The Surface Book 2 from Microsoft is a third-generation device that can be used as a portable workstation, a gaming rig, and a productivity machine. Not all computers can do everything. The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is very close, though.
A Look Back: The Surface Book’s Journey
People called it “the best laptop ever.” The way the hardware is made is almost the same for every new generation that comes out. The touchscreen on this design could be taken off and used with the Surface Pen. Microsoft refers to this part as a “clipboard.” It also has a spot for a keyboard that is built into the hardware. There have always been different opinions about this design. This happens because of the weird teardrop-shaped hole that stays open when the lid is closed. I told them it looked good and worked well. I also told people that it was a first-generation product that hadn’t been tested yet. Like most Surface devices, the Surface Book has always been very expensive. After I wrote my review, the Surface Book had a lot of problems with reliability. There were also problems with the Surface Pro 4, which was announced at the same time. Microsoft didn’t say anything for months after that. I made up the word “Surfacegate” to show how sad this is. Microsoft finally started to talk about how it would fix the problems after a while. Later, Consumer Reports gave Microsoft a hard time for these problems with reliability. I wrote before about how Microsoft was arguing about this and how its opinion on the causes has changed over time. I also looked at a stronger version of the Surface Book because Microsoft had fixed the problems with reliability by the middle of 2016. It had an NVIDIA dGPU and a Core i7 processor, but the name of the dGPU wasn’t given. I thought the laptop was great. The problems with its power management had been fixed, so it was now more useful. I could finally tell other people about the Surface Book.
The Performance Base of the Surface Book
The goal was to make the Surface Book a lot better. The dGPU in the Surface Book with Performance Base was much stronger. The base also had a bigger battery. The Surface Book with Performance Base worked much better than older models, according to my review. It might even be okay for light gaming. The battery lasted longer, about 11.5 hours, which was even better.
The Microsoft Surface Book 2
In October 2017, Microsoft said they were making the Surface Book 2. It took two years for the second Surface Book to come out after the first one was announced. The shape is the same as it was for the last two generations of devices. The keyboard on the MS Surface Book 2 is higher up, just like on the old Performance Base version. There are three other big changes, though. The Surface Book 2 now comes in a larger 15-inch size. The average size is 13.5 inches. The dGPUs in most of the Microsoft Surface Book 2 laptop models are much better. Microsoft has also changed the miniDisplayPort on each one to a USB-C port. This is not a port for Thunderbolt 3. Its main use is to send videos. Microsoft changed the hinge connections for this release because the device version is larger. This should make things even more stable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does my Microsoft Surface Book 2 run so slowly?
Is the Microsoft Surface Book 2 a good laptop?
Can you use the Surface Book 2 for playing games?
What took the place of Surface Book 2?
Does the Surface Book 2 not have any fans?
How long will a Microsoft Surface last?
What is the most recent Microsoft Surface laptop?
Is Surface Book 2 good for gaming purposes?
Is the Surface Book 2 a laptop?
The Specs of the Surface Book 2
The parts of the Surface Book 2 give it power.
Processor:
The base model had a 13.5-inch screen and an Intel Core i5 processor from the 7th generation. All of the 15-inch and 13.5-inch models had the faster 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor. This is an important piece of information for Windows 11 to have.
Graphics:
The Core i5 model used its built-in Intel HD graphics. The Core i7 models, on the other hand, had a powerful NVIDIA GeForce discrete GPU (dGPU) built into the base of the keyboard. The 15-inch model had a GTX 1060, and the 13.5-inch model had a GTX 1050.
You could choose between 8GB and 16GB of memory. There is no way to add more RAM to this.
Storage:
The device had a very fast built-in solid-state drive (SSD). You could choose between 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB.
The PixelSense touch display on both models has a high resolution. The colors are right, it’s bright, and it works well with the Surface Pen.
The Microsoft Surface 2 Book has two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, a full-size SD card reader, and the Surface Connect port, which is only for charging.
The design, how well it is made, and the unique hinge
This laptop has one of the best keyboards. The keys move a lot, which makes it easy to type for a long time. The big glass trackpad is smooth and works well. This “muscle wire” system is cool. After that, the screen will work like a big, light Windows tablet. You can also flip it over and use it to draw or give a presentation.
A look at the Surface Book 2 review from 2025
How well does the Surface Book 2 work at the moment? In a review of the Surface Book 2 from 2025, the device is still surprisingly powerful. A lot of professional reviews, like the one that Notebook Check wrote at the time about the Surface Book 2, said good things about it. The price of the Surface Book 2 has gone down a lot since it was bought used.
The Microsoft Surface Book 3
Microsoft made the Surface Book 3 after the Surface Book 2 did well. The changes were mostly inside. The Windows Surface Book 3 now has newer 10th Generation Intel Core processors. This helped things go a little better and faster.
Better Graphics:
The GPUs got a big boost. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 and 1660 Ti were two of the choices. Engineers and video editors could also get professional Quadro RTX options.
More RAM:
The Surface Book 3 now has a 32GB RAM option for people who need a lot of power. The Surface Book 3 was very expensive when it first came out, which is what you would expect from a high-end product like the Surface Book. It wasn’t a revolution; it was a change for the better. People might call it the “Surface Book Pro 3,” but Microsoft already makes tablets with the name “Pro.” At the time, the Surface Book 3 was the best laptop for work that Microsoft made.
Who will it be for after 2025?
Students: You can easily find a used Surface Book 2 because it’s less expensive.
Digital artists and creatives: The powerful dGPU and bright screen that works with a pen make it easy to draw and design on a budget.
For People Who Want a High-End Device: A used Surface Book 2 that has been well cared for is a great choice if you want the feel of a high-end laptop without spending a lot of money.
