Microsoft Surface Pro 8 vs HP Pavilion 13 2020 Comparison

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Microsoft Surface Pro 8

13 inches | September 2021

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HP Pavilion 13 2020

13.3 inches | September 2020

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Microsoft Surface Pro 8 vs HP Pavilion 13 2020 Comparison Overview

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HP Pavilion 13 2020

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HP Pavilion 13 2020

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In this review, we will be comparing Surface Pro 8 and Pavilion 13 2020, two laptops from Microsoft and HP. Microsoft Surface Pro 8 was introduced to market in September 2021 and HP Pavilion 13 2020 was launched in September 2020. There is 12 months difference between Surface Pro 8 and Pavilion 13 2020 so it would still give an advantage to younger Surface Pro 8.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and HP Pavilion 13 2020 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Key Specs

Launched in September 2021
13.0" TouchScreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 1135G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
8GB Ram
287 x 208 x 9.3 mm (11.3 x 8.19 x 0.37 inches)
Weight: 0.88 kg (1.94 lbs)

HP Pavilion 13 2020 Key Specs

Launched in September 2020
13.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i3 1115G4
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4
8GB Ram
309 x 205 x 17.7 mm (12.17 x 8.07 x 0.7 inches)
Weight: 1.23 kg (2.71 lbs)

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 was replaced by microsoft-surface-pro-9. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
microsoft-surface-pro-9 vs Microsoft Surface Pro 8
microsoft-surface-pro-9 vs HP Pavilion 13 2020

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Surface Pro 8 and Pavilion 13 2020 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 Pro 8 over HP Pavilion 13 2020

Weight	0.88 kg vs 1.23 kg	0.35 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~84.3% vs ~77%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6.2 mm vs 7.3 mm	1.1 mm thinner bezels
Refresh Rate	120 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	266 ppi vs 166 ppi	More pixels per inch
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Interact with your fingers
Screen Resolution	2880 x 1920 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	450 nits vs 250 nits	Brighter Screen
GPU FLOPS	1.41 TFLOPS vs 0.84 TFLOPS	Faster RAM
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	3D Surround Sound Support
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.1 vs v5	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	2x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No

Reasons to choose HP Pavilion 13 2020 over Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Display Size	13.3 inches vs 13 inches	Larger Screen Estate
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.0 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 HP Pavilion 13 2020 and Microsoft Surface Pro 8

HDR Support	Yes, Dolby Vision vs Yes, HDR10	Watch HDR Clips
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of HP Pavilion 13 2020 and Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 vs HP Pavilion 13 2020: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and the HP Pavilion 13 2020.

Physical Specs
Weight	0.88 kg (1.94 lbs)	1.23 kg (2.71 lbs)
Surface Area	597 cm2 (92.5 inches2)	633 cm2 (98.2 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~84.3%	~77%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.2 mm	~7.3 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.07 kg/inch	0.09 kg/inch
	0.154 lbs/inch	0.198 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Silver	Silver

Comparison of the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and the HP Pavilion 13 2020 External Dimensions

Weight

Surface Pro 8 weighs 0.88 kg (1.94 lbs), whereas the Pavilion 13 2020 weighs 1.23 kg (2.71 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

Displays size 13.0-13.9 inches

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 0.88 kg

HP Pavilion 13 2020 1.23 kg

Min 0.85 kg

Average 1.22 kg

Max 1.64 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 13.0-13.9 inches

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 9.30 mm

HP Pavilion 13 2020 17.70 mm

Min 7.90 mm

Average 15.38 mm

Max 19.30 mm

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 Pro 8 is 0.07 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the HP Pavilion 13 2020 is 0.09 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
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 vs HP Pavilion 13 2020: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i5 1135G7 Intel Core i7 1185G7	Intel Core i3 1115G4 Intel Core i5 1135G7 Intel Core i7 1165G7
Base Frequency	0.9-2.4 GHz	1.7-3.0 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.2 GHz	4.1 GHz
Number of Cores	4	2
Number of Threads	8	4
L3 Cache	8 MB	6 MB
Integrated GPU	Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1324	1264
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	4633	2563
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1355	1330
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	5087	3144

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 Pro 8 and HP Pavilion 13 2020.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 1135G7

Laptops with: Intel Core i3 1115G4

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4
Base Clock Frequency	300 MHz	300 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1100 MHz	1100 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	15 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	1,408 GFLOPS	844.8 GFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Bus	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Speed	System Shared	System Shared
Shading Units Cores	640	384
TMUs	40	24
ROPs	20	12

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 Pro 8 has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS whereas the HP Pavilion 13 2020 ' has a FLOPS value of 0.84 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB
Memory Bus	2x4 GB	2x4 GB
RAM Clock	4266 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR4X	DDR4
Upgradable	No	No
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)

Both laptops, the Surface Pro 8 and the Pavilion 13 2020, come with similar RAM capacities of 8 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 Pro 8	HP Pavilion 13 (2020)
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

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

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	51.5 Wh	43 Wh
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Right	Right
Charge Power	0 W	45 / 65 W

Moreover, the Surface Pro 8 boasts a larger battery capacity of 52 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Pavilion 13 2020's43 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 13.0-13.9 inches

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 52 Wh

HP Pavilion 13 2020 43 Wh

Min 38.00 Wh

Average 53.1 Wh

Max 80.00 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Surface Pro 8 and the Pavilion 13 2020 have similar max. storage capacities of 1 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

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 Pro 8 vs HP Pavilion 13 2020: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and HP Pavilion 13 2020 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 Pro 8 has a display size of 13.0".On the other hand, Pavilion 13 2020 has a larger13.3" display.The total usable screen area of the Surface Pro 8 is 503cm² / 78inch² whereas the Pavilion 13 2020's total usable screen area is 487cm² / 76inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Surface Pro 8 features a higher pixel density with 266 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 13.0-13.9 inches

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 266 ppi

HP Pavilion 13 2020 166 ppi

Min 118 PPI

Average 186 PPI

Max 338.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Surface Pro 8 offers a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
The Surface Pro 8 offers a higher maximum brightness of 450 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size 13.0-13.9 inches

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 450 nits

HP Pavilion 13 2020 250 nits

Min

30 nits

Average 438 nits

Max 1000.00 nits

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 vs HP Pavilion 13 2020 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6), 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
Pavilion 13 2020 is equipped with 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. Surface Pro 8 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Surface Pro 8 and Pavilion 13 2020 have USB Type-C ports. Surface Pro 8 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Pavilion 13 2020 has 1x USB 3.2 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
Surface Pro 8 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Pavilion 13 2020 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Pavilion 13 2020 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.0) for connecting to external monitors. Surface Pro 8 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
Pavilion 13 2020 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Surface Pro 8 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Surface Pro 8 and Pavilion 13 2020 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)	v6	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.1	v5
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	1x HDMI 2.0
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	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