The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers a balance of portability and performance with a touch screen and a unique 3:2 aspect ratio, ideal for productivity tasks; however, it is typically more expensive. In contrast, the MSI Stealth GS77 has a larger screen and a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio suitable for gaming and media consumption, with added cost savings. The MSI also has a higher battery capacity. If you prioritize a bigger display and lower cost, the MSI might be your preferred choice, whereas if portability and a touch screen are more important, you may lean towards the Surface Laptop Studio 2. 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
Good portability
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS77
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.9/10
8.3/10
14.4in
SIZE
17.3in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
503.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS77 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 boasts a display with high resolution, brilliant brightness, and a panel type that excels in clarity, making it superb for general use and detail-oriented tasks like engineering and design, as reliable color reproduction is critical. However, its lower refresh rate may lead to a less fluid experience in gaming and 3D applications, where fast-moving visuals are common and higher refresh rates are necessary for smooth play.
Similarly, the MSI Stealth GS77's display is tailored for general and professional use, offering vibrant colors and crisp visuals, but gamers and 3D designers may find the refresh rate lacking, as it doesn't support the high frame rates needed for the best gaming experience and for working with fast-paced 3D animations.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS77 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
Fair
14.4in
SIZE
17.3in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has good portability, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,900
$2,499
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a price of $2,900 and the MSI Stealth GS77 costs $2,499.
The MSI Stealth GS77 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are both very good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is praised for its versatility, with a high-quality screen, powerful CPU, plentiful RAM, and a flexible hinge that allows it to be used as a tablet, making it exceptional for general use; however, its portability and battery life aren't as impressive as some may need. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS77 features a robust CPU and ample RAM, a larger screen with great resolution, and a long battery life, but it is heavier and less compact, which might affect its ease of transport for daily use.
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
7.9/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, with an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a 120Hz screen refresh rate, offers good performance for gaming and 3D applications but the MSI Stealth GS77 takes it up a notch with a superior Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and an even higher 240Hz screen refresh rate, enhancing the gaming experience even further.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
8.7/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
64.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS77 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 stands out for engineering and design due to its high RAM capacity and versatile display hinge that supports both laptop and drawing tablet modes with a high-resolution touchscreen, making it suitable for detailed design work. The MSI Stealth GS77 packs a powerful CPU and GPU combo suitable for engineering applications, features a large high-resolution screen for extensive viewing, and comes with considerable battery capacity, yet it's less portable and heavier than the Microsoft option, which might be a concern for users on the go.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.3/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
64.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and MSI Stealth GS77 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
8.2/10
8.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
64.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and MSI Stealth GS77 are both very good for software development.
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
8.5/10
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and MSI Stealth GS77 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 Stealth GS77 compare to other laptops
"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 MSI Stealth GS77 is better than the GS76... mostly. The GS77 is a few steps forward and a few steps back from the GS76. Improvements are numerous including the stronger and more rigid skeleton, higher resolution webcam, larger clickpad, easier serviceability, relatively similar battery runtimes, newer display options, and higher performance at about the same TDP and TGP levels as before. CPU performance is better than expected even when compared to other laptops with Core i7 or Core i9 processors. The newer model feels more substantial than the outgoing one for higher quality impressions as well."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 or the MSI Stealth GS77
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
97,395
Recommendations made
21,103
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.