The Lenovo V15 is a budget-friendly option with an AMD processor suitable for everyday tasks and some light media editing, but it has a lower-quality TN display which isn't ideal for color-sensitive work. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is significantly more expensive, with a high-performance Intel processor, a dedicated Nvidia graphics card suited for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning or gaming, and a high-resolution flexible hinge IPS display that doubles as a drawing tablet. It's better equipped for creative professionals but is also heavier and less portable. Consider the Surface Laptop Studio if your work demands high-end specs and versatility, and the V15 for more general, cost-effective use. 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 V15
The Lenovo V15 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Good for engineering and design
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
7.3/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo V15 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor and dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics card, as well as a higher-resolution IPS touch display that can benefit design tasks.
Screen Quality
5.4/10
8.0/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
231.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen than the Lenovo V15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Lenovo V15's display likely lacks the high resolution and brightness that make the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio's screen stand out for general use, which relies heavily on these aspects for a clear and vibrant viewing experience. For engineering and design, Surface Laptop Studio's superior color coverage with wider color gamuts ensures precise color accuracy which is crucial in these fields, a quality where the V15 falls short. However, for Gaming and 3D, the lower refresh rate on the Surface Laptop Studio, despite its high resolution and panel quality, doesn't provide the smooth visuals that are essential for fast-paced gaming, a feature that may be better on other laptops.
Build Quality
6.7/10
8.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality, while the Lenovo V15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$579
$1,700
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Lenovo V15 has a price of $579 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Lenovo V15 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo V15, with its AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and 16GB of RAM, is ideal for general use due to its decent processing power for everyday tasks and multiple tabs or applications; however, its TN screen offers lower quality compared to the IPS screen of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, which has a comparable Intel i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM for smooth multitasking, and with its higher resolution and touchscreen, it provides better screen quality for superior viewing and interactive experiences. While the Lenovo V15 is lighter and therefore more portable, the Surface Laptop Studio boasts a more powerful GPU which enhances graphics performance for more demanding applications and longer battery life for extended use without charging, making it suitable for those who need a blend of performance and flexibility.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Lenovo V15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo V15 may deliver modest gaming and 3D performance due to its integrated GPU and standard 60Hz TN panel, making it less ideal for fast-paced gaming scenarios. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio includes a dedicated Nvidia GPU and a higher refresh IPS display, offering better gaming and 3D capabilities, though it may also come at a higher cost and impact battery life more significantly.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.4/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Lenovo V15 are both 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
7.1/10
7.3/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Lenovo V15 are both 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
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo V15 has 8 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.4in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Lenovo V15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo V15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
"The strengths of the Lenovo V15 G2 AMD lie in its expandability of the RAM and allowing you to use two SSDs, in its performance that goes beyond everyday applications thanks to AMD's hexa-core CPU and Vega-7 iGPU, in its good keyboard, and its relatively robust case. In addition, the battery life of the office laptop is also acceptable, and the device stays cool and relatively quiet."
"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 V15 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.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
126,195
Recommendations made
27,343
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.