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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio offers a balance of performance and portability with its 14.4-inch touchscreen, more suitable for on-the-go professionals who need a versatile device for general use and moderate creative applications. The MSI Raider GE77Hx, however, has a more powerful processor and GPU, providing higher performance for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, but it is more cumbersome due to its larger 17.3-inch screen and heavier build. If prioritizing ease of transport and cost, consider the Surface Laptop Studio, whereas for top-tier performance in demanding scenarios, the Raider GE77Hx is a better fit. 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
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE77Hx
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.0
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio stands out for its portability and better battery life, making it more suitable for general use on-the-go, whereas the MSI Raider GE77Hx, with a more powerful CPU, more storage, and a larger screen, offers higher performance suited for more demanding tasks but trades off with lower portability due to its larger size and weight.
Gaming and AI
6.6
8.7
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE77Hx outperforms the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio in gaming and 3D applications largely because it features a more powerful graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth visuals and responsiveness in such tasks. While both laptops share similar screen qualities, like IPS technology for good color accuracy and viewing angles, the Surface Laptop Studio's less potent GPU and lower refresh rate make it less suited for high-end gaming and intensive 3D work.
Engineering and Design
7.3
8.8
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The MSI Raider GE77Hx offers a more powerful CPU and GPU combination than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, making it very good for demanding engineering and design tasks where high performance is required, but it is less portable due to its larger size and weight. In contrast, the Surface Laptop Studio features a flexible display hinge enabling its use as a drawing tablet, which can be beneficial for design work, along with better portability due to its lighter weight, though it may not handle intensive tasks as smoothly as the Raider.
Content Creation
7.4
8.2
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
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
7.9
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for software development, though the MSI Raider GE77Hx is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
8.0
8.4
14.4in
SIZE
17.3in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE77Hx has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI Raider GE77Hx both have high-resolution displays and good brightness, making them excellent for general tasks such as web browsing and video streaming. For engineering and design work where color accuracy is crucial, these laptops offer strong color gamut coverage, ensuring that colors are vivid and precise. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short on refresh rates which are vital for smooth motion, rendering them less ideal for these fast-paced activities that benefit from quicker screen updates.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE77Hx has 5.5 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
Poor
14.4in
SIZE
17.3in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,700
$1,999
$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 Raider GE77Hx costs $1,999.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI Raider GE77Hx 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and the MSI Raider GE77Hx compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio | MSI Raider GE77Hx |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,700 | $1,999 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | 15.6'' x 11.2'' x 1.02'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4 lbs | 6.39 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.72" | 15.63" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.98" | 11.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11370H | Intel i7-12800HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.4" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1600 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 491 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 5.9/10 | |
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 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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 Raider GE77Hx
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | July 2022
"The MSI Raider GE77 offers a lot of power for a lot of money. The main components consist of a Core i9-12900HX CPU, a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU (175 watts TGP, 16 GB VRAM), and 64 GB of RAM, which makes for a high overall performance level. The GeForce GPU in particular scores some of the highest scores we have seen from this chip. Both the CPU and the GPU are able to run at continuously high clock speeds. The relatively high heat and noise emissions match our expectations for this device class. With approximately 5.5 to 6.5 hours, the battery life is good for a powerful 4K laptop."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio or the MSI Raider GE77Hx
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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