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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you need a laptop primarily for performance-intensive tasks, the Apple MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro chip offers robust computing power and superior integrated graphics, which is especially beneficial for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, or software development. However, it comes at a higher cost and slightly less versatility in form factor compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Studio features a flexible hinge which allows it to be used as both a laptop and a drawing tablet, making it a better fit if you're looking for versatility and the ability to use a stylus for creative work or note-taking. Additionally, its dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics card can be a plus for specific workloads like gaming or certain types of design software. Keep in mind though, the Surface Laptop Studio has an older processor which might lag behind in some high-performance scenarios. The MacBook Pro also has a superior screen technology with Mini LED, which can provide better color accuracy and contrast. The Surface Laptop Studio, on the other hand, may have an advantage with its taller 3:2 aspect ratio screen which is great for reading and productivity tasks. In terms of operating system, the choice between macOS and Windows can be pivotal depending on your personal preference and existing software ecosystem. If battery life is crucial, the MacBook Pro generally offers longer usage between charges, and for portability, it's thinner and lighter. 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 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.5
7.4
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) outshines the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio in terms of CPU performance, thanks to its Apple M2 Pro chip, and also offers a higher quality Mini LED screen with better color coverage, making it preferable for general use where vivid display and efficient processing are paramount. Additionally, the MacBook Pro boasts a longer battery life and superior heat management, enhancing its portability, while the Surface Laptop Studio features a touchscreen and flexible hinge design for versatile use scenarios, but has a shorter battery life and less effective heat management.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.3
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is outstanding for engineering and design due to its high-performing Apple M2 Pro CPU and GPU, along with a brilliant Mini LED screen that has exceptional color accuracy and contrast, beneficial for detail-oriented work.
Content Creation
8.5
7.4
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) 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
8.4
7.3
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) 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
9.2
8.0
14.2in
SIZE
14.4in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 excels in screen quality for general use and engineering applications due to its high resolution and bright display that supports wide color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, ensuring accurate color reproduction critical for design work. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio also provides a high-resolution screen with ample brightness and good color coverage appealing to designers and everyday users alike. However, both laptops lack high refresh rate displays, which limits their appeal for 3D work and gaming where smoother visuals are a priority.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 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
Very Good
Good
14.2in
SIZE
14.4in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
8.5
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.0
6.6
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) to be good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its Apple M2 Pro GPU, excels at 3D tasks, but its MacOS may limit the availability of popular games, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU better suited for gaming due to Windows compatibility and hardware ray tracing support, despite both having similar high screen refresh rates.
Cost
$1,700
$1,700
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,700 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,700 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 Pro (10C) | Intel i7-11370H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 13.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 489 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
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 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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.
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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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
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