Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 14.4" THR-00001 Review

The Surface Laptop Studio is a weird, cool, and kinda pricey laptop. It's got this funky hinge that lets you pull the screen forward into a drawing tablet mode, which is neat if you're into that. But under the hood, you're looking at older 11th Gen Intel hardware, and that shows up in the numbers.

Let's be real, the Intel Core i5-11300H and Iris Xe graphics are not powerhouses. The CPU lands in the 19th percentile, and the GPU is even lower at 18th. It's fine for web browsing, office work, and streaming, but that's about it. The 120Hz screen is smooth, but the hardware can't really push games or serious creative apps to take full advantage of it.

At around $1,743, this is a tough sell. You're paying a big premium for that unique hinge and the Surface design, but you're getting internals that were mid-range three years ago. The storage is minimal, and the performance just doesn't match the price tag.

Compared to a MacBook Pro, you get touch and a convertible form factor, but you give up insane performance and battery life. Next to a Lenovo Legion or MSI Vector, this isn't a gaming machine at all. Even the ASUS Zenbook Duo offers more screen real estate and often better specs for creative work. This laptop is in a niche of its own, and that niche is expensive.

Only buy this if you're absolutely in love with the Studio's drawing tablet mode and you're okay with paying for a design gimmick over raw power. For literally anyone else—students, business users, creators who need speed—there are better, faster, and more sensible options for the money.