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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize high-end performance for tasks like 3D rendering, engineering software, or even intensive gaming, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is an excellent choice, but it's less portable and comes at a higher price. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is more budget-friendly and offers great portability, ideal for general use and professional tasks that don’t require a powerful GPU. Both have high-resolution touchscreens but differ in aspect ratio and refresh rate, with the Surface featuring a higher refresh rate suitable for fast motion. The Lenovo, while less powerful, provides a good balance between performance and mobility for everyday use. 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 keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.3
7.8
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
503.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers a high RAM capacity and powerful CPU, a better GPU for intensive tasks, and a unique flexible hinge for diverse use cases like drawing, which caters well to a broad range of general use scenarios. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, while providing a solid CPU and ample RAM for day-to-day tasks, offers superior portability with its lighter weight and slightly longer battery life, making it a more convenient choice for users who prioritize mobility and basic productivity.
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.4
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is better suited for gaming and 3D due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 120Hz, whereas the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, with its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and a refresh rate of 60Hz, offers more modest gaming and 3D capabilities.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.5
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 Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very suitable for engineering and design thanks to its more powerful CPU, larger RAM capacity, and superior GPU which enable better performance for demanding tasks, combined with a high-quality screen featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and high brightness. In contrast, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s offers decent power for engineering and design with a capable CPU and integrated graphics, it has less RAM and a more modest GPU, which translates to lower performance in intensive tasks, albeit with excellent portability and a high-resolution screen similar to the Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Content Creation
8.4
7.8
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
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 Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
7.7
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
7.2
14.4in
SIZE
13.3in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
503.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels in screen quality for general use and engineering tasks because of its high-resolution display and brightness coupled with wide color gamuts, such as the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, which ensure accurate color reproduction crucial for design work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, it falls short due to a lower refresh rate, which is key for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, with its good screen resolution and panel quality, provides a satisfactory experience for general use and professional design but similarly struggles with gaming and 3D tasks as it also lacks a high refresh rate.
Portability
Good
Excellent
14.4in
SIZE
13.3in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.6
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,900
$1,000
$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 $2,900 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has 8 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,900 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9.1'' x 0.86'' | 11.7'' x 8.3'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 2.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.72" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 8.3" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 64 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58 Wh | 56 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.4" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 503 nits | 336 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
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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."
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Monica Chin | July 2021
"The best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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