The release of the Surface Laptop has seen a rise in popularity for the Surface brand, as well as a decrease in sales for the other Surface devices.
The most important difference between these Surface devices is their form factor. The Surface Book 2 is a fully detachable, portable system with a hefty price tag, while the Surface Laptop is a more traditional laptop that’s made for productivity on the go.
In this article, MedCPU will examine the Surface Laptop Vs Surface Book 2 to help you find the right surface device for you. Let’s dive in!
What is Microsoft Surface?
Microsoft Surface is a line of whiteboards and touchscreen Windows personal computer designed and developed by Microsoft.
There are four generations of 2-in-1 detachable notebooks, hybrid tablets, all-in-one convertible desktops, and various accessories all with unique features.
Comparing Surface Book 2 and Surface Laptop
Surface Laptop
| Dimensions | 308.1 x 223.27 x 14.48mm, from 1.25kg weight |
| Display | 13.5-inch, PixelSense display; 2256 x 1504 resolution (201ppi) |
| Connections | One USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, Surface Connect, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Battery | Up to 14.5 hours |
| Accessories | Surface Arc Mouse, Surface Dock, Surface Dial, Surface Pen |
Surface Book 2
| Dimensions | 312 x 232 x 13mm to 23 mm, from 1.53kg weight |
| Display | 13.5-inch, PixelSense display; 3000 x 2000 resolution (267ppi) |
| Connections | Two USB 3.0, One USB Type-C, Full-size SD card reader (SDXC), Mini DisplayPort, Surface Connect, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Battery | Up to 17 hours |
| Accessories | Surface Pen, Surface Dial, Surface Dock |
Design
Two different designs are featured in the Surface Laptop and Surface Book 2. It is worth taking a look at before you decide to buy. The Surface Laptop has an all-magnesium outer shell. However, its interior features an Alcantara-covered keyboard platform that should be taken care of more than traditional metal and plastic keyboard bases.
In the United States, the Surface Laptop comes in four colors: burgundy (platinum), cobalt, graphite, and cobalt blue. These colors also match the Alcantara and magnesium fabric inside the laptop. If you’re someone who likes less traditionally-colored devices, the Surface Laptop may be for you.
Surface Book 2 is made entirely of magnesium inside and outside. Due to the unique fulcrum hinge, which allows the screen to separate from the book, is a bit heavier and bulkier than usual. It’s a bit like marmite; you either love or hate this unique hinge-design.
Because it leaves a large gap between the screen & keyboard when closed, the fulcrum hinge allows small items to fall into the device if you carry them around in your bag. This hinge is not available on the Surface Laptop.
Surface Book 2 can only be purchased in platinum.
Tech specs
When buying a laptop, specs are also important. The Surface Laptop and Surface Book series come in a variety of SKUs. These range from Intel Core i5 processors up to Intel Core i7 processors.
The Microsoft Surface Book 2 currently has the 7th and 8th generation CPUs, also known as Kaby Lake and Coffee Lake. Only the Kaby Lake processors are included in the Surface Laptop.
Surface Laptops come with 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB RAM. Surface Book 2 comes with 8GB and 16GB. They comes in various storage options, including 128GB or 256GB models, 512GB, and 1TB. Surface Book 2 comes in three sizes: 256GB,512GB, and 1TB. It is a good option if you need a smaller storage capacity like 128GB.
The price is another factor. The Microsoft Surface Laptop with the lowest price is $999, and the Surface Book 2 with the highest price is $1,499. You can find a 13.5-inch Intel Core i5 Surface Book 2 with 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, and 256GB storage for $1,499 or an Intel Core i7 Surface Laptop for $100 less.
Performance
The Microsoft Surface Laptop might seem more powerful than the Surface Book 2, but it is the reverse. The Surface Book 2 comes with 8 GB and 16 GB memory options in 256, 512, and 1TB sizes. Nvidia also offers a dedicated graphics card that makes it ideal for gaming and other graphic-intensive tasks.
You can choose from 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB of memory for the Surface Laptop in either 128 GB or 256 GB configurations. The Surface Laptop is not available with a dedicated graphics card. The i7 model has the Intel Iris Plus Graphics640 integrated graphics card and is your best choice for graphics.
The Surface Laptop and Surface Book 2 come with various 7th and 8th Gen Intel Core CPUs. This allows you to choose the power that suits your needs. The Surface Laptop with Intel Core m3 is a passively cooled dual-core processor that is intended for casual use.
See also Dell XPS 13 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 comparison, Click here.
Display
The Microsoft Surface Laptop features a 13.5-inch screen with a resolution of 2256×1504 resolution pixels. The Microsoft Surface Book 2 has a significantly higher resolution, with 3000×2000 or 3240×2160 pixels depending on which model you choose.
Surface displays can be used under direct sunlight and have excellent color reproduction. The best thing about higher resolution models is their ability to see more detail without having to zoom.
Although not very useful for browsing the internet, editing documents, or watching Full HD videos on YouTube and Netflix makes it much easier to edit images and videos.
Processor
We won’t mention the model with Intel Core m3 as it’s too weak.
The Surface Laptop only offers two core Intel i5-7200U (2.5Ghz – 3.1Ghz) or i7-7660U (4Ghz – 4Ghz).
The main difference in performance between the Surface Book 2 and the Surface Book 2 is the dual-core Intel i5-7300U (2.6Ghz – 3.5Ghz) and quad-core Intel i7-8650U (1.91Ghz – 4.2Ghz).
I exported 100 raw files using Adobe Lightroom.
- Mac Pro 2013 Xeon quad core 3.7Ghz – 3 min 17s
- Surface Laptop Intel Core i5-7200U (2.5-3.1Ghz) – 8 min 26s
- Surface Book 2 Intel Core I5-7300U (2.6 to 3.0 GHz) – 8min 56s
- Surface Book 2 Intel Core i7-8650U 1.9 to 4.2 GHz – 3 min 49s
Do you feel like your time is running out?
Despite the Surface Book 2’s low price, there are more powerful laptops available. However, the Surface Book 2 may have a slower screen detachment or a better screen drawing experience than the Surface Book 2.
Connections
The most obvious difference between the Surface Book 2 and the Surface Laptop is that the Surface Book 2 includes a USB Type-C port, making it compatible with newer devices. There are also many internal changes to the processor, which are stated in the product listing.
One of the features that are not so obvious is that the Surface Book 2 includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, whereas the Surface Laptop does not. If these features are what you are looking for, the Surface Book 2 might be the best buy.
On the other hand, there is no USB Type-C port for charging your Surface Pen, but it can still be used with the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro 3, along with the Surface Dock.
Graphics card
Graphic design isn’t as important without dedicated graphics, especially when integrated graphics are so efficient.
If you do a lot of 3D work, it may be a benefit. The processors are the real bottleneck. The Surface Book 2’s i7 quad-core processor does not have a fast clock speed. Two years ago, I used laptops that could render 3D much faster than the SB2 i7.
It makes sense to get a graphics card if you play games. You could also opt for the Xbox, or Playstation.
Workflow differences
It is extremely convenient for illustrators to be able to draw directly on the computer. It is now possible to draw directly on the computer, saving time and eliminating the need for paper and scanning.
The main difference between the Surface Laptop and the 2-in-1 Surface Book is their workflow differences. Your current workflow will help you determine which device is right for you.
Keyboard
The surface laptop keyboard is a full-size backlit keyboard that can be used with an iPad. The Microsoft surface book 2 keyboard doesn’t have a number pad, but it is a full-size backlit keyboard with a number pad function.
Battery life
Microsoft Surface Laptop provides 14.5 hours of battery life.
Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a luxury laptop that is powered by Intel’s 8th generation quad-core CPU. It comes with an NVIDIA GTX 1060 graphics card and 16GB of RAM. The battery life for surface book 2 is up to 17 hours of battery life.
Price
The Microsoft Surface Laptop is only $999 and the Surface Book 2 is $1,499. However, the price gap shrinks significantly when you compare models of equal specs.
Microsoft Complete Extended Warranty, $149, also available. This gives you additional warranty coverage as well as accidental damage protection. You don’t want the Surface Pen to go un-purchased. It allows you to draw and create naturally using 4,096 pressure points, which respond to your lightest touch.
FAQs
Can I use my Surface Pen with the Surface Book 2?
Yes, you can use your Surface Pen with the Surface Book 2. The Surface Pen works with the same charging cable as the Surface Book 2, so it’s an accessory that you can bring along to use with the system.
There’s a button on the side of the stylus that you can press to bring up a little menu that lets you quickly change pen tips, erase, or open OneNote with a single tap. And Microsoft has also been working on making the Surface Pen feel more natural in your hand by adding tilt support.
Which Surface Laptop is better for gaming?
The Surface Laptop with the Intel Core i5 is better suited for gaming because it’s more powerful than the Core m3 model. The problem with the Core m3 is that the processor just doesn’t have enough power to play most of the games on the market today.
Sure, the Intel Core i5 is not as powerful as the Intel Core i7 inside of the Surface Book 2, but that’s pretty much the minimum level of performance you want to have for gaming today. So unless you plan on doing something like trying to play a game in VR, the Intel Core i5 should be more than enough for your needs.
Does the Surface Book 2 support USB-C?
Yes, the Surface Book 2 supports USB-C. So when you connect the Surface Book 2 to your PC it will use the USB-C port to charge the battery.
Is there a power button on the Surface Book 2?
Yes, there is a power button on the Surface Book 2. To turn it on or off you press the power button for three seconds. It works like the power button on your phone, if you press it for three seconds, Windows 10 will power down. Press it for three seconds again and the Surface Book 2 will boot back up.
Conclusion
The first thing you should consider is what you want from your device. Surface Book 2 is the best option if you are looking for a laptop-style device with a unique design.
Why? The Surface Book 2 can also be used as a tablet. The Surface Book 2 is a 2-in-1 laptop that can be converted to a 13.5-inch tablet using a removable screen. It also supports pen support.
If you have any questions about the Surface Laptop or the Surface Book 2, leave a comment and I will try to answer it. Thanks for reading!
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Eyal Ephrat serves as the co-founder and CEO of medCPU.com, where technology is making significant strides in the field of medicine. Through his experience in purchasing PC and laptop equipment and various other tech products, Eyal Ephrat contributes valuable insights to medCPU’s mission.
