Is the Best Microsoft Surface Laptop to Date Worth Splurging For?
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More than half a decade after launching the Surface Book, Microsoft gave its range-topping portable PC a thorough revamp with the Surface Laptop Studio. The newcomer impressively ditched the Book’s detachable screen for a new design with a display hinge that offers similar versatility without the need to remove it.
As expected from a top-shelf Microsoft Surface, the Studio Laptop is also brimming with cutting-edge hardware specs. In addition to Intel’s latest chips and powerful NVIDIA graphics, its noteworthy highlights include an all-new display panel with a high refresh rate, as well as futureproof wired and wireless connectivity features. The Studio also boots Windows 11 — the platform’s latest version.
Unlike the Microsoft Surface Book 3 it succeeds, the Surface Studio is only available in one size (with a 14.4-inch display panel), but similar to its predecessor, it has a $1,599 starting price tag.
I spent a week using the Surface Laptop Studio as my go-to computer and couldn’t help but fall for its charms. By bringing purposeful design and significant hardware improvements, Microsoft’s latest laptop is its best yet, and an ideal Windows 11 poster child. Here’s everything you need to know about the product’s design, hardware, and everyday performance.
DESIGN: 9/10
Compared to the Microsoft Surface Book it replaces, the Laptop Studio has a much more minimalist design. It lacks a detachable screen and a distinctive hinge, but it surely isn’t short on visual character. The notebook’s base consists of a pair of rectangular prisms, with the smaller one being its main foundation. It also has precise cutouts for the cooling fans and the speakers.
On the other hand, the bigger polyhedron is home to the keyboard, the trackpad, and the connectivity ports of the Laptop Studio. To top things off, it rocks a wireless charging slot for the Surface Slim Pen 2, which sits right underneath the bottom of the Studio’s trackpad. I like that you can keep the accessory out of sight when it's not in use instead of attaching it to the screen like you would on another Microsoft Surface product.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that because of its base’s new shape, the latest Surface is easy to pick up and carry with just one hand, especially for a 4-pound notebook with a big screen. Products like these are often difficult to tote around when doing things like leaving your desk for a meeting or relocating to a different room for a video call, especially when open.
The all-new, swiveling display is sure to capture your attention, too. Its hinge allows the Surface Studio to instantly transform from a traditional laptop through a touchscreen viewing platform with access to the trackpad, all the way to a mighty slate for taking notes or conquering art and creativity projects.
The laptop's swiveling screen feature is a clear nod to the Microsoft Surface Studio all-in-one desktop — however, because its display is always securely attached to its base, you can’t adjust its viewing angles to your exact liking.
The Windows 11 interface will adjust accordingly, too. For example, the space between taskbar icons will grow when not in traditional laptop mode for easier touch interactions.
When it comes to workmanship, the Microsoft Surface Laptop is a rock-solid contender for the best in its class (and we don't say that lightly). Its housing is crafted from magnesium and aluminum with a matte finish and superb tactility. Even its display hinge — an essential bit that’s packed with cables — has a woven fabric cover that’s nice to interact with.
The keyboard and the trackpad of the Laptop Studio feel like an improvement over those of a Surface Book. The backlit keys offer a perfect balance between satisfactory travel and silent operation. The trackpad now offers haptic feedback that's more precise and reassuring than run-of-the-mill clicks.
You won’t find a full USB port onboard the Surface Laptop Studio, and that’s perfectly fine given that USBs are slowly but surely becoming a thing of the past. Microsoft has equipped the notebook with a pair of faster and more futureproof Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB-C ports. If you're looking to connect USB-A storage and accessories, you can use a Surface Dock or one of the many USB-C hubs out there.
DISPLAY: 9/10
The PixelSense Flow touchscreen of the Surface Laptop Studio is fantastic and is reason enough for you to upgrade. Its 14.4-inch panel has a 120 Hz maximum refresh rate for smoother, faster, and infinitely more enjoyable onscreen interactions. This high-tech function is usually reserved for PC gaming notebooks and monitors, so I tip my hat to Microsoft for bringing it to the Laptop Studio.
Of course, the screen of the notebook is also plenty sharp, vibrant, and even compatible with Dolby Vision-enhanced content (there’s a ton of it on today’s streaming services). Its 3:2 aspect ratio also makes it incredibly convenient for multitasking, like comfortably viewing a pair of apps or documents side by side.
Unsurprisingly, the Laptop Studio's display is a perfect canvas for the Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2. The optional accessory has a sleeker design, commendable accuracy, and a built-in haptic motor. The last bit delivers precise tactile feedback while taking notes and creating sketches.
Overall, the new PixelSense Flow screen is hands-down among the product category’s best. It brought a sense of excitement to every just about interaction I made with it — from mundane tasks like scrolling through a spreadsheet all the way to top-tier gaming. Its unique 14.4-inch panel also offers a nice balance between size and portability.
PERFORMANCE: 10/10
Thanks to an up-to-date Intel processor, a powerful NVIDIA graphics chip, and plenty of RAM, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is the most powerful touchscreen notebook I've tested to date. The product aced my hectic workflow, effortlessly switching between a web browser with 20-plus active tabs, Affinity Photo with a multitude of large image files open for edits, Slack, Microsoft Outlook and Word, Twitter, all while streaming Hi-Res Audio content via Qobuz.
The most powerful Surface notebook yet also doubles as a capable gaming rig. It ran Gears 5 — a AAA title by Xbox Game Studios — exceptionally well, which says a lot about its performance capabilities.
Microsoft has equipped the Surface Laptop with wireless connectivity features that are worthy of its powerful hardware. I enjoyed Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming over a Wi-Fi 6 connection without hiccups. With Bluetooth 5.1, the device maintained a flawless connection to a few sets of headphones and earbuds I used throughout my testing.
The full HD webcam and onboard microphones of the Laptop Studio functioned perfectly during my testing, too. Video call participants saw me clearly and heard me just as well.
The device’s quartet of Dolby Atmos-capable speakers defied its size by producing a rich a powerful sound with a surprisingly big bass. The unique design of the Surface Laptop Studio’s base appears to benefit the overall sonic experience, with intricate vents that help airflow and enhances the bass output’s depth.
According to Microsoft, the Surface Laptop Studio can deliver up to 18 hours of screen-on time in top spec and an hour more in entry-level guise. While testing the product, it always made it through a busy workday without causing me any power outlet anxiety. Given the hardware it packs, I find this achievement particularly impressive.
WRAP-UP
If you're looking for a do-it-all portable PC and have a big upgrade budget, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is the product to get. It offers a sleek and versatile design, amazing tactility, as well as abundant power with performance and battery life to match. Adding the new Surface Pen, Microsoft’s stellar reputation for making great hardware, and Windows 11 out of the box help make an even more convincing case for splurging.
The notebook’s swiveling display, while not groundbreaking, is the best take on the form factor I have experienced to date. Compared to those of similarly shaped products from other tech giants, the Studio’s design, craftsmanship, and hardware specs are on another level.
The entry-level Laptop Studio comes with an Intel Core i5 CPU, Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. I highly recommend that you spend more on a variant with Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, and more storage.
A virtually unstoppable Studio with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD memory will set you back $1,100 more than the base model. The Surface Slim Pen 2 costs $130, and I highly recommend it.
Shop Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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