The 4-pound device also gets pretty bulky and heavy in tablet mode, so we’d recommend using it on a flat service rather than holding it in your hands when drawing or browsing the web.

The laptop’s underside has a slight bump to it - likely to house its many high-end components - that keeps it from looking and feeling quite as sleek as a MacBook Pro or a Razer Blade. While the Laptop Studio has one of the best 2-in-1 designs we’ve seen so far, it’s not without its flaws. It mostly lays flat when you fold it down in Studio mode, though there is a very slight incline that we didn’t really notice when sketching away. By comparison, the Laptop Studio mostly looks like a regular ol’ notebook in laptop mode, and you won’t feel a keyboard on your fingers when you’re using it as a tablet. Notebooks such as the HP Elite Folio and Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 also have folding screens, but you’ll have to deal with either a bulky hinge in the back or a somewhat uncomfortable design that makes you grip the keyboard in tablet mode. Microsoft’s new laptop isn’t the first 2-in-1 with this type of design, but it just might be the most elegant attempt at it yet. If you want a similarly great keyboard within a slimmer design and don’t need as much power, the $999 Surface Laptop 4 is a good mainstream alternative.Ī design that looks like Microsoft’s version of a MacBook You’ll still get more overall multitasking muscle - and longer battery life - out of the M1-powered MacBook Air, but the Laptop Studio is the way to go if your priority is visual work and gaming. How it compares: The Laptop Studio is significantly more powerful (and versatile) than most other Surface devices, especially when it comes to graphics performance.

Its powerful Nvidia graphics make it ideal for demanding visual tasks, and it works great with the optional $129 Surface Slim Pen 2 for drawing or taking notes. What you need to know: The Surface Laptop Studio is Microsoft’s most powerful and versatile Surface yet, with a unique display that can be folded down into tablet mode or pulled forward for an immersive stage mode for watching TV or presenting. Who it’s for: The Surface Laptop Studio is for power users willing to invest in a speedy 2-in-1 that’s great for drawing, video editing, heavy multitasking and even a bit of PC gaming. Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account

Microsoft surface laptop studio 14.4