However, it’ll remain out of touch for the masses due to its high price tag.
1.Pricing and specs2.Design and build quality3.Display4.Benchmarks5.Battery life6.Speakers & camera7.Competition8.Scorecard9.Should you buy it?
I’ve also been reviewing laptops for years, including most Surfaces.
Nothing looks like Surface Laptop Studio 2 in stage mode.
Disclaimer:This review was made possible by a review unit provided by Microsoft.
The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.
Availability is first through Microsoft.com, but Best Buy and Amazon often pick up stock.
However, thatd be incorrect.
That added height allows for larger side vents for improved thermals.
As a frequent user of the original Surface Laptop Studio, I find the difference very noticeable.
Its also smoother to the touch.
No longer does this laptop feel so limiting.
The pull-it-forward functionality is elegantly straightforward.
Initially, you’re free to use Surface Laptop Studio 2 as a regular workstation laptop.
This configuration proves perfect for immersive media consumption, video calls, reading, and light sketching.
With this shift, the display sits about 7 inches closer, completely transforming your viewing experience.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a testament to exceptional design and unparalleled uniqueness.
But it doesn’t end there.
Other minor changes include Bluetooth 5.3 from 5.1 and Windows Hello 2.0 face authentication camera.
Nothing looks like Surface Laptop Studio 2 in stage mode.
Also unique for this 13th-gen processor is the inclusion of Intel’sGen3 Movidius 3700VC VPU AI Accelerator.
I always like to point out that, like other Surface PCs, Microsoft has brilliantly designed this laptop.
The bezel’s cameras are darkened, so they are barely visible.
We’ll now go deeper into the core features of Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Keyboard and touchpad
Let’s start with the keyboard.
Stage mode is ideal for watching movies or short bouts of inking.
Compared to the slightly mushy metal keys on the Surface Book, these keys feel snappier and more responsive.
The haptic touchpad on Surface Laptop Studio 2 is still the best and is now more inclusive, too.
I still contend that Surface Laptop Studio 2 has the best touchpad on any Windows PC.
Surface Laptop Studio (left) vs. Surface Laptop Studio 2 (right) color and material differences.
The display also supports Dolby Vision IQ, an upgrade fromDolby Vision(which came out in 2014).
That app can tune audio (Dolby Atmos) and video (Dolby Vision) with some presets.
Surface Laptop Studio 2 also supports 120Hz refresh (set by default).
Surface Laptop Studio (top) is thinner and lighter than Surface Laptop Studio 2 (bottom). The larger venting area is needed for the beefier hardware.
Display HDR400, and Dolby Vision IQ deliver an excellent movie-watching experience.
Unfortunately, Microsoft does not supporthuman presence detectionnor has an anti-reflective layer, resulting in a glossy experience.
The higher refresh rate allows the ink to flow more smoothly, closely mimicking the sensation of real-life inking.
A new microSD slot is on the right side with the previous headphone jack and Surface Connect for charging.
The haptics feature replicates the feeling of friction when writing, akin to using a pencil on paper.
Switching to a pen or marker alters the sensation, creating versatility.
While pen haptics may not be a showstopper, the subtle combined effect elevates the overall inking experience.
New USB-A 3.1 port with previous two Type-C Thunderbolt.
However, the complete set is an excellent combo if you plan to use it frequently.
The bottom line: The display on Surface Laptop Studio 2 looks great.
Cinebench 23 hammers single and multi-core performance of that Intel Core i7-13700H.
The top lid is barren except for the mirrored Surface logo.
Max Turbo increases from 4.8GHz to 5.0GHz, and the cache doubles to 24 MB with the i7-13700H.
Even the SSD has improved with its tested 1TB capacity and support for PCIe 4 standard.
Microsoft improved the thermals to match the significantly more powerful hardware.
Microsoft used a lighter gray this time for the key caps.
The laptop can get warm under heavy loads but is never hot.
Battery life
Battery life is the one weakness of Surface Laptop Studio 2 compared to its predecessor.
For example, Dell pushes 86WHr with its XPS 15 (9530).
The excellent non-moving haptic touchpad is highly accurate.
The user can control some of this, however.
The sound profile adjusts based on the display posture, providing an intriguing experience.
Shifting from laptop to stage mode enhances the mids and highs in audio playback.
With a 120Hz display and Surface Slim Pen 2, Surface Studio 2 is better suited for drawing than notes.
It’ll use more power, so it’s better suited when plugged in and at your desk.
Microsoft tends to do some of the best laptop cameras, which holds here, too.
The competition
There are two ways of thinking about a good alternative to Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Surface Laptop Studio 2’s bottom reveals Surface Slim Pen 2 and no bottom vents.
The one exception (almost) to that rule is theAcer ConceptD 7 Ezel.
That’s a shame, as it’s an elegant design with a traditional 16:9 4K display.
It’s also heavier at 5.6 pounds compared to Surface Laptop Studio 2’s more reasonable 4.3lbs.
Datacolor analysis of Surface Laptop Studio 2’s PixelSense color gamut.
The Dell XPS 15 (9530) fits the bill.
Not cheap, but cheaper than Microsoft.
HP has its Spectre x360 devices in 14- and 16-inch designs.
Surface Laptop Studio 2 in laptop mode with its PixelSense HDR400 display.
HP offers many configuration options, including 3K IPS or 4K OLED.
Read myLenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7 reviewto see why it’s so great.
Score card
Should you buy it?
Surface Laptop Studio 2’s side profile when in stage mode.
This laptop can handle each step of a creator’s path without a hitch.
You want a great deal
Surface PCs have never been cheap and that holds here.
It’s great if you might afford it, but disposable income is preferred.
Raw CPU test of single- and multi-core performance.(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a testament to exceptional design and unparalleled uniqueness.
The fusion of power, versatility, and elegance is unique and an impressive upgrade from the original.
Surface Laptop Studio 2 represents the best of what Windows 11 is capable of in one laptop.
SSD speed test for read and write times.(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
These are the parts you’re using the most and, therefore, matter the most.
Of course, things could be better.
Battery life is always a sore spot with any Windows PC.
3DMark Time Spy for DX12 gaming.(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
That should change in 2024 withIntel Meteor LakeandQualcomm Oryonprocessors, but for now, it’s ‘meh.’
PCMark 10 Battery all Surfaces.(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
PCMark 10 battery rundown.(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
PCMark 10 benchmark for CPU and apps.(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Surface Laptop Studio 2 vs. original Geekbench test.(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Surface Laptop Studio 2 vs. original running PCMark 10.(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Surface Laptop Studio 2 vs. original for gaming using Time Spy.(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
FLIR heat test for Surface Laptop Studio 2 (keyboard).(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
FLIR heat test for Surface Laptop Studio 2 (left side)(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
FLIR heat test for Surface Laptop Studio 2 (right side).(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Surface Laptop Studio 2’s performance is outstanding.
Microsoft has improved the webcam for the Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Surface Laptop Studio 1 (left) vs. Surface Laptop Studio 2 (right).
Lenovo’s Yoga 9i (Gen 8) is an excellent alternative if you don’t need a GPU and a less powerful CPU.
Surface Laptop Studio 2 in ‘studio’ mode for notes and drawing.
Surface Laptop Studio 2 in laptop mode.
In stage mode only the haptic touchpad is accesible and the audio adapts to this new configuration.
