Microsoft Laptop Studio 2

Microsoft's Laptop Studio 2, featured in the picture, offers an initial experience filled with productivity and versatility. Throughout my usage, I found it to be suitable for office work, Photoshop editing, video watching, and even gaming, all yielding positive results.

Let's delve into the price and configuration details. It's worth noting that I have been using the high-end configuration provided by Microsoft for testing purposes. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 starts at a reasonable price of $1,999, equipped with a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and Intel Iris Xe graphics.

The specific configuration I tested comes at a cost of $3,299. It boasts the same CPU but offers 64GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU. There are also several intermediate configurations available, with prices ranging up to $3,699 for models featuring 2TB SSDs.

Now, let's turn our attention to Microsoft's new Surface Laptop and its design and hybrid options. All Surface Laptop Studio systems operate in a similar fashion. The screen hinges horizontally at the midpoint, allowing for the display to be pulled forward and placed in front of the haptic touchpad. This transforms the system into a 14.4-inch kiosk-style display with a resolution of 2,400x1,600, ideal for media consumption and gaming when paired with a gamepad.

Pulling the screen down further covers the keyboard, transforming the device into a considerable tablet. However, in tablet mode, the screen doesn't lie flat like the Surface Pro or Lenovo Yoga. Instead, it resembles the original Surface Laptop Studio, featuring a slightly raised rear edge. It is important to note that the tablet weighs 4.37 pounds, making it quite heavy, particularly when used single-handedly for drawing or note-taking with the Microsoft Slim Pen 2 stylus.

A notable aspect of the design is that when the system is in tablet mode, the keyboard remains fully covered and out of sight. This distinguishes it from hybrid or 2-in-1 laptops with 360-degree folding hinges, where the inactive keyboard becomes the back surface of the tablet. Such a design choice minimizes tactile and visual distractions, as seen in Lenovo Yoga devices.

Even when placed in clamshell mode on a desk, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 feels heavy. It rests on a small riser that serves as a fan vent, ensuring ample cooling space while also allowing the keyboard deck to hover slightly above the desk surface. When closed, the entire system measures about 22mm in thickness, which exceeds the 17mm thickness of a 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Moving on to benchmarks and gaming, let's explore the system's capabilities. The following basic benchmarks showcase the device's power in both creativity and productivity. While the Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU may not be the most powerful laptop GPU available, it proves more than capable of running current games, as long as expectations are kept reasonable.

I naturally opted to pair Microsoft's latest high-end PC with its latest high-end game, Starfield. By setting the graphics presets to Medium and the game's resolution to Basic Full HD, I was able to maintain frame rates in the mid-40s for the most part, resulting in superior visuals and smoother gameplay compared to playing the game on an Xbox Series X, where it is capped at 30fps.

During this gaming experience, I played the game by dragging the display over the keyboard and utilizing an Xbox Gamepad connected via Bluetooth. This setup offered a highly immersive gaming experience. It's worth noting that using a random USB-C power adapter instead of the supplied Microsoft Power Connection may lead to faster battery drain while gaming. I managed to play Starfield for approximately two hours using a reliable 45W Lenovo USB-C charger before receiving a low battery warning.

Rest assured, we will continue to conduct thorough testing of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 to compile a comprehensive review with purchase recommendations in the near future. Our examination will cover various features, including improved haptic trackpads, upgraded webcams, expanded ports, and the inclusion of an NPU (neural processing unit). The NPU will be vital for onboard processing, supporting the upcoming AI enhancements that Microsoft plans to introduce to its Windows operating system in the near future.