Due to the format of this laptop, Microsoft had to come up with a new hinge principle for the display. In the end, Microsoft opted for a hinge with no moving parts — if you can even call it a hinge. The display is basically divided into two levels. In front is the actual display, which is completely continuous. The second layer, which is the structural support for the display, is divided into two sections in the middle and can be folded. There are two magnets on the bottom of the screen – one in the front part of the display, one in the back. This connects the two layers together.
If you now want to lay the display flat, you detach the two magnets from each other and the display becomes movable. At first, this is a bit unintuitive because it feels like you’re trying to break through the display. Also, during the transition from one orientation to the other, the display feels very loose and slack.
The hinge of the Surface Laptop Studio. The build quality looks a bit inferior compared to other Surface products. Inside, the display is lined with a thin layer of fabric and you can even make out the ribbon cables connecting the device to the display.
The hinge of a Surface Book appears to be of higher quality compared to the hinge of the Surface Laptop Studio. However, it might be more error-prone than the new principle and simple might be the better choice in this context after all, which is why this design was chosen. During my test, the new hinge also worked flawlessly.
Stage-Modus
Tablet-Modus
Laptop-Modus
With the new folding mechanism, three different orientations are now possible. On the one hand, the classic laptop mode and the tablet mode, as already known from other Surface devices. In addition, there is now the so-called “Stage” mode, where the display is pulled over the keyboard, but the touchpad remains free. Microsoft advertises the Stage mode as particularly suitable for video streaming, for example.
The Surface Laptop Studio’s new “Stage” mode
Connectivity-at-device
The Surface Laptop Studio has a limited selection of ports: two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and a Surface Connect port for the charger. An SD card reader, HDMI output or USB-A port are unfortunately not found on the SLS, but can be expanded via a USB-C or Surface Connect docking station. That is somewhat disappointing for a device in this price range – but unfortunately not unusual nowadays.
Die linke Seite des Surface Laptop Studio mit zwei USB-C Ports
Die rechte Seite des Surface Laptop Studio mit Surface Connect Port und AUX-Klinke
But the two USB-C ports present are USB 4.0 with Thunderbolt 4 support. That means these ports can support at least a 40 Gbps transfer rate, charge the device, and run two displays at a 4K resolution simultaneously.
Input
Input capabilities of a laptop & tablet
New touchpad with no moving parts
Surface Slim Pen 2 can be stowed and charged under the Surface Laptop Studio
The input options can be roughly divided into two groups for the Surface Laptop Studio. On the one hand, the classic input possibilities of a laptop, i.e. keyboard and touchpad. On the other hand, the possibilities of a tablet, i.e. touchscreen and pen.
Keyboard & Touchpad
The biggest innovation in this category is the touchpad. Older Surface devices use mechanical touchpads that are mounted on a spring, which causes the touchpad to move down a small amount when clicked on the bottom. This leads to the characteristic “clack” noise that is familiar from touchpads. The Surface Laptop Studio has a new type of touchpad that does not have any moving parts and is also already installed in newer MacBooks, among others.
Underneath the new touchpad is a small vibration motor (like in a smartphone) that generates a vibration when a click is registered. This vibration is modeled after the tactile feedback of a mechanical touchpad, creating the illusion of a click that is virtually indistinguishable from actual movement. The advantage of this new mechanism is that a tactile click is possible everywhere on the touchpad. Due to the design of the older touchpads, a tactile click has only been possible roughly on the lower half of the pad.
The Surface Laptop Studio’s keyboard is solid as usual and, aside from the Windows 11-adapted lettering, strongly resembles the Surface Laptop 4’s keyboard. The gray matte keys have a short travel with a light tactile pressure point, which counteracts finger fatigue. Compared to a MacBook keyboard, fingers don’t hit as hard when the keys are pressed all the way down, which I like.
Touchscreen + pen
Since the Surface Slim Pen 2 was not included with the Surface Laptop Studio, I was unfortunately unable to test the matching stylus. However, I was able to test typing with the classic Surface Pen. I felt that the response speed of the digitizer in the Surface Laptop Studio was significantly improved compared to a Surface Pro 7 or Surface Laptop 4.
The Slim Pen 2, which is advertised with the Surface Laptop Studio, can be magnetically attached under the bottom of the SLS and charged wirelessly. The shape of the device means it doesn’t take up any more space and can be docked and taken into a laptop bag without detaching from the laptop. In addition, the Slim Pen 2 is said to be able to recognize 4096 different pressure levels and have an even lower latency. A new haptics feature is said to create vibrating feedback when writing or drawing on the display, imitating the texture of real paper.
Touch screen input is also very intuitive. With Windows 11, among other things, the touch input has been revised extensively. Thus, there is now an improved touch keyboard and many of the UI elements have been optimized for touch use. The display supports up to ten finger inputs simultaneously and of course also recognizes gestures like zooming or swiping.
Five different designs with different CPU, RAM, GPU and storage
Intel Core i5-11300H or i7-11370H CPU
16 GB or 32 GB DDR4 RAM
Integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU or dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti
256 GB to 2 TB NVMe storage
There are a total of five different versions of the Surface Laptop Studio – with differing hardware. As a processor, you have the choice between the Intel Core i5-11300H and the Intel Core i7 -11370H. In addition, there is either 16 GB or 32 GB DDR4 working memory. The two cheapest variants of the Surface Laptop Studio come without a dedicated graphics card or use the integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU. The other variants also have an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti. The storage versions range from 256 GB over 512 GB and 1 TB up to a maximum of 2 TB NVMe storage.
I was provided the best-equipped variant with an i7-11370H processor, 32 GB of RAM, an RTX 3050 Ti, and 2 TB of NVMe storage by Microsoft for this Surface Laptop Studio review.
Performance
Superior benchmark results for hardware thanks to improved cooling
Loud fans under load
Gaming possible at medium to high graphics settings
An important aspect of any laptop is performance. Depending on the model, the Surface Laptop Studio is a powerful device that can be used for everyday tasks like browsing the web, working on emails, or office applications, as well as more demanding applications like graphic design, video editing, or gaming.
Benchmark
In the 3D Mark Time Spy benchmark, the Surface Laptop Studio achieved a GPU score of 4862, a CPU score of 5638, and an overall score of 4964. Compared to other devices with the same hardware, the performance is above average. This can be attributed to the improved cooling, which is favored by the unique construction of the case. Nevertheless, the temperature of the CPU and GPU reaches almost 100 °C during the CPU test. Thus, when the Surface Laptop Studio is connected to the mains, it can push the clock frequency to the thermal limit during a CPU-intensive application without reaching the performance limit, even though the power supply only has a maximum output of 120 watts.
Cooling performance is always a compromise issue with laptops. Either a manufacturer opts for a thin and handy design, which however limits the cooling performance, or for a thicker case, which allows for better cooling. The former is often found in notebooks designed for office tasks, and the latter is mainly found in gaming laptops. In this case, Microsoft has chosen a middle ground between the two options.
Warm & loud
Unfortunately, powerful hardware is meanwhile still not as efficient under low load as weaker hardware. This is because a larger processor or a more powerful graphics card still needs to be supplied with more electricity than a less powerful equivalent, even under low load – simply because of the difference in area. Of course, with a lower clock and voltage than under full load, but nowhere near as efficient as less powerful modern hardware (see power consumption of a gaming PC while browsing (approx. 100 watts) vs. power consumption of a smartphone while browsing (< 1 watt))
That’s why the Surface Laptop Studio’s fans start running even at low load as long as the dedicated GPU is in use. Especially with the power supply connected, the SLS can get quite loud. In return, however, it does not get uncomfortably warm due to the aggressive cooling. When working with Blender or a video editing program, however, the constantly running fan can get quite annoying.
Gaming
Away from productivity, the Surface Laptop Studio variants with dedicated graphics cards are also equipped for the odd relaxing gaming session – as long as you don’t want to play the absolute high-end blockbuster titles. Popular multiplayer games like CS:GO, DotA 2, Rocket League or League of Legends run smoothly (in the range of 60 fps) and without judder on the RTX 3050 Ti and the 11th generation i7 with native resolution at medium to high graphics settings. The Surface Laptop Studio is also suitable for quiet simulation games like Airport Simulator or The Sims 4.
Very demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 can theoretically also be played on the Surface Laptop Studio. However, in order to achieve playable frame rates, the resolution as well as the graphics settings have to be set very low. If you don’t have any other option to play newer titles, the Surface Laptop Studio offers the possibility. However, if gaming is a main aspect in the purchase decision, then I would rather go for a dedicated gaming notebook in this case.
Screen
14.4-inch IPS touchscreen with 2,400 x 1,600 pixel resolution
3:2 aspect ratio provides more vertical space
120 Hz refresh rate for smooth viewing
Bright, colorful and high contrast
Reflection in unfavorable lighting conditions
The Surface Laptop Studio’s display is one of the highlights of the device. It is a 14.4-inch IPS touchscreen with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,600 pixels, which corresponds to a pixel density of 200 ppi. The aspect ratio is 3:2, which provides more vertical space and is especially good for office applications since there is more vertical space available than with a 16:9 screen. The display also supports a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which ensures a smooth display of movements and animations. The display is also very bright, colorful and high-contrast.
The Surface Laptop Studio’s actual display is extremely thin.
So, the Surface Laptop Studio’s display is a real head-turner and offers a lot of flexibility for different usage scenarios. It’s sharp, bright, colorful, responsive, and can be used in a variety of modes thanks to the hinge. The only drawback is the relatively strong reflection, which can be annoying in unfavorable light conditions. Otherwise, however, the display is a clear plus point for the Surface Laptop Studio and makes it an interesting competitor for other premium notebooks.
Software
Ships with Windows 11
The Surface Laptop Studio already ships with Windows 11. The first thing you notice about Windows 11 is the new design of the operating system. The Start menu is now placed in the center of the taskbar and displays the most frequently used apps and files. The tiles that were still present in Windows 10 have disappeared. Instead, you can customize the Start menu with your own folders and shortcuts. Windows now have rounded corners and a transparent effect, and icons have a more modern look.
Windows 11 also offers some window management improvements. With the new snap layouts and snap groups, you can easily and efficiently arrange multiple windows on the screen. Snap layouts allow you to choose from different templates on how you want to place windows next to each other or on top of each other. Snap groups save the arrangement of windows, so you can restore it any time you switch between different layouts or desktop environments. These features are especially useful for the Surface Laptop Studio, since it has a large, high-resolution touchscreen that provides plenty of room for working with multiple apps.
Two features that I use very extensively in Windows 11 are the Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and the Subsystem for Android (WSA), which add support for Linux and support for Android to Windows, respectively. Through the Subsystem for Android, you can finally use Android apps on Windows. The apps can either be downloaded from the Amazon AppStore, which is available in the Microsoft Store, or installed as .apk files from the Internet. The Android apps can then be launched, minimized and closed like normal Windows windows, or arranged in snap layouts. Android app support is especially interesting for mobile gaming fans who want to enjoy their favorite games on a larger screen.
WSL in Windows Terminal
The Subsystem for Linux is a compatibility layer that allows a Linux environment to run natively on Windows 11. One can install a Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, Kali, Debian, Arch, etc.) and use Linux applications, utilities, or Bash terminal commands directly on Windows without the limitations of a virtual machine or dual-boot setup. WSL can be especially useful for developers and IT personnel who use both Windows- and Linux-specific applications on a daily basis. Meanwhile, WSL can even be used to run graphical Linux applications.
Akku
Battery life depends on usage scenario and settings
Up to 10 hours with light tasks like web browsing or office work
About 4 to 6 hours for demanding tasks such as gaming or video editing
Fast charging with Surface Charger at 120 watts
USB-A port on power adapter for charging other devices
The battery is probably the most important component of a laptop. Especially if you’re on the go a lot. The Surface Laptop Studio includes a 56 Wh battery that can achieve varying runtimes depending on the model and usage.
According to Microsoft, the Surface Laptop Studio is supposed to offer a battery life of up to 18 hours when used for typical tasks like web browsing, office applications or video streaming. However, this claim is rather optimistic and does not take into account the actual conditions under which most users work. For example, display brightness, refresh rate, WLAN connection, CPU and GPU utilization, and the number of open programs can have a significant impact on battery life.
In my Surface Laptop Studio test, battery life depended heavily on the usage scenario and settings. For light tasks like web browsing, office work or video streaming with occasional breaks and a moderate display brightness and refresh rate, I was able to achieve a battery life of about 10 hours, which is sufficient for mobile work. With demanding tasks like gaming, video editing and online meetings, as well as increased display brightness and refresh rate, the battery life was in the range of about 4 to 6 hours. In this case, you shouldn’t stray too far from a power outlet.
If you have access to an outlet while on the road, then you can charge the Surface Laptop Studio to about 80% in about an hour with the Surface Charger at 120 watts. This can be quite handy when taking a short break in a cafe. The Surface power adapter also has a USB-A port that allows you to charge another device like a smartphone at the same time.
Summary of Surface Laptop Studio
Flexible and versatile device for different needs and situations
Premium features at a premium price
The Surface Laptop Studio is definitely an innovative device. But how does it compare to other devices in its price range? At the time of writing this Surface Laptop Studio review, prices for the various versions of the Surface Laptop Studio range from €1,699.00 to €3,199.00 in the Microsoft Store – it is definitely not a bargain.
First, however, it becomes clear that this is also a rather unique product. There aren’t many other laptops that can be so flexibly transformed into a tablet without having to remove the display. One possible competitor is the Lenovo Yoga 9i, which also has a 14-inch touchscreen display with a 360-degree hinge. However, the Yoga 9i is a bit lighter and cheaper than the Surface Laptop Studio. In return, it has a lower resolution, a lower refresh rate, and no dedicated GPU. The Yoga 9i, on the other hand, has more ports than the Surface Laptop Studio, which only has two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, a Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack.
So the Surface Laptop Studio is a comparatively expensive laptop. There is a wide selection of laptops with similar hardware that cost less than the Surface Laptop Studio – especially in the gaming laptop division. However, gaming laptops lack quality-of-life and productivity features that distinguish the Surface Laptop Studio. There are, of course, cheaper alternatives that either offer similar features or performance, but make sacrifices in other aspects. So, the Surface Laptop Studio is no bargain, but it is a premium product that can be worth its price if you appreciate its advantages.
Surface Laptop Studio
Design & workmanship
Input
Hardware
Performance
Display
Software
Battery
90/100
For me, the best form factor of a 2-in-1 laptop.
Microsoft’s Surface line is one of the most popular devices for students and pupils – mainly because it combines laptops and tablets in one device. I too own two Surface devices, a Surface Laptop 4 and an older Surface Pro 4.
When Microsoft first announced the Surface Laptop Studio two years ago, I found this new form factor very interesting. After all, one drawback of the Surface Pro devices is the lightweight, detachable keyboard. Since all of the Surface Pro’s hardware is behind the screen, working in places where there isn’t a stable table with enough surface area is impractical. The detachable keyboard does not provide a stable base on which to rest the Surface. For example, if you are sitting on the train and want to work on your lap, this is not really possible with the Surface Pro. This point was ultimately the reason why I opted for a Surface Laptop and against another Surface Pro after the Surface Pro 4.
However, even the Surface Laptop 4 is not without compromise. Unlike the Surface Pro, handwriting on the Surface Laptop is severely limited. My Surface Pen does work on the Surface Laptop 4’s display, but writing is awkward because the screen cannot be flipped over.
But as the successor to the Surface Book models, the Surface Laptop Studio is now meant to combine these two devices. It has the sturdy base of the Surface laptops as well as the ability to flip the screen flat. In this Surface Laptop Studio review, I look at whether it finally represents the perfect combination of laptop and tablet for me
A new hinge for the Surface Laptop Studio
Due to the format of this laptop, Microsoft had to come up with a new hinge principle for the display. In the end, Microsoft opted for a hinge with no moving parts — if you can even call it a hinge. The display is basically divided into two levels. In front is the actual display, which is completely continuous. The second layer, which is the structural support for the display, is divided into two sections in the middle and can be folded. There are two magnets on the bottom of the screen – one in the front part of the display, one in the back. This connects the two layers together.
If you now want to lay the display flat, you detach the two magnets from each other and the display becomes movable. At first, this is a bit unintuitive because it feels like you’re trying to break through the display. Also, during the transition from one orientation to the other, the display feels very loose and slack.
The hinge of the Surface Laptop Studio. The build quality looks a bit inferior compared to other Surface products. Inside, the display is lined with a thin layer of fabric and you can even make out the ribbon cables connecting the device to the display.
The hinge of a Surface Book appears to be of higher quality compared to the hinge of the Surface Laptop Studio. However, it might be more error-prone than the new principle and simple might be the better choice in this context after all, which is why this design was chosen. During my test, the new hinge also worked flawlessly.
Stage-Modus
Tablet-Modus
Laptop-Modus
With the new folding mechanism, three different orientations are now possible. On the one hand, the classic laptop mode and the tablet mode, as already known from other Surface devices. In addition, there is now the so-called “Stage” mode, where the display is pulled over the keyboard, but the touchpad remains free. Microsoft advertises the Stage mode as particularly suitable for video streaming, for example.
The Surface Laptop Studio’s new “Stage” mode
Connectivity-at-device
The Surface Laptop Studio has a limited selection of ports: two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and a Surface Connect port for the charger. An SD card reader, HDMI output or USB-A port are unfortunately not found on the SLS, but can be expanded via a USB-C or Surface Connect docking station. That is somewhat disappointing for a device in this price range – but unfortunately not unusual nowadays.
Die linke Seite des Surface Laptop Studio mit zwei USB-C Ports
Die rechte Seite des Surface Laptop Studio mit Surface Connect Port und AUX-Klinke
But the two USB-C ports present are USB 4.0 with Thunderbolt 4 support. That means these ports can support at least a 40 Gbps transfer rate, charge the device, and run two displays at a 4K resolution simultaneously.
Input
Input capabilities of a laptop & tablet
New touchpad with no moving parts
Surface Slim Pen 2 can be stowed and charged under the Surface Laptop Studio
The input options can be roughly divided into two groups for the Surface Laptop Studio. On the one hand, the classic input possibilities of a laptop, i.e. keyboard and touchpad. On the other hand, the possibilities of a tablet, i.e. touchscreen and pen.
Keyboard & Touchpad
The biggest innovation in this category is the touchpad. Older Surface devices use mechanical touchpads that are mounted on a spring, which causes the touchpad to move down a small amount when clicked on the bottom. This leads to the characteristic “clack” noise that is familiar from touchpads. The Surface Laptop Studio has a new type of touchpad that does not have any moving parts and is also already installed in newer MacBooks, among others.
Underneath the new touchpad is a small vibration motor (like in a smartphone) that generates a vibration when a click is registered. This vibration is modeled after the tactile feedback of a mechanical touchpad, creating the illusion of a click that is virtually indistinguishable from actual movement. The advantage of this new mechanism is that a tactile click is possible everywhere on the touchpad. Due to the design of the older touchpads, a tactile click has only been possible roughly on the lower half of the pad.
The Surface Laptop Studio’s keyboard is solid as usual and, aside from the Windows 11-adapted lettering, strongly resembles the Surface Laptop 4’s keyboard. The gray matte keys have a short travel with a light tactile pressure point, which counteracts finger fatigue. Compared to a MacBook keyboard, fingers don’t hit as hard when the keys are pressed all the way down, which I like.
Touchscreen + pen
Since the Surface Slim Pen 2 was not included with the Surface Laptop Studio, I was unfortunately unable to test the matching stylus. However, I was able to test typing with the classic Surface Pen. I felt that the response speed of the digitizer in the Surface Laptop Studio was significantly improved compared to a Surface Pro 7 or Surface Laptop 4.
The Slim Pen 2, which is advertised with the Surface Laptop Studio, can be magnetically attached under the bottom of the SLS and charged wirelessly. The shape of the device means it doesn’t take up any more space and can be docked and taken into a laptop bag without detaching from the laptop. In addition, the Slim Pen 2 is said to be able to recognize 4096 different pressure levels and have an even lower latency. A new haptics feature is said to create vibrating feedback when writing or drawing on the display, imitating the texture of real paper.
Touch screen input is also very intuitive. With Windows 11, among other things, the touch input has been revised extensively. Thus, there is now an improved touch keyboard and many of the UI elements have been optimized for touch use. The display supports up to ten finger inputs simultaneously and of course also recognizes gestures like zooming or swiping.
Hardware
Five different designs with different CPU, RAM, GPU and storage
Intel Core i5-11300H or i7-11370H CPU
16 GB or 32 GB DDR4 RAM
Integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU or dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti
256 GB to 2 TB NVMe storage
There are a total of five different versions of the Surface Laptop Studio – with differing hardware. As a processor, you have the choice between the Intel Core i5-11300H and the Intel Core i7 -11370H. In addition, there is either 16 GB or 32 GB DDR4 working memory. The two cheapest variants of the Surface Laptop Studio come without a dedicated graphics card or use the integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU. The other variants also have an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti. The storage versions range from 256 GB over 512 GB and 1 TB up to a maximum of 2 TB NVMe storage.
I was provided the best-equipped variant with an i7-11370H processor, 32 GB of RAM, an RTX 3050 Ti, and 2 TB of NVMe storage by Microsoft for this Surface Laptop Studio review.
Performance
Superior benchmark results for hardware thanks to improved cooling
Loud fans under load
Gaming possible at medium to high graphics settings
An important aspect of any laptop is performance. Depending on the model, the Surface Laptop Studio is a powerful device that can be used for everyday tasks like browsing the web, working on emails, or office applications, as well as more demanding applications like graphic design, video editing, or gaming.
Benchmark
In the 3D Mark Time Spy benchmark, the Surface Laptop Studio achieved a GPU score of 4862, a CPU score of 5638, and an overall score of 4964. Compared to other devices with the same hardware, the performance is above average. This can be attributed to the improved cooling, which is favored by the unique construction of the case. Nevertheless, the temperature of the CPU and GPU reaches almost 100 °C during the CPU test. Thus, when the Surface Laptop Studio is connected to the mains, it can push the clock frequency to the thermal limit during a CPU-intensive application without reaching the performance limit, even though the power supply only has a maximum output of 120 watts.
Cooling performance is always a compromise issue with laptops. Either a manufacturer opts for a thin and handy design, which however limits the cooling performance, or for a thicker case, which allows for better cooling. The former is often found in notebooks designed for office tasks, and the latter is mainly found in gaming laptops. In this case, Microsoft has chosen a middle ground between the two options.
Warm & loud
Unfortunately, powerful hardware is meanwhile still not as efficient under low load as weaker hardware. This is because a larger processor or a more powerful graphics card still needs to be supplied with more electricity than a less powerful equivalent, even under low load – simply because of the difference in area. Of course, with a lower clock and voltage than under full load, but nowhere near as efficient as less powerful modern hardware (see power consumption of a gaming PC while browsing (approx. 100 watts) vs. power consumption of a smartphone while browsing (< 1 watt))
Under load with two monitors connected, the Surface Laptop Studio can get noisy pretty quickly.
That’s why the Surface Laptop Studio’s fans start running even at low load as long as the dedicated GPU is in use. Especially with the power supply connected, the SLS can get quite loud. In return, however, it does not get uncomfortably warm due to the aggressive cooling. When working with Blender or a video editing program, however, the constantly running fan can get quite annoying.
Gaming
Away from productivity, the Surface Laptop Studio variants with dedicated graphics cards are also equipped for the odd relaxing gaming session – as long as you don’t want to play the absolute high-end blockbuster titles. Popular multiplayer games like CS:GO, DotA 2, Rocket League or League of Legends run smoothly (in the range of 60 fps) and without judder on the RTX 3050 Ti and the 11th generation i7 with native resolution at medium to high graphics settings. The Surface Laptop Studio is also suitable for quiet simulation games like Airport Simulator or The Sims 4.
Very demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 can theoretically also be played on the Surface Laptop Studio. However, in order to achieve playable frame rates, the resolution as well as the graphics settings have to be set very low. If you don’t have any other option to play newer titles, the Surface Laptop Studio offers the possibility. However, if gaming is a main aspect in the purchase decision, then I would rather go for a dedicated gaming notebook in this case.
Screen
14.4-inch IPS touchscreen with 2,400 x 1,600 pixel resolution
3:2 aspect ratio provides more vertical space
120 Hz refresh rate for smooth viewing
Bright, colorful and high contrast
Reflection in unfavorable lighting conditions
The Surface Laptop Studio’s display is one of the highlights of the device. It is a 14.4-inch IPS touchscreen with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,600 pixels, which corresponds to a pixel density of 200 ppi. The aspect ratio is 3:2, which provides more vertical space and is especially good for office applications since there is more vertical space available than with a 16:9 screen. The display also supports a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which ensures a smooth display of movements and animations. The display is also very bright, colorful and high-contrast.
The Surface Laptop Studio’s actual display is extremely thin.
So, the Surface Laptop Studio’s display is a real head-turner and offers a lot of flexibility for different usage scenarios. It’s sharp, bright, colorful, responsive, and can be used in a variety of modes thanks to the hinge. The only drawback is the relatively strong reflection, which can be annoying in unfavorable light conditions. Otherwise, however, the display is a clear plus point for the Surface Laptop Studio and makes it an interesting competitor for other premium notebooks.
Software
Ships with Windows 11
The Surface Laptop Studio already ships with Windows 11. The first thing you notice about Windows 11 is the new design of the operating system. The Start menu is now placed in the center of the taskbar and displays the most frequently used apps and files. The tiles that were still present in Windows 10 have disappeared. Instead, you can customize the Start menu with your own folders and shortcuts. Windows now have rounded corners and a transparent effect, and icons have a more modern look.
Windows 11 also offers some window management improvements. With the new snap layouts and snap groups, you can easily and efficiently arrange multiple windows on the screen. Snap layouts allow you to choose from different templates on how you want to place windows next to each other or on top of each other. Snap groups save the arrangement of windows, so you can restore it any time you switch between different layouts or desktop environments. These features are especially useful for the Surface Laptop Studio, since it has a large, high-resolution touchscreen that provides plenty of room for working with multiple apps.
Two features that I use very extensively in Windows 11 are the Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and the Subsystem for Android (WSA), which add support for Linux and support for Android to Windows, respectively. Through the Subsystem for Android, you can finally use Android apps on Windows. The apps can either be downloaded from the Amazon AppStore, which is available in the Microsoft Store, or installed as .apk files from the Internet. The Android apps can then be launched, minimized and closed like normal Windows windows, or arranged in snap layouts. Android app support is especially interesting for mobile gaming fans who want to enjoy their favorite games on a larger screen.
WSL in Windows Terminal
The Subsystem for Linux is a compatibility layer that allows a Linux environment to run natively on Windows 11. One can install a Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, Kali, Debian, Arch, etc.) and use Linux applications, utilities, or Bash terminal commands directly on Windows without the limitations of a virtual machine or dual-boot setup. WSL can be especially useful for developers and IT personnel who use both Windows- and Linux-specific applications on a daily basis. Meanwhile, WSL can even be used to run graphical Linux applications.
Akku
Battery life depends on usage scenario and settings
Up to 10 hours with light tasks like web browsing or office work
About 4 to 6 hours for demanding tasks such as gaming or video editing
Fast charging with Surface Charger at 120 watts
USB-A port on power adapter for charging other devices
The battery is probably the most important component of a laptop. Especially if you’re on the go a lot. The Surface Laptop Studio includes a 56 Wh battery that can achieve varying runtimes depending on the model and usage.
According to Microsoft, the Surface Laptop Studio is supposed to offer a battery life of up to 18 hours when used for typical tasks like web browsing, office applications or video streaming. However, this claim is rather optimistic and does not take into account the actual conditions under which most users work. For example, display brightness, refresh rate, WLAN connection, CPU and GPU utilization, and the number of open programs can have a significant impact on battery life.
In my Surface Laptop Studio test, battery life depended heavily on the usage scenario and settings. For light tasks like web browsing, office work or video streaming with occasional breaks and a moderate display brightness and refresh rate, I was able to achieve a battery life of about 10 hours, which is sufficient for mobile work. With demanding tasks like gaming, video editing and online meetings, as well as increased display brightness and refresh rate, the battery life was in the range of about 4 to 6 hours. In this case, you shouldn’t stray too far from a power outlet.
If you have access to an outlet while on the road, then you can charge the Surface Laptop Studio to about 80% in about an hour with the Surface Charger at 120 watts. This can be quite handy when taking a short break in a cafe. The Surface power adapter also has a USB-A port that allows you to charge another device like a smartphone at the same time.
Summary of Surface Laptop Studio
Flexible and versatile device for different needs and situations
Premium features at a premium price
The Surface Laptop Studio is definitely an innovative device. But how does it compare to other devices in its price range? At the time of writing this Surface Laptop Studio review, prices for the various versions of the Surface Laptop Studio range from €1,699.00 to €3,199.00 in the Microsoft Store – it is definitely not a bargain.
First, however, it becomes clear that this is also a rather unique product. There aren’t many other laptops that can be so flexibly transformed into a tablet without having to remove the display. One possible competitor is the Lenovo Yoga 9i, which also has a 14-inch touchscreen display with a 360-degree hinge. However, the Yoga 9i is a bit lighter and cheaper than the Surface Laptop Studio. In return, it has a lower resolution, a lower refresh rate, and no dedicated GPU. The Yoga 9i, on the other hand, has more ports than the Surface Laptop Studio, which only has two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, a Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack.
So the Surface Laptop Studio is a comparatively expensive laptop. There is a wide selection of laptops with similar hardware that cost less than the Surface Laptop Studio – especially in the gaming laptop division. However, gaming laptops lack quality-of-life and productivity features that distinguish the Surface Laptop Studio. There are, of course, cheaper alternatives that either offer similar features or performance, but make sacrifices in other aspects. So, the Surface Laptop Studio is no bargain, but it is a premium product that can be worth its price if you appreciate its advantages.
I am co-founder of this blog and am very interested in everything that has to do with technology, but I also like to play games. I was born in Hamburg, but now I live in Bad Segeberg.
Microsoft’s Surface line is one of the most popular devices for students and pupils – mainly because it combines laptops and tablets in one device. I too own two Surface devices, a Surface Laptop 4 and an older Surface Pro 4. When Microsoft first announced the Surface Laptop Studio two years ago, I found this … (Weiterlesen...)
The Slim Pen 2, which is advertised with the Surface Laptop Studio, can be magnetically attached under the bottom of the SLS and charged wirelessly. The shape of the device means it doesn’t take up any more space and can be docked and taken into a laptop bag without detaching from the laptop. In addition, the Slim Pen 2 is said to be able to recognize 4096 different pressure levels and have an even lower latency. A new haptics feature is said to create vibrating feedback when writing or drawing on the display, imitating the texture of real paper.
Touch screen input is also very intuitive. With Windows 11, among other things, the touch input has been revised extensively. Thus, there is now an improved touch keyboard and many of the UI elements have been optimized for touch use. The display supports up to ten finger inputs simultaneously and of course also recognizes gestures like zooming or swiping.
That’s why the Surface Laptop Studio’s fans start running even at low load as long as the dedicated GPU is in use. Especially with the power supply connected, the SLS can get quite loud. In return, however, it does not get uncomfortably warm due to the aggressive cooling. When working with Blender or a video editing program, however, the constantly running fan can get quite annoying.
So the Surface Laptop Studio is a comparatively expensive laptop. There is a wide selection of laptops with similar hardware that cost less than the Surface Laptop Studio – especially in the gaming laptop division. However, gaming laptops lack quality-of-life and productivity features that distinguish the Surface Laptop Studio. There are, of course, cheaper alternatives that either offer similar features or performance, but make sacrifices in other aspects. So, the Surface Laptop Studio is no bargain, but it is a premium product that can be worth its price if you appreciate its advantages.
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