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Updated January 10, 2024·
If portability and budget are priorities, the Asus Zenbook 13 offers a lightweight design and typically comes at a lower price, but with lower performance capabilities due to its integrated graphics. However, if you need a laptop for more demanding tasks such as engineering or 3D work, and don't mind a higher cost and reduced portability, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with its dedicated Nvidia graphics and higher RAM, is designed to handle intensive applications more effectively. Additionally, the Surface Laptop Studio features a higher resolution touchscreen display with better color accuracy, which could be beneficial for creative work. 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 Zenbook 13
- Excellent portability
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8
8.0
13.3in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI.
Both the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio have high resolution and brightness, alongside quality panels that make them suitable for general use, providing crisp and clear visuals for everyday tasks. For engineering and design, they boast wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color representation critical for precision work. However, they fall short for 3D and gaming due to their lower refresh rates, which can lead to less smooth visuals in fast-paced scenarios where higher refresh rates are essential for optimal performance.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.4in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$890
$1,700
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
378.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 is favored for general use due to its OLED screen which offers vivid colors and high contrast, portability with a lighter weight and good battery life, and a capable AMD Ryzen CPU combined with sufficient RAM for everyday tasks. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, while heavier, also appeals for general use with a higher RAM capacity, a potent Intel CPU and dedicated NVIDIA graphics for better multitasking and light creative work, plus a flexible touchscreen display that can double as a drawing tablet, though its battery life is slightly shorter.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 13's AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Integrated Vega 8 GPU and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate make it adequate for light gaming and 3D applications, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with its NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti discrete GPU and a higher 120Hz screen refresh rate, provides a better experience but still falls short of high-end gaming laptops designed with more powerful GPUs and even faster refresh rates. Both laptops have quality displays and capable CPUs, but the emphasis on portability and versatility means compromises in gaming and 3D performance compared to specialized gaming machines.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor, Vega 8 graphics, and 8GB of RAM, is fair for engineering tasks as it might struggle with very complex models, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, equipped with a more powerful Intel i7-11370H CPU, Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, and double the RAM at 16GB, is better suited for demanding engineering work and offers a higher screen resolution for sharper detail.
Content Creation
7.6
7.4
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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.
Software Development
7.3
7.3
5.8/10
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 ASUS Zenbook 13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both 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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook 13 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$890 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2021 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8'' x 0.55'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.55 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.99" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | Intel i7-11370H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 67 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 378 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Bade | May 2021
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
See more
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 ASUS Zenbook 13 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.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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