The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is considerably more expensive than the MSI Modern 14, but offers superior performance for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering. It comes with a more powerful CPU and GPU, has a higher resolution and refresh rate touchscreen with better color accuracy, and includes additional features like facial recognition. However, it's heavier and less portable. The MSI Modern 14 is a more budget-friendly option that still performs well for general use and is lighter, making it easier to carry around. It lacks a high-performance GPU and its screen is less advanced, which makes it less suitable for demanding tasks and not optimal for engineering or gaming. Depending on whether your priority is high-end performance or affordability and portability, your choice will vary between these two laptops. 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
Good for gaming and AI
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 Modern 14
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.3/10
7.2/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
503.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the MSI Modern 14 is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
6.0/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
6.6/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels in engineering and design use because it is equipped with a powerful Intel processor, extensive RAM, and a robust Nvidia GPU, complemented by a high-quality screen with impressive resolution and color coverage. Conversely, the MSI Modern 14, while more portable and quieter in operation due to its lower heat generation, is less suited to demanding tasks with its mid-range AMD processor and integrated graphics, moderate RAM, and a standard resolution screen that doesn't offer the same color fidelity or screen quality.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.2/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Modern 14 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
7.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 Modern 14 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
6.4/10
14.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
503.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, a laptop like the Surface Laptop Studio 2 with a high-resolution and bright display offers crisp and vibrant visuals, which enhance everyday activities like browsing and video streaming. However, for engineering and design tasks where precise color accuracy is crucial, the same laptop's support of wide color gamuts ensures that designers see true-to-life colors. On the other hand, gamers and 3D artists could be disappointed by the Surface Laptop Studio 2's lower refresh rate, which makes it less suitable for the fluid motion required in fast-paced games and smooth 3D rendering compared to laptops specifically built for gaming that prioritize higher refresh rates.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 has 6 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
Very Good
14.4in
SIZE
14.0in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has very good build quality, while the MSI Modern 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,900
$748
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a price of $2,900 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $748.
"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."
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 or the MSI Modern 14
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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