The Surface Laptop Studio Review (2 Years Later)
Design and Build Quality
The design and build quality of the Surface Laptop Studio is one of its standout features. Even after two years of daily use and being taken on numerous trips, the laptop has held up remarkably well. Its sleek and understated design appealed to me, as I wanted a laptop that could handle tasks like video editing and gaming, yet was also portable and unobtrusive for everyday use. This laptop delivers on that front.
Performance and Versatility
One of the main reasons I chose the Surface Laptop Studio was its impressive specs. I needed a Windows laptop that could handle demanding tasks like video editing and gaming, and this laptop seemed to fit the bill. It has proven to be more powerful than the average Surface device, and its two-in-one functionality adds to its versatility. While it can be folded out into a tablet, I primarily use it in laptop mode, as it offers the best of both worlds.
Battery Life
Battery life has always been a concern with Windows laptops, and unfortunately, the Surface Laptop Studio is no exception. While it is common for Windows laptops to struggle with battery life, it remains a frustrating issue. However, considering the laptop’s performance capabilities, it’s not entirely surprising. If you’re using this laptop for demanding tasks, be prepared to carry a charger or have access to an outlet.
User Experience
In terms of the overall user experience, the Surface Laptop Studio has been a pleasure to use. The keyboard is comfortable and responsive, and the trackpad is precise. The touchscreen adds an extra layer of convenience, especially when using it in tablet mode. The laptop also offers a range of ports, making it easy to connect various peripherals.
Issues and Discontinuation
Despite its overall positive attributes, there are some issues with the Surface Laptop Studio that have led me to stop using it as my main work laptop. These issues, while not deal-breakers for everyone, were significant enough for me to seek alternatives. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Surface Laptop Studio has been discontinued, which may impact the availability of future updates and support.
The Surface Laptop Studio Review (2 Years Later)
Design and Build Quality
The Surface Laptop Studio is still in great condition even after two years of use. Despite not using a case, the laptop remains intact, thanks to the protection provided by an Amazon laptop sleeve. The only visible damage is a small dent on the bottom of the front plate near the surface pen attachment. While I suspect it has something to do with the magnets, I couldn’t find any explanation online. Overall, the laptop boasts exceptional build quality and a premium feel, similar to that of a MacBook. This level of craftsmanship is a rarity among Windows laptops. Additionally, the hinge remains sturdy and has not loosened over time. In terms of solidity and rigidity, the Surface Laptop Studio stands out as one of the best Windows laptops available.
Form Factors and Weight
The only minor drawbacks I’ve found with the Surface Laptop Studio are its thickness and weight. It is slightly thicker than I would prefer and weighs just over four pounds. However, considering the device’s specifications and performance, it is understandable why it may not be as thin and light as some ultrabooks. These factors can be overlooked considering the overall excellence of the laptop.
Keyboard and Trackpad
One of the standout features of the Surface Laptop Studio is its keyboard and trackpad. The keyboard is well-designed and easy to adapt to. The keys are clicky and offer good key travel. They strike a balance between being tactile and not being overly loud or mushy. Typing on this laptop is always a pleasure, and it greatly enhances the overall user experience. The trackpad is equally impressive, providing smooth and precise cursor control, making navigation effortless.
In conclusion, the Surface Laptop Studio has proven to be a phenomenal device even after two years of use. Its impeccable design and build quality continue to impress. While it may be slightly thicker and heavier than some other laptops, its performance and functionality compensate for these minor drawbacks. The keyboard and trackpad offer an outstanding typing experience and effortless navigation. Overall, the Surface Laptop Studio remains a top contender in the Windows laptop market.
The Surface Laptop Studio Review (2 Years Later)
Trackpad and Build Quality
The trackpad of the Surface Laptop Studio is truly impressive and works seamlessly with Windows 11 gestures. It boasts a haptic feedback trackpad, making it one of the only Windows laptops that can rival a Macbook in terms of trackpad quality. Rather than physically pressing down, the trackpad provides the sensation of pressing, allowing for a more tactile experience. Furthermore, the pressure sensitivity can be adjusted to suit individual preferences. Although it would be preferable for the trackpad to be slightly larger, its excellent build quality compensates for this minor drawback. The combination of these features makes the Surface Laptop Studio a highly enjoyable device to use, even after two years. This laptop’s user-friendly design facilitates productivity and creates an affinity that makes users want to work on it, even when a larger external monitor is available. It simply feels good, similar to the appeal of Apple devices that prioritize user experience over mere specifications.
Display and Performance
In terms of the display, the Surface Laptop Studio offers a 14.4-inch touch screen with a resolution of 2400 by 1600 pixels. As with other surface devices, it adopts the signature 3×2 aspect ratio. The 3×2 screen provides a more spacious environment when working on documents or browsing the internet. This aspect ratio proves particularly advantageous for multitasking on Windows, allowing users to better organize their workspace and enhance productivity. The touchscreen feature adds an additional layer of versatility, enabling users to interact with the laptop in a more intuitive way.
The Display
The standout feature of the Surface Laptop Studio is undoubtedly its display. With a refresh rate of 120 hertz, everything from web browsing to gaming feels incredibly smooth. The difference between a 60hz screen and the 120hz screen on the Surface Laptop Studio is noticeable even to those who are not tech-savvy. It enhances the overall user experience and makes tasks feel more fluid and responsive. The screen size strikes a perfect balance between portability and functionality, making it ideal for both work and entertainment purposes.
Brightness and Color Accuracy
In addition to the impressive refresh rate, the Surface Laptop Studio also offers up to 500 nits of brightness. This means that the screen remains visible and usable even in outdoor conditions where there is a high amount of ambient light. The colors on the display are accurate and vivid, making images and videos look stunning. Whether you’re editing photos, watching movies, or designing graphics, the vibrant display of the Surface Laptop Studio will meet your needs.
Flexible Modes
One of the key selling points of the Surface Laptop Studio is its versatile hinge design, which allows for different usage modes. While laptop mode is the most commonly used, there are other modes available as well. The stage mode, although not particularly useful for most tasks, can come in handy when watching movies in tight spaces such as on a plane. On the other hand, the tablet mode is the least used mode for me personally. However, for those who do not have a separate tablet device, it offers a great alternative with the Surface Slim Pen 2 for note-taking, sketching, and other workflow tasks. It can even be used for creating thumbnails, similar to how one would do on an iPad.
The Surface Laptop Studio continues to impress with its stunning display and versatile functionality even after two years since its release. The high refresh rate, bright screen, and accurate colors make it a joy to use for various tasks. The different modes add an extra layer of flexibility, catering to different user preferences and workflows. Whether you’re a professional seeking a powerful laptop for productivity or a creative individual looking for a device to bring your ideas to life, the Surface Laptop Studio is a solid choice that stands the test of time.
The Surface Laptop Studio Review (2 Years Later)
The Pen Experience
The Surface Laptop Studio comes with a pen that is deemed pretty good for this laptop. It has a physical eraser at the back and two programmable shortcut buttons, making it convenient to use. Moreover, the pen snaps to the bottom of the laptop to charge, providing additional practicality. However, it is worth noting that the pen experience may not be as optimized as an iPad, leading to occasional glitches. Despite this, the pen functionality is satisfactory for most individuals who require a tablet for work purposes.
The Pricey Accessory
One of the downsides of the Surface Laptop Studio is the cost of the accessories. The Surface Slim Pen 2, which is almost a mandatory accessory for optimal usage, costs an additional $130 on top of the already expensive laptop. This may be a drawback for some potential buyers who are reluctant to spend extra money on accessories.
Quality vs Specs
The Surface Laptop Studio has received criticism for its specs, but it is essential to consider the bigger picture. Buyers are not solely paying for the internal specifications of the device; they are also investing in the quality, accessibility, and the premium Surface brand. The laptop’s performance, after over a year and a half of usage encompassing various tasks such as work, video editing, gaming, and movie watching, is satisfactory.
Superior Performance
The reviewed Surface Laptop Studio is equipped with top-of-the-line specifications, including an 11th generation Intel i7 processor, Nvidia 3050 TI graphics card, and 32 GB of RAM. Unsurprisingly, the laptop handles everyday work tasks seamlessly, even when dealing with multiple open windows, extensive Excel and PowerPoint files, and multitasking. Furthermore, heavier tasks like video editing and gaming are also handled efficiently.
In conclusion, the Surface Laptop Studio, despite its pricey accessories, offers commendable performance and quality. While the pen experience may have room for improvement, it still serves the purpose for most users. The investment in the Surface brand and its accessibility features makes the laptop a worthy choice for professionals and individuals in need of a powerful and versatile device.
The Surface Laptop Studio Review (2 Years Later)
Video Editing Performance
The Surface Laptop Studio continues to impress with its video editing capabilities even after two years. The soft top handles editing tasks smoothly, and the inclusion of the Nvidia GPU proves to be extremely helpful. For instance, using DaVinci Resolve to edit videos on this laptop provides a remarkable experience. With 32GB of RAM, the laptop can handle complex editing tasks with ease. Even when working with full-resolution 4K footage, playback remains consistently smooth. Adding effects and performing color grading do push the laptop to its limits but it still manages to deliver satisfactory performance for casual video editing purposes.
Gaming Performance
Although the Surface Laptop Studio is primarily known for its video editing prowess, it also boasts impressive gaming capabilities. Over the past year and a half, this laptop has become my primary gaming PC when connected to my monitor setup. While it may not match the gaming performance of the latest MacBook Pros, it still delivers a commendable gaming experience. When playing games like Valerie on medium settings, the laptop consistently achieves over 150 frames per second. However, when connected to a monitor setup, the frame rate does experience a slight drop. If you are primarily playing lighter games such as Minecraft, you can expect smooth performance without any issues.
Display and Gaming Experience
One standout feature of the Surface Laptop Studio is its 120Hz display. When playing games directly on the laptop’s screen, the high refresh rate creates a fluid and immersive gaming experience. The display quality is on par with that of dedicated gaming laptops, enhancing the overall enjoyment of gaming sessions.
Software Compatibility
In terms of software compatibility, the Surface Laptop Studio proves to be reliable and versatile. The laptop seamlessly handles tasks related to video editing, gaming, and more. It offers a smooth and efficient user experience without any major software compatibility issues. This highlights the laptop’s ability to cater to various needs, making it a versatile choice for different user requirements.
Overall, the Surface Laptop Studio has proved to be a reliable and powerful laptop for video editing and gaming purposes even after two years. Its impressive performance, paired with its sleek design and versatile features, make it a compelling choice for those seeking a laptop that excels in both creative and gaming endeavors.
The Surface Laptop Studio Review (2 Years Later)
Windows 11 and Aesthetic
This laptop is one of the first devices to ship with Windows 11 pre-installed. While it may not be a big change, mostly just the UI, it is something that Windows has desperately needed for a while now on a service device like this. The new software aesthetic definitely helps match the hardware, creating a cohesive and visually appealing experience.
Battery Life Woes
All that sounds great, right? But here’s the kicker. The performance of this laptop is caveat by the fact that it has to be plugged in at all times, or else the performance and battery life drop significantly. This brings me to my first major problem with this laptop – the battery life. It sucks.
I wasn’t expecting this because if you watch any other video about this laptop on YouTube, everyone skips over the battery life or just briefly mentions it. They claim it has all-day usage, quoting the figures that Microsoft gives. However, this is simply not true unless you’re using the laptop at 10% brightness and literally doing nothing.
I get around two to three hours of battery life on this laptop. I try to close everything that I’m not using and just open Microsoft Edge to do my work, and it still barely stretches to four or five hours of battery life at around 50% brightness, which is usually not even bright enough to work properly at a cafe.
One of the reasons for this fast drain is probably the Nvidia GPU. I’ve heard that you can manually select to just use the integrated GPU to save some power, but that just feels so unnecessary for a laptop that costs over three thousand dollars.
Performance and Functionality
When it comes to performance, the Surface Laptop Studio delivers. It is equipped with top-of-the-line hardware that allows for smooth multitasking, running demanding applications, and even gaming. The Nvidia GPU ensures that graphics-intensive tasks are handled with ease.
The functionality of the laptop is also worth mentioning. The flexible screen design allows for various modes, such as laptop, tablet, and studio mode. This versatility comes in handy for different tasks and helps to enhance the overall user experience.
Design and Build Quality
In terms of design and build quality, the Surface Laptop Studio is a premium device. It has a sleek and modern look, with a durable build that feels solid and reliable. The keyboard and trackpad are comfortable to use, providing a satisfying typing experience.
The device’s display is vibrant and crisp, offering an immersive viewing experience. The touch and pen input capabilities further enhance usability, making it a great choice for creative professionals or anyone who enjoys digital drawing and note-taking.
The Surface Laptop Studio Review (2 Years Later)
Battery Life and Display
One of the main concerns I had with the Surface Laptop Studio was its battery life. It’s disappointing to see that switching the display from 120 hertz to 60 hertz doesn’t make a significant difference in extending battery life. Personally, I prefer not to compromise the performance of my laptop just for an extra hour or two of battery. To overcome this issue, I have resorted to carrying a charger with me at all times. However, this defeats the purpose of having a portable laptop and makes me question the practicality of the Surface Laptop Studio compared to a gaming laptop with better specifications and similar battery life.
Target Audience
After using the Surface Laptop Studio for almost two years, I still struggle to understand who it was designed for. My best guess is that it was intended for creative professionals. However, there are a few aspects that hinder its suitability for this target audience. For instance, the port selection is inadequate. While I acknowledge that adapters and hubs are available, it feels like Microsoft overlooked the needs of creative professionals. With just two USB-C ports on one side, the laptop lacks the versatility that professionals require. Moreover, the absence of an SD card reader, an essential tool for creative professionals, is a major drawback.
Port Selection
One saving grace is that both of the USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 4 compatible, which enables fast data transfer. However, for a laptop that claims to be designed for professionals, the limited port selection is a letdown. It’s disappointing to see that Microsoft missed the mark in providing a more comprehensive range of connectivity options to cater to the needs of creative professionals.
Fan Noise
Surprisingly, one of my main issues with the Surface Laptop Studio is its fan noise. Despite having internal fans that are relatively good and located at the sides and bottom of the device, the noise they produce can be extremely annoying. Constant fan noise can be distracting and disruptive, especially during tasks that require concentration. While the internal fans are effective in regulating the laptop’s temperature, their noise level can be off-putting and diminish the overall user experience.
In conclusion, the Surface Laptop Studio falls short in various aspects. Its underwhelming battery life, inadequate port selection, and annoying fan noise contribute to its lack of distinction among other laptops. While it may have been marketed towards creative professionals, it fails to meet their specific needs. Microsoft should reconsider these shortcomings and make necessary improvements to enhance the overall user experience of the Surface Laptop Studio.
The Surface Laptop Studio Hardware
The Surface Laptop Studio was introduced almost two years ago, and despite its age, it continues to impress with its hardware capabilities. Designed to provide a seamless combination of a Windows laptop and a tablet, this device is perfect for creative work. The Surface line has always been known for its premium quality, and the Laptop Studio is no exception.
While the specifications may not be the latest, they still hold up well for day-to-day tasks. It’s important not to get too caught up in specs when hearing tech reviewers discuss them. The Surface Laptop Studio is more than capable of handling most of your daily computing needs without any noticeable lag or performance issues.
The Design and Form Factor
The Surface Laptop Studio features a sleek and modern design, which is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The device can be easily transformed from a traditional laptop to a versatile tablet mode, making it incredibly adaptable for various tasks. The laptop’s hinge mechanism works seamlessly, allowing for a smooth transition between different form factors.
With its vibrant touchscreen display and slim bezels, the Laptop Studio offers an immersive viewing experience. Whether you’re working on graphic design projects or enjoying multimedia content, the display delivers sharp visuals and accurate colors.
Enhanced Creativity Features
One of the standout features of the Surface Laptop Studio is its ability to enhance creativity. The device comes with the Surface Pen and supports touch and pen input, making it ideal for artists, designers, and creators. The precision of the Surface Pen combined with the flexibility of the Laptop Studio’s form factor provides a truly exceptional creative experience.
Additionally, the laptop’s powerful hardware ensures that demanding creative applications run smoothly. Whether you’re editing videos, designing intricate illustrations, or composing complex music tracks, the Surface Laptop Studio can handle it all without compromising performance.
The Versatility of Windows
Running on Windows, the Surface Laptop Studio offers a familiar and versatile operating system that caters to a wide range of users. From productivity tools to gaming, Windows provides a vast array of software options and customization possibilities.
The Laptop Studio’s seamless integration with the Windows ecosystem further enhances its usability. With features like OneDrive cloud storage and Microsoft Office suite, you can seamlessly sync your work across devices and easily collaborate with others.
The Battery Life and Portability
When it comes to battery life, the Surface Laptop Studio performs admirably. While it may not offer the longest battery life in its class, it can easily last through a full day of regular usage. The device also supports fast charging, allowing you to quickly top up the battery when needed.
In terms of portability, the Laptop Studio strikes a good balance. It’s not the lightest device on the market, but it is still highly portable. Whether you’re working on the go or taking it to a meeting, the Laptop Studio’s compact size and sleek design make it easy to carry around.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Surface Laptop Studio has been a reliable and powerful Windows laptop that has served me well over the past two years. Its design, performance, and versatility make it a standout device in the market. However, the battery life and certain issues have influenced my decision to switch to a different laptop for my main work needs. If you can overlook these concerns and find a good deal on the Surface Laptop Studio, it still offers a great user experience.
The Surface Laptop Studio has stood the test of time, proving to be a reliable and enjoyable device even after two years. Its thoughtful design, excellent trackpad, and spacious display contribute to a seamless user experience. Although some improvements could be made, such as enlarging the trackpad, the overall build quality of the laptop compensates for these minor drawbacks. For those seeking a laptop that combines functionality with user-centric design, the Surface Laptop Studio remains a top choice.
In conclusion, the Surface Laptop Studio is a powerful and versatile device that offers excellent performance and functionality. However, its major drawback lies in its poor battery life, which significantly impacts its portability and usability on the go. If battery life is a priority for you, this may not be the best choice. But if you prioritize performance and are willing to compromise on battery life, the Surface Laptop Studio is a solid option. Overall, it is a premium device that caters to the needs of professionals and creatives alike.
