Given that the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is less expensive than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, consider how you will use the laptop. If you require high performance for gaming, 3D modeling, or intensive engineering tasks, the ASUS is likely a better choice, offering robust specs typically found in gaming laptops. However, it may be heavier and bulkier, reducing portability. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 is designed for versatility and portability, with a unique hinge for different modes, making it suitable for general use and creative tasks, though it may have less raw power than the ASUS. It usually boasts better battery life and a premium build but at a higher cost. Choose the ASUS for performance and value, or the Surface for portability, battery life, and flexibility in use. 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 Scar 17
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
7.7/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 stands out for gaming and 3D applications with its powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a very high screen refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth gameplay; although it has a less advanced CPU than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, which has a Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher resolution screen that supports touch, it offers a lower refresh rate which can affect fast-paced gaming experiences.
Software Development
7.5/10
8.2/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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
8.1/10
7.9/10
17.3in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
292.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
When considering general use, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 stands out with a higher resolution and brightness, offering clearer and more vibrant visuals than the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17. For engineering and design tasks, the Surface's superior coverage of professional color gamuts ensures more precise color rendition, which is crucial for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can limit the smoothness of fast-paced visuals compared to other laptops tailored specifically for those purposes.
Battery
7.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has 7 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
Poor
Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.4in
6.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,499
$3,300
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a price of $2,499 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 costs $3,300.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 features a powerful CPU and high-quality screen for immersive gaming and demanding tasks but its larger size and weight reduce its portability compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, which offers a flexible hinge for drawing tablet functions, exceptional screen resolution, and a more portable design at the cost of slightly less raw computing power and shorter battery life.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
8.7/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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
8.2/10
8.4/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 both have 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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How the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 compare to other laptops
"Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 laptop review: liquid metal 7 nm AMD Zen 3 is stunning. The raw performance increase is absolutely bonkers if you're upgrading from a laptop on Coffee Lake-H or older. The 45 W Ryzen 9 5900HX is neck-to-neck with the thicker, heavier, and hotter Schenker Ultra 17 running on a desktop-class Core i9-11900K despite their wide TDP differences. The performance-per-watt advantages can make Intel Rocket Lake feel like a last generation platform at times. As for the chassis itself, it's a huge light show with RGB LEDs on almost all sides of the system."
"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 Scar 17 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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