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Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio comes down to your preferences in terms of performance, versatility, and design. The Surface Laptop 5 is lighter and more portable, making it suitable for general use that requires mobility. The Surface Laptop Studio, on the other hand, offers a more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card, better suited for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, gaming, and engineering tasks. Its flexible hinge also allows it to be used as a drawing tablet, providing additional creative functionality. If you prioritize performance and versatility over portability, the Laptop Studio is the better choice. However, for everyday tasks and ease of carrying, the Surface Laptop 5 would be more convenient. Both have similar battery life and display quality, so those factors may be less decisive in your consideration. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Excellent portability
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.2
8.0
13.5in
SIZE
14.4in
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a display with the resolution and clarity suitable for general tasks and sufficient brightness making it pleasant to use, while for engineering and design, its ability to represent colors accurately is adequate, though not class-leading. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio steps up with an even better display, offering sharper details and broader color coverage, which is excellent for professionals needing precision in color work for engineering or design projects. However, both laptops have screens with lower refresh rates, which makes them less ideal for 3D work and gaming, where smoother motion and quicker screen refreshes are crucial for the best experience.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.5in
SIZE
14.4in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,200
$1,700
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a price of $1,200 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,700.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.4
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" boasts portability with its lightweight design and good battery life, suitable for on-the-go use with its solid CPU and RAM for general tasks, as well as a quality display; however, it struggles with heat management.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.6
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
2256 x 1504
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a less powerful integrated graphics unit and a standard screen refresh rate, which are adequate for less demanding games and 3D tasks, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio boasts a more capable dedicated graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, offering improved performance for gaming and 3D applications, albeit at the cost of heavier weight and typically higher price.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a solid balance of power with its Intel i7 processor and Iris Xe graphics, suitable for engineering and design; while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio steps up with a more capable i7 processor and a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, which enhances performance for graphics-intensive tasks but is heavier and less portable. Both have high-quality IPS displays and ample RAM, but the Laptop Studio's ability to double as a drawing tablet with its flexible hinge may give it the edge for design use, despite being less portable and having a slightly bulkier build.
Content Creation
7.4
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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.
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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,200 | $1,700 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.86 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.1" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.8" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-11370H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 47.4 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.5" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2256 x 1504 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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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