A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, a high-end device with a larger battery, superior color coverage, and a lighter weight, makes it more suitable for demanding tasks and travel. Its touchscreen and 3:2 aspect ratio screen benefit creative and professional work. The MSI Raider GE77Hx offers better value for money, a larger screen, and a robust build, making it ideal for gaming and engineering. However, it is heavier, which impacts portability. If budget is a concern and you prioritize gaming or require a more extensive keyboard layout with a number pad, the MSI may be your preference, while the Surface Laptop Studio 2 is geared towards professionals seeking a high-performance, travel-friendly option. 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 software development
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE77Hx
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7
8.7
7.5/10
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 2 is good.
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is better suited for gaming and 3D applications due to its superior GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, coupled with a higher screen refresh rate of 240Hz, providing smoother visuals essential for fast-paced games. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers a solid experience with an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a 120Hz refresh rate but doesn't measure up to the MSI's higher-end performance for gaming and 3D tasks.
Screen Quality
7.9
8.4
14.4in
SIZE
17.3in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
503.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the MSI Raider GE77Hx for software development, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers a vibrant, high-resolution display that excels in clarity and color reproduction, making it excellent for general use and professional tasks like engineering and design, where precise color representation is crucial. However, its lower refresh rate may not deliver the smooth visuals desired by gamers or those using 3D applications, where faster screen refreshes are key to a seamless experience. Conversely, the MSI Raider GE77Hx, while also providing a sharp and brightly colored screen ideal for everyday tasks and color-sensitive work, may similarly fall short for gaming and 3D due to its refresh rate limitations.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 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
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has good portability, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$3,300
$1,999
$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 Raider GE77Hx costs $1,999.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
8.3
8.0
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
503.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and MSI Raider GE77Hx are both very good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 boasts a high amount of RAM and a sharp, bright screen with touch capability which enhances its versatility, especially as it can convert into a drawing tablet with a flexible hinge, but its battery life is moderate and it's not quite as portable. Meanwhile, the MSI Raider GE77Hx offers ample screen size with excellent color coverage and high refresh rate, ideal for an immersive experience, though it's heavier and less portable with a lower battery life, and it also comes with a larger and more powerful CPU, contributing to its suitability for general use despite having less RAM than the Surface Studio 2.
Engineering and Design
8.7
8.8
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE77Hx and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 boasts a powerful Intel i7 processor, high RAM capacity, advanced RTX GPU, and a high-resolution touchscreen display with high color accuracy, suitable for precise engineering and design work while maintaining good portability and keyboard quality.
Content Creation
8.4
8.2
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and MSI Raider GE77Hx are both very 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
8.2
7.9
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 to be very good for software development, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and the MSI Raider GE77Hx compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 | MSI Raider GE77Hx |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,300 | $1,999 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9.1'' x 0.86'' | 15.6'' x 11.2'' x 1.02'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 6.39 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.72" | 15.63" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 11.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i7-12800HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 64 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 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 | 503 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 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 2
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"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."
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 2 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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 vs. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 vs. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 vs. Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
VS
Compare MSI Raider GE77Hx vs. Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
VS
Compare MSI Raider GE77Hx vs. HP Omen Transcend 14
VS
Compare MSI Raider GE77Hx vs. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
124,995
Recommendations made
27,083
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
