If you prioritize a device with high performance and can afford a higher-priced option, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, with its superior processor and more RAM, is better suited for intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, and machine learning. However, its portability is limited due to its weight. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15 offers less power but at a significantly lower price and nearly the same portability, making it an adequate choice for general use and casual gaming, but less ideal for demanding engineering applications. 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 2
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
The MSI Cyborg 15 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Key differences
General Use
8.3/10
7.3/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
503.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 boasts a more powerful CPU, significantly more RAM, and a higher resolution touchscreen with a versatile hinge, making it better suited for multitasking and creative tasks over the MSI Cyborg 15, which has a less robust processor and less RAM but compensates with a slightly larger screen.
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
7.2/10
7.5/10
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is somewhat better.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels in gaming and 3D tasks with its high-performance GPU and a screen refresh rate suitable for smooth visuals, complemented by its capable CPU and high-quality display. The MSI Cyborg 15 also caters to gaming and 3D applications, featuring a similarly powerful GPU and an even higher screen refresh rate for optimal gaming experiences, along with a solid CPU and screen quality to support demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
7.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
64.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 provides superior performance for engineering and design thanks to its higher RAM capacity, more powerful CPU, and significantly better screen quality, which is essential for detailed work. Meanwhile, the MSI Cyborg 15, while also equipped with a capable GPU for engineering tasks, is held back by lower RAM, which could limit complex task handling, and a less impressive screen, but it offers a larger screen size and slightly better battery life, making it more suitable for longer use away from power sources.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
64.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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
8.2/10
7.2/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
64.0 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 2 is very good for software development, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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
7.9/10
6.8/10
14.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
503.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 boasts a high-resolution display with bright colors, making it suitable for everyday tasks and professional design work, as it can accurately represent a wide range of colors critical for engineering and design projects. The MSI Cyborg 15 has a display that provides adequate clarity and brightness, meeting the baseline needs for general activities and technical applications, but its color representation may not be as precise for professional design standards. While both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to lower refresh rates, they could still handle less demanding visual tasks.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 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
$3,300
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a price of $3,300 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
"The new Surface Laptop Studio with its foldable display is supposed to replace the old Surface Book and the overall impression is good after our review. The build quality and the materials are top-notch, the performance utilization of the two components is solid and the device does not show any major flaws in terms of display or speakers, either. The folding mechanism leaves a sold impression as well, but it remains to be seen how it will hold up over the years. The so-called presentation mode is also not ideal since it covers the whole keyboard."
"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 2 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.
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.
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