The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are aimed at different users. The MacBook Pro, with its Apple M2 Pro processor, excels in tasks tailored to macOS and offers a mini LED display with high color accuracy, making it suitable for creative professionals. Its lighter weight and longer battery life also make it more portable. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a more powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, providing stronger 3D and engineering capabilities, along with a higher RAM and storage. Its touchscreen and hardware ray tracing support cater to those requiring a versatile Windows device for intensive gaming or creative work. Hence, choose the MacBook Pro for portability and macOS-optimized tasks, or pick the Surface Laptop Studio 2 for high-end Windows performance and gaming. 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)
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 2
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
7.7/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
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
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) are both good for gaming and AI, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
7.9/10
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
503.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 for general use, AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's display offers high resolution and brightness, enhancing visibility and clarity for general use, which is why it stands out, while its wide color gamut provides accurate colors crucial for engineering and design tasks. However, it lacks a high refresh rate, making it less suited for 3D applications where smoother visuals are critical. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 similarly provides a vivid, sharp display for general use and ample color accuracy for professional creative work, but its lower refresh rate limits performance for gaming and 3D, which benefit from quicker screen updates.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 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
4.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$3,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,700 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 costs $3,300.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its M2 Pro processor and high-quality Mini LED screen delivers superb performance and visual experience with longer battery life, making it an excellent choice for general tasks where portability and long-lasting use are key. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers a larger screen with touch capability, more storage and RAM, and a potent Intel processor with Nvidia graphics, which translates to high versatility, particularly for those who need more power for multitasking, at the expense of being heavier and having shorter battery life.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.7/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.4/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are both very good for content creation.
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
8.4/10
8.2/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are both very good for software development.
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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The new Surface Laptop Studio with its foldable display is supposed to replace the old Surface Book and the overall impression is good after our review. The build quality and the materials are top-notch, the performance utilization of the two components is solid and the device does not show any major flaws in terms of display or speakers, either. The folding mechanism leaves a sold impression as well, but it remains to be seen how it will hold up over the years. The so-called presentation mode is also not ideal since it covers the whole keyboard."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
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.
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
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
103,095
Recommendations made
22,338
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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.
Craig Russell
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.