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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
If cost is a major factor, the ASUS Zenbook 14 offers good value, as it is significantly less expensive than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. The Surface Laptop Studio, however, has a higher-end processor, more memory and storage, and better graphics capabilities with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, making it better suited for intensive tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning or gaming. Additionally, it features a unique flexible hinge that allows for versatile use as a laptop or a drawing tablet. In contrast, the Zenbook 14 has an OLED screen which generally provides better color contrast and an Intel Iris Xe integrated GPU, suitable for general use and less demanding creative tasks. The Zenbook 14 is also lighter and thinner, offering better portability, while the Surface Laptop Studio has a larger screen and higher refresh rate for a smoother visual experience. 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 14
- Very good portability
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.3
8.0
14.0in
SIZE
14.4in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for general use, and engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI.
When considering a laptop for general use, both the ASUS Zenbook 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio offer screens that are sharp, bright, and use panel types that provide clear viewing angles and vibrant colors, enhancing the daily computing experience. For engineering and design tasks, the color accuracy is crucial, and both of these laptops provide a wide color gamut, ensuring that professionals can trust the display for precise color work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, a high refresh rate is essential for smooth visuals and both laptops fall short in this aspect, making them less suitable for fast-paced, graphics-intensive activities.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.4in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has very good portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$300
$1,700
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $300 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.2
7.4
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with its higher RAM, more powerful CPU, and better GPU, excels in general use, providing smoother multi-tasking and more robust handling of demanding applications, while its high-resolution touchscreen and unique hinge design offer versatility for creative tasks. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook 14, though lighter and more portable, falls short with lower RAM and a less powerful CPU, but its OLED screen (despite being non-touch) offers deep blacks and vibrant colors for media consumption, yet is constrained by its less capable hardware for intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.6
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 is equipped with an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU which is less capable than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio's discrete Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti, making the latter more suitable for gaming and 3D tasks. Additionally, the Surface Laptop Studio has a higher screen refresh rate of 120 Hz compared to the Zenbook's 90 Hz, which can provide a smoother visual experience in games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.3
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, with its high-performance CPU and ample RAM, is suitable for engineering and design, supported by its vibrant OLED screen enhancing visual clarity. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio combines a stronger GPU with a flexible touchscreen display, offering both power in 3D tasks and a versatile design for hands-on creativity, with the trade-off of being slightly less portable due to its higher weight.
Content Creation
7.3
7.4
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS Zenbook 14 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
7.2
7.3
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and ASUS Zenbook 14 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
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 8 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 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook 14 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.35" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.69" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1240P | Intel i7-11370H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 75 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 339 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 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 | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | 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 | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook 14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | August 2022
"Users who travel frequently and are looking for a portable laptop are in the right place with the Asus ZenBook 14. The sleek case is extremely light (1.2 kg) and surprisingly thin (1.5 cm). Outdoor use is also enjoyable thanks to the bright Full HD display, which is something that can rarely be said about laptops with TN or IPS panels. The excellent battery life complements this as well. Longer trips are no problem with the ZenBook 14. Another plus point is the high-performance Ryzen 7 5700U, which often leaves the Intel competition in the dust thanks to its large number of cores."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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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 14 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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