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Updated January 10, 2024·
To help you decide between the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and the MSI GP66 Leopard, consider your primary use for the laptop. If you're looking for a device that's versatile with a touch screen and can be used for drawing or as a tablet, the Surface Laptop Studio offers that flexibility. If your focus is on gaming or tasks that require more powerful graphics processing, the MSI GP66 Leopard is tailored for high-end performance in these areas. In terms of portability, the Surface is typically lighter and easier to carry around, while the MSI might be heavier but offers superior gaming hardware. Battery life also tends to be better on devices like the Surface that are designed for business and general use rather than the high-performance gaming laptops like the MSI, which can consume more power. If price is a major concern, you'll usually find that high-performance gaming laptops come at a higher cost. Consider the balance between your budget, the need for portability, battery longevity, and the performance needed for your specific tasks when making your choice. 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
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GP66 Leopard
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6
7.8
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics card and a screen that refreshes at 120 times per second, which are fair for gaming and 3D applications, whereas the MSI GP66 Leopard boasts a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 144 times per second, leading to smoother visuals and better performance in the same tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.3
7.9
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI GP66 Leopard and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for engineering and design, though the MSI GP66 Leopard is somewhat better.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is designed for engineering and design tasks with a CPU that handles complex computations efficiently, a GPU that supports detailed visual work, and a high-resolution screen with excellent color coverage for precise design work; it also offers flexibility as a drawing tablet due to its hinged display. In comparison, the MSI GP66 Leopard sports a more powerful GPU, favorable for resource-intensive engineering software and 3D work, with a higher capacity battery and capable thermals for sustained performance, albeit it's heavier and less portable, making it suitable for situations where the laptop remains stationary for longer periods.
Screen Quality
8.0
7.5
14.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen than the MSI GP66 Leopard for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio boasts a high-resolution display and panel type that deliver crisp, vibrant visuals, making it excellent for general use and detailed engineering work which benefit from its wide color gamuts, but it lacks the high refresh rate needed for smooth 3D graphics rendering, detracting from gaming experiences. On the other hand, the MSI GP66 Leopard, while offering a decent resolution and color accuracy for everyday tasks and engineering applications, falls short in providing an optimal gaming and 3D modeling experience due to its lower refresh rate. For those prioritizing day-to-day tasks and precision in design or engineering software, the Surface Laptop Studio's screen may be more appealing; however, if less-than-optimal gaming performance is acceptable, the MSI GP66 could still be a good fit.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI GP66 Leopard 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
Good
Fair
14.4in
SIZE
15.6in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,700
$1,400
$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 GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.5
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio offers significant portability with its flexible hinge that doubles as a drawing tablet and a high-resolution touchscreen, but its battery life is moderate; meanwhile, the MSI GP66 Leopard features a powerful CPU and superior graphics card suited for intensive uses, however, it is less portable and also has only a moderate battery life.
Content Creation
7.4
7.4
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI GP66 Leopard 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
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI GP66 Leopard 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
8.5
8.0
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI GP66 Leopard 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and the MSI GP66 Leopard compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio | MSI GP66 Leopard |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,700 | $1,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | May 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | 14.1'' x 10.5'' x 0.92'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4 lbs | 5.25 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.72" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.98" | 10.51" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11370H | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58 Wh | 65 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 | 362 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 6.9/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 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 | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 0 | |
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
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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."
MSI GP66 Leopard
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | December 2021
"The MSI GP66 Leopard is a good budget high-performance gamer. The MSI also does a lot right outside of the pure performance despite it's low price. For example, the adaptive cooling system really surprised us positively, even in Extreme Performance Mode. And the display is not a budget panel either, but at least outshines the competition in terms of brightness. Of course, you also have to accept a few compromises in this price category. These include the Leopard's poor battery runtimes and the less than optimal build quality, which is also noticeable in the more complicated maintenance."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio or the MSI GP66 Leopard
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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