Surface Book 2
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| Developer | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Product family | Microsoft Surface |
| Type | 2-in-1 PC |
| Generation | 2 |
| Release date | November 16, 2017 |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Pro |
| CPU | 13.5": Intel Core i5-7300U dual-core processor, Intel Core i5 quad-core processor, Intel Core i7-8650U quad-core processor 15": Intel Core i7-8650U quad-core processor |
| Memory | 13.5": 8 or 16 GB LPDDR3 RAM 15": 16 GB LPDDR3 RAM |
| Storage | SSD: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Removable storage | Full-size SD card slot (supports SDXC UHS-1 cards) |
| Display | 13.5": 13.5 in (34 cm), 3000×2000 (267 PPI) LCD 15": 15 in (38 cm), 3240×2160 (260 PPI) LCD |
| Graphics | 13.5": Intel HD Graphics 620 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with 2GB of GDDR5 RAM 15": NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB of GDDR5 RAM |
| Sound | Stereo speakers, dual microphones, headset jack |
| Input | Keyboard, touchpad mouse, stylus pen, sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, ambient light, Surface Dial |
| Camera | 5.0 MP front, 8.0 MP rear 1080p HD video recording |
| Dimensions | 13.5": 12.3 inches (31 cm) (length) 9.4 inches (24 cm) (width) 0.51 to 0.90 inches (1.3 to 2.3 cm) (depth) 15": 13.5 inches (34 cm) (length) 9.87 inches (25.1 cm) (width) 0.568 to 0.90 inches (1.44 to 2.29 cm) (depth) |
| Mass | 13.5": i5: 3.38 pounds (1,530 g) i7: 3.62 pounds (1,640 g) 15": 4.2 pounds (1,900 g) |
| Predecessor | Surface Book |
| Website | Surface.com |
| This article is part of a series on |
| Microsoft Surface |
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The Surface Book 2 is the official 2nd generation, and most powerful device, in the Microsoft Surface lineup of personal computers. Designed and produced by Microsoft from the ground up, the Surface Book 2 included significant improvements to many of its hardware components despite inheriting design elements from the first generation, and also introduced 2 screen sizes for the first time: a standard 13.5-inch version, as well as a more powerful 15-inch version featuring a sharper display, factory color calibration, extended battery life, built-in Xbox One & Elite wireless controller support, a Nvidia GTX 1060 GPU for intensive applications, and Intel's 8th-generation Kaby Lake Refresh i7 processor with dedicated active cooling in the tablet portion.
It was unveiled on October 17, 2017[1] and released on November 16, 2017. It succeeds the Surface Book with Performance Base released in October 2016.[2]
Features
Hardware
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Like the original Surface Book, the Surface Book 2 is shipped with a hardware keyboard base that contains a high-performance mobile GPU and a dedicated active cooling system. It also contains two USB 3.0 Gen-1 ports, a USB-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, full-sized SD card slot, and two Surface Connect ports (one of which is always occupied by the keyboard base for communication between the two hardware portions, unless the tablet is detached from the base).[3] The front-facing camera also contains an infrared sensor that supports automatic login with Windows Hello.
| Surface Book 2 Configuration Options [4] [5] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Tier (USD) | Size | CPU | GPU | RAM | Internal Storage |
| 1,149 | 13.5" | Intel Core i5-7300U (2.6 to 3.5 GHz) | Intel HD Graphics 620 | 8GB | 128 GB |
| 1,299 | 256 GB | ||||
| 1,499 | Intel Core i5 i5-8350U (1.7 to 3.6 GHz)[6] | ||||
| 1,999 | Intel Core i7-8650U (1.9 to 4.2 GHz) | Intel UHD Graphics 620 + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 | |||
| 2,499 | 16GB | 512 GB | |||
| 2,999 | 1 TB | ||||
| 1,999 | 15" | Intel Core i5-8350U (1.7 to 3.6 GHz) | Intel HD Graphics 620 | 16 GB | 256 GB |
| 2,499 | Intel Core i7-8650U (1.9 to 4.2 GHz) | Intel UHD Graphics 620 + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 | |||
| 2,899 | 512 GB | ||||
| 3,299 | 1 TB | ||||
Software
Surface Book 2 models ship with a pre-installed 64-bit version of Windows 10 Pro and a 30-day trial Microsoft Office suite. Windows 10 comes pre-installed with Mail, Calendar, People, Xbox (app), Photos, Movies and TV, Groove, and Microsoft Edge. With Windows 10 the Tablet mode is available when the base is detached from the device. In this mode, all windows are opened full-screen and the interface becomes more touch-centric.
Accessories
The Surface Book 2 is backward-compatible with all accessories of its direct predecessors, including the Surface Dock and Surface Pen. Additionally, the Surface Book 2 also adds support for the Surface Dial, including its magnet-driven on-screen controls.
Reception
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The Surface Book 2 received broadly positive reviews, often compared favorably to Apple's MacBook Pro lineup. Most reviews applauded the Surface Book 2's keyboard for offering a class-leading 1.55mm of key travel, significant performance improvement, well-controlled thermals, and new hinge - now redesigned and built as one singular component that increased device rigidity, improved overall docking reliability, and reduced screen wobble. Other improvements include an improved IR camera that supports enhanced, anti-spoofing Windows Hello facial recognition, a faster solid-state drive that provides full drive encryption from as early as first-boot by working in conjunction with the built-in TPM chip, and two new cooling systems (for the CPU and GPU) designed to produce less high-pitched noise.
Devindra Hardawar of Engadget said of the 15-inch model, "The Surface Book 2 is exactly what we've wanted from a high-end Microsoft laptop. It's powerful, sturdy and its unique hinge doesn't come with any compromises."[7] Hardawar also directly compared the Surface Book 2 to Apple's Macbook Pro saying, "It's the closest a PC maker has come to taking on the MacBook Pro, both in style and substance."[8]
Tom Warren, of The Verge, also gave the Surface Book 2 positive notice, praising its performance, keyboard, and trackpad. However, Mr. Warren expressed reservations about the hardware design being largely unchanged, noting "I’d still like to see Microsoft refine the design more to address the hinge and screen wobble fully, and pack in a better power supply. It’s surprising to see the same design after two years, and I was expecting bigger refinements and changes." [9]
Issues
The Surface Book 2 faced a number of early production issues when it was first launched in November 2017, including split key caps, overuse of adhesives surrounding the tablet screen, and coil whine when under load.[10] Most issues were gradually resolved as production continued.
One issue that remains unfixed, however, is battery drain during specific computing workloads. When the Surface Book 2 is set to "Best Performance" in the Windows 10 operating system power settings, specific workloads such as extensive gaming or video transcoding could lead to high usage across both the CPU and GPU in the 15-inch Surface Book 2, and cause the notebook to consume over 105W of power. This would unavoidably lead to battery drain until depletion.[11] This issue first appeared in review units shipped to reviewers and other outlets, all of which were accompanied with official 95-watt power supplies.[12][13]
Microsoft eventually acknowledged the issue, and despite acknowledging no fault, proceeded to partially rectify it by bundling production units with newer chargers that are capable of continuously providing up to 102W of power, which was also the theoretical maximum electrical input supported by the Surface Book 2's charging port without a broader redesign. The official Surface Dock, however, remains unchanged and only provides up to 90W.
| Timeline of Surface devices |
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Sources: Microsoft Devices Blog Microsoft Store
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References
- ^ "Surface Book 2 release date, price, news and features". TechRadar. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ Brown, Aaron (October 17, 2017). "Microsoft Surface Book 2: UK price, release date, specs, and features". Express.co.uk. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ "Microsoft unveils Surface Book 2, promising double the power and speed of Apple MacBook Pro". GeekWire. October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/config/surface-book-2/8MCPZJJCC98C
- ^ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/config/commercial-microsoft-surface-book-2/8X4HTZNFGG38
- ^ https://www.windowscentral.com/surface-book-2-8th-gen-intel-core-i5-processor-now-available-order
- ^ "Surface Book 2 review: Microsoft gets closer to the 'ultimate laptop'". Engadget. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ "Surface Book 2 review: Microsoft gets closer to the 'ultimate laptop'". Engadget. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ "Microsoft Surface Book 2 review: beauty and brawn, but with limits". The Verge. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ "r/Surface - What are some currently existing SB2 issues?". reddit. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ Warren, Tom (November 21, 2017). "Microsoft confirms Surface Book 2's power problem". The Verge. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ Microsoft confirms Surface Book 2’s power problem - The Verge
- ^ Microsoft confirms Surface Book 2 battery drain problems while gaming | TechRadar
