Updated January 10, 2024·Prices updated 24 hours ago
If you prioritize high performance for tasks like engineering, 3D rendering, or machine learning, and you don't mind spending more, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 could be an excellent choice, as it has superior processing power and a high-end graphics card. It also offers a larger storage capacity and significantly more RAM, which helps in running complex applications smoothly. On the other hand, if portability and price are of greater concern to you, the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED would be a better fit. It is lighter, has a longer battery life for typical use, and is more cost-effective, while still delivering enough power for general use and a high-quality OLED display for vivid colors. Keep in mind that the ASUS has an integrated GPU, which is less suitable for intensive gaming or highly demanding graphics tasks compared to the dedicated GPU in the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2. 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 14X OLED
Very good overall display quality
Very good portability
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
8.3/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
376.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED offers a solid balance for general use, with a high-quality OLED screen and sufficient RAM for everyday tasks while remaining portable with a good battery life, but it may not match the Surface Laptop Studio 2, which has a very powerful CPU and a substantial amount of RAM, accompanied by an exceptional screen quality and versatility due to its flexible hinge design, making it superior for more demanding general-use applications but with a tradeoff in increased weight and potentially higher cost.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
120Hz
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 2 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED uses an integrated GPU which is less powerful than the dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU found in the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, making the latter more suitable for gaming and 3D applications that require more graphics processing power.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
8.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED, with its capable Intel i5 processor, integrated graphics, and 8GB of RAM, offers a balance between performance and portability for engineering tasks, while its OLED screen ensures high color accuracy and contrast. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 stands out with a more powerful Intel i7 processor, dedicated Nvidia GPU, and a significant 64GB of RAM, better equipping it for the most demanding engineering applications and design work, although it is slightly less portable and has a higher operating noise.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED 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.
Software Development
7.5/10
8.2/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED 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
8.6/10
7.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.4in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
376.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a crisp, vibrant display for activities like browsing the web, document editing, or media consumption, both the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 offer high-resolution OLED screens with brightness that makes them easy to view. For engineering and design, where color accuracy is key, their wide color gamuts ensure that the hues you work with are represented faithfully. However, for gaming or 3D work where fluid motion is crucial, the lower refresh rates on these laptops may result in less smooth visuals compared to gaming-focused laptops that offer higher refresh rates for more immersive and responsive experiences.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has 6 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.4in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has very good portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has good 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 Zenbook 14X OLED has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$575
$3,300
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has a price of $575 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 costs $3,300.
"While one of the more budget-friendly configurations of the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED may make a compelling case as a top value pick, it’s difficult to be disappointed with the more expensive model we reviewed here. At its core, for all models, it’s a luxury-built laptop with extreme portability and a gorgeous OLED display. Our unit rocks with a snappy Core i9 processor for getting real work done, and the discrete GPU—even if it has a clear power ceiling—is a bonus for creative pros."
"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."
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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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