Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 review: Still ahead of its time

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From $1,999.99

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$1999.99

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Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio 2 will most likely be too costly for what it will possibly do, comparatively. But this creators’ laptop computer nonetheless gives a nearly-unique alternative to create films, edit and watch them, then scribble notes all around the display screen. Any criticism of its efficiency dies down when you remind them of Windows’ efficiency slider, too.

It arrives at an odd time, although. The Windows world is making waves about AI, and the Surface Laptop Studio 2 calls out the Intel AI chip inside in its specs. But an excellent higher Intel AI chip — Intel’s 14th-gen Core Ultra processor, known as Meteor Lake — is simply across the nook…although Microsoft’s Windows Copilot AI chatbot gained’t use it, both.

So this 14-inch laptop computer with a high-resolution (however not that high-resolution) display screen, very good inking capabilities (however no pen within the field), AI (however solely Microsoft’s personal fundamental AI apps, for now) and wonderful efficiency potential (however provided that you allow it) desires greater than $3,000 out of your pockets to carry it dwelling. And a lot of it’s the similar as the unique Surface Laptop Studio, too. It’s a knot. This evaluate will inform you how we unraveled it.

Looking for extra choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops accessible at this time.

Surface Laptop Studio 2: Configurations

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio 2 begins delivery at this time, though pre-orders started about two weeks in the past. Prices will vary between $1,999 for a model with a 13th-gen Core i7, 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, and fundamental Iris Xe graphics. Users even have the choices of variations with 32GB and 64GB of RAM, which can be a brand new excessive level for a laptop computer — even a creator-class one. Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio gives expansive storage choices as properly: 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB choices.

Finally, there are the graphics choices — an attention-grabbing vary, from built-in graphics to a a lot older Nvidia GeForce RTX 2000 chip to both an RTX 4050 or RTX 4060. (Microsoft could also be selecting the outdated RTX 2000 choice to preserve costs down, however we’ve now seen the RTX 2000 GPU in at the least two laptops: the Acer Nitro V and this one). A model of the Surface Laptop 2 with the entire bells and whistles will value a whopping $3,699.99.

It’s essential to notice that many features of the Surface Laptop Studio 2 are equivalent or almost so to the first-gen Surface Laptop Studio, together with the dimensions and backbone of the show, the chassis dimensions and different features. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a few third of a pound heavier, with two new ports: a USB-A port and a microSDXC slot. Otherwise, the important thing variations are contained in the laptop computer. It additionally boasts new 13th-gen Core i7 processors and new GeForce GPU choices.

Keep in thoughts that, sadly, you’ll nonetheless must pay $129 or so for the Surface Slim Pen 2, optimized for inking on the Surface Laptop Studio 2. Fortunately, you’ll be able to merely skip this additional buy if that’s not your factor.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Surface Laptop Studio 2: Specs

Our evaluate unit got here with an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 64GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. For extra info on the {hardware}, try the listing beneath:

• Display: 14.4-inch PixelSense Flow contact show (2400×1600 (201 PPI), as much as 120Hz)
• Processor: Intel Core i7-13700H/Core i7-13800H (Core i7-13700H as examined)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 6GB/4060 8GB, or RTX 2000 or Iris Xe (RTX 4060 as examined)
• NPU: Intel Gen3 Movidius 3700VC VPU AI Accelerator
• Memory: 16GB/32GB/64GB LPDDR5X RAM (64GB as examined)
• Storage: 512GB, 1 TB, 2TB SSD (all removeable) (1 TB as examined)
• Ports: 2 USB-C (Thunderbolt 4/USB 4.0), 1 Surface Connect, USB-A, microSDXC, 3.5mm headphone jack
• Camera: User-facing: 1080p with Windows Studio Effects
• Battery: 56.3Wh (design), 57.2Wh (precise)
• Wireless: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6e); Bluetooth 5.3
• Operating system: Windows 11 Home
• Dimensions (inches): 12.7 x 9.1 x 0.86in
• Weight: 4.37lbs
• Color: Platinum
• Price: $1,999 to $3,699 ($3,299 as examined)

Surface Laptop Studio 2: Experience

There’s one distinguishing function of the Surface Laptop Studio 2 that hardly some other gadget (in addition to the original Surface Laptop Studio and the Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel) gives: the pull-forward, inclined show.

There’s a transparent distinction between work and play. With the show set again, the Studio 2 is indistinguishable from an peculiar clamshell pocket book. But pull it ahead and the show is nearly in your lap. There, the show inclines at about 45 levels, overlaying up the keyboard however leaving the trackpad uncovered. In that context, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 transforms from a productiveness right into a media consumption gadget. (Let’s be clear: this is identical expertise the Surface Laptop Studio 1 provided.)

And right here, the expertise is actually unparalleled. No different laptop computer options the pull-forward show. Microsoft has by no means skimped on speaker high quality, both, and the 4 top-facing Omnisonic audio system mounted within the chassis supply a satisfying punch enhanced by Dolby Atmos. They’re vivid and loud, and so they sound implausible for laptop computer audio system. You can watch films or video on different laptops, however I promise you’ll get pleasure from it extra on the Surface Laptop Studio 2.

About the one factor you’ll be able to’t say in regards to the laptop computer is that it has a “conventional” show. Microsoft’s PixelSense Flow show options two shade modes, 2400×1600 decision and as much as a 120Hz refresh charge for content material creation and inking. Rival laptops, although, have made the leap to 4K — which is actually solely achieved by squishing the show right into a 16:9 side ratio. An OLED may actually enhance the laptop computer’s film playback/multimedia expertise, too.

Mark Hachman / IDG

But should you do wish to ink, you’ll be able to. The show additionally folds down flat, going through you. Microsoft has at all times appeared a bit boastful with regards to its show hinges, however once more, there’s actually nothing else just like the Surface Laptop Studio. And did we point out that the Studio 2, like the sooner mannequin, magnetically tucks away its flat Surface Slim Pen 2 beneath the keyboard?

Surface Laptop Studio 2: What’s new?

As we talked about above, the Studio 2 refreshes the center of the gadget — the CPU, GPU, reminiscence and storage — with a brand new microSDXC and legacy 5Gbps USB-A port on the aspect of the gadget. It’s an acknowledgment that not everybody desires to spend some additional money for a USB-C hub or a Thunderbolt dock simply so as to add these extra ports. You can actually use the additional ports for a mouse or printer, but additionally to simply “sneakernet” within the microSD card with photographs from an exterior SLR digicam.

There’s quicker wi-fi (WiFi 6e, versus WiFi 6) and Bluetooth 5.3 versus the older Bluetooth 5.1. The reminiscence is quicker, too, with a leap from LPDDR4X to LPDDR5X.

Aside from that, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 on paper feels very very like the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra from earlier this yr, with a Core i7-13700H choice, 16GB or 32GB of RAM, as much as 1TB SSD, and an RTX 4050/4070 GPU. (The Studio 2 outshines it with 64GB RAM choices and a 2TB SSD choice.) Microsoft says that the SSD is “removable,” however solely formally by a professional restore technician.

Unfortunately, the timing implies that the laptop computer lands after Intel introduced its 14th-gen Core Ultra (“Meteor Lake”) pocket book processor.

Surface Laptop Studio 2: Out of the field

The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a stable gadget, whose magnesium and aluminum chassis rests closely within the hand at over 4.37 kilos, versus the 4 kilos within the first-gen Surface Laptop Studio. Sometimes tech reviewers lean too closely on minute particulars, however evaluating the first-gen to the second-gen {hardware} within the hand — sure, it’s noticeably heavier because of the additional cooling Microsoft engineered in. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is extra Studio than Laptop in that regard.

You can select just one shade, Platinum. Microsoft’s clear aesthetic additionally implies that this Evo laptop computer gained’t promote that truth with any stickers on the chassis, both.

The RTX GPU and aggressive CPU implies that the Surface Laptop Studio 2 additionally options the side-mounted venting that others in its creator class do, separating it from the sleek strains of mainstream notebooks like Microsoft’s Surface Laptop. As we be aware in our efficiency assessments, Microsoft normally ships new Surfaces of their slowest, quietest “recommended” settings within the Windows 11 performance slider. In regular use, the laptop computer is actually fanless and whisper quiet. In video games, although, the fan will rev up fast and loud, whatever the setting. Where we may, we’ve examined the laptop computer each in its default setting and in efficiency mode — it will possibly make an enormous distinction!

The SLS2 features a 127W Surface charger contained in the field (with a USB-A charging port), although you’ll be able to energy the laptop computer through an ordinary 100W USB-C charger. The Surface charger provides sufficient juice to energy the laptop computer with out drawing on the battery throughout intensive duties.

Mark Hachman / IDG

The Surface Slim Pen 2 (the identical mannequin discovered within the earlier iteration) will be saved magnetically in a small area of interest underneath the underside “chin” of the laptop computer. (The pen remains to be offered individually, sadly). The laptop computer grips it completely securely, about the identical as the previous mannequin — whose pen has survived many journeys as a check and journey pocket book. Don’t fear about it falling off unintentionally, as its grip is nearly too tight. When indifferent, it connects to the Studio 2 for inking through a Bluetooth connection.

Surface Laptop Studio 2: Display and ports

Microsoft has at all times marched to its personal beat the place its chassis designs have been involved, and its shows have additionally taken it off the overwhelmed path.

Most laptops use one among three shows: a standard 1080p (1920×1080) show; a 1200p different, or a leap to a full 4K (3840×2160) show. Microsoft features a 2400×1600 PixelSense Flow 10-point multitouch show throughout the Surface Laptop Studio 2, which falls someplace within the center. The show nonetheless makes use of a 3:2 side ratio, a staple of Surface gadgets, which implies that you’ll usually see letterboxed video. All informed, the show gives about 201 pixels per inch, about 65 % of the 306 pixels per inch a comparable 4K show would supply.

We measured the Surface Laptop Studio 2 providing 483 nits of most brightness, precisely the identical as its predecessor. The show is DisplayHDR 400 licensed, the naked minimal for HDR capabilities, with Dolby Vision IQ help.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Microsoft was additionally one of many first to tune its shows for content material creation with “sRGB” and “Vivid” shade profiles that tune the show a bit like the varied shade modes on a TV. Unfortunately, a lot of Microsoft’s rivals now do that, too. Microsoft was additionally one of many first to market with an ordinary 120Hz show, which cycles backwards and forwards between 60Hz and 120Hz relying upon the appliance. (In inking, for instance, the show flips to 120Hz for smoother e-ink). Again, that is now a function that rivals supply, together with the sooner Samsung Galaxy Book 3.

All this implies is that quite a lot of Microsoft’s premium options are actually turning into desk stakes throughout this new creator class of notebooks. That undercuts the worth Microsoft asks you to pay for the Surface Laptop Studio 2.

When the Surface Laptop Studio shipped in October 2021, Thunderbolt was nonetheless considerably of a novelty. Now it’s a staple and Thunderbolt docks and even some USB-C shows have gotten extra frequent. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports grace the laptop computer; we’ll assume that Thunderbolt 5 shall be designed into 2024/25 fashions. It’s moderately attention-grabbing that Microsoft determined to interrupt up its clear strains with the 5Gbps USB-A port, which looks like a Surface of outdated. The microSDXC port is a concession to cell photographers, however a wise addition.

The Thunderbolt ports ship 9.3W, sufficient to cost a smartphone. The USB-A port delivers solely 2.4W, solely good for powering USB keyboards and mice.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Surface Laptop Studio 2: A superb keyboard and haptic touchpad

Microsoft’s Surface keyboards have at all times been among the many trade’s greatest, although they’ve barely diminished in high quality over the previous few generations. The Surface Laptop Studio 2’s keyboard appears to have barely improved, nonetheless. The older keyboard feels prefer it’s extra resilient all through all the size of the important thing press, which supplies it a extra rubbery really feel. The older Laptop Studio feels a bit extra “splatty,” the place there’s a little bit of give. Maybe I’m simply being choosy.

Microsoft additionally appears to have used a unique coating for the floor of the keyboard base, with a slight corresponding change to the keyboard key colours, as properly. There are additionally two modifications to the bodily keyboard: a mic mute button has been swapped in for the backlight management, which now replaces the media “play” key. There are three ranges of backlighting, however backlighting seems off by default.

I’ll proceed to whine in regards to the perpetual decline in key journey. Older Surface gadgets just like the Surface Book provided properly over 1 mm of key journey, the distinction between a flat sole and the snug padding of a operating shoe. I nonetheless agree with my earlier perspective: the Surface Laptop Studio’s keys really feel springy and resilient, and the 1.3mm of key journey by some means feels higher than the Surface Laptop. The pitch and key width is unchanged. Surface keyboards are among the many greatest you can purchase, however they’re not so good as they as soon as have been.

Mark Hachman / IDG

I’m nonetheless impressed with the huge dimension of the haptic touchpad, a carryover from the first-gen Surface. The haptics simulate the “click” of a touchpad, with out it being there. Gestures labored as anticipated.

Unfortunately, simply weeks after I accomplished the evaluate of the first-gen Surface Laptop Studio evaluate, I spilled a little bit of water on the touchpad, which killed the haptics. The earlier iteration’s touchpad nonetheless works as anticipated, however with none “clickiness” in any respect. You merely must faucet it to make it work. I subsequently wouldn’t have excessive hopes for the Surface Laptop Studio 2 and suspect that the haptics (which simulate the “depth” of a touchpad) gained’t be as profitable as Microsoft hopes.

Surface Laptop Studio 2: Great audio continues

As talked about above, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 makes use of 4 omnisonic audio system, enhanced by Dolby Atmos. As different Surface gadgets have demonstrated, Microsoft tunes its audio system properly, and the Surface Laptop Studio 2 is without doubt one of the few laptops you’ll get pleasure from listening to as an audio gadget. I pay attention to some tracks to check the highs and the lows, and the audio high quality sounds superb even at most quantity — which packs an excellent punch. In reside tracks, I used to be in a position to pick particular devices and chords.

I used to be a bit frightened that the extra cooling contained in the Studio 2 would diminish the audio high quality, however that’s not the case. My solely nitpick is that Dolby Atmos doesn’t actually appear to make a distinction whether or not it’s off or on.

Calls made with Teams or Zoom sounded nice, and the individuals I spoke to mentioned that my voice sounded high quality. Remember, Microsoft is utilizing AI to filter out background audio, too. You’ll nonetheless have higher luck with a devoted mic or headset, although.

Surface Laptop Studio 2: The webcam will get smarter

Mark Hachman / IDG

The Surface Laptop Studio 2 makes use of a 1080p webcam, which does a really good job of each isolating you (the topic) and presenting you properly. For this evaluate, I attempted a unique venue to check out the webcam. On one scene, it blows out the background to deal with me, the topic. That’s the fitting selection.

There’s a cause that the best webcams are actually pushing above 1080p. Finally, built-in webcams are bettering! I doubt you’ll have any complaints with both the webcam within the Surface Laptop Studio 2 or the related mic, as each are wonderful.

Mark Hachman / IDG

The webcam can also be (for now) the one apparent venue for Microsoft’s AI results, also referred to as Windows Studio Effects. None of them are actually that distinctive. The webcam can use the NPU to tell apart you from the background, which just about each videoconferencing app already does, utilizing the laptop computer’s CPU as a substitute. Automatic framing facilities you within the display screen. Eye contact makes it seem that you just’re focusing in on the webcam and who you’re speaking to, even when that’s not the case. Background blur — properly, you already know what this does.

Microsoft is certainly utilizing Intel’s Movidius NPU AI chip to carry out these capabilities; turning all three Windows Studio Effects capabilities on directly used about 40 % of the NPU’s accessible computing energy. For no matter cause, the automated framing had points parsing my hat (I assume) and the NPU utilization spiked because the digicam panned backwards and forwards.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Surface Laptop Studio 2: Inking expertise

You don’t have to purchase the Surface Slim Pen 2. If you do, nonetheless, you’ll be able to retailer it throughout the built-in pen cubby.

Interestingly, Microsoft didn’t provide us with a Slim Pen 2, however agreed that utilizing the one shipped with the unique Surface Laptop Studio would work simply high quality. When we eliminated it from the older unit and clipped it to the brand new unit, it robotically paired with out help. Granted, I used to be logged into each machines.

According to Microsoft, the corporate made no modifications to the pen or the inking within the Surface Laptop Studio 2.

Mark Hachman / IDG

On the Studio 2, we used Microsoft Paint to ink a sequence of strains. (Why Whiteboard requires you to be logged in to make use of it’s sort of dumb.) Inking appears just about the identical as with the primary mannequin: the ink placement appears to be on the right track, however there’s some judder (waviness) when slowly inking diagonal strains. Remember, although, that you just’re inking instantly onto the show, versus shopping for a separate inking pill that interprets these strokes onto a PC.

Surface Laptop Studio 2: Performance

The Surface Laptop Studio helped debut Windows 11. Its successor introduces Windows 11 22H2’s September 2023 replace, which can transition into the (almost equivalent) Windows 11 23H2 update, aka the Windows 11 2023 Update. We replace every laptop computer after we get it to ensure it has the most recent apps and firmware. In this case, the replace course of introduced with it the Windows 22H2 September replace/23H2.

There’s no approach round this. The Surface Laptop Studio felt laggy, particularly when launching new functions or simply navigating across the working system like File Explorer. Starting up apps took longer than it felt prefer it ought to. But as our efficiency numbers bear out, the quicker parts inside it completely make a distinction when really operating the apps. It’s attainable that there’s an early bug within the 23H2 OS itself or within the Surface firmware that’s making navigation slower than it ought to.

My early tackle the brand new AI options isn’t optimistic, both. Windows Copilot is sluggish, interval, requiring a number of seconds to generate a response. While this has nothing to do with the laptop computer itself (as Copilot connects to the cloud), it simply isn’t an ideal expertise. And with out an Internet connection, Copilot gained’t work in any respect — it connects to a server, not the Movidius chip inside your PC.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Because of our restricted evaluate window, I haven’t examined any AI generative artwork apps on the Surface Laptop Studio 2. As far as I do know, although, no AI artwork packages are presently set as much as benefit from the NPU. We’d count on that may change over time, however I can’t say when or how.

As famous above, I examined the Surface Laptop Studio 2 each in its default “recommended” energy/efficiency setting, the bottom of the three energy/efficiency settings Windows 11 supplies. I then retested on the highest performance setting — and boy, did it make a distinction! We’ll name out these leads to our charts utilizing a black field.

Are we giving Microsoft an unfair benefit right here? Maybe — different laptops are normally configured on the center setting, so there’s headroom there, too. On the opposite hand, you would argue that there’s numerous untapped energy underneath the Surface Laptop Studio 2’s hood.

We’ve chosen to match Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio 2 in opposition to a number of different “creator-class” notebooks that use a latest AMD or Intel GPU paired with a low-end discrete GPU. If attainable, we’ve chosen the 14-inch model. A few gaming notebooks crept in, and we’ve examined a couple of video games to provide you an thought of how the laptop computer will fare after hours. Keep in thoughts, although, that few competing gadgets are optimized for inking on the gadget. Nor do they function the identical chassis design. These are the caveats that Microsoft hopes will encourage you to pay a hefty premium for the Surface Laptop Studio 2.

We evaluate the $3,299 Surface Laptop 2 to the $2,099 Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra, plus a trio of Lenovo gadgets: the $1,199 Lenovo Slim Pro 7, the $1,899 Lenovo Slim Pro 9i, and the $1,699 Lenovo Legion 5 Pro. We additionally embody the $2,799 Dell XPS 15 (2023), the $2,000 MSI Prestige Studio, the $1,599 Acer Swift X 16, and the $2,799 Razer Blade 14 gaming pocket book. Our German counterparts at PCWelt have additionally reviewed the $2,299 Asus Zenbook 14 Pro OLED, although with differing efficiency benchmarks. We additionally embody benchmarks from the older, unique, Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio — now two years old-fashioned.

We check laptops utilizing a number of benchmarks. The first, PCMark 10, applies real-world assessments from videoconferencing to app startup to CAD work to gentle gaming and generates a closing rating. This usually taxes the CPU, however a few of the assessments stress the GPU as properly. Historically, the Surface Laptop Studio seems within the center to the underside third of those assessments.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Dialing up the efficiency slider improves the spreadsheet and content material creation efficiency portion of the PCMark benchmark significantly, which elevates the rating as properly. This is the benchmark that exhibits probably the most enchancment when the Windows efficiency slider is elevated to most. That’s a dramatic enchancment!

The Cinebench benchmark asks the CPU to “burst” via a rendering benchmark, utilizing all of its cores to render the scene as rapidly as attainable. A second check (not proven) makes use of a single thread to carry out the identical job. We use the R15 check, although we check the R20 (4,317 multi/456 single-thread) and R23 (11,095) as properly.

Mark Hachman / IDG

The latter R23 check gives a single-run and a looped check which cycles via a number of iterations. The key right here is how properly the laptop computer fares underneath extended load: will it throttle itself over time to stop overheating. In this case, it does: efficiency dropped by 9 % after ten minutes. On the opposite hand, pushing the efficiency slider to the utmost improves efficiency considerably.

The story is decidedly extra combined in 3D graphics efficiency. Here, the Surface Laptop Studio 2’s base efficiency utilizing the 3DMark “Time Spy” benchmark is fairly good.

Mark Hachman / IDG

But if we loop the identical check over and over, as we did in Cinebench, common body charges dropped from a sustained charge of about 54 fps to about 42 fps. That exhibits that the laptop computer is slowing itself down to stop dangerous overheating.

Again, we are able to push efficiency larger by placing Windows into its highest-performance mode. Our assessments present a extra constant expertise right here: the common framerate did drop from 61 fps to 57 fps after we looped the benchmark, which isn’t that a lot. You’ll hear much more fan noise, although.

Handbrake is an open-source video conversion app that transcodes a Hollywood film right into a smaller dimension and bitrate — a sensible check that’s considerably diminished in an age of Netflix downloads to your PC. But it additionally measures sustained efficiency as a result of the laptop computer will once more decelerate all the job to keep away from overheating.

Mark Hachman / IDG

This result’s a bit disappointing till you take into account that two of the highest laptops on this listing (the Razer Blade 14, and the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro) are specialised gaming laptops.

Surface Laptop Studio 2: Graphics efficiency

One of the issues you could discover most interesting about this “creator” area of interest of laptops is that it does supply the most effective of all worlds: sufficient efficiency to allow some first rate gaming with out the worth or blingy aesthetic of a gaming laptop computer.

Some of our gaming/content material creation laptop computer evaluations now incorporate a few related video games to measure “light gaming” efficiency, a time period that clearly strikes over time as sure video games become older and laptop computer efficiency will increase. Here, we’ve in contrast a smaller pattern of our check laptops utilizing two video games: Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Metro: Exodus.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Both video games show two issues: one, that the Surface Laptop Studio 2 can certainly be used for gaming and two, that it will possibly sustain with its rivals.

Don’t get too excited, although. In Metro: Exodus, for instance, the sport’s 37 frames per second could also be a bit choppier than you’d favor.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Finally, there’s battery life. We loop an open-source 4K film again and again till the battery expires, with the show brightness set at a relentless degree.

By default, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 will modify the display screen brightness in addition to tweak the content material to enhance battery life. We adjusted these choices to create a state of affairs wherein we turned off the brightness sensor for repeatability, however left the content material choices unchanged. We’ve additionally left the efficiency slider at its fundamental “Recommended” setting. Battery life will fluctuate primarily based on quite a lot of components, together with the display screen brightness, whether or not the laptop computer is related, the exercise it’s performing, and so forth.

Historically, battery life has been an actual power of the Surface Laptop Studio. This continues considerably with the Surface Laptop Studio 2, whose battery life falls to 712 minutes, or a bit underneath 12 hours. (By default, battery life was a large 892 minutes with Microsoft’s default changes for content material and adaptive lighting, and simply 528 minutes for operating underneath most energy.)

Mark Hachman / IDG

Even although the Surface Laptop Studio 2 has the identical battery capability as its predecessor, it’s attainable that the processor and GPU suck up extra energy than earlier than.

Surface Laptop Studio 2: Should you purchase it?

Deciding whether or not the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is best for you comes down to 2 key questions: does the Surface title deserve a premium? And does the design of the Surface Laptop Studio 2, particularly its pull-forward design, justify that premium? Remember, quite a lot of competing gadgets may require the acquisition of a separate pill for inking, if that’s essential to you.

You may argue that there’s no approach anybody ought to pay $2,000 for the entry-level Surface Laptop Studio 2, which has 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and built-in graphics. Even with the distinctive design, that’s quite a bit to swallow. But with a content-creator’s price range, even the higher-end Surface Laptop Studio 2 seems much more compelling.

The actual wild card is the laptop computer’s efficiency. By itself, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 merely doesn’t have the efficiency to maintain up with its cheaper rivals. But dial up the efficiency slider, and it transitions from zero to hero, or one thing like that.

So the Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a virtually uniquely configured pull-forward laptop computer with superior inking and audio, with efficiency that actually calls for that you just tweak an often-overlooked Windows setting for greatest impact. Plus, it has 64GB of RAM. Is all that value $3,200? I nonetheless say no, not for a lot of. But drop it all the way down to the 32GB ($2,799) mannequin, and also you’re on the value of the Dell XPS 15. You may make a case for the Laptop Studio 2 in that matchup.

So no, I’m not recommending that the common reader purchase the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 we reviewed on the value it’s provided for, even these in content material creation. But I nonetheless applaud the design, the efficiency enhancements, and lots of the laptop computer’s different options. Shop good, search for a sale, and Microsoft’s flagship Surface Laptop Studio 2 turns into that rather more compelling.