In a world where so many laptops look the same, there’s nothing quite like the Surface Laptop Studio.
While 2-in-1 devices have become popular in recent years, this is technically a 3-in-1. There are three fixed positions available: Laptop mode, Stage mode (screen pulled in front of the keyboard) and Studio mode (screen laid down flat).
A promising first generation showed the potential of this design, but the new Laptop Studio 2 looks to be a big step forward – especially when it comes to performance. Here’s everything you need to know.
When will the Surface Laptop Studio 2 be released?
Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop Studio 2 at an event in New York City on 21 September 2023. The Surface Laptop Go 3 and Surface Go 4 arrived alongside it.
You can buy one now, with the device having been released on 3 October.
- Buy the Surface Laptop Studio 2 in the US
- Buy the Surface Laptop Studio 2 in the UK
For context, here’s when the last few models were released, both for the original Laptop Studio and Surface Book line that it replaced:
- Surface Laptop Studio – October 2021
- Surface Book 3 – May 2020
- Surface Book 2 – November 2017
- Surface Book – October 2015
How much will the Surface Laptop Studio 2 cost?
As you might expect, the Laptop Studio 2 doesn’t come cheap.
Its $1,999/£2,069 starting price is a full $400/£620 more than the entry-level first-gen Laptop Studio, but that’s because the Intel Core i5 models have been ditched. Compared to the cheapest Core i7 model from last time, it’s $100 less in the US, but still £170 more in the UK.
Here’s the pricing for all the new models:
- Core i7, Iris Xe, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD – $1,999.99/£2,069
- Core i7, RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD – $2,399.99/£2,469
- Core i7, RTX 4050, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD – $2,799.99/£2,869
- Core i7, RTX 4060, 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD – $3,299.99/£3,369
- Core i7, RTX 2000 Ada, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD – $3,599.99/£3,669
- Core i7, RTX 4060, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD – $3,699.99 (not available in UK)
What are the Surface Laptop Studio 2 specs and features?
The design of the Surface Laptop Studio 2 is identical to the leaks that German site WinFuture obtained ahead of launch.
It means not much has changed compared the original , but there are two new ports of significance: USB-A and microSD. It joins the existing Surface Connect, 2x USB-C (both Thunderbolt 4) and 3.5mm audio jack, and means a key weakness has been improved.
But the big upgrade here is performance. The Laptop Studio 2 offers a choice between Intel’s Core i7-13700H and i7-13800H CPUs – some of the most powerful laptop processors around. The cheapest model pair it with Iris Xe integrated graphics, but you can step up to a dedicated Nvidia RTX 4050, 4060 or 2000 Ada GPU.
Microsoft
Alongside 16-, 32- or 64GB of fast LPDDR5x RAM, the Laptop Studio 2 is much more powerful than its predecessor. You also get a choice between 512GB, 1TB or 2TB SSDs, all of which can be removed.
Crucially, it doesn’t look as though all that performance will come at a cost to battery life. Microsoft claims up to 19 hours of ‘typical device usage’ on the Iris Xe versions, or up to 18 hours if you get an Nvidia GPU. It’s not clear if a larger battery has been included to achieve this.
It’s more of the same elsewhere, but that’s a good thing. The 14.4in touchscreen display is still 2400×1600 and supports a refresh rate up to 120Hz, though a peak brightness of 650 nits is higher than before. The screen is designed to be used with the Surface Slim Pen 2 stylus, but that’s sold separately.
The device supports the same three fixed positions as before: as a regular laptop, with the display pulled forward in front of the keyboard and with the screen flat.
You also still get a Full HD (1080p) webcam, which should offer a solid video calling experience alongside dual far-field studio mics. A separate IR sensor enables Windows Hello face unlock, but there’s still no fingerprint sensor.
As you might expect, the Laptop Studio is far from the lightest 14in laptop, either. Models with the Iris Xe integrated GPU weigh 1.89kg, while Nvidia models are even heavier at 1.98kg.
For a look at other products Microsoft announced on 21 September, see our guides to the Surface Laptop Go 3 and Surface Go 4 .
Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor
Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.
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