5 W	5 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	0.14 TFLOPS	0.14 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	DDR4	DDR4
Memory Bus	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Speed	0 Gbps	2.4 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	96	96
TMUs	12	12
ROPs	2	2

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Microsoft Surface Laptop SE has a FLOPS value of 0.14 TFLOPS whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel ' has a FLOPS value of 0.14 TFLOPS.

RAM Comparison

RAM	4GB 8GB	4GB 8GB
Memory Bus	1x4 GB	1x4 GB
RAM Type	DDR4	DDR4

Both laptops, the Surface Laptop SE and the IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel, come with similar RAM capacities of 4 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Microsoft Surface Laptop SE	Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14” (Intel)
CPU	Intel Celeron N4020	Intel Celeron N4020
GPU	Intel UHD Graphics 600	Intel UHD Graphics 600
Memory	4 GB	4 GB
Available for LLM total	~0.5 GB (0.5 GB RAM)	~0.5 GB (0.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE|Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14” (Intel)

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	0 Wh	32 Wh
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging		No
USB Power Delivery	No	No
Charging Port Position	Left	Left
Charge Power	40 W	45 W

Moreover, the Surface Laptop SE boasts a larger battery capacity of 35 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel's32 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE

Avg: up to 12"

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

STORAGE
The IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel offers a larger max storage capacity of 512 GB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the Surface Laptop SE's storage capacity of 128 GB.

Storage Options	64 GB, 128 GB	64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
Upgradable	No	Yes
NVMe	No

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE vs Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Microsoft Surface Laptop SE and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Surface Laptop SE has a display size of 11.6".On the other hand, IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel has a larger14.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Surface Laptop SE is 371cm² / 57inch² whereas the IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel's total usable screen area is 540cm² / 84inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Surface Laptop SE features a higher pixel density with 135 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE

Avg: up to 12"

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Refresh Rate
Both Surface Laptop SE and IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE vs Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v5), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Surface Laptop SE and IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel have USB-A ports. Surface Laptop SE has 1x USB 3.0 USB-A ports, while IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Surface Laptop SE is equipped with 1x USB 3.0 USB Type-C ports. IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel does not have USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Neither Surface Laptop SE nor IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel has Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 1.4) for connecting to external monitors. Surface Laptop SE does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Surface Laptop SE does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Surface Laptop SE and IdeaPad 1 14-inch Intel are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v5	v5
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5	v4.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	1x USB 3.0	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 3.0	No
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	No	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	1x HDMI 1.4
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	No	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes