The Surface Laptop Studio looks to be a marked improvement over previous Surface Laptop models, both in performance and functionality. As expected with the newest tech, it boasts bigger and better specs for improved performance, but this model in particular also can be used as a tablet. Specs-wise, the Surface Laptop Studio uses a 14.4-inch, 2400 x 1600 PixelSense display with a refresh rate up to 120Hz and Dolby Vision support. There’s also a built-in 1080p HD camera with an ambient light sensor, so it can automatically adjust depending on the lighting. It starts with 16GB of RAM and a Quad-core 11th generation Intel i5 processor (up to 32GB of RAM and an Intel i7), too. You also have the option of a removable SSD drive starting at 256GB and going up to 2TB. There are a couple of graphics options, as well, with the Intel i5 version featuring Intel Iris X Graphics and the i7 including a GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. Though perhaps most importantly, the Surface Laptop Studio claims up to 19 hours of battery life for the i5 model, and up to 18 hours for the i7. So it’s a pretty solid laptop, but remember it’s also a tablet. At any point you can pull the display forward to switch to a tablet orientation. This makes the Laptop Studio work better as a display in Stage Mode (i.e. propped up), or as a touch-screen tablet in Studio Mode (i.e. laying down). Integration with the Surface Slim Pen 2 also is baked in, with a dedicated spot for magnetic storage right underneath the lip of the keyboard. The pen will charge itself while it’s attached, too. You can preorder the Surface Laptop Studio today, starting at $1,599.99 and releasing on October 5. Keep in mind that the Surface Slim Pen 2 is not included, so you’ll need to drop an extra $129.99 if you want one.
