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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is typically more budget-friendly and offers robust build quality suitable for business and general use, with excellent keyboard comfort for prolonged typing sessions. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, on the other hand, is costlier and comes with a versatile form factor that supports creative tasks like drawing and design, thanks to its unique hinge and touchscreen capabilities; it's also better for more graphics-intensive tasks. If portability and battery life are paramount, the ThinkPad might be preferable, but if you’re after a device that doubles as a tablet with better creative potential, the Surface Laptop Studio is the way to go. 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 X13
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good portability
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
321.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
8.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with its robust CPU and adequate RAM, ensures smooth performance for everyday tasks and offers great portability and long battery life, making it ideal for users frequently on the move. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio provides a high-quality screen and versatile form factor that appeals to those who prioritize display and creative use, while still delivering solid performance and battery life for general use.
Engineering and Design
8.0
7.3
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with its high-quality CPU and ample RAM, excels in engineering tasks, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio stands out with its strong GPU and high-resolution screen for both engineering and design work. Although the ThinkPad is known for its superior keyboard and robust build, making it highly portable and durable for on-the-go use, the Laptop Studio offers a unique convertible design and better speakers, creating a balance between a mobile workstation and an entertainment device.
Content Creation
8.2
7.4
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
8.1
7.3
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
6.9
8.0
13.3in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
321.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for software development, and content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the superior panel type, resolution, and brightness of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio make it stand out, offering crisper images and more comfortable viewing than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13. In engineering and design, the Surface Laptop Studio again takes the lead due to its wider color gamuts, providing more accurate color reproduction which is crucial for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short because of their lower refresh rates; they don't deliver the smooth visuals that these tasks typically demand.
Portability
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.4in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,138
$1,700
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a price of $1,138 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.6
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while suitable for general use, lacks a high-end dedicated GPU and a fast screen refresh rate, which are vital for the latest gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio offers a greater focus on graphic performance with a better GPU and higher refresh rate display, making it more favorable for those activities, despite the CPU and screen quality being less critical factors for gaming and 3D tasks.
Battery
8.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
8.5
8.5
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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 X13 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,138 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.63'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.87 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.88" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | Intel i7-11370H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 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 | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 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 X13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | September 2023
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | October 2021
"There’s no doubt that the Surface Laptop Studio is groundbreaking. We’ve come to expect such things from the Surface lineup, so it’s always nice to see a product that exceeds our expectations. The pull-forward laptop-screen concept has been tried before, but never in a device that’s so stylish and packed with innovative features like a haptic touchpad and robust digital stylus support."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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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About the laptop team
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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.
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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.
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