Best designer laptops compared: Surface Laptop Studio, Pro 8, and more

Microsoft announced a new version of the Surface Pro last week, as well as the Surface Laptop Studio. The Surface Pro 8 looks a lot like a logical evolution of Microsoft’s tablet / laptop. Some of the more notable upgrades include a 120Hz display with thinner bezels, support for Thunderbolt 4, and a reworked surface keyboard that includes dedicated space for storing and charging the new Surface Slim Pen 2.

Meanwhile, the Surface Laptop Studio has a unique hinged display and more powerful hardware. This is effectively a replacement for the Surface Book 3, with a three-point adjustable screen that can be laid flat for drawing or upright to provide a more traditional laptop experience. This laptop is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU and an 11th generation Intel 4.8GHz processor.

Perhaps the coolest thing to come out of the event was the Surface Slim Pen 2, which looks aesthetically like any other stylus, but includes haptic feedback to simulate the subtle tactile response you get when putting on a pen. on paper. While the inclusion of a stylus is hardly revolutionary, the improvements to the overall user experience are nice to see.

But how does the new Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops that take up the space of the creator and the powerful user? We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites below for comparison based on our first impressions and specs, with full reviews to follow in the coming weeks.

Compared to Surface Laptop Studio

We chose the 14-inch models of the HP Specter X360 and Acer ConceptD Ezel because of their competitive price, which includes a stylus, and also for their ability to reorient themselves creatively. (New Microsoft devices don’t include the Surface Slim Pen 2, which costs $ 130 separately.) The Specter is technically a 2-in-1 and can function effectively as a tablet if you flip the screen, although it doesn’t. either not. hold it at an angle just like the Surface Laptop Studio. The ConceptD Ezel, on the other hand, can flip its screen and stand up like an easel or lay flat like a tablet.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

The Surface Laptop Studio comes equipped with a three-point adjustable display that can be laid flat or upright, as well as an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU and a quad-core 11th generation Intel processor.

We’ve also added Laptop Studio’s predecessor, the 13.5-inch Surface Book 3. The screen may not bend or flip over, but it can still function as a tablet when detached from its keyboard. We considered adding the 15-inch version of the Surface Book 3, but its starting price of $ 2,300 made it a bit overpriced compared to its competition.

Still, the Surface Laptop Studio sets itself apart by offering greater battery life and possibly a superior dedicated GPU option than any of these other machines. It also has the distinction of being the only laptop in our lineup to boast a 120Hz refresh rate, a feature typically reserved for gaming laptops. You’ll usually have to turn to a gaming-grade laptop if you have. need a high-end GPU.

Compared to Surface Pro 8

The unique form factor of Surface devices makes them hard to compare, but the Lenovo Yoga 9i and Apple MacBook M1 Air have a strong case for ultraportables outside of the Surface ecosystem that cater to creatives, and we also include the previous generation Surface Pro. 7 for comparison.

Like previous generations of Surface, the new Surface Pro 8 doesn’t come with a stylus or keyboard to boot. The new Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro Signature keyboards will set you back $ 130 and $ 180, respectively, but can also be bundled for $ 280. Obviously, the other laptops we’re discussing come with built-in keyboards, and the Yoga i9 includes the stylus as well.

Microsoft Surface Pro 8

The new Surface Pro 8 is Microsoft’s biggest upgrade in years. The upcoming 2-in-1 supports Thunderbolt 4, a 120Hz display, a better camera, and a more modern appearance.

The Lenovo also shares many of the same hardware specs as the Surface Pro 8, with options for an 11th generation Core i5 or i7 processor. It does make a few compromises, especially in the resolution and refresh rate of its display. These caveats, however, could be overlooked by anyone who needs to save a little more money.

The MacBook M1 Air is truly the outlier of this lineup, not only because of its operating system, but because it’s also the only laptop we picked that doesn’t have a touchscreen or has a touchscreen. can work as a 2-in-1. However, it strikes a solid balance in terms of features, performance, and price.

The Surface Pro 8’s biggest draw – aside from its unique form factor – is the display, which offers the highest resolution and refresh rate among the competition below. It is also the only model with a 4K rear camera.