Seamlessly transition from a powerful touchscreen laptop to a perfectly angled display for entertainment, to a creative canvas for drawing. With Windows 11, Surface Laptop Studio 2 is the ultimate powerhouse all-in-one laptop.
Seamlessly transition from a powerful touchscreen laptop to a perfectly angled display for entertainment, to a creative canvas for drawing. With Windows 11, Surface Laptop Studio 2 is the ultimate powerhouse all-in-one laptop.
in 1 offers
The lowest price for Microsoft - Surface Laptop Studio 2 - 14.4" Touch-Screen - Intel Core i7 with 64gb Memory -GeForce RTX 4060-1TB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum right now is $6,473.00.
Prices last updated 30 Nov 2025.
Microsoft - Surface Laptop Studio 2 - 14.4" Touch-Screen - Intel Core i7 with 64gb Memory -GeForce RTX 4060-1TB SSD (Latest Model) - Platinum
Seamlessly transition from a powerful touchscreen laptop to a perfectly angled display for entertainment, to a creative canvas for drawing. With Windows 11, Surface Laptop Studio 2 is the ultimate powerhouse all-in-one laptop.
Seamlessly transition from a powerful touchscreen laptop to a perfectly angled display for entertainment, to a creative canvas for drawing. With Windows 11, Surface Laptop Studio 2 is the ultimate powerhouse all-in-one laptop.
Last updated at 30/11/2025 19:55:44
originally posted on www.currys.co.uk
I am a digital artist and bought my surface laptop studio 2 with that in mind, upgrading to the Nvidia graphics card so I could play and make games on the side.I love my surface and it does everything i wanted it to in that it makes it easier for me to draw digitally on the go, however its battery life is not that great for a new laptop (4-5 hours with power saving settings on, even less without or if you are using it for anything intensive) and i do fear what it might be like a few years down the line when the battery isn’t new anymore. Although i was willing to pay the price for what i wanted (portability, touch screen that was pen compatible for drawing, foldable screen) it is awfully expensive and to make full use of it i had to buy a surface slim pen 2 (which ... MoreI am a digital artist and bought my surface laptop studio 2 with that in mind, upgrading to the Nvidia graphics card so I could play and make games on the side.I love my surface and it does everything i wanted it to in that it makes it easier for me to draw digitally on the go, however its battery life is not that great for a new laptop (4-5 hours with power saving settings on, even less without or if you are using it for anything intensive) and i do fear what it might be like a few years down the line when the battery isn’t new anymore. Although i was willing to pay the price for what i wanted (portability, touch screen that was pen compatible for drawing, foldable screen) it is awfully expensive and to make full use of it i had to buy a surface slim pen 2 (which cost me around £45 but retails for around £100 if you buy new from the microsoft store) and a few other accessories separately which added even more to the overall price tag. Although i bought it for gaming on the side, i have yet to test many games on it and have only done very minimal 2D level design in Godot (which the laptop handled fine) so i don’t yet know how it would handle larger, more intensive projects or 3D projects.One misc thing to note is although this laptop has a USB port alongside its USB-C ones, the USB takes some force to get things in and out of, and I worry that I’m going to damage it or something will get stuck with the force i have to use. I now use a USB-C to USB/HDMI/etc converter instead of that port just in case.This laptop has a magnetic charger, which i love and attaches and detaches with very little effort. I can be quite clumsy with cables and this ensures i wont yeet my laptop across the room if i trip over something as the charging cable just comes off instead of taking the laptop with it. It gives me a bit of peace of mind considering the surface laptop is so expensive!Overall, despite its flaws the surface laptop studio 2 has made it much easier for me to draw on the go and feels sleek to use, but if you are a fellow digital artist looking for an upgrade, i would only recommend this if you have the money to spare. A normal laptop and a small drawing tablet would be much cheaper and likely have better battery life, even if it would have a few less bells and whistles attached.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
I have the Surface Pro tablet, Surface Laptop 5, and an older Surface Book 2. This is a great compact option for those who need more power than the Surface Laptop offers and for those who are less concerned with portability.An HDMI port would've been a welcome addition (I'm using a USB-C to HDMI adapter and the connection is a little looser than I'd like). The additional juice from the GPU shines through in graphics-intensive applications. 3-D rendering, Illustrator, Neo4J-Bloom are noticeably smoother on the Surface Studio than my Mac Studio. The tradeoff is that the laptop gets uncomfortably warm if you're using it on your lap. The side vents add to the discomfort, but it's not so bad that you have to move it.The screen can be tilted like an easel or reclined ... MoreI have the Surface Pro tablet, Surface Laptop 5, and an older Surface Book 2. This is a great compact option for those who need more power than the Surface Laptop offers and for those who are less concerned with portability.An HDMI port would've been a welcome addition (I'm using a USB-C to HDMI adapter and the connection is a little looser than I'd like). The additional juice from the GPU shines through in graphics-intensive applications. 3-D rendering, Illustrator, Neo4J-Bloom are noticeably smoother on the Surface Studio than my Mac Studio. The tradeoff is that the laptop gets uncomfortably warm if you're using it on your lap. The side vents add to the discomfort, but it's not so bad that you have to move it.The screen can be tilted like an easel or reclined to a 35 degree angle for drawing (though you lose access to the keyboard and trackpad when it's in this mode). The benefit is that you can quickly lift the screen to type something and resume drawing. This is more convenient than the Surface Pro tablet where you have to detach the keyboard to use comfortably as a drawing tablet on your desk.Sound/speaker quality is acceptable. The keyboard is comfortable to type on though I wish they'd use a black background since the letters are difficult to read unless you're using the laptop in the dark (with backlighting enabled).All in all this is a nice addition/update to the Surface lineup and Microsoft offers a Surface replacement program similar to Apple's Apple Care. I've had 2 Surface devices succumb to defective batteries which rendered the devices unusable. The replacement options [at the time] cost as much as the 'Surface replacement program', so unless you make a habit of regularly dropping your Surface devices, most users are better off not purchasing the coverage.
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Not worth the price, save your resources. This "flagship" model has firmware and trackers loaded to the brim. There isn't enough ram and compute power available for ML and SQL professional workflows, despite boasting a 2000ADA generation laptop GPU.The os and group policy are not private and have a wide attack surface. It's more of a gimmick that isn't applicable for the majority of consumers and true professionals would never use a device like this unless it was in a pinch.Since your data and connection are monitored all the information you receive is also curated. In summary there are more cons than pros to this device, and there are more efficient and more powerful solutions available if you know where to find them.If you're considering a surface for coding ... MoreNot worth the price, save your resources. This "flagship" model has firmware and trackers loaded to the brim. There isn't enough ram and compute power available for ML and SQL professional workflows, despite boasting a 2000ADA generation laptop GPU.The os and group policy are not private and have a wide attack surface. It's more of a gimmick that isn't applicable for the majority of consumers and true professionals would never use a device like this unless it was in a pinch.Since your data and connection are monitored all the information you receive is also curated. In summary there are more cons than pros to this device, and there are more efficient and more powerful solutions available if you know where to find them.If you're considering a surface for coding keep in mind that windows is deliberately preconfigured to manually parse PATHs so you will have issues with many frameworks when working on this series. Don't fall for the "Framework Laptop" gimmicks, either. They're just a nice sounding tone with just about the same functionality.If you're serious about work, organizational structure, AI, and being a high-level professional you will keep Microsoft and the government as far away as humanly possible from your recipes and handwriting.For a nice travel-toy a $350-$500 lap top or iPad is more than sufficient. And if you really know what you're doing you'll build more powerful and personalized systems from scratch for a fraction of the cost.With open-sourced AI it is now more than possible to create, refine, and scale with more efficient workflows that are entirely customizable. Don't let the corporations fool you into buying this garbage.A side note: the GPU will sometimes throttle at random, but after using Wireshark I've discovered that various IDP and TCP requests came from unverified and third party data advertisers.By using this particular device you're basically signing away all of your sovereignty and privacy in the digital realm.
| Screen Size | 14.4 in |
| RAM Memory | 64 GB |
| Hard Drive Capacity | 1 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Processor Brand | Intel |
I am a digital artist and bought my surface laptop studio 2 with that in mind, upgrading to the Nvidia graphics card so I could play and make games on the side.I love my surface and it does everything i wanted it to in that it makes it easier for me to draw digitally on the go, however its battery life is not that great for a new laptop (4-5 hours with power saving settings on, even less without or if you are using it for anything intensive) and i do fear what it might be like a few years down the line when the battery isn’t new anymore. Although i was willing to pay the price for what i wanted (portability, touch screen that was pen compatible for drawing, foldable screen) it is awfully expensive and to make full use of it i had to buy a surface slim pen 2 (which ... MoreI am a digital artist and bought my surface laptop studio 2 with that in mind, upgrading to the Nvidia graphics card so I could play and make games on the side.I love my surface and it does everything i wanted it to in that it makes it easier for me to draw digitally on the go, however its battery life is not that great for a new laptop (4-5 hours with power saving settings on, even less without or if you are using it for anything intensive) and i do fear what it might be like a few years down the line when the battery isn’t new anymore. Although i was willing to pay the price for what i wanted (portability, touch screen that was pen compatible for drawing, foldable screen) it is awfully expensive and to make full use of it i had to buy a surface slim pen 2 (which cost me around £45 but retails for around £100 if you buy new from the microsoft store) and a few other accessories separately which added even more to the overall price tag. Although i bought it for gaming on the side, i have yet to test many games on it and have only done very minimal 2D level design in Godot (which the laptop handled fine) so i don’t yet know how it would handle larger, more intensive projects or 3D projects.One misc thing to note is although this laptop has a USB port alongside its USB-C ones, the USB takes some force to get things in and out of, and I worry that I’m going to damage it or something will get stuck with the force i have to use. I now use a USB-C to USB/HDMI/etc converter instead of that port just in case.This laptop has a magnetic charger, which i love and attaches and detaches with very little effort. I can be quite clumsy with cables and this ensures i wont yeet my laptop across the room if i trip over something as the charging cable just comes off instead of taking the laptop with it. It gives me a bit of peace of mind considering the surface laptop is so expensive!Overall, despite its flaws the surface laptop studio 2 has made it much easier for me to draw on the go and feels sleek to use, but if you are a fellow digital artist looking for an upgrade, i would only recommend this if you have the money to spare. A normal laptop and a small drawing tablet would be much cheaper and likely have better battery life, even if it would have a few less bells and whistles attached.
I have the Surface Pro tablet, Surface Laptop 5, and an older Surface Book 2. This is a great compact option for those who need more power than the Surface Laptop offers and for those who are less concerned with portability.An HDMI port would've been a welcome addition (I'm using a USB-C to HDMI adapter and the connection is a little looser than I'd like). The additional juice from the GPU shines through in graphics-intensive applications. 3-D rendering, Illustrator, Neo4J-Bloom are noticeably smoother on the Surface Studio than my Mac Studio. The tradeoff is that the laptop gets uncomfortably warm if you're using it on your lap. The side vents add to the discomfort, but it's not so bad that you have to move it.The screen can be tilted like an easel or reclined ... MoreI have the Surface Pro tablet, Surface Laptop 5, and an older Surface Book 2. This is a great compact option for those who need more power than the Surface Laptop offers and for those who are less concerned with portability.An HDMI port would've been a welcome addition (I'm using a USB-C to HDMI adapter and the connection is a little looser than I'd like). The additional juice from the GPU shines through in graphics-intensive applications. 3-D rendering, Illustrator, Neo4J-Bloom are noticeably smoother on the Surface Studio than my Mac Studio. The tradeoff is that the laptop gets uncomfortably warm if you're using it on your lap. The side vents add to the discomfort, but it's not so bad that you have to move it.The screen can be tilted like an easel or reclined to a 35 degree angle for drawing (though you lose access to the keyboard and trackpad when it's in this mode). The benefit is that you can quickly lift the screen to type something and resume drawing. This is more convenient than the Surface Pro tablet where you have to detach the keyboard to use comfortably as a drawing tablet on your desk.Sound/speaker quality is acceptable. The keyboard is comfortable to type on though I wish they'd use a black background since the letters are difficult to read unless you're using the laptop in the dark (with backlighting enabled).All in all this is a nice addition/update to the Surface lineup and Microsoft offers a Surface replacement program similar to Apple's Apple Care. I've had 2 Surface devices succumb to defective batteries which rendered the devices unusable. The replacement options [at the time] cost as much as the 'Surface replacement program', so unless you make a habit of regularly dropping your Surface devices, most users are better off not purchasing the coverage.
Not worth the price, save your resources. This "flagship" model has firmware and trackers loaded to the brim. There isn't enough ram and compute power available for ML and SQL professional workflows, despite boasting a 2000ADA generation laptop GPU.The os and group policy are not private and have a wide attack surface. It's more of a gimmick that isn't applicable for the majority of consumers and true professionals would never use a device like this unless it was in a pinch.Since your data and connection are monitored all the information you receive is also curated. In summary there are more cons than pros to this device, and there are more efficient and more powerful solutions available if you know where to find them.If you're considering a surface for coding ... MoreNot worth the price, save your resources. This "flagship" model has firmware and trackers loaded to the brim. There isn't enough ram and compute power available for ML and SQL professional workflows, despite boasting a 2000ADA generation laptop GPU.The os and group policy are not private and have a wide attack surface. It's more of a gimmick that isn't applicable for the majority of consumers and true professionals would never use a device like this unless it was in a pinch.Since your data and connection are monitored all the information you receive is also curated. In summary there are more cons than pros to this device, and there are more efficient and more powerful solutions available if you know where to find them.If you're considering a surface for coding keep in mind that windows is deliberately preconfigured to manually parse PATHs so you will have issues with many frameworks when working on this series. Don't fall for the "Framework Laptop" gimmicks, either. They're just a nice sounding tone with just about the same functionality.If you're serious about work, organizational structure, AI, and being a high-level professional you will keep Microsoft and the government as far away as humanly possible from your recipes and handwriting.For a nice travel-toy a $350-$500 lap top or iPad is more than sufficient. And if you really know what you're doing you'll build more powerful and personalized systems from scratch for a fraction of the cost.With open-sourced AI it is now more than possible to create, refine, and scale with more efficient workflows that are entirely customizable. Don't let the corporations fool you into buying this garbage.A side note: the GPU will sometimes throttle at random, but after using Wireshark I've discovered that various IDP and TCP requests came from unverified and third party data advertisers.By using this particular device you're basically signing away all of your sovereignty and privacy in the digital realm.
Overall a good device however I returned it for something different due to several issues.POSITIVES: Great screen and haptic track pad. Best I have used on any device that wasn't a Mac. Very fast, responsive and benefitial UI smoothness because hardware and software made by same company.REASONS I RETURNED IT: The keyboard has good travel but there were two things that bothered me personally. First, the key deck is very far forward nearly to the screen base so hand position was weird in my use. Second, the key shapes are kind of domed or rounded which made finger contact on the key weird compared to some other computers I have tried. Third, the key colors would benefit from some more contrast color compared to the body. I have to wear readers glasses and more ... MoreOverall a good device however I returned it for something different due to several issues.POSITIVES: Great screen and haptic track pad. Best I have used on any device that wasn't a Mac. Very fast, responsive and benefitial UI smoothness because hardware and software made by same company.REASONS I RETURNED IT: The keyboard has good travel but there were two things that bothered me personally. First, the key deck is very far forward nearly to the screen base so hand position was weird in my use. Second, the key shapes are kind of domed or rounded which made finger contact on the key weird compared to some other computers I have tried. Third, the key colors would benefit from some more contrast color compared to the body. I have to wear readers glasses and more contrast would make it easier to see without my glasses. The weight and form factor is problematic if you frequently move it in and out of a briefcase or backpack. The edges are very (sharp is the wrong word) squared off, the cantilevered deck is just an optical illusion and weird in person.If I was working on this as a static workstation, it would have been fine but I have to travel a lot with it.It's clever that the screen flexes but I never used it in anything other than traditional open clamshell form. That said, I can see the benefit and if it was thinner and lighter it could replace the desire, not really need I have to maintain a traditional laptop and tablet.The move to aluminum was perfect, the surfaces and materials are well done. The screen resolution, refresh and color range is great.I regret I travel because there is much to enjoy about this device and if I didn't travel it would have likely kept it. If it was no heavier than 3.75 LBS ands less than 60mm thick I would buy it again.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a compelling blend of power, versatility, and design. Boasting a 14.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with a 2400 x 1600 resolution, it delivers stunning visuals and supports touch and Surface Pen input. The innovative design includes a unique hinge that transforms the laptop into a versatile studio, allowing for various modes like laptop, stage, and studio.Under the hood, the laptop is powered by Intel's latest processors, providing snappy performance for productivity tasks, creative work, and even some light gaming. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU adds a significant boost for graphics-intensive applications, making it suitable for creative professionals and gamers alike. The combination of powerful components and a ... MoreThe Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a compelling blend of power, versatility, and design. Boasting a 14.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with a 2400 x 1600 resolution, it delivers stunning visuals and supports touch and Surface Pen input. The innovative design includes a unique hinge that transforms the laptop into a versatile studio, allowing for various modes like laptop, stage, and studio.Under the hood, the laptop is powered by Intel's latest processors, providing snappy performance for productivity tasks, creative work, and even some light gaming. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU adds a significant boost for graphics-intensive applications, making it suitable for creative professionals and gamers alike. The combination of powerful components and a high-resolution display creates an immersive computing experience.The build quality is exceptional, featuring a durable aluminum chassis that exudes premium craftsmanship. The backlit keyboard is comfortable for extended typing sessions, and the large precision trackpad ensures precise navigation. The inclusion of USB-C and USB-A ports, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack, provides versatile connectivity options.In summary, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a top-tier device that excels in performance, design, and versatility. Its unique form factor, robust specifications, and inclusion of innovative features cater to a niche audience seeking a premium computing experience. While the price may be steep for some, the laptop delivers on its promise of providing a powerful and flexible tool for professionals and creative enthusiasts alike.
Beautifully built, with absolutely top-notch Apple-level quality and typical excellent Microsoft hardware/software integration. Inking experience is second to none, at least for the various tablets I have tried over the years. MPP3 with the slim pen and the SLS2 really is a cut above. I liked the haptic touchpad, but it isn't quite as nice as the Apple MBP14. I felt fan noise was controlled very well overall, also. Some don't like the exhaust-out-the-side design, but I like that Microsoft hasn't gone for a bottom intake (which makes lap usage a lot better for the laptop's health as you're not choking the vents), and if that is the tradeoff, I'll take a little hot air on my mousing hand. Key travel is good, and overall I liked the keyboard quite a bit; from design, ... MoreBeautifully built, with absolutely top-notch Apple-level quality and typical excellent Microsoft hardware/software integration. Inking experience is second to none, at least for the various tablets I have tried over the years. MPP3 with the slim pen and the SLS2 really is a cut above. I liked the haptic touchpad, but it isn't quite as nice as the Apple MBP14. I felt fan noise was controlled very well overall, also. Some don't like the exhaust-out-the-side design, but I like that Microsoft hasn't gone for a bottom intake (which makes lap usage a lot better for the laptop's health as you're not choking the vents), and if that is the tradeoff, I'll take a little hot air on my mousing hand. Key travel is good, and overall I liked the keyboard quite a bit; from design, font, to key placement and keystroke feel.The 4050 is also very well-optimized, and outperforms many 4060 laptops. Microsoft has done a great job with optimization although be aware that in the default Recommended setting and on Battery, the CPU is throttled massively--you will notice this even in web surfing and productivity, Better Performance and Best Performance will step up CPU power notably, with the expected decrease in battery life. In Recommended, you might be able to squeeze 6-7 hours out of it, which is not bad at all, as long as you don't have any Teams meetings or use the dGPU. Of course, you have to live with a bit of sluggishness.On the negative side, the NPU is crazy inefficient: do not plan on using the Windows Studio Effects or battery life from 100% to dead empty shrinks to 90 minutes in Teams meetings! That's with the dGPU off using only the iGPU, as well. Also, the screen is a huge negative to me: resolution and contrast are quite good, as you'd expect from Microsoft, but the panel has some "shimmer" as you move your head naturally as you work, and while the refresh rate is great (120hz), there is blurring in fast moving objects such as your mouse, or anything in a video or game. It was shocking--almost like stepping back into the early 2000s LCD technology.You might be fine with the screen if you are using it for productivity tasks--but have a hard look in person if you want this for both productivity and anything that requires fast-moving objects.I'd say, if you're mobile more than stationary, I'd suggest an ultrabook--a 13th gen i7 U processor will outperform this laptop on battery unless you run the SLS2 in Best Performance mode, and then your battery life is extremely short. If you can plug in all the time, with just an occasional foray on battery (and you can life with dialed back performance akin to a low-cost laptop), and you do a lot of inking, then SLS2 actually is great and maybe the best on the market. It really is a wonderful experience for diagramming and other inking-related tasks.
The Laptop Studio 2 builds on the previous generation which already was one of the best windows laptops on the market. It had the best screen, best touchpad, keyboard, speakers along with a unique folding hinge screen and none of that has changed.The biggest improvement on the Laptop Studio 2 is Windows 11 itself and how it has matured from its initial release. Microsoft has done a great job adding features which make the Windows 11 an inclusive product for everyone no matter the other devices they use (Android/IOS). Windows has also greatly improved in speed and reliability; I did not experience one slow down or crash while using the Laptop Studio 2. Windows has done a lot of work with the small details to make sure that the system is not only visually appealing ... MoreThe Laptop Studio 2 builds on the previous generation which already was one of the best windows laptops on the market. It had the best screen, best touchpad, keyboard, speakers along with a unique folding hinge screen and none of that has changed.The biggest improvement on the Laptop Studio 2 is Windows 11 itself and how it has matured from its initial release. Microsoft has done a great job adding features which make the Windows 11 an inclusive product for everyone no matter the other devices they use (Android/IOS). Windows has also greatly improved in speed and reliability; I did not experience one slow down or crash while using the Laptop Studio 2. Windows has done a lot of work with the small details to make sure that the system is not only visually appealing but also fast and responsive. Features such Snap feature (auto sizes screens for productivity), Desktop groups, AI integration, current update to paint which allows you to add layers and upgraded photos application make Windows 11 a must for most people.Screen: The screen on the Laptop Studio 2 is still great and this years includes HDR support (500 nits normally or 650 nits for HDR content) and there is no screen wobble which is saying something since the screen goes into tablet mode and content viewing mode. The borders are a bit thick for today’s standards but in all honesty they work and I hardly noticed them. The thicker borders are actually a plus when you use the device to take notes/draw. The screen is still 120 Hz so all the transitions are smooth and make using the Laptop Studio 2 a joy as your daily driver.Trackpad: Is on par with the best laptops in the market and the most inclusive because of the adaptive touch mode which allows people with limited mobility to use the trackpad.Sound: The speakers are the best on any windows machine of this size. The laptop studio 2 improves the base and mids/highs but is a bit lacking is the spatial audio.Touch: The touch response on the Laptop Studio 2 is almost as good as my smart phone, no matter where you touch the screen it registers instantly. When working with windows apps such as word/paint the drawing works just as well with your fingers as it does with a surface pen. If you do purchase the surface pen the laptop becomes a hybrid between laptop/media machine/tablet. The touch features work great with your fingers and you can take it to the next level if you have a surface pen which allows you to highlight/cut/draw and so much more.Form factor: The unique design of the Laptop Studio 2 is great for media consumption and using windows ink for drawing/note taking purposes. I was not a believer in the design when it came to the media consumption part, however the screen being a tad closer makes a huge difference for content viewing which I was not expecting.Performance: The Laptop Studio runs one gen older CPU but has the newest GPU which blazes through anything you can throw at it. Now it does get hot when you’re doing triple A title games or heavy video editing but that is expected for the work it is doing. Besides the heavy task the Laptop Studio 2 runs quiet and I only heard the fans turn on when I did windows update.The Laptop Studio 2 is the cream of the crop when it comes to windows laptops. Everything from the look to the performance is top of the line with very little drawbacks. The windows operating system has come a long way and Windows 11 is a joy to use not only for productivity but in all aspects that you would need a laptop. The only downsides for the Laptop Studio 2 was that the webcam wasn’t the best otherwise this is one of the best windows laptops on the market.
I am reviewing the Surface Laptop Studio 2 as someone who has had the first-generation version since it was released a little over 2 years ago. I have been a huge fan of that computer during my ownership and have recommended it several times to friends and family, as I think it has been the best overall computer money can buy and the only thing that could be better would be a better one. Well, here it is. The Laptop Studio 2 is improved over its predecessor in nearly every way or at least matches it if not, and visually almost indistinguishable from it which in my opinion is not a bad thing as I also like the design a great deal. It has a couple small physical changes in that it now has a singular USB-A 3.1 port to go along with the 2 USB-C thunderbolt 4 ports it ... MoreI am reviewing the Surface Laptop Studio 2 as someone who has had the first-generation version since it was released a little over 2 years ago. I have been a huge fan of that computer during my ownership and have recommended it several times to friends and family, as I think it has been the best overall computer money can buy and the only thing that could be better would be a better one. Well, here it is. The Laptop Studio 2 is improved over its predecessor in nearly every way or at least matches it if not, and visually almost indistinguishable from it which in my opinion is not a bad thing as I also like the design a great deal. It has a couple small physical changes in that it now has a singular USB-A 3.1 port to go along with the 2 USB-C thunderbolt 4 ports it retains from the first generation and adds a micro-SDXC slot on the opposite side. This all makes it more compatible with more things and that is fantastic since using adapters is not always a good time. It still has the magnetic wireless charging space under the front lip for the Surface Pen slim 2 which I brought over from my original and it immediately synced up by simply attaching it to the underside as I always have. The keyboard still feels just as tactile and responsive as I remember, and the touchpad also still has the haptic feedback that I have grown accustomed to.The original had a very high-end screen called PixelSense Flow, which is a 120hz 2400 x 1600 multitouch display that I find very well balanced and easy to look at and use. Surface Laptop Studio 2 carries that awesome display over and adds Dolby Vision IQ and HDR 400 certification for even greater brightness and contrast. In short, the screen looks fantastic, with near OLED quality. Battery life is exceptional, with well over 10 hours of light desktop use for word processing, internet browsing, or other tasks that don’t require much graphics power. However, if you plan to play any games on it or use graphic intensive apps the battery depletes very quickly so it needs to be plugged in for anything that wakes up the GPU. Speaking of gaming, the RTX 4050 is indeed a powerful GPU for games particularly at the native resolution of the PixelSense screen. I have played a few games on it with no issues at all running high to max settings on the native display, and using an external monitor via USB-C is also still possible and works flawlessly. It does get relatively hot and loud when running games but as long as it has room to breathe it never has any issues. I have a monitor with hub and reverse charging capability so plugging a single thunderbolt 4 cable into it allows the laptop to charge and transfer video, sound, and USB hub over to the monitor.One of the most exciting things about the Surface Laptop Studio originally was that it was one of the first computers to come with Windows 11. Obviously, that has not changed as Windows 11 is still the current OS but continues to receive updates and performance improvements that apply to touch screen laptops such as this one. The unique screen form factor with the Laptop Studio is that it can flip and transition into a tablet format or in-between in a tent-like state putting the screen in the perfect position for watching something or gaming with a controller. Windows 11 automatically changes formats depending on the mode the laptop is in as well. Bringing the Surface Pen slim 2 into the equation allows you to interact with the entire OS with the pen for clicking things, selecting items, and using Ink to convert your handwriting into typed words if you choose. Using the pen with Windows 11 is smooth and feels just like writing on paper to me. I am no artist, but I can use it for things like creating floorplans and then follow up by notating changes or directions right on the fly. Everything is fast and smooth; I have never had a single hiccup while using any application I had tried.Overall I would continue to feverishly recommend the Surface Laptop Studio 2 just as I did the original to anyone looking to acquire a computer that can fulfil any and all possible needs. This device can act as a tablet, laptop, and even take the place of a desktop with its powerful 13th gen i7 and RTX 4050. Get a Surface pen and create art or work on designs with the touch screen and smooth refresh rate. Feel the extraordinary build quality and feast your eyes on a screen that rivals the best out there. Windows 11 is a testament to the willingness Microsoft has had in recent years to listen to their customers and provide meaningful updates and new features regularly. It is powerful, and always works exactly as I anticipate. I spent the last two years telling people the original was the best computer I had ever owned, and now I have an even better one that has many noticeable improvements so I have no doubt that I will be saying that about the Laptop Studio 2 for years to come as well.
This studio 2 laptop is the best content creation machine i can ask for with whats on tje market currently. The studio 2 has amazing features . Its great it fits right for what you need to do .and it will provide all the basic needs and then some for creating content as well as excell and out perform in those areas. Specifically this lapgop has a 120 hz refreh rate woth pixelsense display . This means this will have what i like to ivew as a hybrid displau thst meets thebstandards and criteria for those need to work. This means there is an adequate displau for visuals and to see dtailes minor areas ehen xooming in and editing those small spots or areas you want to perfect when in others lack the ability. When perfecting your eork this allows you to. You can treat it ... MoreThis studio 2 laptop is the best content creation machine i can ask for with whats on tje market currently. The studio 2 has amazing features . Its great it fits right for what you need to do .and it will provide all the basic needs and then some for creating content as well as excell and out perform in those areas. Specifically this lapgop has a 120 hz refreh rate woth pixelsense display . This means this will have what i like to ivew as a hybrid displau thst meets thebstandards and criteria for those need to work. This means there is an adequate displau for visuals and to see dtailes minor areas ehen xooming in and editing those small spots or areas you want to perfect when in others lack the ability. When perfecting your eork this allows you to. You can treat it as a wacom in a sense. Its just as good and helps in ones methodical ways for workers who like to be meticulous. Those who can draw and want to feel a sense of wacom style and even paper like sensatioms are lucky to come across this as well. They will find extraoirinary resemblance with paperlike format thanks to the latency and pixelsense technology in thos package available even in the low specd version. The latency is very crucial in outputting good work for those who want to bring their work here as it is an accurate reflection of ones applications to the screen. Its is a great subsitute for wacom or even paper drawing imo. Ihave seen this screen display work shwoing n amazing resolution while working that i see others laptop such as asus rog xflow or other 2in 1s coudlnt even produce and thats coming using the rog xflow 16 myself with a mini led display. The next big thing i think i would isggest ofr anyone especialyl who wants a apple competipr its the soind of the speakers. They are great and loud yet clear, but still not in apple territory by any any means . This is a great choice too for those wanting nice speakers they are even in spite of having a mac m3 next to it very good speakers. . The battery life i will mention quickly is not the best and should be way better but is not with 6 hours max ive seen sometime 7 to 8 on mine with monitoring and proper use of apps to offset the dgpu vs the igpu so less power was used. That shouldnt though be anythign someone should have to do witj exp those unfamiliar woth their tecj as some so thats up to the user how tjeu would see those numbers. Considerig if ome wanted to they could perhaps see up to potentially 8 1/2 hours if strictly working on code or drawing and no movies other than that youre getting 6 max hours. But again thats up to user discretion and can be affixxed to how much tenacity one has or will dedicate to that area which id imagine you would if need be. Its an exceptional amount of time though for certain repsects like school or work and you plug in beteween sets and have it throughoit the day for the most part. Considering this battery goes down alot has to be negstive it also goes for reason which is the dedicated gpu The 4050 . This gpu is the lowest tier for this gen but this is great gpu and it will let you do things and not break the battery even worse cinsidering the small form factor and its intent which is content creation. It actually becomes apparent why this low tier was used and not any but one notch above is used the the later specd out version that would be ideal for gaming but not anything else. The 4050 is adequate for any game really while adding the necessary power to mainatin content creation and doing work digitally. So as a creator laptop it will help ideally with those processes while also entertaining the idea as a moderate gaming pc on tje side as an added bonus at least i feel is the intent from microsoft imo. Considering this battery power with all the extra perks it has goves a it an edge in the cintent creator genre ranking imo to be top quality and amongst the best for what it does.
PROS- Powerhouse in a unique form factor and screen hinge- Good pen and touch support with Windows 11- Great backlit keyboardCONS- Camera could be higher qualityAs an owner of a Surface Book 3, there is a lot to like about the Surface Laptop Studio 2. The old hinge design with the entirely detachable screen was a cool concept, but I think with the introduction of the Surface Laptop Studio and the improvements in the latest 2nd generation, Microsoft has concocted a winning formula.DESIGN/FORMFACTORThe design, while a departure from the original craziness of the Surface Book still has some quirks and unique design features that help it stand out amongst the crowd. Namely, you’ll noticed the recessed edge or lip around the entire device. This inverse tiered ... MorePROS- Powerhouse in a unique form factor and screen hinge- Good pen and touch support with Windows 11- Great backlit keyboardCONS- Camera could be higher qualityAs an owner of a Surface Book 3, there is a lot to like about the Surface Laptop Studio 2. The old hinge design with the entirely detachable screen was a cool concept, but I think with the introduction of the Surface Laptop Studio and the improvements in the latest 2nd generation, Microsoft has concocted a winning formula.DESIGN/FORMFACTORThe design, while a departure from the original craziness of the Surface Book still has some quirks and unique design features that help it stand out amongst the crowd. Namely, you’ll noticed the recessed edge or lip around the entire device. This inverse tiered cake design provides for this optical illusion that the device is much thinner than it is. It’s not thick by any measure at .86” total, but I did find that the extra thickness and more angular cut of the base did wear at my wrists a little more than my old Surface Book 3.Along the right edge there is the typical Surface Connect port for the power connector which magnetically attaches, plus a headphone jack (yay!), and microSD card slot (handy for a person like me that uses a lot of action cameras). Along the left side is the 2 thunderbolt 4 ports that support power delivery and finally a traditional USB A 3.1 port which is great to still see on this kind of device. While the TB4 ports support DisplayPort, I would have liked to see a dedicated HDMI port, but you do have options. For professionals and people who need extra ports, there is a Thunderbolt dock that Microsoft sells for that exact purpose.KEYBOARD/TRACKPADThe keyboard is a recessed chiclet design that is backlit for late night working. They have a nice grey color which should help mask dirt. It is very nice to type on – I wrote this review on this device and I was almost immediately comfortable with the keyboard getting just over 90 wpm in a typing test. It has just the right about of key travel and the keys are well spaced while not requiring a ton of actuation force.The trackpad is larger and has nice haptic feedback that is adjustable. I didn’t have an issues with palm rejection or my inputs not being detected. There are a bunch of multitouch gestures for showing the desktop, switching apps, and multitasking that all work very well in Windows 11.DISPLAY/TOUCH/PENThe display is 2400x1600 which is a 3:2 aspect ratio, great for editing/formatting documents as well as providing a large canvas for creative work. It operates at 120 Hz so web browsing and navigating is all silky smooth. It’s also a touch screen so if you are a person like me that likes to navigate websites by scrolling with your finger, you’ll be right at home. The party trick for the Studio 2 is 180-degree hinge which allows the bottom of the display to come out while it pivots in the middle. This is accomplished with a fancy durable ribbon cable that ensures you can continue to transform your Studio 2 for years to come. You can move the base of the display to sit right in front of the keyboard for things like gaming with a controller or watching a movie (when you don’t need to touch the keyboard) and then finally nearly all the way flat which provides the perfect slight angle for sketching and taking notes.The Surface Laptop Studio 2 doesn’t come with a Slim Pen 2, but I had one handy. The writing technology Microsoft uses is fluid and realistic. The tip has a slight vibration to simulate the friction of paper and it feels pretty good. I think if you are looking to use this device in school for notes or for work in graphic design, the pen is going to be an obvious additional purchase. When the pen isn’t in use it also tucks nicely under the ledge of the laptop out of the way. The magnets really hold the pen in place, and it charges wirelessly while docked which is super handy for ensuring that your pen is always ready for your next idea or lecture, and perhaps most importantly, won’t get lost.Pen and touch integration has gotten a lot better in Windows 11 as well – positioning the screen flat enlarges buttons on the task bar and overall menus, drop downs, and buttons are all easy to navigate with touch or pen allowing you to work the way you want. Swiping from the left of the screen opens the widgets tray that hosts the latest updates to your interests, like sports, traffic, and weather as well as an assortment of news. Swiping from the right opens your notification center and calendar, where you can catch up on things you might have missed or turn on focus mode so you can knock out the task at-hand.CAMERA/SPEAKERS/MICROPHONEOverall, I found the speakers to be good quality though they were making popping sounds initially. After I completed updates, it seems to have gone away. Highs are clear and crisp while the mid and low range is better than I would expect for a laptop.The camera has some cool features like blurring your background and adjusting your eyes to appear as if you are staring into the camera which helps make calls more personal and engaging. My only wish is that the resolution/sharpness of the camera was better – the image seemed kind of blurry/noisy and even washed out in some environments. It’s more than useable though, and for casual video conferencing it does get the job done. If you’re recording for a video or social media you will probably still use a separate camera.The microphone I thought was very high quality capturing what I thought was a very true recording of my voice with good isolation. Pairing this with noise cancelation from your favorite video conferencing app and your teammates are sure to hear you loud and clear.PERFORMANCEThe Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a capable machine – I got the i7 unit with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and the Nvidia 4050 w/ 6GB of GDDR6. I mainly use my laptop for 3D modeling in Fusion 360, Photoshop and Illustrator as well as some on the go gaming – Call of Duty, Destiny 2, etc. In my workflow, the Studio 2 performed well in all my assemblies and improved my rendering speeds substantially over my old machine. Thanks to the design with the vents on the left and right sides there is ample cooling – I would make sure to not block these though since they do sit on the lower portion of the chassis. The machine under load does get warm on the palm rests, but I never found it to be comfortably warm. The fans even when running heavy workloads are quiet. Running the 3D Mark Time Spy benchmark the Studio 2 secured a 7980 score at native resolution which is great – kudos to the engineers getting every possible ounce of performance out of this machine.
| Screen Size | 14.4 in |
| RAM Memory | 64 GB |
| Hard Drive Capacity | 1 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Processor Brand | Intel |
