Microsoft Surface Book vs. Surface Book 2: Which One Should You Choose?
Microsoft's Surface Book series represents a major breakthrough in the design of 2-in-1 convertible laptops. Whether it is the first-generation Surface Book or the subsequent Surface Book 2, they all offer unique advantages for different types of users. Understanding the main differences between these two devices can help buyers make a wise choice based on their own needs and budget. The first-generation Surface Book laid the foundation with its detachable screen design and multi-functionality, while the Surface Book 2 has achieved significant improvements in processor performance, graphics processing capabilities and battery life.This article will compare specs, performance, and pricing between the two generations to help readers decide which Surface Book is best for their needs.
Configuration of Microsoft Surface Book
Appearance and Design
The original Surface Book stood out with its unique detachable design, offering a variety of hardware configurations to meet the performance requirements of different users, including Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, RAM and storage options of different capacities. Its signature pivot hinge design allows the display to separate from the keyboard base, enabling seamless switching between laptop, tablet and studio modes, although it leaves a small gap when closed. The magnesium alloy chassis has an excellent texture and is durable. The high-end keyboard base even houses a dedicated graphics card. The disconnection mechanism activates the muscle line release system by pressing a dedicated button, making the clipboard section an independent tablet while still retaining all necessary components. The entire machine continues Microsoft's signature white and gold appearance, with simple lines. The keyboard base is equipped with a full-size backlit keyboard and a precise glass touchpad, providing users with an efficient and elegant operation experience.
Size and Weight
The size of the Surface Book when closed is 12.3 x 9.14 x 0.51-0.90 inches. Due to the fulcrum hinge design, the thickness varies slightly. The entire machine weighs approximately 3.34 pounds with an i5 configuration, while it weighs about 3.48 pounds with an i7 configuration equipped with a dedicated graphics card. After removing the keyboard, the clipboard section weighs only 1.6 pounds, making it convenient for long-term use in tablet mode. The keyboard base takes on the remaining weight, accommodating the additional battery and GPU required for high-performance models.
Display Screen
The Surface Book is equipped with a 13.5-inch PixelSense display with a resolution of 3000 x 2000 pixels and 267 pixels per inch. It supports 10-point multi-touch input and works seamlessly with the Surface Pen, suitable for drawing, note-taking and navigation. The screen maintains a 3:2 aspect ratio, providing more vertical space compared to traditional 16:9 laptops, while offering excellent color accuracy and brightness, making it highly suitable for creative work. The Surface Pen can be magnetically attached to the side of the device, providing 1024-level pressure sensitivity. Users can quickly open OneNote, take screenshots and interact with the Windows Ink workspace through it.
External Interface
The Surface Book is equipped with two USB 3.0 ports on the keyboard base for connecting various peripherals and accessories. Meanwhile, there is a full-size SD card reader on the right side for convenient and rapid transfer of photos and videos. The device also includes a Mini DisplayPort for connecting an external display and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The proprietary Surface Connect interface is responsible for charging and supports docking functions. Its magnetic design can easily fall off when the cable is accidentally pulled, protecting the device from damage. Although the additional USB ports are limited, the overall interface design has met most daily connection needs.
Performance
The Surface Book offers processor options of the 6th generation Intel Core i5-6300U or i7-6600U. The RAM can be configured as 8GB or 16GB LPDDR3 memory, and the storage adopts PCIe SSD, with capacities ranging from 128GB to 512GB or 1TB. The high-end model is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce discrete graphics card and dedicated GDDR5 memory. The basic model integrates Intel HD Graphics 520, which can meet the needs of daily tasks, web browsing and lightweight photo editing, while the high-performance model equipped with a separate NVIDIA graphics card offers significant advantages in video editing, 3D rendering and gaming applications. Overall, users can choose the appropriate configuration based on their performance requirements, thus achieving a balance between portability and graphics processing capabilities.
Battery Power
The Surface Book is equipped with a dual-battery design, with one on the clipboard and the other on the keyboard base. Under ideal conditions, these two batteries can provide up to approximately 12 hours of video playback time, while the tablet section can operate for about 3 hours when used independently. The battery at the keyboard base charges the clipboard when connected, significantly extending the overall battery life. Microsoft's power management system prioritizes the use of keyboard dock batteries to ensure that even when the screen is removed, users can still retain a certain amount of battery power. The device is charged via the Surface Connect port using the included 65W power supply.
Configuration of Microsoft Surface Book 2
Appearance and Design
The Surface Book 2 offers multiple configuration options on two screen sizes, covering different processors, memory and graphics performance, to meet diverse needs ranging from daily computing to professional creative work. It continues the iconic detachable design of the Surface Book series and adopts a magnesium alloy chassis, providing a high-quality feel while remaining lightweight. The unique fulcrum hinge allows the screen to separate from the keyboard base, transforming the laptop into an independent tablet and creating a small gap when closed, which facilitates air circulation and provides space for the hinge mechanism. The silver appearance of the device continues the minimalist aesthetic of Microsoft Surface. The keyboard base provides additional battery capacity and comes with a dedicated graphics card in the high-end configuration. The 2-in-1 design supports multiple usage modes. Users can operate it like a traditional laptop, remove the screen to enter tablet mode, or turn the screen upside down for presentation and display.
Size and Weight
Microsoft offers two sizes of Surface Book 2,13.5 inches and 15 inches. The 13.5-inch version measures approximately 12.3 x 9.14 x 0.51-0.90 inches, while the 15-inch model expands to about 13.5 x 9.87 x 0.568-0.90 inches. The weight varies depending on the configuration and size. The 13.5-inch model weighs between 3.38 pounds and 3.62 pounds depending on the processor and graphics card, while the 15-inch version is heavier, weighing between 4.2 pounds and 4.24 pounds. The separated tablet part is significantly lighter in weight, making it convenient for long-term handheld use, while the keyboard base bears most of the weight due to the additional battery and dedicated graphics card.
Display Screen
Both screen sizes of the Surface Book 2 adopt PixelSense displays. The resolution of the 13.5-inch model is 3000 x 2000, while that of the 15-inch version is 3240 x 2160. Both support 10-point multi-touch input and offer a 3:2 aspect ratio. It has more vertical space than the traditional 16:9 screen. These displays are compatible with the separately sold Surface Pen and support 4,096-level pressure sensing. They are highly suitable for digital drawing, note-taking and precise input tasks, and are equipped with palm suppression technology to prevent accidental touch when using the stylus. The outstanding color accuracy and brightness make the screen suitable for professional creative work. The touch response is smooth. The detachable design of the screen allows users to operate it at different angles or lay it completely flat like a tablet.
External Interface
The 13.5-inch and 15-inch Surface Book 2 models are equipped with a rich array of external interfaces, including two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, one USB-C interface, a full-size SDXC card reader, two Surface Connect interfaces, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Surface Connect interface is used for both device charging and connecting to the Surface Dock docking station. The design of the two interfaces ensures power supply regardless of whether the screen is separated or not. The USB-C port does not support Thunderbolt 3, which is slightly inferior to some competing models in terms of expandability. However, the retention of the full-size USB-A port ensures compatibility with existing peripherals without the need for additional adapters.
Performance
The Surface Book 2 offers multiple configuration options in terms of processing power and graphics performance. In terms of the processor, users can choose either the 7th generation dual-core Intel Core i5-7300U or the 8th generation quad-core Intel Core i7-8650U, with memory configurations of 8GB or 16GB. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB or 1TB SSDS. In terms of Graphics, the basic model integrates Intel HD Graphics 620, while the 13.5-inch high-end model is equipped with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, and the 15-inch model offers NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060. The dedicated graphics card is located in the keyboard base, meaning that graphics acceleration is only available when the screen is connected to the keyboard. The quad-core i7 performs better than the dual-core i5 in handling demanding applications. Its high-end configuration is specifically designed for creative professionals who need graphics processing, video editing, 3D modeling or gaming.
Battery Power
Microsoft assesses that the video playback time of the 13.5-inch Surface Book 2 can reach 17 hours, and the 15-inch model can also provide the same battery life under similar conditions. These data are from Microsoft's internal tests in October 2017, based on specific configurations. The Surface Book 2 adopts a split battery system. The tablet part is equipped with an independent battery, while the keyboard base is built with a larger capacity battery, enabling the screen to operate independently for several hours even when separated. The actual battery life depends on the usage mode, screen brightness and configuration. High-performance processors or dedicated graphics card models usually consume more power. Through the Surface Connect interface, users can charge the entire system or charge it separately when the tablet is separated.
Price Comparison
The price of Surface Book 2 has significantly increased compared to the original Surface Book. When it was released, the top configuration could reach $3,299, reflecting its high-end positioning in Microsoft's product line. The original Surface Book has a lower starting price and is more attractive to consumers with limited budgets. However, both devices belong to high-end laptops. Due to the detachable design and dedicated hardware, their prices are generally higher than those of traditional laptops. Pricing is mainly influenced by the processor, memory capacity, storage options, graphics functions and screen size. For users pursuing maximum performance, the enhanced specifications of the Surface Book 2 justify its high price. The quad-core processor and improved graphics can enhance performance by more than 50% in some tasks. Buyers with limited budgets usually find that the first-generation Surface Book is more cost-effective in the refurbished or second-hand market, while the price premium of the Surface Book 2 is mainly targeted at professional users who need additional processing power and graphics performance, such as video editing or 3D rendering.
Conclusion
The choice between Surface Book and Surface Book 2 mainly depends on the user's needs and budget. For users who focus on processing performance and modern connectivity, the Surface Book 2 is more suitable. The original Surface Book is suitable for users with limited budgets, who mainly perform basic productivity tasks, do not require high-intensity graphics processing, or prefer traditional USB interfaces and connection options. The Surface Book 2 is targeted at creative professionals, users who need to run high-demand applications, connect modern peripherals using USB-C, pursue longer battery life or need stronger graphics performance for light gaming and design work. The Surface Book 2 is equipped with a quad-core processor, which has more advantages in multitasking and application response compared to the original dual-core Surface Book. The addition of its battery life and USB-C ports also guarantees mobile work and future expansion. By 2025, price will still be an important consideration. Entry-level users may tend to choose the original Surface Book, while users pursuing long-term value and high performance are more suitable to choose the Surface Book 2.
