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Updated January 12, 2024·
The decision between the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio should consider your needs. If you prioritize battery life and portability for everyday tasks, the Surface Laptop 5 would serve you well. However, for more demanding activities like 3D work, gaming, or intensive engineering software, the MSI Stealth with its stronger graphics capabilities is the better option, despite being slightly heavier and potentially having shorter battery life. The Surface Laptop 5 offers a higher resolution and a taller display which could benefit productivity tasks, whereas the MSI has a higher refresh rate suited for smooth visuals crucial in gaming and video editing. Both have the same amount of memory and comparable processors, with the MSI having a more recent and robust processor, making it a future-proof choice to handle multitasking and performance-hungry apps. 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
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.1
7.8
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio stands out for gaming and 3D with its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card and high refresh rate screen, ideal for smooth and detailed visuals in fast-paced games. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and a standard refresh rate screen, which are adequate for casual gaming but not as capable in more demanding scenarios.
Engineering and Design
7.1
8.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" features an efficient CPU and integrated graphics suitable for lighter engineering tasks, alongside a high-resolution touchscreen that improves design work, while maintaining excellent portability and build quality. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio, however, has a more powerful CPU and a dedicated high-performance GPU, substantially enhancing engineering and 3D-heavy workload capabilities at the cost of reduced battery life and a slight increase in weight, but it also boasts a superior sound system.
Screen Quality
7.2
7.6
13.5in
SIZE
14.0in
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for gaming and AI, and software development.
For general use, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 and MSI Stealth Studio excel due to their high-resolution displays and brightness, enabling crisp text and vibrant visuals. In engineering and design, both laptops offer wide color gamuts ensuring accurate color representation for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short because they likely lack high refresh rates essential for smooth motion and fast-paced graphics.
Battery
7.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 5 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
Excellent
Good
13.5in
SIZE
14.0in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,200
$1,520
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a price of $1,200 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,520.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.8
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 has a very good display with high resolution and touch support, making it suitable for general use with good portability and battery life, while the MSI Stealth offers more storage, a faster CPU, and dedicated graphics, better for tasks requiring more power but with less battery life and increased weight. Both have comparable RAM and high-quality keyboards, but the Surface is lighter and more portable with longer battery life, and the Stealth has better performance for intensive tasks at the cost of portability and battery efficiency.
Content Creation
7.4
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 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
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 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.
Build Quality
7.8
7.6
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and MSI Stealth 14 Studio both have 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,200 | $1,520 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.86 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.1" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.8" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 47.4 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.5" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2256 x 1504 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
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."
MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | June 2023
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" or the MSI Stealth 14 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.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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