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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a higher resolution touchscreen with a faster refresh rate and dedicated graphics for 3D modeling, animation, or gaming, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio could be suitable. It has a 2-in-1 form factor that provides flexibility for artistic tasks but is heavier and has less storage space. Conversely, if you seek a lighter, more compact device with longer battery life and higher storage capacity, consider the ASUS Zenbook S 13 with its OLED display. It is excellent for general use and on-the-go productivity, although its integrated graphics are less suited for graphics-intensive applications. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook S 13
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Best in class portability
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall build quality
Key differences
General Use
8.6
7.4
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 stands out for general use due to its more portable design, better battery life, and OLED screen with higher color accuracy, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, while still good for general use, offers added flexibility with its convertible form and a more powerful GPU suitable for creative tasks. While the Zenbook provides a balance of performance in a lightweight frame, making it excellent for on-the-go users, the Surface Laptop Studio caters to those who need a more versatile device for multitasking and creative work, although it is heavier and has a shorter battery life.
Engineering and Design
8.2
7.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers more RAM and a high-resolution OLED screen with excellent color coverage, making it well-suited for tasks requiring a lot of memory and color accuracy, like engineering simulations and graphic design. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with its dedicated GPU and a flexible hinge for tablet use, is great for design applications where render performance and versatility in use are essential, despite having less RAM and lower screen resolution.
Content Creation
8.5
7.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.3
7.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.1
8.0
13.3in
SIZE
14.4in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, laptops like the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio offer vivid displays with high resolution and brightness, making everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos a pleasure. Engineering and design work benefit from their wide color gamuts, allowing for precise color work in professional applications. However, their screens do not support high refresh rates which are crucial for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications, leading to a less optimal experience in these scenarios.
Battery
11.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Best in Class
Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.4in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$1,700
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.6
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers good gaming and 3D experiences primarily thanks to its latest generation integrated graphics, which, while not as powerful as dedicated gaming GPUs, still deliver decent performance. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, despite having a higher screen refresh rate and a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, is considered only fair as its overall package may not fully leverage these advantages for gaming and 3D tasks compared to more gaming-focused laptops.
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How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook S 13 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.7'' x 8.5'' x 0.46'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.2 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.66" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.52" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1355U | Intel i7-11370H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 63 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 365 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.5/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook S 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | May 2023
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | October 2021
"There’s no doubt that the Surface Laptop Studio is groundbreaking. We’ve come to expect such things from the Surface lineup, so it’s always nice to see a product that exceeds our expectations. The pull-forward laptop-screen concept has been tried before, but never in a device that’s so stylish and packed with innovative features like a haptic touchpad and robust digital stylus support."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Laptops evaluated
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Laptops stats compiled
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Recommendations made
22,468
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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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