If high-end gaming or 3D modeling is a priority, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 with a more powerful GPU is the superior option. However, it's significantly more expensive and less portable due to its weight. On the other hand, the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is more affordable and offers greater portability, which is suitable for daily productivity and professional tasks. It sports a superior battery life for longer use without the need for charging but may fall short for intensive tasks due to a less powerful GPU and lower RAM. Choose the Surface for power-intensive tasks and the MSI for a balance of affordability, portability, and battery performance. 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
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
Very good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
6.5/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers enhanced gaming and 3D performance due to its superior RTX 4060 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 120Hz, which are very important for smooth and detailed visuals. On the other hand, the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo, with its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and a standard refresh rate of 60Hz, provides a competent but less impressive experience for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
7.7/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is better for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7-13700H CPU, superior Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, and ample RAM, which are crucial for running demanding design software and simulations, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo, although good with a capable CPU and integrated graphics, offers less performance power which may limit its use in more intensive tasks. Additionally, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 features a higher resolution and contrast screen enhancing visuals for design work, but trade-offs include less portability and possibly more operational noise compared to the lighter and quieter MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.8/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
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 Summit E14 Flip Evo 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
7.7/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for software development, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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
7.7/10
14.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
503.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
468.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo for gaming and AI, software development, and content creation.
When selecting a laptop for general use, factors like panel type, resolution, and brightness are essential; both the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo have high-resolution displays with vibrant panels that are bright and clear, offering great visibility and clarity for everyday tasks. For engineering and design work, accurate color representation is crucial for precision, and these laptops feature displays with a wide color gamut, ensuring that professionals see true-to-life colors across different applications. However, for gaming and 3D rendering, a high refresh rate is critical to keep motion smooth and responsive; these laptops have lower refresh rates, which can lead to less fluid visuals during fast-paced action or complex 3D modeling.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has 7 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
3.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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
7.4/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has very good build quality, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,300
$1,599
$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 Summit E14 Flip Evo costs $1,599.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, with a faster CPU, more RAM, and superior screen quality, provides a more fluid experience for general use compared to the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo, which offers longer battery life and better portability at the expense of reduced performance and screen resolution. While both are suitable for general tasks, the Surface Laptop Studio 2's enhanced specifications make it a better fit for more demanding applications, although it does come with a shorter battery life and is less portable than the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo.
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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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 Summit E14 Flip convertible review: a legit alternative to HP, Dell or Lenovo. Instead of taking the 13-inch Summit E13 Flip and simply enlarging it for a 14-inch form factor, the Summit E14 Flip is the full chassis redesign we've been looking for. It loses some of the golden trims of its smaller sibling, but the gains in rigidity and build quality are arguably worth it especially from a professional standpoint where reliability takes priority. It doesn't quite feel as strong as the HP Spectre just yet, but it's certainly getting close."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 or the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
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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