If you need a laptop with the latest and most powerful performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 with its advanced processor and dedicated graphics card outshines the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13. On the other hand, the ASUS is more lightweight, offers a sharper display, and longer battery life, making it a better choice for on-the-go use and general tasks. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is more expensive but also boasts a larger screen, higher screen refresh rate which is benefit for gaming or fast-paced videos, and considerably more RAM for handling complex multitasking. Both laptops have equal storage space and touchscreens but cater to different user needs based on performance requirements and portability preferences. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
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
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.3/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
10.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is a solid choice for general use due to its capable CPU, high-quality screen, and portable design balanced with reasonable battery life; however, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 stands out with a higher performance CPU and RAM setup, superior screen quality, impressive speakers, and robust heat management, making it more versatile for both everyday and demanding tasks. While the ASUS may offer a good balance for casual use and light tasks, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels with its build quality, making it the preferable option for users needing a more powerful and reliable device for intensive applications alongside general use.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
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 Flip S13 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is better for gaming and 3D applications than the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 mainly because it comes with a more capable Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card and a higher 120Hz screen refresh rate, which makes for smoother visuals and better handling of fast-paced scenes. Conversely, the ASUS model uses the Intel Iris Xe graphics, which provides fair performance for less demanding tasks and a standard 60Hz refresh rate, indicating that movements on the screen may not look as smooth as on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Engineering and Design
7.4/10
8.7/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is typically more suitable for engineering and design due to its more powerful CPU and GPU, considerably higher RAM, and flexible hinge allowing for drawing tablet functionality, which aligns well with the high demands of engineering software and the precision needed for design work. While the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 offers a good screen, its lesser CPU, GPU, and RAM compared to the Surface mean it is better suited for less resource-intensive tasks, though its lighter weight and 2-in-1 convertible form factor improve its portability and versatility.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.4/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 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 Flip S13 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
7.6/10
8.2/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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
7.9/10
7.9/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.4in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 both offer displays with high resolution and brightness, providing crisp and clear visuals that enhance everyday tasks. In engineering and design, their wide color gamuts ensure accurate color representation, vital for precise work. However, their lower refresh rates limit their performance in gaming and 3D applications, where smoother motion and faster screen updates are crucial.
Battery
10.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has 10.5 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
Excellent
Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.4in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has excellent 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 Flip S13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$3,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a price of $1,400 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 costs $3,300.
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 Flip is an ultra-sleek 2-in-1 convertible. A gorgeous OLED screen and lightweight magnesium chassis make this convertible a traveller’s dream. Its SSD isn’t fast, but it won’t hold you back in everyday use. Its battery life also isn’t class leading, but it’s hardly off the pace. Overall, the Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED holds its head high in the premium convertible category and is a smaller alternative to the Spectre x360 13.5 and the Yoga 9i Gen 7."
"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 Flip S13 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.
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