I was excited about the battery life on the Surface Laptop Studio 2 then I read the small print

Date:
Tue, 26 Sep 2023 20:49:45 +0000

Description:
Microsoft claims its high-end laptop can last 18 hours, but how, exactly, did it reach this figure?

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One of the most important factors when looking for a new laptop is battery life. Given power and performance is getting better with every generation, it might even be the most important. At the premium end of the market, high-end devices can be extremely versatile and powerful, but this usually comes at
the cost of battery life, which can be a real inhibitor in the hybrid working age.

Enter the Surface Laptop Studio 2, announced at the recent Microsoft Surface Event 2023 , which marks a watershed moment for Windows machines. From every angle, it looks the real deal. A 13th-Gen Intel Core CPU is paired with an
80W Nvidia GeForce RTX4060 GPU , with the machine also boasting up to 64GB
RAM and 2TB SSD.

Starting from $1,999.99, this device isnt just comparable to the best laptops out there, but it can even give Apples MacBook Pro a run for its money based on the manufacturers claims . Do claims around the Surface Laptop Studio 2 really stack up?

Few Windows devices can outpace the MacBook Pro on performance, let alone
meet or exceed its battery life, thanks to the in-house M-series CPUs, like the M2 Ultra , Apple fits into them.

But not only does the Surface Laptop Studio 2 claim to outpace the latest MacBook Pro, it also has a staggering 18 hours maximum battery life, which Microsoft attained in controlled demos.

The MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) lasts more than 19 hours on a single charge,
by way of comparison.

This is a game changer: at last, a powerful high-end, possibly MacBook Pro killer, that can deliver high-end performance for close to a full day of usage. Or, at least, thats what I thought until I read the find print.

Digging deeper, it seems thes controlled demos are more akin to a light jog than anywhere near the strenuous typical day-to-day activity any user would naturally put the Surface Laptop Studio 2 under.

Microsoft achieved this battery lifespan by employing a few tricks, including running the device at low brightness and a portion of time with the device in use with idle applications.

We cannot, with confidence, claim the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has
an 18-hour battery life, or anywhere close it, without putting the machine to the test ourselves.

Microsofts controlled conditions arent reflective of typical day-to-day
usage, but well be sure to verify this as soon as we can. Because, on paper
at least, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 could well be a major entry into the premium market. Whether this works out in practice remains to be seen. More from TechRadar Pro Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) review: a solid upgrade
to an amazing laptop These are the best laptops out there right now We've rounded up the best laptops for working from home



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/i-was-excited-about-the-battery-life-on-the-surf ace-laptop-studio-2-then-i-read-the-small-print


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