A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Gateway 14.1" is significantly more budget-friendly, lightweight, and might suffice for basic tasks like browsing and document editing but has limited storage, lower performance, and a basic display. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, while heavier and more expensive, offers much higher performance suitable for intensive engineering, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks, a high-refresh touchscreen display, and substantial storage and RAM. Its build quality, screen resolution, color accuracy, and extra features like facial recognition make it a versatile machine well-suited for both professional and gaming use, albeit less portable and at a premium price. 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 Gateway 14.1"
- 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
5.6
8.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has a basic Celeron processor, less RAM, and a lower-quality screen which affects performance and user experience, whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a high-end processor, ample RAM, and a superior screen which enhances multitasking and visual clarity. Additionally, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers better keyboard and speaker quality, and with better heat management and a more versatile design, it justifies its higher price point by being more suitable for demanding tasks and offering increased durability and user comfort.
Gaming and AI
5.4
7.7
3.5/10
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 Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has a less powerful GPU, which is crucial for gaming and 3D applications, and likely a lower screen refresh rate compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, which has a high-performance Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and supports a 120Hz refresh rate, making it well-suited for those tasks. Additionally, while both screen quality and CPU are important, the superior GPU and refresh rate of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 give it a significant edge for gaming and 3D content.
Engineering and Design
5.5
8.7
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
4.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has an Intel Celeron processor and basic Intel UHD Graphics, making it less suited for demanding engineering and design tasks that require powerful CPUs and GPUs, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is equipped with a high-end Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, ideal for intensive applications and superior screen quality with higher resolution and touchscreen capability, providing a much more capable and versatile experience for such specialized work.
Content Creation
5.8
8.4
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
4.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
5.8
8.2
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
6.0
7.9
14.1in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway 14.1" offers an adequate display for tasks like web browsing and document editing because its resolution and brightness suffice for such activities, but its limited color gamut and modest panel technology may not satisfy professionals looking for precision in color-critical work like engineering and design. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 boasts a higher resolution and brighter screen, along with a wider color gamut, rendering it excellent for detail-oriented tasks, which is crucial for engineers and designers who require accurate color representation. Neither laptop, however, is ideal for gaming or 3D work due to their refresh rates, which are lower than what's preferred for the smoother visuals and quick response times desired in these fields.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.1in
SIZE
14.4in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Gateway 14.1" 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
5.1
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has very good build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$99
$3,300
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 costs $3,300.
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Key similarities
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 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.
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How the Gateway 14.1" and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gateway 14.1" | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $3,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | September 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.75'' | 12.7'' x 9.1'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.35 lbs | 4.41 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.1" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.78" | 9.06" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4020 | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 64 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 64 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | Unknown | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.1" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 208 nits | 503 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 5.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Gateway 14.1"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | September 2021
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"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 Gateway 14.1" or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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