If portability and touch functionality are important to you, and you are prepared to invest in higher performance for 3D work or engineering tasks, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a compelling choice with its lighter weight and touch-enabled higher-resolution display. On the other hand, if cost is a major consideration and you want a machine that's capable of general use and gaming, the Gigabyte A5 offers a larger screen and dedicated number pad, but with heavier weight and lower battery life compared to the Microsoft model. Both laptops are suitable for intensive gaming, with the Microsoft model offering a competitive edge in performance. 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 Gigabyte A5
The Gigabyte A5 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 outshines the Gigabyte A5 for general use by offering significantly more RAM for multitasking, a higher resolution screen for sharper images, and longer battery life for extended usage away from power outlets, all packaged in a more portable design. Additionally, the Surface Laptop Studio 2's versatility as a convertible device with touch capability and a high-quality keyboard and speakers provides users a more premium and flexible general-use experience compared to the Gigabyte A5.
Gaming and AI
7.1/10
7.7/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.3/10
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 Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Gigabyte A5 offers a decent CPU and GPU combination for engineering tasks, but with lower RAM and a standard full HD screen, it is outshone by the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, which packs a more powerful CPU and GPU, quadruple the RAM, and a higher resolution touchscreen with better color accuracy, improving performance and visual detail for design work. However, the Surface's higher capabilities come with less portability and potentially higher operating noise, while the Gigabyte's balance between power and portability may appeal to those prioritizing a more mobile workstation.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
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 Gigabyte A5 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
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for software development, while the Gigabyte A5 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
7.2/10
7.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a vibrant display and high resolution for daily tasks or professional design work, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels with its brighter panel and broader color coverage. However, for gaming or 3D applications, neither the Gigabyte A5 nor the Surface Laptop Studio 2 are ideal as they lack high refresh rate displays, which are critical for smooth visuals in fast-paced environments. Yet, the Gigabyte A5 still offers decent visual quality for general use and engineering tasks within a more budget-friendly range, despite the Microsoft's edge in display fidelity for those same uses.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 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
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.4in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
8.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$830
$3,300
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Gigabyte A5 has a price of $830 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 costs $3,300.
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
"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 Gigabyte A5 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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