Microsoft has introduced an update to its Surface Laptop Studio, often informally referred to as the “big bendy, foldy thing.” This new version closely resembles its 2021 predecessor, retaining the unique fold-over hinge that enables the screen to assume three distinct positions: clamshell, tablet, and tent mode, where the screen rests between the keyboard and the trackpad.
Several enhancements have been implemented, including a redesigned trackpad, support for Dolby Vision HDR on the screen, the introduction of new ports, and the promise of advanced AI capabilities in the future (though not currently available). The most significant upgrades lie under the hood, with the inclusion of Intel’s 13th Gen Core processors and Nvidia’s RTX 4000 GPUs.
The core concept and positioning of this laptop have remained consistent. Excluding the detachable Surface Book, the Laptop Studio is the nearest competitor in the Surface lineup to the MacBook Pro. However, its competitiveness is put to the test, as the RTX 4060-equipped unit, priced at $3,299.99, comes within $200 of a similarly configured MacBook Pro with M2 Max. The starting price for the second-generation Laptop Studio is $1,999.99, featuring 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and integrated graphics, with RTX 4050-equipped models commencing at $2,399.99.
While the second-generation Laptop Studio delivers in many aspects, its price tag prompts the desire for even greater performance and battery life, particularly for the artistic audience it targets. The remarkable chassis would benefit from matching performance and efficiency for the premium it commands.
Surface Laptop Studio 2 – A Performance Quandary
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is equipped with a Core i7-13700H, an RTX 4060 GPU, 64GB of memory, and 1TB of storage, with a price tag of $3,299.99. Surprisingly, it’s not even the highest-priced model available; there’s a $3,699.99 version with a 2TB SSD and another at $3,599.99, boasting 32GB of RAM and a 1TB storage, equipped with an RTX 2000 Ada GPU tailored for tasks like large-scale production design, calculations, and simulations, distinct from software such as Blender and Premiere. By comparison, a similarly configured MacBook Pro 14 with the M2 Max chip would cost around $3,499.
However, the decision to feature the current processor in this laptop is a tad perplexing, given that Intel recently unveiled its “Meteor Lake” CPU generation, set to debut in laptops by December. While this doesn’t imply that the current 13th Gen chips are subpar, it does raise questions about why Microsoft chose this timing for the Laptop Studio. The Surface line often finds itself in this situation, releasing products with processors that have aged somewhat. However, it was never a significant issue since Surface Pro and Surface Laptop cater to users who don’t require the latest processing power at any cost.
In contrast, the Laptop Studio is primarily designed for professional creators, where even minor differences in rendering, exporting, or compiling times can significantly impact productivity. In a few months, opting for the Studio over a Meteor Lake machine could mean leaving a considerable amount of processing power untapped. While there will always be more powerful chips on the horizon, the current scenario isn’t ideal for investing in a high-priced 13th Gen laptop.
Performance Comparison – Studio 2 vs MacBook Pro
Benchmark scores for the Surface Laptop Studio 2 paint a somewhat underwhelming picture. To be clear, it is an improvement over the original Studio, offering increased speed when it comes to tasks like exporting in Premiere or running graphics-intensive games like Tomb Raider. However, it still falls short of the impressive numbers seen in many premium workstations on the market today.
A primary competitor in this price range, the MacBook Pro, surpasses the Laptop Studio 2 in multi-core benchmarks, despite the Core i7 processor in the Studio having more CPU cores than Apple’s M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. In real-world tests, such as a CPU-intensive Premiere Pro export, the M2 Max proved significantly faster, completing the task nearly a minute quicker. The Laptop Studio earned a score of 543 on PugetBench for Premiere Pro, a range that aligns with what we’d anticipate from the more affordable M2 Pro MacBook, but falls notably below the performance of the M2 Max.
Battery Trouble
Equipped with a discrete RTX 4060 GPU, the Studio 2 boasts additional raw graphics power, although the impact on performance varies depending on the task at hand. In the case of running Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Studio and the M2 Max found themselves on par.
However, the most significant issue with the Surface Laptop Studio 2, especially at this price point, is its battery life, which pales in comparison to Apple’s offerings. During continuous use with Battery Saver on, the device averaged a mere four hours and 19 minutes, a duration that doesn’t reflect the demands of digital artists and creators, who might require considerably longer usage. This battery life is essentially on par with its predecessor, the previous Studio with an RTX 3050, priced at $2,699.99 during testing. While all-day battery life might not be a top priority for everyone, it’s a crucial consideration for a convertible laptop. If you’re investing in a laptop, it’s reasonable to expect it to be usable on the go.
In contrast, a 14-inch MacBook would easily provide more than double the battery life. This issue is not unique to the Studio 2; it’s a recurring problem across Intel’s product lineup. It emphasizes the gamble involved in purchasing this convertible rather than waiting for a Meteor Lake workstation, as Intel has indicated that the next generation will deliver substantial battery life improvements.
It’s worth noting that the Studio 2’s battery life is even shorter than that of Asus’ ROG Strix Scar 17, a gaming laptop with a higher price and more powerful RTX 4090 graphics card. Despite these graphics advantages, the Studio 2’s performance does not reach the same league as the ROG Strix Scar 17. In essence, the Studio 2, with its $3,300 price tag, offers a unique form factor but falls short in providing the performance one would expect at this price point.
While the Surface Laptop Studio 2 introduces innovative design elements, it still retains its Surface identity beneath the surface. Its unique chassis design is accompanied by mid-tier internals, and at the premium price it commands, a battery life of just five hours is a significant drawback.
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio 2 – Touchpad and Connectivity Upgrades
One of the standout upgrades that Microsoft has been emphasizing with the Surface Laptop Studio 2 is the touchpad. The haptic trackpad now includes a new feature known as Adaptive Touch. With this feature enabled, multitouch gestures are disabled, and the Studio 2 looks for multiple points of contact moving in the same direction to determine the mouse’s movement. This innovation is particularly beneficial for individuals missing digits or those who need to navigate using appendages other than a finger. It’s a noteworthy development that enhances accessibility and customization, benefiting not only disabled users but everyone. Kudos to Microsoft for this initiative, and we hope to see more of such inclusive design practices.
However, despite its positive aspects, the touchpad’s performance left something to be desired. While the click felt comfortable and superior to the thin, clunky sensation of some smaller, cheaper Windows laptops that utilize haptic touchpads, it had its drawbacks. Specifically, users who frequently use their laptops on a couch or lap may encounter difficulties in registering clicks when the Studio 2 is not on a flat surface. Clicks occasionally needed to be repeated when the device was hanging slightly off the edge of a desk or fully resting on a lap desk. While this issue occasionally occurs with the MacBook Pro in similar positions, it was more frequent on the Studio 2. When Microsoft was contacted about this issue, they indicated they hadn’t encountered it before.
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The second major upgrade pertains to connectivity. The previous year’s Studio offered only two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, and Microsoft’s proprietary Surface Connector, which was relatively limited. This year, Microsoft has made welcome additions by including an extra USB-A 3.1 port and a microSDXC card reader. While this is a step in the right direction, it still falls short of offering an extensive array of connections for a workstation. The absence of a full-sized SD card slot may particularly disappoint many professionals willing to invest in this device.
Display Improvements and Screen Innovations on the Surface Laptop Studio 2
The Surface Laptop Studio 2’s 14.4-inch touch display boasts several notable improvements, including the introduction of dynamic refresh rate technology. This dynamic refresh rate feature allows the display to adapt between 60Hz and 120Hz, depending on the user’s activities. Although this feature may not have been available on the original Laptop Studio at launch, it adds to the device’s appeal. The adaptive refresh rate is particularly appreciated for providing a smooth 120Hz scrolling experience in applications such as Google Docs and spreadsheets. The Studio 2 unit tested came pre-set to 120Hz, but users can choose to enable Dynamic Mode in the settings.
Furthermore, the screen now supports HDR, including Dolby Vision, enhancing the visual experience. The laptop features a 1080p camera with a wider field of view, which, while a neat addition, may not immediately translate into substantial benefits for video conferencing. The device will also incorporate more artificial intelligence-related features in future updates.
The primary reason to invest in the Surface Laptop Studio 2, despite its high price, remains its unique flexible screen. This distinctive feature sets it apart and adds to its value.
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The article also mentions the author’s fondness for the Surface Book, a device that was eventually replaced by the Surface Studio. The Surface Book offered a novel form factor and a fresh perspective on what a computer could be. It was capable of both gaming and content creation, thanks to its innovative design. However, the Surface Book’s distinctive build also posed some drawbacks, such as being thick, top-heavy, and prone to heating issues. The tablet mode was somewhat limiting, leading to the development of the Surface Studio.
Surface Laptop Studio 2 vs. Surface Book – Evolution and Competing Capabilities
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 successfully addresses several issues that were associated with its predecessor, the Surface Book. It features a sleek, modern design without the gap in its hinge that was notable in the Surface Book. It also maintains manageable CPU temperatures and operates quietly. Furthermore, it supports more powerful GPUs than the Surface Book, even if they don’t match the highest-end Nvidia options.
However, there are two critical aspects in which the Surface Book outperformed the Surface Laptop Studio. Firstly, the Surface Book excelled across the board, boasting an outstanding keyboard and touchpad, an exceptional screen (with higher resolution than the Studio), and impressive battery life. The Surface Book was a significant technological achievement even before it became an icon of Microsoft’s craftsmanship. Although it had its flaws, its price point made these issues more forgivable.
Secondly, the Surface Book addressed a clear need. Traditional 2-in-1 laptops are often too heavy and bulky to serve as practical tablets for various purposes. The Surface Book could function as a versatile reading tablet, a music stand for pianists, or a useful companion during conferences. In contrast, the Surface Laptop Studio, with its three screen positions, essentially replicates what traditional 2-in-1 convertibles have been doing for years: it can function as a clamshell, a tablet, or a tent. Devices like Lenovo Yogas, HP Spectre x360s, and other classic convertibles, including some with respectable GPUs, offer similar capabilities. While the Studio approaches these tasks differently, it’s not evident that it significantly surpasses them for the considerable price difference.
Verdict
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 fills a notable niche as a Windows convertible for creative professionals, combining craftsmanship and quality. However, it falls short in terms of innovation and capability compared to certain other devices on the market. I wish for the Laptop Studio to be more like Acer’s ConceptD line, which features built-in stylus support, extensive ports, and versatile positions. Alternatively, they suggest it could be more like the Surface Book, a superb laptop with an intriguing twist. This points to a desire for greater innovation and a wider range of features in premium convertibles like the Surface Laptop Studio 2.
