Even among 2-in-1 PCs, Microsoft’s offers a unique combination of performance and adaptability. But now, on the second model, thanks to updated specs plus the addition of a USB-A port and a microSD card reader, it looks like Microsoft has given its mobile workstation the finishing touches it needed all along, resulting in what may be the latter. all terrain. Unfortunately, with a high starting price and expensive upgrades for more RAM and a discrete GPU, the tech-specs” class=”rapid-with-clickid”> It is difficult to recommend it to everyone.
Design: modern but functional
Francis Bacon once said, “There is no excellent beauty that does not have something strange in its proportions,” which is a sentiment that seems applicable to the Surface Laptop Studio 2. It features a minimalist aluminum chassis (instead of the magnesium frame of the previous model). ) but in a somewhat unconventional configuration. The lid of the laptop is divided into two halves, allowing the screen to rotate 180 degrees or tilt downwards forming an easel. Its base, meanwhile, features a two-tier design that allows the laptop to keep the vents away from the sides of the system while also providing a hidden magnetic charging point for a Surface Slim Pen 2 (which is sadly missing). including).
The two biggest changes to the Studio 2’s design are the addition of the USB-A port and a microSD card slot. When combined with the existing dual USB-C connectors, you get a solid range of connectivity options. It means you can transfer files from a camera directly to the laptop and you’ll rarely (if ever) have to worry about carrying extra dongles for peripherals. That said, the Surface Laptop Studio 2’s slightly thicker chassis (but only a millimeter or two) and switch to aluminum means an extra third of a pound in weight (4.18 pounds with integrated graphics or 4.37 with a discrete GPU ).
Screen: Vivid from any angle
The display on the Surface Laptop Studio 2 hasn’t changed much from the previous model, but that’s not a bad thing. Its 14.4-inch panel features the same 2400 x 1600 resolution, along with a dynamic refresh rate that can switch between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on what you’re looking at. However, the brightness is a little better, around 500 nits or 650 nits with HDR enabled. And you still get full Windows Inking support with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
Performance: More than enough power, but it will cost you
For the new model, Microsoft simplified the specifications of the Surface Laptop Studio 2 by offering a single processor in each configuration: an Intel Core i7-13700H. From there, you can choose a base model with integrated graphics or upgrade to one with an RTX 4050 or RTX 4060 GPU. The annoying thing is, to get that 4060, you also have to get 64GB of RAM, which is overkill for most people. That’s unfortunate because that configuration costs $3,300. An option with only 32GB of RAM and a lower cost would be appreciated.
That said, it’s hard to complain about its actual performance. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 kept pace with gaming laptops with similar specs, including real-world and benchmark tests. While it’s not intended to be a dedicated gaming rig, it also hit 62fps on Cyberpunk 2077 at 1920 x 1200 with high graphics and ray tracing set to ultra (although that’s with NVIDIA DLSS enabled).
Battery life: Surprisingly decent
Even with a discrete GPU, the Surface Laptop Studio 2’s longevity is closer to that of a standard ultraportable than short-lived gaming laptops. In PCMark 10’s OpenOffice battery drain test, it lasted eight hours and 40 minutes. That’s three hours longer than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Razer Blade 16, which lasted 5:19 and 5:10, respectively. However, more typical ultraportables like the ASUS Zenbook S 13 did even better with a time of 10:39.
Wrap
The Surface Laptop Studio 2’s two main drawbacks are its price and its limited configurations that come complete with NVIDIA RTX 4060 graphics, making it feel more like a great all-rounder than an outright mobile powerhouse. While there’s no way to defend its cost, the latter doesn’t bother me as much, because there’s a lot of value in a system that offers unmatched adaptability.
With its innovative design, brilliant display, above-average battery life, and improved connectivity, Surface Laptop Studio 2 can perform many different tasks with ease. It’s a great system for editing photos and videos, and the stylus support makes drawing or taking notes a pleasure. When you factor in the excellent keyboard, Windows Hello IR cameras, and one of the best touchpads on a Windows laptop today (courtesy of Sensel), you end up with an incredibly versatile mobile workstation. And if we revisit that “A jack of all trades is not a master of none, but he is often better than a master of one,” which is precisely what we have here with the Surface Laptop Studio 2. I just wish it were a little cheaper.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/surface-laptop-studio-2-review-the-ultimate-all-rounder-specs-price-180012173.html?src=rss
