MSI Creator M14 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 Comparison

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MSI Creator M14

14 inches | January 2024

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Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

14.4 inches | September 2023

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MSI Creator M14 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 Comparison Overview

MSI Creator M14

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Microsoft Surface La...

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MSI Creator M14

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Microsoft Surface La...

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In this review, we will be comparing Creator M14 and Surface Laptop Studio 2, two laptops from MSI and Microsoft. MSI Creator M14 was introduced to market in January 2024 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 was launched in September 2023. There is only 4 months difference between Creator M14 and Surface Laptop Studio 2 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of MSI Creator M14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MSI Creator M14 Key Specs

Launched in January 2024
14.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 13620H
GPU: GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
314.7 x 233.5 x 18.6-22.3 mm (12.39 x 9.19 x 0.73-0.88 inches)
Weight: 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 Key Specs

Launched in September 2023
14.4" Touchscreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 13700H
GPU: GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
323 x 230 x 22 mm (12.72 x 9.06 x 0.87 inches)
Weight: 1.98 kg (4.37 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Creator M14 and Surface Laptop Studio 2 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose MSI Creator M14 over Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

Weight	1.60 kg vs 1.98 kg	0.38 kg lighter
Side Bezel Thickness	6.6 mm vs 9.3 mm	2.7 mm thinner bezels
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	More RAM Options
Number of USB-A Ports	2x USB 3.2 vs 1x USB 3.1	Connect more device at the same time
USB-A Port Type	3.2 vs 3.1	Faster USB-A
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45

Reasons to choose Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 over MSI Creator M14

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~83.1% vs ~77.3%	Larger screen area ratio
Display Size	14.4 inches vs 14 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	120 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	200 ppi vs 162 ppi	More pixels per inch
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Interact with your fingers
Screen Resolution	2400 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1200 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
GPU FLOPS	7.9 TFLOPS vs 6.8 TFLOPS	Charges via USB-C type cable
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	2x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No

Common Strengths of Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and MSI Creator M14

Launch Dates	January 2024 vs September 2023	Both laptops are recent models
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and MSI Creator M14

Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

MSI Creator M14 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the MSI Creator M14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)	1.98 kg (4.37 lbs)
Surface Area	735 cm2 (113.9 inches2)	743 cm2 (115.2 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~77.3%	~83.1%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.6 mm	~9.3 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.11 kg/inch	0.14 kg/inch
	0.242 lbs/inch	0.308 lbs/inch
Colors	Gray	Silver
Cover Opening Angle	180Â°	180Â°

Comparison of the MSI Creator M14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 External Dimensions

Weight

Creator M14 weighs 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs), whereas the Surface Laptop Studio 2 weighs 1.98 kg (4.37 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

MSI Creator M14 1.60 kg

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 1.98 kg

Min 0.88 kg

Average 1.42 kg

Max 2.19 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

MSI Creator M14 22.30 mm

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 22.00 mm

Min

1.46 mm

Average 17 mm

Max 32.50 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the MSI Creator M14 is 0.11 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is 0.14 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

MSI Creator M14 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i7 13620H Intel Core i7 13700H	Intel Core i7 13700H Intel Core i7 13800H
Base Frequency	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.9 GHz	5 GHz
Number of Cores	10 (6P + 4E)	14
Number of Threads	16	20
L3 Cache	24 MB	24 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (64EU)	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (96EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1796	1904
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	11376	13394
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1816	1882
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	15497	16430

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the MSI Creator M14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 13620H

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 13700H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB RTX A2000 Mobile 8GB
Base Clock Frequency	1455 MHz	1455 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1755 MHz	1755 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	50 W	50 W
Nvidia Optimus	Yes, Advanced Optimus
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	96 bit	96 bit
Memory Speed	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	2560	2560
TMUs	80	80
ROPs	48	48

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. MSI Creator M14 has a FLOPS value of 6.8 TFLOPS whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 ' has a FLOPS value of 7.9 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB	16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	5200 MHz	7500 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	LPDDR5X
Upgradable	Yes	No
Max RAM Size	64 GB
Total Slots	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

Both laptops, the Creator M14 and the Surface Laptop Studio 2, come with similar RAM capacities of 16 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	MSI Creator M14	Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	53.5 Wh	58 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	No
USB Power Delivery	No	Yes
Charging Port Position	Right	Left
Charge Power	120 W	102 / 120 W

On the other hand, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 features a higher battery capacity of 58 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the Creator M14's 54 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

MSI Creator M14 54 Wh

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 58 Wh

Min 32.00 Wh

Average 55.93 Wh

Max 90.00 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Creator M14 and the Surface Laptop Studio 2 have similar max. storage capacities of 2 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	1	1
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

MSI Creator M14 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the MSI Creator M14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Creator M14 has a display size of 14.0".On the other hand, Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a larger14.4" display.The total usable screen area of the Creator M14 is 568cm² / 88inch² whereas the Surface Laptop Studio 2's total usable screen area is 617cm² / 96inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 features a higher pixel density with 200 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

MSI Creator M14 162 ppi

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 200 ppi

Min 112 PPI

Average 173 PPI

Max 323.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

MSI Creator M14 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6E), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Creator M14 and Surface Laptop Studio 2 have USB-A ports. Creator M14 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Surface Laptop Studio 2 has 1x USB 3.1 USB-A ports.
Both Creator M14 and Surface Laptop Studio 2 have USB Type-C ports. Creator M14 has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports, while Surface Laptop Studio 2 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Surface Laptop Studio 2 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Creator M14 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Creator M14 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. Surface Laptop Studio 2 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Surface Laptop Studio 2 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Creator M14 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Creator M14 and Surface Laptop Studio 2 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	1x USB 3.1
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 3.2	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	No	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	No
SD CardReader	No	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	No