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What we think
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Updated March 21, 2024·
If you prioritize saving money and need a solid machine for general use, go for the Lenovo ThinkPad T14. It's less expensive and offers reliable performance for everyday tasks. However, if you're looking for a device with better graphics and a touch screen that can handle more intensive tasks like 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a more suitable but more costly choice. The Surface Laptop Studio 2 also provides a more versatile form factor, which could be beneficial for presentations or creative work but may affect battery life compared to the ThinkPad. 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 Lenovo ThinkPad T14
- Very good portability
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
7.7
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 typically has less powerful graphics hardware and a standard screen refresh rate, making it less ideal for high-performance gaming and 3D applications compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, which often features more advanced graphics capabilities and a higher refresh rate screen for smoother visuals in demanding tasks. While both have quality CPUs and screens, the GPU and refresh rate are more critical for gaming and 3D performance, giving the Surface Laptop Studio 2 an edge in those areas.
Engineering and Design
8.0
8.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, with robust CPU and sufficient RAM, is suitable for engineering tasks, while its GPU and screen are adequate for design work; however, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels with a higher-end GPU and superior screen quality for more demanding design applications. Although the ThinkPad is more portable and has a well-regarded keyboard, the Surface Laptop Studio 2's better speakers and quieter operation can enhance the overall user experience in creative environments.
Screen Quality
6.9
7.9
14.0in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
321.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14's screen offers sufficient resolution and brightness, making text clear and easy on the eyes, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2's higher resolution and brightness provide an even crisper and more vivid display. Engineering and design professionals benefit from the wider color gamuts offered by both the ThinkPad T14 and the Surface Laptop Studio 2, which ensure accurate color representation for detailed projects. However, both fall short for gaming and 3D applications where a high refresh rate is critical for smooth motion; their screens do not prioritize fast refresh rates, focusing instead on color accuracy and resolution.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.4in
2.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,241
$3,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a price of $1,241 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 costs $3,300.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.5
8.3
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
321.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers a balance of performance with a solid CPU and RAM, good screen quality, and durability, which is great for productivity and general use, while also being lightweight for easier portability and having long battery life for all-day use without frequent charging. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, on the other hand, features a versatile touchscreen with high-resolution for vivid visuals, powerful internals for smooth multitasking, and a unique hinge design that can switch between laptop and tablet modes, providing flexibility but with a tradeoff in being heavier and potentially having shorter battery life compared to the ThinkPad.
Content Creation
8.3
8.4
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 are both very good for content creation.
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
8.3
8.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are both very good for software development.
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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has 9 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.
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T14 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,241 | $3,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | September 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.5'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | 12.7'' x 9.1'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.96 lbs | 4.41 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.51" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.93" | 9.06" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 64 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 39.3 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 321 nits | 503 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | December 2023
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
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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 Lenovo ThinkPad T14 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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