Surface Book 2 vs Surface Laptop 2
Our Verdict
The 13.5in Surface Book 2 is aimed at people who need a powerful laptop as well as a tablet, and it’s one of the best 2-in-1s around. But it is also very expensive, especially if you need a Core i7 and an Nvidia graphics chip. The Surface Laptop 2 almost looks like a bargain in comparison, but remains a premium ultraportable laptop that’s probably out of the reach of most of the students it’s aimed at. It does have a touchscreen, but is a traditional laptop in virtually every other way, so is a better choice if you don’t need a detachable tablet or the power of the Nvidia graphics.
Best Prices Today: Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5in
Microsoft recently announced theSurface Laptop 2. It’s a traditional laptop, albeit with a touchscreen, which makes it a bit different to the design of theSurface Book 2which is really a tablet that has a detachable keyboard.
However, unlike the Surface Pro 6 (and previous models) it is probably the best example of a 2-in1 hybrid laptop / tablet we’ve seen and works well in both modes.
You do pay a premium for it: it’s a high-end machine that’s aimed at power users. Read ourSurface Laptop 2 review.
The Surface Laptop 2, on the other hand, is pitched more at those who want a laptop like the MacBook Air, and is more affordable than the Surface Book. It’s stylish and minimalist: you won’t find much in the way of ports and connectors, and is instead designed to provide the best “Windows experience”.
You can read our review of the Surface Book 2 as well as our Surface Laptop review. We’ve yet to review the Laptop 2, but there are hardly any differences in this second-gen model: just a newer processor and a screen with improved contrast. If you count it as a difference, the new model comes in black, whereas the older one doesn’t.
Surface Book 2 vs Surface Laptop 2: Price
Here’s what you’ll pay for each model. We haven’t listed every available version here: just those where the core specs are the same.
You can buy theSurface Laptop 2andSurface Book 2direct from Microsoft’s website. You can also buy fromJohn Lewis,PC World,ArgosandAmazon.
Surface Book 2 (13.5)
Surface Book 2 (15)
Surface Laptop 2
Core i5 / 8GB / 128GB
N/A / US$1,199
N/A
£979 / US$999
Core i5 / 8GB / 256GB
£1,499 / US$1,499
N/A
£1,249 / US$1,299
Core i7 / 16GB / 512GB
£2,499 / US$2,499
£2,749 / US$2,899
£2,079 / US$2,199
Core i7 / 16GB / 1TB
£2,999 / US$2,999
£3,149 / US$3,299
£2,529 / US$2,699
It’s fairly obvious, then, that these are top-end laptops which don’t come cheap. But don’t assume they’re vastly overpriced compared to other laptops that have similar specifications: you’re paying for the premium materials here along with excellent-quality screens and top-notch battery life.
That’s not to say there aren’t alternatives: look to theDell XPS 13for a cheaper version of the Surface Laptop 2 and try theLenovo Yoga 920if you want a 2-in-1, though note that it doesn’t have a detachable screen like the Surface Book.
Surface Book 2 vs Surface Laptop 2: Features & design
Compare the 13.5in models and the Surface Book 2 is a similar size and weight to the Surface Laptop 2. Nothing hugely surprising there. However, and we can’t overstate this, the Surface Book 2 looks and feels like a normal laptop even enough you can release the screen and turn it into a Windows 10 Pro tablet. In tablet mode, it’s a useful design tool, especially when paired with a Surface Dial and Surface Pen as shown below.
The Surface Book 2’s keyboard has a touchpad, a feature missing from quite a few 2-in-1 devices, and also a built-in battery. This is why it can offer up to 17 hours of battery life, but it’s important to remember that you’ll have to charge it sooner if you’re only using the tablet part without the keyboard.
Strangely enough, models with Nvidia graphics chips have this built into the keyboard as well, so you only have the built-in Intel graphics available if the keyboard is detached.
The Surface Laptop 2 (below) is lighter and has a fabric-covered keyboard surround so is quite a different-looking beast. The screen doesn’t tilt all that far back which means it isn’t as useful as a touchscreen, despite being compatible with the Surface Pen. The Pen is optional with both devices and costs £99.99 / US$99.99.
Surface Book 2 vs Surface Laptop 2: Specs and hardware
This table shows a summary of the key specs for each device.
Surface Book 2
Surface Laptop 2
Screen
13.5in or 15in
13.5in
Memory
8 or 16GB
8 or 16GB
Processor
Intel Core i5 (7thgen) or Core i7 (8thgen)
Intel Core i5 / i7 8th-gen
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS
Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Home
Ports
2x USB 3.1, USB-C, headphone, 2x Surface Connect, SD reader
1x USB 3, headphone, mini DisplayPort, Surface Connect
Dimensions
13.5in: 312 mm x 232 mm x 13 mm-23 mm
15in: 343 mm x 251 mm x 15 mm-23 mm
308 mm x 223 mm x 14 mm
Weight
1.6kg (13.5in), 1.9kg (15in)
<1.3kg
Colours
Silver
Black, Platinum, Burgundy, Cobalt Blue
Battery life
Up to 17 hours
Up to 14.5 hours
Connectivity is something of a sticking point for many people considering a Surface Laptop 2. There’s just one USB 3 port, no SD or microSD reader and no USB-C port. On the Surface Book you get a pair of USB 3 ports, a full-size SDXC card reader and USB-C.
Screen resolution is higher on the Surface Book, but you get the same 3:2 aspect ratio that you’ll find on all Surfaces including the Surface Pro. As mentioned already, these are excellent-quality screens with accurate colours, great brightness, contrast and viewing angles.
It’s unlikely that you will notice the difference between Windows 10 Home and Pro, so that should only be a factor in your decision if this will be a work device that needs to connect to a company domain: Windows 10 Home can’t join a domain.
It’s worth noting that the original Surface Laptop came with Windows 10 S, a version Microsoft has all but abandoned and which limited you to installing apps from the Windows Store. The idea was sound, but the Store simply doesn’t have the breadth of choice necessary to make Windows 10 S a success.
If you care about processors, know that the Surface Book 2 is the older model here and only the Core i7 versions benefit from 8th-gen chips. The Core i5 models have 7th-gen processors which are approaching their ‘best-before’ date. They’re not slow, but it doesn’t really make sense to spend a lot of money on a laptop with a processor that (pretty soon) will be two generations old.
Another oddity about the Surface Book is that it has built-in Xbox Wireless support. So you can connect an Xbox controller and play games on it. We’re still not sure who would pick a Surface Book as a gaming laptop, but with the GeForce GTX 1050 and 1060 GPUs on offer in various models, there’s certainly enough grunt on offer for some play time after work time.
Verdict
These are fundamentally different machines even if they both appear to be laptops on the surface – no pun intended.
The Surface Book is intended as a work machine for those who need both a tablet and a laptop but don’t want to carry two devices. The entry-level 13.5in model doesn’t have the Nvidia GPU, which is one reason why it’s cheaper. Conversely, there is no entry-level 15in model: they’re all expensive and well-specified.
If you don’t need a tablet, buying a Surface Book is probably overkill and you’ll find you can buy a laptop with the same or better specifications for less, whether you want it for work or gaming.
Specs
Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5in: Specs
Best Prices Today: Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5in
Author: Jim Martin, Executive Editor, Tech Advisor
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
