Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (2023)
| Manufacturer | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Product family | Surface |
| Release date | September 2023 |
| Introductory price | USD 2000 to 4000 |
| Discontinued | No |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-13700H Intel Core i7-13800H |
| Memory | 16, 32, or 64 GB LPDDR5x RAM |
| Memory slots | None (soldered) |
| Storage | 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB M.2 NVMe SSD (removable by authorized technician) |
| Storage slots | 1 |
| Removable storage | MicroSDXC card reader |
| Display | Screen size: 14.4 inch Panel type: PixelSense Flow Coating: Glossy Resolution: 2400 x 1600 PPI: 200 Aspect ratio: 3:2 Refresh rate: 120 Hz Brightness: 529 Nits Contrast ratio: 1500:1 sRGB: 99 % VRR: Dolby Vision IQ Screen-to-body ratio: |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop 6 GB GDDR6 80 W Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 80 W Nvidia RTX 2000 Ada Generation Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 80 W |
| Sound | Quad Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos |
| Camera | Front: 1080p with Windows Studio Effects, Windows Hello 2.0 face authentication |
| Touchpad | Precision Haptic touchpad |
| Connectivity | Intel AX211 WiFi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 2 x USB 4/Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C) 1 x USB 3.1 (Type-A) 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack 1 x Surface Connect port |
| Mass | 4.18 pounds (1.90 kg) |
| Power brick | 127W power adapter |
| Battery | 58 Wh Li-Polymer |
| Keyboard | Backlit |
| Chassis | Color: Platinum Materials: Anodized aluminum Cooling: Advanced thermal management system |
| Number pad | No |
| Fingerprint reader | No |
| Facial recognition | Yes (Windows Hello) |
| Predecessor | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (2021) |
| Website | Microsoft |
All statements attributed to reviews are the reviewer's own opinion. Note that these claims were accurate at the time of publication and may be dated when you are reading this article. Read more.
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (2023) is a high-performance convertible 2-in-1 laptop designed for creative professionals. It features a unique pull-forward touchscreen design and is equipped with modern components, including Intel 13th Gen processors and Nvidia RTX graphics options.[1]
Primary Hardware
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
Processor
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 can be configured with the following processors[1]:
- Intel Core i7-13700H with 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threads, 24 MB cache and a max frequency of 5.0 Ghz.
- Intel Core i7-13800H with 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threads, 24 MB cache and max frequency of 5.1 Ghz.
The Intel Core i7-13700H processor is built on the Intel Evo platform and includes the Intel Gen3 Movidius 3700VC VPU AI Accelerator. This configuration is designed to handle demanding workloads and multimedia tasks efficiently. The i7-13700H has been praised for its performance in strenuous multimedia tests, often ranking near the top in benchmarks.[2] However, some reviews noted that the system could feel laggy when launching new applications or navigating the operating system, but performance improved significantly when running applications.[3]
Benchmarks:
Graphics
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers several graphics options[1]:
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU with 6 GB GDDR6 memory, 2130 MHz boost clock, and 80 W TGP.
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 2010 MHz boost clock, and 80 W TGP.
- Nvidia RTX 2000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 2115 MHz boost clock, and 80 W TGP.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU provides meaningful graphics power, suitable for demanding creative work and gaming. However, the GPU struggles to maintain its TDP under load, dropping to 68 Watts after a few minutes, and fails to pass the Time Spy stress test.[4] The RTX 4060 shows a significant performance increase over the previous generation but experiences throttling to prevent overheating.[3]
Benchmarks:
Memory
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 can be configured with 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB of LPDDR5x RAM.[1] The RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, making it non-upgradable by the user.
The 64 GB RAM configuration provides excellent performance, supporting demanding applications and multitasking effectively. The jump from LPDDR4X to LPDDR5X contributes to improved overall performance.[3]
Benchmarks:
- AIDA64 Memory Copy: 66470 MB/s[4]
- AIDA64 Memory Read: 72741 MB/s[4]
- AIDA64 Memory Write: 75000 MB/s[4]
- AIDA64 Memory Latency: 94.1 ns[4]
Storage
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers removable solid-state drive (Gen 4 SSD) options of 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB.[1] The SSD is removable but only by an authorized technician following Microsoft's instructions.
The 1 TB Kioxia XG8 PCIe-4.0 SSD provides high transfer rates and stable performance during long workloads.[4] However, the storage is only officially removable by a qualified repair technician, limiting user upgrade options.[3]
Benchmarks:
- CrystalDiskMark 5/6:
- AS SSD Score Total: 5047 points[4]
Co-processors
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 includes the Intel Gen3 Movidius 3700VC VPU AI Accelerator, which handles local AI tasks and enhances performance during multitasking and demanding applications.[2]
Input Devices
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
Keyboard
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 features a chiclet keyboard with three-stage backlighting, comfortable key travel, and a good layout.[4] The keys have a healthy bounce and decent travel, with enough space between them to prevent accidental presses. The keyboard layout is comfortable for extended typing sessions.[2]
Touchpad
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 comes with a Precision Haptic touchpad that simulates a physical click without movable parts. The touchpad is large, providing a substantial and responsive user experience.[2][4]
Webcam
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is equipped with a 1080p front-facing Studio camera that supports Windows Studio Effects, including auto framing, eye contact, and background blur. It also features Windows Hello 2.0 face authentication for secure login.[1]
The webcam records sharp video and utilizes AI features for enhanced video calls, such as background blur and eye-contact correction.[2]
Microphone
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 includes dual Studio Mics with Voice Clarity, enabling super-wideband and natural full-duplex conversations. The microphones are optimized for clear audio during calls and recordings.[1]
Output Devices
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
Display
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 features a 14.4-inch PixelSense Flow Display with a resolution of 2400 x 1600 (200 PPI), a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and a 3:2 aspect ratio. The display is individually color-calibrated and supports Dolby Vision IQ and VESA DisplayHDR 400.[1]
The display offers good brightness and HDR capabilities, but it lacks 4K resolution. It is well-suited for content creation and inking, with a 3:2 aspect ratio that may lead to letterboxing in videos.[3] The display is bright and sharp, though color coverage is just okay, particularly in the Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color spaces.[2]
Benchmarks:
Audio
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is equipped with quad Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos for an immersive sound experience. The speakers provide excellent audio quality, bright and loud, suitable for media consumption.[3]
Connectivity
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
WiFi
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 comes with an Intel AX211 Wi-Fi 6E module, providing faster and more reliable internet connectivity.[1]
Bluetooth
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 includes Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity.[1]
SD Card Reader
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 features a microSDXC card reader, which is useful for mobile photographers and videographers for easy file transfer and data backup.[1]
USB
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is equipped with the following USB ports[1]:
- 2 x USB-C with USB4/Thunderbolt 4 (with DisplayPort and Power Delivery)
- 1 x USB-A 3.1
- 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack
- 1 x Surface Connect port for docking and charging
Display Outputs
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 supports DisplayPort via USB-C for connecting external monitors.[1]
Case
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 features an anodized aluminum chassis, providing a premium feel and enhanced durability. The device is available in Platinum color.[1] The laptop feels high quality and is reasonably portable for a powerful creator laptop, weighing 4.18 lbs.[2]
Maintenance
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 does not contain user-serviceable parts. The hard drive is only removable by an authorized technician following Microsoft-provided instructions.[1] The device lacks visible screws for user access, limiting maintenance and upgrade options.[4]
Cooling System
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 features an advanced thermal management system to maintain optimal performance during heavy usage.[1] The cooling system includes fans located at the front of the base unit.[4]
Heat
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 experiences performance throttling to prevent overheating during sustained loads. The palm rest area can get uncomfortably warm under load, with temperatures reaching around 40 °C.[4]
Noise
Fan noise increases significantly in performance mode, becoming noticeable during intensive tasks. The laptop emits noise above 50 dB(A) under load.[4]
Energy Management
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
Power Consumption
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 ships with a 127W power adapter. The device can also be powered by a standard 100W USB-C charger.[3] The power consumption peaks at 128 Watts under load, leveling off at around 110 Watts.[4]
Battery Life
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is equipped with a 58 Wh Li-Polymer battery. Microsoft claims up to 19 hours of typical device usage for the Intel Iris Xe graphics model, up to 18 hours for the Nvidia graphics models (except 2 TB SSD), and up to 16 hours for the 2 TB SSD Nvidia graphics models.[1] Reviews indicate a tested battery life of 15:23 hours during video playback.[2]
Benchmarks:
- WiFi Websurfing: 8h 18min[4]
- Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p: 11h 15min[4]
- Load (maximum brightness): 2h 12min[4]
Biometrics
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 supports Windows Hello face recognition for quick and secure access. The facial recognition works well but struggles with masks.[3]
Software
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
All SKUs ship with Windows 11 Home. The device is optimized for productivity and creativity with integrated AI tools.[1]
Preinstalled Software
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 comes preloaded with Microsoft 365 Apps, a 30-day trial of Microsoft 365 Family, and a 30-day trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.[1]
Accessories & Warranty
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 comes with a 127W power adapter and paperwork. The device includes a one-year limited hardware warranty.[1]
Reviews Summary
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
Overall Sentiment
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is considered a powerful and innovative device suitable for creative professionals. It offers significant performance improvements over its predecessor and features a unique pull-forward touchscreen design. However, the high price point and some performance limitations in default settings may deter potential buyers.[2][3][4]
Problems Summary[2][3][4]
- High price point.
- Performance throttling under sustained loads.
- Limited user upgrade options.
- Palm rest area can get uncomfortably warm under load.
- Fan noise increases significantly in performance mode.
- Struggles with facial recognition when wearing masks.
Community Reception
Overall Sentiment
Problems Summary
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 "Surface Laptop Studio 2 Specifications". Microsoft.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 "Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 Review". PCMag.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 "Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 Review". PCWorld.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 "Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 Review". NotebookCheck.