Based on your needs, consider the following: the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is more affordable and has a longer battery life, making it a good choice for general use and portability. However, if you need a laptop for more power-intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering applications, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers superior performance thanks to its more advanced processor and dedicated graphics card, albeit at a higher price and with a slightly reduced battery life. Both laptops are similarly sized and offer touchscreens, but the Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a higher resolution and refresh rate for a sharper and smoother visual experience, which could be an advantage for design-focused engineering 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 Duo 14
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
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.1/10
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
314.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
8.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 shines in general use due to its high RAM capacity and robust main processor, resulting in smoother multitasking and faster performance, while its high-resolution touchscreen with a flexible hinge adds versatility and superior screen quality. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14, with less RAM and a less powerful processor, may lag in intense tasks and has a standard resolution screen; however, it still maintains strong portability thanks to its lighter weight and longer battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
7.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has an integrated graphics unit which, while capable, falls behind the dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU in the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 that offers significantly higher performance for gaming and 3D applications. Furthermore, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2's screen not only has a higher resolution, enhancing visual clarity and detail, but also offers a higher refresh rate which leads to smoother visuals in fast-paced scenes.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
8.7/10
5.5/10
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 Duo 14 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels in engineering and design due to its superior CPU, a hefty amount of RAM, and a powerful GPU, which are critical for demanding tasks, as well as a superior screen resolution and quality that benefit precision work. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14, while still competent, offers less RAM and a less powerful integrated GPU, which may affect performance in intensive applications, despite its adequate screen and lower weight enhancing portability.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.4/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 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
7.0/10
8.2/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 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
6.8/10
7.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
314.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 offers solid screen features with its resolution and brightness suitable for tasks like browsing and document editing, making it a good option for general use and detailed work in engineering and design due to its color accuracy. However, its refresh rate isn't high enough for the smooth visuals that gaming and 3D applications require. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, with its higher-quality display, excels in the same general use and design areas due to excellent color reproduction and clarity, yet also falls short in gaming and 3D for the same reason – a refresh rate that doesn't meet the demands of those applications.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.4in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 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 Duo 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$999
$3,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has a price of $999 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 costs $3,300.
"The Asus ZenBook Duo's second screen is like the Apple Touch Bar, but better. Most would agree that having two screens instead of one can really boost productivity and the ZenBook Duo is no different in this regard. It's tough going back to just one screen after becoming accustomed to spacious dual-screen setups. For a laptop form factor, however, users will have to accept some compromises. Firstly, weight is the most obvious drawback as the system is several hundred grams heavier than a regular ZenBook 14. Additionally, colors on the second screen will not be as vivid as the main display."
"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 Zenbook Duo 14 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
98,295
Recommendations made
21,298
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.