A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio offers better performance for intensive engineering tasks, superior screen resolution, quality with higher pixel density, and a touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio that may benefit productivity software. It also has a unique design that allows for different modes of use, but it's less portable and more expensive. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15, while more affordable, provides a larger screen, higher refresh rate for smoother visuals, and newer processor. Its gaming laptop appearance might appeal to gamers and it also has a backlit keyboard with customizable colors, but it has less RAM which can affect multitasking and complex applications. The Surface Laptop Studio has a slightly better build quality and screen for general use, whereas the Cyborg 15 might offer better heat management and is newer on the market. 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 Studio
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6
7.2
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is only fair.
The MSI Cyborg 15 provides a better experience for gaming and 3D applications since it has a more powerful GPU in the Nvidia RTX 4060 and a higher screen refresh rate at 144Hz, compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio's Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti and 120Hz refresh rate. While both laptops have high-quality IPS screens, the higher GPU power and refresh rate in the MSI Cyborg 15 makes it more suitable for the faster and smoother visuals required for intensive gaming and 3D rendering.
Screen Quality
8.0
6.8
14.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio boasts a higher resolution and a brighter display, making it ideal for viewing documents and browsing the web, while its wide color gamut suits professionals in engineering and design who need precise color accuracy. However, its lower refresh rate is a drawback for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key. The MSI Cyborg 15's more average display attributes meet the basic requirements for general and engineering use but might not impress those with demanding visual standards, and similarly falls short for gamers and 3D designers due to its insufficient refresh rate.
Portability
Good
Good
14.4in
SIZE
15.6in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI Cyborg 15 both have good portability, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
6.7
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a price of $1,700 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.3
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is suited for general use because of its high-quality screen, versatile touch-enabled display hinge, and solid CPU and RAM configuration, which ensures smooth operation for most tasks, complemented by a respectable battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15, on the other hand, despite having a powerful CPU and ample RAM for general use, stands out with its gaming-laptop design, with efficient heat management and robust speakers; however, it has a bulkier form factor and slightly less battery life.
Engineering and Design
7.3
7.5
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI Cyborg 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is favored in engineering and design for its higher RAM, premium GPU, and superior screen quality with a high contrast ratio and coverage of color spaces, which is imperative for precision tasks. Meanwhile, the MSI Cyborg 15, with a more advanced CPU and a dedicated gaming GPU, provides robust performance for engineering simulations and 3D design, albeit with a tradeoff in screen color accuracy and contrast but gains an edge with a higher refresh rate for smooth visuals.
Content Creation
7.4
7.5
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Cyborg 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
7.3
7.2
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI Cyborg 15 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
7.5 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio | MSI Cyborg 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,700 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | 14.2'' x 9.9'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4 lbs | 4.37 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.72" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.98" | 9.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11370H | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.4" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 491 nits | 234 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
See more
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."
MSI Cyborg 15
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | April 2023
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio or the MSI Cyborg 15
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio vs. Gigabyte Aorus 17
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio vs. Gigabyte Aorus 15
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio vs. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
VS
Compare MSI Cyborg 15 vs. MSI GF65 Thin
VS
Compare MSI Cyborg 15 vs. Gigabyte G5
VS
Compare MSI Cyborg 15 vs. MSI Bravo 15
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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
124,995
Recommendations made
27,083
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.
Featured in
