🎨 Surface Laptop Studio Review: A Three-in-One Marvel or a Niche Gimmick?
By MKBHD (Adapted & Expanded)
"Hey, what’s up? MKBHD here."
The Surface Laptop Studio is one of those devices that makes you pause and say, “Wait, what exactly is this trying to be?”
And that’s a fair question—because Microsoft’s latest Surface device is kind of trying to be three things at once. It’s part laptop, part tablet, part digital easel. It borrows DNA from the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, and the Surface Studio all-in-one. The result? Something quite unique, even if not completely new.
Let’s dive deep into what makes the Surface Laptop Studio an intriguing, albeit slightly puzzling, addition to the Surface family.
💼 Three Modes, One Device
The star of the show here is versatility. The Surface Laptop Studio features a clever hinge system that enables three distinct modes of use:
1. Laptop Mode
Your standard clamshell experience. With a 3:2 aspect ratio and a 120Hz high-refresh display, it’s great for multitasking in Windows 11. This is the mode most people will find familiar and functional.
2. Stage Mode
Pull the screen forward and let it rest just above the keyboard. The keyboard is hidden, but the trackpad is still usable. This mode is ideal for:
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Watching videos
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Gaming with a controller
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Using touch-first apps
It gives off iPad-in-a-folio-case vibes, and it’s surprisingly useful for casual interaction or media consumption.
3. Tablet Mode
Fold the display all the way down, covering the keyboard completely. Now, it's a tablet. Not the most comfortable tablet to hold, but a useful setup for pen input and full touchscreen interaction. Especially useful for sketching, note-taking, or annotation with the Surface Slim Pen 2.
🧩 Design: Sleek, Solid, a Little Chunky
Visually, the Surface Laptop Studio is stunning, but also… layered.
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Material: Magnesium and aluminum give it a premium, rigid feel.
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Form Factor: It looks like a “double-decker MacBook Pro” thanks to the raised base platform.
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Portability: It's thicker than most laptops due to the complex hinge mechanics, but still feels modern and sleek.
One gripe? The air gaps around the display. They’re not uniform and can look a bit unfinished. Not a deal-breaker, but noticeable.
🔌 Ports & Connectivity: Where Are the Slots?
This is where things start to feel a little off for a “creator-focused” machine.
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✅ 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports
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✅ Headphone jack
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✅ Surface Connect port
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❌ No SD card reader
For a laptop marketed toward creative pros, omitting an SD card slot feels like a strange decision. If you’re a photographer or videographer, you’re reaching for that USB-C dongle real fast.
⌨️ Input Experience: Keyboard, Trackpad & Pen
🔤 Keyboard
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Minimal board flex
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Great key travel and tactile feel
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Excellent for typing sessions
🖱️ Trackpad
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One of the best trackpads on any Windows laptop
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Haptic feedback is on MacBook-level quality
🖊️ Surface Slim Pen 2
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Attaches magnetically under the front lip (and charges there)
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Includes haptic feedback to simulate writing on paper
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Works beautifully in tablet mode and pairs well with Stage Mode for digital art or notes
🎥 Display, Webcam & Sound
🖥️ Display
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14.4” PixelSense Flow display
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120Hz refresh rate
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Vibrant, smooth, and responsive
📸 Webcam
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1080p resolution
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Only 2MP but produces good color and exposure
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Far better than the average laptop webcam
🔈 Speakers
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No visible speaker grills
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Sound comes from under the keyboard/side vents
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Weak bass, average overall sound—not great for media consumption
⚙️ Performance & Pricing
The base model starts at $1,599, but if you want the power and GPU to match the creative ambitions, you'll be looking at around $2,100+ for:
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Intel Core i7
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16GB RAM
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512GB SSD
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
While this setup is decent, there are AMD-based laptops in this price range that outperform it. It’s not the most powerful machine, but it is versatile. And with Thunderbolt 4, you can add an external GPU if you want to beef it up later.
🧠 Windows 11: A Mixed Bag (For Now)
Windows 11 feels polished in some areas and unrefined in others.
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Touch targets get larger when switching out of laptop mode—nice!
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New multitasking controls and animations are a step forward
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But there are still UI quirks and missing features
Want a full deep dive on Windows 11? MKBHD recommends watching The Verge’s full Windows 11 review.
🎯 Final Thoughts: Who Is This For?
Let’s be honest: this laptop isn’t for everyone.
It’s not the best performer. It doesn’t have the best speakers. It’s not packed with ports.
But it does offer a unique experience for those who:
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Value form factor innovation
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Want a solid digital sketching + productivity hybrid
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Love to tinker with touch, pen, and tablet workflows
And maybe that’s enough.
“Where else are you going to find a laptop with a design like this, with a double-decker layer and this cool hinge?”
Exactly.
Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this breakdown, make sure to stay tuned for more insights and reviews coming soon.
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