Is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (i7-11370H, RTX 3050 Ti, 2021) good for creative work?

For creative work we score it 5/10 on value and 6/10 on performance.

What's the battery life like?

A 56 Wh pack, around 6 hours real-world mixed use. We score battery 5/10.

Can I upgrade the RAM or storage?

RAM is soldered, so the 16 GB it ships with is the RAM it dies with. Storage starts at 512 GB on this configuration.

Photo: Wikipedia contributor · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Microsoft · 2021 · end of life

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

Name: Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Brand: Microsoft
SKU: Surface Laptop Studio (i7-11370H, RTX 3050 Ti, 2021)
Price: 720 USD
Availability: Discontinued

i7-11370H, RTX 3050 Ti, 2021

The first Surface Laptop Studio around 720 dollars used, the clever pull-forward 120Hz convertible with an RTX 3050 Ti.

from $720 last seen 2026-05-22

Find remaining Microsoft stock

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Best for creative work programming
Linux: gaps

Compiled & edited by Dennis de Kruijf · updated 2026-05-22 · how we rate

Scorecard

6.5 / 10

Mean of six category scores, 0 to 10. Compiled from public sources. How we rate.

Strongest on display and build, with no category below average.

Battery 5/10
Display 8/10
Build 8/10
Keyboard 7/10
Speed 6/10
Value 5/10

Worth knowing

Stands out

Bright 500-nit screen, readable in sunlight
120Hz screen, smoother motion

Watch for

Discontinued, sold from remaining stock
Linux needs significant work on this hardware
NVIDIA needs the proprietary driver on Linux

Compare with other laptops

Linux: significant gaps, expand for details

Linux readiness5.4

Works · Best on ubuntu LTS. Confidence: medium · How we score

Specs

Specifications for Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
CPU	Intel Core i7-11370H
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti (4 GB)
RAM	16 GB (soldered, not upgradeable)
Storage	512 GB
Screen	14.4" 2400x1600 @ 120Hz, 500 nitsvery bright, easy in direct sun, smoother scrolling and motion
Weight	1.82 kgaverage weight
Battery	56 Wh, around 6 h real-world

Common questions

Does the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (i7-11370H, RTX 3050 Ti, 2021) work with Linux?: Not cleanly: there are significant gaps, so we don't recommend it for Linux as-is. The original Studio is a better Linux target than the Studio 2 already in this database, but it is still a Surface.
What does the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (i7-11370H, RTX 3050 Ti, 2021) cost?: Last seen around 720 USD (2026-05-22). It is discontinued, so prices vary with remaining stock.
Is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (i7-11370H, RTX 3050 Ti, 2021) good for creative work?: For creative work we score it 5/10 on value and 6/10 on performance.
How heavy is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (i7-11370H, RTX 3050 Ti, 2021)?: 1.82 kg (4.01 lb). That's heavy for a daily commute.
What's the battery life like?: A 56 Wh pack, around 6 hours real-world mixed use. We score battery 5/10.
Can I upgrade the RAM or storage?: RAM is soldered, so the 16 GB it ships with is the RAM it dies with. Storage starts at 512 GB on this configuration.