If performance is your main concern, particularly for 3D modeling, machine learning, or engineering tasks, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio with its superior processor and double the RAM of the Asus is better suited for your needs. However, the Asus TUF Gaming F17 stands out for intensive gaming, due to its larger screen size and gaming laptop design, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio also supports gaming. The Asus, being larger and heavier, is less portable than the Microsoft Surface which offers better battery life, making the latter a good choice for frequent travel. The Microsoft Surface also has a higher resolution touchscreen which is useful for creative tasks, but it comes at a higher cost than the Asus. Both laptops have robust build quality and thermal management, but for versatility and professional use, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is the better pick, assuming you're okay with a higher price point. 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 TUF Gaming F17
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Software Development
6.7/10
7.3/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
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
6.9/10
8.0/10
17.3in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
264.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17's screen, while sufficiently bright and clear for day-to-day tasks, lacks the broad color coverage essential for precision in engineering and design, and its slower refresh rate dims the experience for fast-paced gaming and 3D work. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, on the other hand, boasts a vibrant display with excellent color accuracy and range, making it an ideal companion for professionals in creative fields, though its lower refresh rate is not optimal for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key. Both laptops have screens with high resolution and quality panel types, enhancing the visual sharpness for general tasks and detailed work alike, but gamers and 3D designers would benefit from a display supporting faster refresh rates.
Battery
4.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has 4.5 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
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.4in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
8.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,700
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a price of $1,000 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17's larger size, heavier weight, and lower battery life make it less portable and not as well-suited for long periods away from a power source compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, which offers greater portability with its compact design, lighter weight, and longer battery life. Additionally, the Surface Laptop Studio provides a higher resolution touchscreen with better color accuracy, making it suitable for tasks that rely on screen quality, and it has more RAM, benefiting multitasking and general performance.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
6.6/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both only fair for gaming and AI.
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.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
7.3/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio to be good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 packs a powerful CPU and GPU combination suited for engineering tasks and is equipped with a larger screen, making detailed work more comfortable, but its heavier build and relatively modest screen quality reduce portability and visual clarity compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, which offers a higher resolution and touchscreen display with better color accuracy and portability, alongside a higher amount of RAM for complex multitasking, but comes with a smaller screen size.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.4/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both 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.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
"One of the Asus TUF Gaming F17’s highlights is without a doubt its excellent gaming performance. The fact that Asus configured the RTX 3060 GPU for its specified maximum of 140 W is became immediately noticeable in our benchmarks. For a 17-inch notebook the F17 also offers a very long battery life, which makes it somewhat portable. On the flip side is the display. It may be saved by its good overall contrast ratio, but its overall brightness is simply too low, and its response times are too slow for a gaming device. The F17’s successor needs to improve upon this."
"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 TUF Gaming F17 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.
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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