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Microsoft has unveiled its latest flagship laptop, the Surface Laptop Studio 2, at its September event. The new device promises to deliver stunning graphics, powerful performance, and versatile design in a sleek and elegant package. But how does it compare to its predecessor, the Surface Laptop Studio? And is it worth the upgrade? Here’s a first look at the new Surface Laptop Studio 2 and what it has to offer.
Design and display
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 retains the same unique fold-over design as its predecessor, but makes the laptop all around more capable. It runs on one of Intel’s 13th Gen i7 H-class processors and can be specced with an Nvidia GPU, including the RTX 4050 and 4060, between 16 and 64GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of storage.
The laptop can be converted into three different modes: laptop mode for productivity, stage mode for entertainment, and studio mode for creativity. The laptop also comes with a Slim Pen 2 that attaches magnetically to the front of the device and charges wirelessly. The pen offers improved accuracy and haptic feedback for a more natural writing and drawing experience.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 features a 14.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen with a resolution of 2400 x 1600 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The display supports Dolby Vision HDR and has a 3:2 aspect ratio that offers more vertical space for web browsing, reading, and editing documents. The display also has thin bezels and a wide color gamut for vibrant and immersive visuals.
Performance and battery life
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is powered by the latest Intel Raptor Lake processors, which offer over two times the power of the previous generation. The laptop also supports Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics cards, which deliver up to two times more graphics performance than the MacBook Pro with M2 Max chip. The laptop also has an option for Nvidia RTX Ada 2000 GPU, which is designed for professional workloads such as design, engineering, or rendering.
The laptop also boasts up to 64GB of LPDDR5x memory and up to 2TB of SSD storage, which allow for fast multitasking and smooth performance. The laptop also has a built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that enhances AI capabilities and improves performance in tasks such as video editing, gaming, and face recognition.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 claims to offer up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is impressive for such a powerful device. The laptop also supports fast charging, which can provide up to four hours of battery life in just 30 minutes.
Ports and features
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a decent selection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, one USB-A port, one microSD card reader, one 3.5mm headphone jack, and one Surface Connect port. The Thunderbolt 4 ports support data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps, as well as external displays and docks. The microSD card reader is a welcome addition for photographers and content creators who need to transfer files from their cameras.
The laptop also features an all-new Studio Camera with a wide-field of view and Windows Studio effects that harness AI to improve video quality and enhance facial features. The camera supports Windows Hello facial recognition for secure and convenient login. The laptop also has dual far-field Studio Mics that capture clear audio and reduce background noise. The laptop also has Dolby Atmos speakers that deliver rich and immersive sound.
The laptop also comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, which is the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system. Windows 11 Pro offers a redesigned user interface, improved multitasking features, enhanced security, and better integration with Microsoft apps and services.
Price and availability
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is available for pre-order right now from Microsoft's website ¹, with units slated to start shipping out October 2. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a starting price of $1,999 ¹, and for that you get the basic model with an Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and no discrete Nvidia GPU.
If you want more graphics power, you can opt for the model with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU for $2,399 ¹, or the model with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU for $3,299 ¹. The top-end model with an Nvidia RTX Ada 2000 GPU costs $3,599 ¹ and comes with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
Conclusion
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a major upgrade over its predecessor, offering more power, more versatility, and more features in the same elegant design. It is a laptop that can handle any task, whether it’s productivity, entertainment, or creativity. It is also a laptop that can compete with the best laptops in the market, such as the MacBook Pro, the Dell XPS 15, or the HP Spectre x360.
However, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 is also a very expensive laptop, and not everyone may need or want such a high-end device. It is also a laptop that may face some competition from upcoming devices that may feature newer processors and graphics cards, such as the 14th Gen Intel chips or the Apple M3 chips. Therefore, it may be wise to wait for some reviews and benchmarks before making a purchase decision.