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Updated March 22, 2024·
When selecting between the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and the MSI Titan, consider that the Surface is more budget-friendly and offers great flexibility for everyday tasks and mobility, ideal for general use. On the other hand, the MSI Titan is designed for high-end gaming and demanding applications like 3D rendering and machine learning, offering superior performance at a higher cost. If portability and battery life are priorities, the Surface is suitable; for peak performance in gaming or engineering, choose the Titan despite its additional weight and reduced battery life. 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
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
- Very good for general use
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Excellent for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Excellent speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.8
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with a balance of CPU power, ample RAM, and high screen quality, provides smooth performance for everyday tasks, making it a solid choice for general use; it also offers the advantage of being more portable and having a longer-lasting battery than the MSI Titan 18 HX. Whereas the MSI Titan, with its superior CPU and RAM, excels in power and performance for more demanding applications, but this comes with trade-offs in portability and shorter battery life, which might not be as critical for users who prioritize top-notch performance and larger screen real estate over mobility.
Gaming and AI
6.6
9.4
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with its moderate GPU and screen refresh rate, handles gaming and 3D tasks adequately but doesn't excel in the same way as the MSI Titan 18 HX, which has a superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate designed for high-end gaming and 3D performance. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the MSI's standout graphics performance and smoother visuals make it a more powerful choice for demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.3
9.9
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio boasts a versatile touchscreen and premium build making it suitable for on-the-go design tasks with decent power under the hood, while the MSI Titan 18 HX offers top-tier CPU and GPU performance which is ideal for the most demanding engineering and design applications, albeit at the cost of portability and increased operating noise. While the Surface Laptop Studio offers a balance between performance and portability with a quality keyboard and quieter operation, the Titan's focus on raw power and a superior screen makes it less travel-friendly with a potentially louder cooling system.
Content Creation
7.4
9.0
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent 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
8.9
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
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
9.2
14.4in
SIZE
18.0in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a vibrant display with high resolution and brightness, making it excellent for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos; its support for wide color gamuts benefits precise color work required in engineering and design. The MSI Titan, with its superior screen, amplifies these qualities further with a display that offers outstanding resolution and brightness for general use and more comprehensive color spectrum coverage, vital for professional design tasks. However, both laptops aren't ideal for gaming and 3D applications, as their screens lack the high refresh rates necessary for the smooth visuals these activities demand.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
18.0in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,700
$4,949
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a price of $1,700 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,949.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI Titan 18 HX 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 Titan 18 HX compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio | MSI Titan 18 HX |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,700 | $4,949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | 15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4 lbs | 7.93 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.72" | 15.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.98" | 12.08" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11370H | Intel i9-14900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 128 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 4096 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.4" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1600 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 491 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 5.1/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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 | Yes | |
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 Titan 18 HX
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | January 2024
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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