Choose the ASUS ROG Strix G16 if you need a laptop with a larger screen, higher refresh rate for smooth visuals, and a number pad, making it better for gaming and general use but with a tradeoff in portability due to its heavier weight. On the other hand, go for the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 if you prefer a more portable device with touchscreen capabilities, a higher resolution, and better screen colors, making it ideal for creative professionals and engineering tasks, although it's more expensive and offers less overall gaming performance. 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 ROG Strix G16
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
291.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is praised for its versatility, higher RAM, sharper and brighter screen, and compact design that is lighter and thinner, enhancing portability and ease of use for general tasks. In comparison, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 also performs well but is bulkier and heavier with a lower-resolution screen, although it compensates with a slightly longer battery life and good performance suited for general use.
Software Development
7.7/10
8.2/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 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
7.5/10
7.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
291.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G16 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 likely offers sufficient resolution and brightness for daily tasks and engineering software, making it suitable for general use and professional design work where color accuracy is crucial. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 may provide a similar or better experience in these aspects with a possibly higher-resolution display and brightness level, alongside robust color gamut coverage, enhancing its appeal for general and engineering/design use. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they don't prioritize high refresh rates, which is essential for smooth visuals and competitive gameplay.
Portability
Fair
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.4in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,374
$3,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a price of $1,374 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 costs $3,300.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are both good for gaming and AI.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are suitable for gaming and 3D because they both have powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPUs and high refresh rate screens, with the ASUS offering a slightly higher refresh rate. Despite both having quality IPS screens, the Microsoft model offers better resolution and a touch screen, while the ASUS stands out with a faster CPU, more suitable for heavy computing tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
8.7/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and ASUS ROG Strix G16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 stands out for engineering due to its powerful CPU, sufficient RAM, and high-performing GPU, complemented by a high-refresh-rate screen for smooth visuals, although it is heavier and thicker, affecting portability. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, offering a higher-resolution touchscreen with pen support and more memory, is also excellent for design tasks but has a slightly shorter battery life and less overall output ports, balanced by a flexible hinge that enhances its use as a drawing tablet.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.4/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 to be very good for content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has 9 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.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G16 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 compare to other laptops
"With the mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, the Asus ROG Stix G16 hits the sweet spot between performance and cooling. The G16 also does not have to shy away from direct comparison with its supposedly stronger family member, the ROG Strix Scar 18 with its RTX 4090, as most benchmarks of the two laptops are very close to each other. Moreover, the G16 should be significantly cheaper. Depending on the supplier, the price difference here could be almost US$ 2,000. In the 2023 model series, Asus has significantly leveled out the differences between the two high-end lines."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix G16 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
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.
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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