Microsoft has introduced the Surface Laptop Studio 2, featuring significant upgrades under the hood to provide a notable performance boost in its popular convertible design.
In contrast to the initial generation, which was often criticized for being underpowered, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 now boasts an Intel Core i7-13700H processor, dedicated AI acceleration via an Intel Gen3 Movidius 3700VC NPU, and offers a choice between RTX 4050 with 6GB or RTX 4060 with 8GB graphics, both configured for a maximum power of 80W. Microsoft claims that this results in double the CPU and GPU performance compared to the original Surface Laptop Studio.
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In terms of dimensions, it maintains its familiar size at 323mm in length, 230mm in width, and 22mm in height. The weight of the Laptop Studio 2 varies depending on the GPU, ranging from 1.89kg to 1.98kg. The system is equipped with a 58Wh battery that can deliver up to 19 hours of typical use with integrated graphics. Additionally, it comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home.
Microsoft is providing users with flexibility in their Surface Laptop Studio 2 configuration. You can choose between 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of LPDDR5X memory, along with storage options of 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of Gen 4 SSD storage. It’s worth noting that the 2TB SSD variant appears to be exclusively available through Microsoft’s US store, and as of now, it’s marked as out of stock.
However, it’s essential to be aware that Microsoft has designed these devices with non-user-serviceable components. Even the hard drive (SSD) is not meant to be removed by the end user and should only be handled by authorized technicians.
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Microsoft continues to impress with the display on the Surface Laptop Studio 2. It features a 14.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen with a high-resolution of 2400×1600, boasting 200 PPI (pixels per inch). This display also offers a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a contrast ratio of 1500:1, and is Display HDR 400 certified, all protected by the durable Gorilla Glass 5.
What’s particularly versatile about this screen is that it can be adjusted into three different modes: laptop mode, tablet mode, and a hybrid mode that combines elements of both, catering to various user preferences and needs.
In terms of connectivity, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 gets a significant boost. It includes two USB 4 Type-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort alt mode and power delivery, along with a USB 3.1 Type-A port, a microSD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack, and the trusty Surface Connect port. On the wireless front, it’s equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Sound enthusiasts will appreciate the quad Omnisonic speaker setup enhanced with Dolby Atmos technology.
The device also features a 1080p webcam that supports Windows Hello face recognition, automatic framing, background blur, and eye contact for seamless and secure authentication.
For those eager to get their hands on the Surface Laptop Studio 2, it’s set to be available starting on October 3. The base model, featuring an i7-13700H processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, will be priced at £2,069 / €2,239 / $1,999. However, if you’re looking for more powerful configurations, pricing can go up to £3,669 / €4,159 / $3,599 for a model with an i7-13700H processor, 32GB of RAM, and pro-level RTX 2000 Ada graphics.