Looking to expand the storage on your Surface PC? A great way to do that is with a microSD card, which many Surface devices support. If you're using a Surface Go, Surface Book, Surface Studio 2 or older, and Surface Pro 7+ or older, you're in luck. Expanding storage on those PCs is as easy as plugging in an SD card, which takes a little less than a few seconds.

Best SD cards for Surface Go, Surface Pro, Surface Book & Surface Studio

Which Surface PCs support expandable storage?

Not all Surface PCs support expansion of its storage via an SD card slot. Many of the most recent Surfaces, including the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Studio 2+, no longer support expandable storage in the form of an SD card or microSD card slot. However, many older Surface devices still do. Here's the list of all Surface PCs that support SD cards:

microSD:

• Surface Pro
• Surface Pro 2
• Surface Pro 3
• Surface Pro 4
• Surface Pro 5
• Surface Pro 6
• Surface Pro 7
• Surface Pro 7+
• Surface Go
• Surface Go 2
• Surface Go 3

Full-size SD card:

• Surface Book
• Surface Book 2
• Surface Book 3
• Surface Studio
• Surface Studio 2

The Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 8, and Surface Pro 9 all support the ability to upgrade the SSD directly without opening the device up, using an M.2 2280 drive. This is one of the reasons why the new Surface Pro's no longer support microSD card storage expansion. The Surface Studio 2+, Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Laptop, and Surface Laptop Go also support upgradable storage via the same M.2 SSD drive, but these devices will require the user to open up the device to access it.

Should I upgrade my storage with an SD card?

Adding a microSD card to your Surface PC is a great way to prolong its usefulness by giving you more space for apps and programs. Some Surface PCs to better than others at integrating the SD card reader, with devices like the Surface Go and Surface Pro hiding it neatly underneath the kickstand, making its inclusion seamless.

Other Surface devices like the Surface Book and Surface Studio do less of an elegant job, with the Surface Book's SD card reader on the side, and shallow so the card itself remains sticking out even when fully plugged in. It's the same story for the Surface Studio, though on there the card reader is on the back to it's a little more hidden.

Depending on the performance/class of the card you get, you should be able to treat the microSD card as additional storage, and Windows will allow you to install and run programs from it. Of course, performance of the microSD card won't be as good as your integrated storage, but it should be good enough for most applications such as Office, Slack, and Spotify.

What class and performance should I get?

There are many different performance classes of microSD card on the market, but you really only need to know about one: Class 10, A2, and U3. A microSD card with Class 10, A2, and U3 ratings is the top of the line, meaning you'll get the very best performance out of that card and should be able to install applications to it with no problem. 

In fact, most Class 10 cards should handle this task with ease. If you're unsure, grab one with a U3 rating to be doubly sure. Anything lower, and you might start to notice some issues when installing programs. Lower classes are better for storing files and music, not running programs from. 

Here's a breakdown of the different performance classes:

Your Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a fantastic Ultrabook as is, but a few accessories could make your life easier. Whether you're looking for a new way to play games, a little protection for the body, or some new headphones, these are the best accessories for Surface Book and Surface Book 2.

If we're picking some accessories

All of the above accessories can complement your Surface Book or Surface Book 2, but if we're picking a few to get started, stick with the Surface Pen for an excellent inking experience. You'll be able to use it with just the tablet or while connected as a complete laptop, and its 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt support offer a natural feel.

To add some storage to the Surface Book 2 without risk of seeing your SD card damaged, the BaseQI microSD adapter can be used. You pop a microSD card into the adapter before inserting it into the side of the Surface Book 2, where it sits flush. It's practical, it's affordable, and it's the best way to add some space to a laptop that's not easily upgraded.

Microsoft's Surface Book 3 is back down to its lowest price ever on Amazon. The unique convertible tablet went on sale over the holidays and was discounted earlier this year, but those sales ended over a month ago. It's back down to $2,200 for the 13.5-inch version with 512GB of storage and an Intel Core i7 processor. Other models are also discounted, including several with an available savings of $300.

The Surface Book 3 is a laptop unlike anything else on the market. The entire display of the Surface Book 3 pops off and can run as an independent tablet. When the screen is attached, the Surface Book 3 is a powerful laptop. On top of its unique form factor, the Surface Book 3 supports inking and the Surface Dial, which are both among the best Microsoft Surface accessories for artists.

In his Surface Book 3 review, our executive editor Daniel Rubino highlighted how the laptop stands apart from the competition,

The best deal in comparison to normal pricing is the 13.5-inch model described above, but you can also save up to $300 on other models, including the larger 15-inch version of the Surface Book 3.

Amazon's deals on the Surface Book 3 are only for Intel Core i7 models. If you'd like one with an Intel Core i5 processor, you can check out the current deals through the Microsoft Store.

What you need to know

• Several Surface devices just received their May 2021 firmware update.
• These include the Surface Laptop Go, Surface Book, and Book 3.
• The changes are minor and mostly pertain to stability and security fixes.

May 2021's firmware update for the Surface Book, Surface Book 3, and Surface Laptop Go is here. It's nothing exciting; just an assortment of minor stability and security tweaks, as well as some pedestrian tweaks such as improved battery reporting for the Surface Laptop Go. Here are some of the patch logs for each:

Surface Book 3

• 27.21.14.6140: Addresses display flicker issues and improve graphics stability (display adapters).
• 22.30.0.11: Addresses critical security vulnerabilities and improves connection stability (network adapters).
• 6.1.137.0: Improves stability when connected to an external display via Surface Dock 2.

Surface Book

• 1.62.321.1: Addresses security updates and improves system stability (software component).
• 92.3681.768.0: Addresses security updates and improves system stability (firmware).

Surface Laptop Go

• 8.16.140.0: Improves USB 2.0 stability and device reliability (firmware).
• 9.54.139.0: Improves device stability by addressing critical bugcheck (hub driver).

The full firmware logs can be found in the embedded links up above. And if you're not already an owner of one of these products (in which case, what brought you here?) and you want to learn more about the devices, check out our reviews, such as our Surface Book 3 review.

What you need to know

• A black Surface Book has been spotted in a Microsoft advertisement image.
• The black device looks similar to the Surface Earbuds "graphite" color scheme.
• The ad is likely in error, though it's cool to see what a darker Surface Book might look like.

An advertisement image for Microsoft 365 has been spotted on Facebook featuring what appears to be a black Surface Book device of some kind. The ad itself simply takes you to the Microsoft website, but it's interesting to see a black version of the Surface Book in center frame even though such a product isn't available for sale.

It's likely that this is a mistake on behalf of the agency that Microsoft is using to create and distribute these advertisements, but that doesn't mean such a device doesn't exist internally. Windows Central understands that Microsoft has gone back and forth on black versions of all of its Surface products, including the Surface Go, Surface Studio, and indeed Surface Book.

Microsoft has shipped a handful of Surface products in black, including the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, Surface Pro X, and Surface Headphones. Microsoft was planning to ship a black Surface Go 2 (codenamed Goma) in January, but that device was canceled for unknown reasons.

It's also worth noting that a black Surface Studio was spotted in the background of one of Microsoft's Ignite presentations last year, though that product doesn't exist for customers to buy. Either way, it's interesting to see black versions of these devices show up in random places, even though none of them are products for sale.

Hopefully Microsoft releases the next versions of the Surface Studio, Surface Go, and Surface Book in black as well as platinum. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on the black Surface devices? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks for the tip, Jason Ward!

What you need to know

• A Microsoft Surface Book allegedly stopped a bullet that was shot through an apartment floor.
• An image shows what appears to be a bullet hole going through the trackpad and into the screen.
• Some question the legitimacy of the story.

The Surface Book 3 is Microsoft's thickest mobile Surface device. It's apparently so thick that it managed to stop a bullet. A viral tweet appeared on October 10, 2020 that appears to show a bullet hole going through a Surface Book. Twitter user Aaron shared the image, which garnered quite a bit of attention over the weekend. According to Aaron, the Surface Book "saved [his] life."

Aaron states that someone shot a bullet through an apartment floor and that the bullet was stopped by a Surface Book. The story seems hard to believe, but crazier things have happened.

Without seeing the apartment building in question and the exact scene of the incident, it's difficult to discern how feasible the story is.

Aaron also shared an image of a bed that was also allegedly affected by the gunshot.

Whether a Surface Book really stopped a bullet is uncertain, but we're fairly certain that a Chromebook couldn't block a bullet.

What do you think of the story? Do you think a Surface Book really stopped a bullet? Let us know in the comments below. Also, please do not test if the Surface Book is bulletproof. Doing so could result in serious injury or death.

What you need to know

• The Surface Book 2 has a new firmware update available.
• The update improves the Windows Hello camera experience.
• The update should be available now through Windows Update.

Microsoft's Surface Book 2 has a new firmware update available. The update is available to all Surface Book 2 devices running the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, version 1809, or greater. The update mostly improves the Windows Hello camera experience, though there are other small fixes.

Microsoft's support page outlines all of the changes, which you can also see below.

The update should be available now through Windows Update on Surface Book 2 devices.

What you need to know

• Microsoft's Surface Book 3 is available for purchase starting today.
• The Surface Book 3 has 10th Gen Intel processors and options for NVIDIA GTX graphics.
• The Surface Book 3 for Business also has options for NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 graphics.
• The Surface Book 3 starts at $1,600.

Microsoft's Surface Book 3 goes on sale today and is available for order from several online retailers. The Surface Book 3 retains the look and design of the Surface Book 2 but has several internal changes that improve its power and efficiency over previous generations. The Surface Book 3 starts at $1,600. If you want to grab a Surface Book 3 with NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q graphics, you can check out the Surface Book 3 for Business. The cheapest option with Quadro RTX graphics is $3,500. There are cheaper options of the business model without GTX graphics as well.

In addition to a bump to 10th Gen Intel processors, the Surface Book 3 also has options for NVIDIA GTX graphics or NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 graphics. The 13.5-inch Surface Book 3 has either Iris Plus graphics or an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q. The larger 15-inch variant gets some more power, with options for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q or the aforementioned Quadro RTX 3000 graphics. To get the more powerful Quadro graphics you need to look at a different listing, such as the Surface Book 3 for Business listing on Microsoft's website.

We put the Surface Book 3 through several benchmark tests recently, including stacking it up against the Surface Book 2, Dell XPS 13, and many other competing devices. If you need help deciding between the newer Surface Book 3 and its older sibling, the Surface Book 2, make sure to check out our comparison guide.

What you need to know

• New firmware updates are rolling out for Surface Book 2 and Surface Go.
• The updates bring security and system stability improvements.
• Both updates are the first in months for each device.

Another round of firmware updates are now available for the Surface Book 2 and Surface Go. This marks the first firmware update for the Surface Book 2 since February, and it's the first for the Surface Go since July, 2019. Each set of updates focuses on bringing system stability and security improvements.

Here's a look at the improvements for each device.

Surface Go

• Surface – Firmware – 11.8.70.3626: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Intel – System – 1914.12.0.1256: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Intel – Software Component - 1.56.87.0: improves integration between system services, and addresses security updates.
• Intel – Extension - 1914.13.0.1063: improves integration between system services, and addresses security updates.
• Intel Corporation - Display - 26.20.100.7637: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Intel – Extension - 26.20.100.7637: improves integration between system services, and addresses security updates.

Surface Book 2

• Intel Corporation – Display – 26.20.100.7639: improves graphics and system stability.
• Surface – Extension - 1914.13.0.1063: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Intel – Software Component - 1.56.87.0: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Intel – System – 1914.12.0.1256: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. – Bluetooth – 15.68.17018.116: improves connection stability and enables the support of new products.
• Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. – Net – 15.68.17018.116: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• NVIDIA – Display – 26.21.14.3218: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Surface – System – 5.91.139.0: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Surface - Firmware - 11.8.70.3626: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Surface - Firmware - 242.11.1.15: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Surface - Firmware - 242.0.1.5: addresses security updates and improves system stability.
• Surface – Firmware – 390.3192.768.0: addresses security updates and improves system stability.

If you own either device, you should be able to grab these updates now via Windows Update. For more on each, you can check out the Surface Update pages for Surface Go and Surface Book 2 now.

What you need to know

• Microsoft updated Surface tools to support the Surface Go 2 and Surface Book 3.
• The updated tools allow IT admins to manage, secure, and diagnose Surface devices.
• The Surface Go 2 is available now and the Surface Book 3 will be available later this month.

Microsoft updated several Surface tools that allow IT admins to secure, diagnose, and manage Surface devices. The tools now support the newly announced Surface Go 2 and Surface Book 3. These tools are available for almost all other Surface devices, and now support Microsoft's newest additions to the Surface family.

Microsoft summarizes the updated tools in a recent post:

• Surface Data Eraser. Allows you to perform a secure wipe of all data from compatible Surface devices.
• Surface Diagnostic Tool for Business. Provides a range of diagnostic tests and software repairs to quickly investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, and firmware issues with Surface devices.
• Surface Enterprise Management Mode. Allows you to secure and manage firmware settings within your organization.

Microsoft points out that the latest version of Surface Brightness Control already supports the new devices and adds that the original Surface Dock does as well following a firmware update.

You can download Surface Tools for IT from Microsoft's website.

Surface Book 3 vs. Surface Pro X tech specs

Features and design

The refreshed Surface Book 3, available in 13.5- and 15-inch sizes, is a modular PC that can act as a tablet with keyboard base detached, or a powerful Ultrabook with base attached. This lends it some versatility, and the internal hardware is split up so that you'll have everything you need in the display portion, with dedicated GPU, ports, and extra battery in the base. There's really not much of a physical difference between the Book 2 and Book 3, so if you're familiar with the older model, you should feel right at home here.

The Pro X is a continuation of the standard Pro lineup, which is closer to a standard 2-in-1 device with all hardware contained in the tablet portion. It has a stand on the back that folds out to prop up the tablet, which works brilliantly with the attachable keyboard that is sold separately. Whereas you need the base connected to the Book 3 to get the full experience, the Pro X is comfortable on its own.

The Pro X has two USB-C 3.1 ports, Surface Connect, and a slot for Nano-SIM, while the Book 3 includes two USB-A 3.1, USB-C 3.1, two Surface Connect (one on the tablet and one on the base), and a UHS-II card reader. You'll get far better native connectivity from the Book 3, though both devices work with the refreshed Surface Dock 2 if you need to add even more ports. Keep in mind that the Book 3, in either size, weighs considerably more than the Pro X. The Pro X is also thinner, making it easier to tote around with you wherever you go. Add in LTE connectivity that comes standard, and you have a device that's easy to operate anywhere you go.

Front- and rear-facing cameras on the Book 3 deliver 1080p quality video, as do the Pro X's cameras. While the front-facing cameras on both devices are set at 5MP, the rear-facing camera on the Pro X hits 10MP while the Book 3 hits 8MP. Both devices include dual far-field Studio microphones for quality voice pickup while on calls or video. For added security, the Book and Pro X both have an IR camera that works with Windows Hello for facial recognition.

The Surface Book 3 has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, while the Pro X is stuck at Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. Because the 15-inch Book 3 has a beefy dedicated graphics card (GPU) perfect for gaming, it has Xbox Wireless controller support.

Display and inking

Microsoft doesn't mess around with displays for its Surface products, so you shouldn't worry too much about screens and capabilities. The Book 3 and Pro X displays have a 3:2 aspect ratio, high resolution, and 10-point multi-touch and inking.

The 15-inch Book 3 delivers the highest resolution at 3240x2160, totaling up to 260 pixels-per-inch (PPI). The 13.5-inch Book 3 has a 3000x2000 resolution, with 267 PPI. The Pro X has the smallest display at 13 inches, with a 2880x1920 resolution and 267 PPI.

The Surface Slim Pen was introduced alongside the Pro X. Like the original Surface Pen (which also works with the Book 3), it offers tilt support for shading and 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. The active pens are cross-compatible and will ultimately offer the same natural inking experience.

Performance and price

The ARM-powered Pro X, with its Microsoft SQ1 processor (CPU) — basically a beefed-up Snapdragon 8cx — is a capable machine that can handle productivity work with ease. However, ARM has some limitations. OpenGL games won't work on ARM, and x86 apps must be emulated. In any case, the Pro X is going to be able to handle anything you throw its way as long as you don't get into anything specialized or particularly intensive.

The Book 3 is built to be powerful, so comparisons between the two devices aren't quite fair. If you need the most performance possible, you'll want to opt for the Book 3. The 13.5-inch model includes either a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPU, with up to an NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q dedicated graphics card (GPU) with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM. If you opt instead for the larger 15-inch Book 3, it comes with a Core i7 CPU, up to 2TB of storage, 32GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The 15-inch Business version of the Book 3 also comes with the option for a NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM. If you're working with specialized design or development software, this is the PC you want.

All that power doesn't come without a price. The 13.5-inch Surface Book 3 starts at about $1,600, while the 15-inch model starts at about $2,300. These prices do not include any accessories. The Surface Pro X, without keyboard or pen included, starts at a much more reasonable $1,000. You don't get nearly the same performance, but if you're not working on anything particularly intensive, that shouldn't matter nearly as much.

Opt for the Surface Book 3 if you value performance

Both sizes of the refreshed Book 3 are bulkier and considerably more expensive, but you get a larger display, a lot more performance, and more ports. If you need a powerful laptop that can act as a replacement for your desktop, the Book 3 should be your first choice.

The Pro X is a better choice for those on the move

Thanks to standard LTE connectivity, light and sleek build, and hardware suited for productivity tasks, the Pro X is an attractive option for anyone who doesn't mind the compromises that come with ARM.

What you need to know

• Microsoft's new lineup of Surface hardware is available for preorder on Amazon.
• You can preorder the Surface Go 2, Surface Book 3, Surface Dock 2, and Surface Earbuds now.
• The Surface Headphones 2 have not appeared for preorder on Amazon yet.

Microsoft's Surface Go 2, Surface Book 3, Surface Earbuds, and Surface Dock 2 are all available for preorder on Amazon. Microsoft recently announced its newest additions to the Surface family, and you can preorder them now to get them as early as possible. The Surface Go 2 starts at $400, the Surface Book 3 starts $1,599 and the Surface Earbuds cost $200. You can also preorder the Surface Dock 2 for $260. At the moment, the Surface Headphones 2 are not available for preorder on Amazon but you can preorder them from Microsoft.

The Surface Go 2 has a larger display than the original Surface Go while keeping the same body size and shape. Microsoft accomplished this by making the bezels thinner and expanding the display. The Surface Go 2 is available with either Intel Pentium Gold processors or more powerful Intel Core m3 processors. Our initial benchmarks show that the Core m3 version stacks up very well against the cheaper Pentium Gold version. Though at this time only the Pentium Gold version appears for preorder on Amazon.

The Surface Book 3 keeps the external design and look of the Surface Book 2 but has several internal improvements. The CPU and GPU that you can get inside are more powerful, and there are more GPU options. Though, like the Surface Go 2's listing, only some options appear on Amazon at this time.

The Surface Earbuds are a newcomer to the Surface family. They feature omnisonic speakers for high quality audio and support haptic gestures for navigating playback. They also integrate with Office 365, allowing you to perform tasks such as dictating documents.

The Surface Dock 2 is a refresh of the original Surface Dock. It supports faster transfer speeds than the original dock and includes several USB-C ports. It also can deliver up to 120 watts of power to connected Surface devices, meaning your device won't run out of power while you have it docked.

Microsoft's Surface Go 2, Surface Book 3, and Surface Earbuds are all available for preorder on Best Buy. The latest pieces of Surface hardware were announced yesterday, and you can preorder them now to make sure you get them as soon as possible. At Best Buy, The Surface Go 2 starts at $400, the Surface Book 3 starts $1,599 and the Surface Earbuds cost $200. At the moment, the Surface Headphones 2 and both of Microsoft's new docks are not available for preorder through Best Buy.

The Surface Go 2 features a larger display than the original Surface Go while retaining the same body shape and size. It has improved internals and has options for either Intel Pentium Gold or Intel Core m3 processors. Based on our initial benchmarks, the Core m3 version stacks up very well against the cheaper Pentium Gold version. Though at this time Best Buy does not list the Core m3 version of the Surface Go 2.

The Surface Book 3 has the same body size and shape as the Surface Book 2 and has no external changes. Instead, it has internal improvements and options for a more powerful CPU and GPU. Best Buy doesn't list the cheaper 8GB variant that's available on Microsoft's website. Instead, it starts at the version with 16GB of RAM at $2,300.

The Surface Earbuds are a new member of the Surface family, and feature omnisonic speakers for high audio quality. They support haptic gestures that allow you to control music and other content. They also integrate with Office 365 such as allowing you to dictate to documents.

What you need to know

• Microsoft announced the new Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, and Surface Dock 2 today.
• Microsoft Mechanics released a trio of videos diving deeper into the technical specs of each.
• The videos offer some insight into the new chips in each PC, how the Surface Dock 2 performs, and more.

Microsoft unveiled a load of new Surface gear today, and now Microsoft Mechanics is offering a deeper dive into some of the devices. The folks at Microsoft Mechanics took a closer look at the new Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, and Surface Dock 2 with a trio of new videos, talking more of the technical specs and improvements for each. Check them out in the gallery below.

The Surface Go 2 and Surface Book 3 both received some significant hardware upgrades over their predecessors. The Surface Book 3 now sports 10th Gen Intel chips and up to NVIDIA Quadro graphics. The Surface Go 2, meanwhile, received a new Intel Core m3 option, along with a larger display area and more.

You can preorder the Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 from Microsoft now, with prices starting at $399 for the Surface Go 2 and $1,599 for the Surface Book 3. Both are expected to launch in stores on May 12.

Microsoft announces new Surface PCs and accessories for spring 2020

What you need to know

• Preorders for the Surface Book 3 and Surface Go are available on Amazon U.K.
• The Surface Book 3 listing has an option to receive a free Surface Pen.
• The Surface Go 2 starts at £629 and the Surface Book 3 starts at £1,599.

Microsoft's Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 are availalbe for preorder on Amazon U.K. Microsoft announced both devices today alongside the Surface Headphones 2, Surface Earbuds, and two docks for connecting devices. The Surface Go 2 starts at £529 and the Surface Book 3 starts at £1,599. If you order the Surface Book 3 from Amazon U.K., there's an option to receive a black Surface Pen for free.

The Surface Book 3 shares its body design and look with the Surface Book 2 but has several internal updates. It's powered by 10th Gen Intel processors and has options for NVIDIA GTX graphics. If you get the 13.5-inch model, you can choose between Intel Iris Plus graphics or an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q. The 15-inch variant of the Surface Book 3 has more powerful options. You can choose between Intel Iris Plus graphics or an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q. If you go for the commercial model of the 15-inch Surface Book 3, you can choose to have Quadro RTX 3000 graphics. Unfortunately, the models with Quadro graphics do not appear on Amazon.

The Surface Go 2 has thinner bezels than the original Surface Go and has more options when it comes to processors. You can choose between Intel Pentium Gold processors or an Intel Core m3 processors, though right now Amazon U.K. only lists the Pentium Gold variants. The Surface Go 2 also has dual studio mics, a 5MP front facing camera, and a larger battery than its predecessor.

What you need to know

• Microsoft recently posted videos for the Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, and Surface Earbuds.
• The videos highlight the latest additions of the Surface lineup.
• Microsoft will likely share videos for the rest of the lineup soon.

Microsoft just announced a plethora of Surface hardware, and you can check out three of them in new sizzler videos. The new videos show off the Surface Book 3, Surface Go 2, and Surface Earbuds.

The Surface Go 2 video focuses on mobility. It highlights the device's instant on capabilities, Windows Hello, and versatility. The Surface Go 2 has a larger display than its predecessor, thanks to its thinner bezels, and can attach to a keyboard.

The Surface Earbuds video appears to be similar or identical to the one that Microsoft used when the headphones were originally announced. It shows off the Surface Earbuds support for gestures, charging case, and quick pairing. It also shows off the ability to dictate to Office 365.

The Surface Book 3 video highlights that it's the Surface device with the longest battery life. The video also mentions some of the internal specs, such as its new GPU options and its 10th Gen Intel processor.

Make sure to check out our coverage of the Surface Go 2, Surface Book 3, and Surface Earbuds to get all the details.

What you need to know

• Retailer listings recently surfaced for a new Surface Dock and what could be Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2.
• Most of the listings are no longer publicly viewable.
• The appearance of the listings suggests a new slate of Surface devices could be close to launch.

A new batch of retailer listings in Europe over the weekend have outed a batch of new Surface devices that could be close to launch. As spotted by German blog DrWindows, it appears a new Surface Dock 2 may be in the works. Likewise, Dan S. Charlton's tech blog caught several retailer listings for what could be Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 configurations.

The Surface Dock 2 is still available to view at Shopmat.be, but there's no accompanying image or technical information. However, DrWindows speculates that we could see Microsoft add USB-C ports to this refresh. It's been five years since the original Surface Dock launched, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Microsoft adopt USB-C for any major refresh here.

While all of the unreleased products were briefly searchable, they're no longer visible without direct links to the listings. However, there were previously configurations for a Surface "Project T" and "Project U," which could be the 13.5-inch and 15-inch Surface Book 3 based on their pricing. Project T showed five configurations ranging from €1,617 to €2,616, while Project U ranged from €2,234 to €3,441.

Rounding things out is Surface "Project V", which showed five configurations ranging between €407 and €847. Based on this pricing, it's expected that this may be a potential Surface Go 2.

As for what to expect in each, recent reports have suggested Surface Book 3 will move to Intel's 10th Gen processors and NVIDIA GTX 16-series GPUs. The Surface Go 2 is expected to have a base configuration with an Intel Pentium Gold chip, but may also offer a Core M processor.

With the uncertainty around events right now, it's unclear whether we'll see Microsoft hold some sort of digital event for whatever it has planned. However, we're expecting to see the launch of Microsoft's Surface Earbuds and, potentially, a follow-up to the Surface Headphones, as well.

All the new Microsoft hardware we expect to see in 2020

What you need to know

• Microsoft will announce a Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 this spring, according to a report.
• The devices will likely feature refinements and internal changes rather than an overhauled design.
• This latest report lines up with our previous reporting on Microsoft's upcoming plans for Surface hardware.

Microsoft will announce a Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 this spring, according to a report by Petri's Brad Sams. Sams states that Microsoft will unveil a refreshed Surface Book, Surface Go, and potentially other Surface hardware at the event. The report from Sams lines up well with our recent reporting on what new Surface hardware we expect to see this year.

According to Sams, the Surface Book 3 will run on an Intel 10th Gen processor and a 16** series NVIDIA GTX GPU. A higher-end Surface Book, which will likely only be available as a 15-inch device, will have an option for a Quadro series GPU. Quadro cards are built for professional people, and should open up the abilities of the Surface Book line. Sams also reports that the max RAM configuration will increase from 16GB to 32GB. The device should be available with up to a 1TB SSD. Sams points out that Quadro GPUs require more wattage, so the Surface Book 3 could also have hardware built with that in mind.

Sams exects the Surface Go to likely run on a Pentium Gold chip. There will also be an option for a Core M chip. Sams quashed rumors of a version of the Surface Go powered by the new Snapdragon 7c processor, stating the rumors "do not appear to be accurate at this time."

Microsoft will also talk about the Surface Earbuds at the event, according to Sams. The Surface Earbuds have already been announced, but have been delayed. He also adds that second-generation Surface Headphones exist, but that he isn't sure if they'll be at the event.

While the size of these laptops doesn't really match up — the X1 Yoga is 14 inches while the Surface Book 2 is either 13.5 or 15 inches — they're likely still on the same shortlist for anyone who wants a device with inking support, respectable performance, and a high build quality. Let's break down the differences and similarities between these laptops to help you get an idea of which is best for your needs.

ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 4) vs. Surface Book 2 tech specs

Design and features

Both the ThinkPad X1 Yoga and both sizes of the Surface Book 2 can be used as a tablet, but they take a different route to get there. The X1 Yoga is a standard convertible with hinge system that allows the lid to fold around 360 degrees for tablet mode and everything in between. The Book 2 is more of a 2-in-1, with a separate tablet that attaches to a keyboard and performance hardware base. The tablet can operate on its own — and in fact can be reattached to the base backwards for a stand look — but when separated you won't get the full performance or battery life.

The Book 2 is no doubt going to make a better tablet simply due to the fact that it can be removed from the base to shed most of its weight. However, taking apart the Book 2 isn't as convenient as folding the X1 Yoga's lid around, and you also have a keyboard base lying around when not in use. It's a bit clunky.

These laptops are built to a premium standard and you shouldn't worry about quality in either. They use magnesium to keep weight down, though you will find that the X1 Yoga weighs considerably less than both sizes of the Book 2. That's partly due to the inclusion of an optional dedicated GPU in the Book 2.

If you plan on taking your laptop into situations outside of the usual office setting, the X1 Yoga's MIL-STD 810G certification is going to give you far more peace of mind. The Book 2 isn't exactly soft, but it's no doubt no going to fare quite as well as the X1 Yoga when it comes to dust and moisture.

The X1 Yoga, thanks to its business leaning, also comes packed with extra security features. A fingerprint reader is standard, you can add an IR camera for facial recognition, there's a webcam shutter and optional privacy display cover, and the usual TPM 2.0 chip, optional FIDO authentication, and Kensington lock slot. The Book 2 comes with a TPM 2.0 chip and IR camera, but it's lacking some of the advanced features that are common in a ThinkPad.

Port selection has never really been a strong point for Surface devices, and the creeping age of the Book 2 doesn't help. It has two USB-A, one USB-C, two Surface Connect ports, 3.5mm audio, and an SD card reader. Compared to the X1 Yoga, with its two Thunderbolt 3, two USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet Extension, and 3.5mm audio, the Book 2 doesn't hold up. At least it offers an SD card reader, which the X1 Yoga lacks. Also scoring a point for Lenovo's laptop is optional 4G LTE connectivity. If you need to stay connected everywhere, Wi-Fi or not, it's going to make a much better choice.

Both laptops offer stellar keyboard and Precision touchpads, and a final decision should come down to personal preference. If you type a lot, either option should suit you well. One area where the Book 2 models excel is in their cameras. Whereas the X1 Yoga has a single front-facing 720p camera, the Book 2 offers front- and rear-facing 1080p cameras that will deliver a much clearer picture.

Display and inking

Choosing a laptop in terms of display, at least between these options, should come down to whether you prefer color accuracy and brightness (X1 Yoga) or 3:2 aspect ratio and higher resolution (Book 2).

The 13.5-inch Surface Book 2 comes with a 3000x2000 resolution, while the 15-inch Book 2 has a 3240x2160 resolution. Both use a 3:2 aspect ratio for a boxier look that ultimately offers more screen real estate. These displays are sRGB color accurate, both nearly hitting 100% gamut coverage. Both work with the mighty Surface Pen and Surface Dial that altogether deliver a satisfying inking experience that's designed for professionals.

The X1 Yoga has four different 16:9 displays to choose from. The first has a standard 1920x1080 resolution and can hit about 380 nit brightness. One step up is essentially the same, but it includes a Privacy Guard that allows only those directly facing the screen to see what's displayed. The third option is again almost the same as the standard FHD display, but it is low power to suck up the least amount of battery. Finally, the 2560x1440 option has a higher resolution but only manages about 280 nits brightness. A ThinkPad Pen Pro is included with all models and has a dedicated silo built right into the laptop.

If you value privacy or really want to extend battery life you will find fitting options with the X1 Yoga, but otherwise the Book 2 options are going to look a lot better and besides deliver that 3:2 aspect ratio that's much better suited for life as a tablet.

Price and performance

Comparing performance, it's clear that the Book 2 models with dedicated GPUs are going to deliver much more graphics power. The X1 Yoga only has dedicated graphics, and while the GPUs in the Book 2 are showing their age, they still easily win. In terms of processing power, due to the option of 10th Gen Intel Core chips in the X1 Yoga, it tops the Book 2's 8th Gen Intel chips. It's expected the Surface Book 3 will sport the newer hardware, but until then the X1 Yoga is going to win out. Another important note is DIY upgrades after purchase. The Book 2 is a closed system, whereas you can open up the X1 Yoga and replace the fast SSD. The Book 2 is stuck with relatively slow storage.

Battery life in these laptops is going to be similar. The Book 2 can push about 10 hours when the GPU isn't going strong, but dips down when all systems are go. The X1 Yoga averages about eight hours, but the low power FHD display option no doubt gives it a boost. You should expect to be able to get through a standard workday with both laptops.

As for pricing, Lenovo's setup can, as usual, make things a bit confusing. Introductory X1 Yoga models retail for about $2,329, but a coupon that's automatically applied brings it down to about 1,199. That's for a model with 8th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU. If you want 10th Gen Intel, you're looking at a starting price of about $1,638 after the coupon is applied.

The 13.5-inch Book 2 starts at about $1,129 and comes with a 7th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD, and no dedicated GPU. Amazon does have a great deal on a 13.5-inch model with dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1050 GPU, 8th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD that'll set you back only about $1,099. As for the 15-inch model, prices start at about $1,845 and only go up from there. A configuration with Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and NVIDIA GTX 1060 GPU costs about $2,430.

Go with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga for a more modern device

Modern ports, 10th Gen Intel Core CPUs, plenty of security features, and a durable build designed to withstand punishment make the ThinkPad X1 Yoga quite attractive. It doesn't have as nice a display and won't deliver the same inking experience — especially with the Book 2's modular design — but it's still the right choice for most people who need a new business partner.

Stick with the Surface Book 2 for extra performance

The Surface Book 2 is certainly showing its age, but it is the right choice if you prefer a higher-res display, superior inking experience, and dedicated GPU options. It doesn't have as many ports and it lacks some of the X1 Yoga's security features, but it is built extremely well and can be had at a reduced price due to its age.

With both of these devices, you're going to get a premium build and gorgeous touch display capable of inking, though they're designed for different use cases. The Surface Book 2, with dedicated GPU and larger display options, is well cut out for specialized work and gaming, and the larger batteries help you get through a workday without needing a charge. The Pro X is certainly the more mobile option thanks to weight, size, and LTE connectivity. It won't match the raw performance of the Book 2, but the custom SQ1 ARM CPU and Adreno 685 GPU will be able to handle a professional's workload, especially creativity and design. Let's take a look at the specs that make up these two PCs.

Microsoft Surface Pro X vs. Surface Book 2 tech specs

Features and design

The Surface Pro X is a bit of a departure from the standard Pro line. Although its footprint is nearly the same as the refreshed Surface Pro 7, it has a thinner chassis and a redesigned detachable keyboard with built-in storage and charging for the new Surface Slim Pen. It's a 2-in-1, so it still has a folding kickstand on the back to prop up the tablet either with or without the keyboard attached.

The Surface Book 2 comes in 13.5- and 15-inch configurations, and it's built to be modular. The base with keyboard and touchpad has inside extra performance hardware — like dedicated GPU and larger battery — while the tablet portion includes everything needed to operate alone, including CPU, RAM, and storage. This means you can remove the tablet portion, though there's no kickstand on the back like on the Pro X. You can, however, reattach the tablet to the base backward, offering up a sturdy stand that's reminiscent of something you'd see with a convertible laptop.

Ports on the Pro X are limited because of its size. It has just two USB-C and a Nano-SIM slot, though the USB-C ports are 3.1 (Gen 2) and are capable of handling two 4K external displays at a 60Hz refresh rate with one output. That leaves the other USB-C port free for charging or something like a hub. The Book 2 offers a more rounded port selection, including USB-A, USB-C, 3.5mm audio, and an SD card reader.

The Nano-SIM slot on the Pro X is accompanied by eSIM capabilities, offering LTE connectivity from the Snapdragon X24 modem. This allows you to stay connected just about anywhere, even when outside of Wi-Fi range. If you want to remain mobile, the Pro X is your best bet as the Book 2 does not have LTE capabilities.

As for cameras, the Book 2 offers decent photo and video capabilities and actually has the same front-facing quality as the Pro X. Both devices also have an IR camera for facial recognition through Windows Hello. The rear-facing cameras are different, however, with the Pro X capable of 4K with its 10MP hardware. The Book 2's rear-facing camera remains at 1080p with its 8MP hardware.

Ultimately, if you'd like a larger laptop that's better cut out as a notebook, the Book 2 should be your first choice. On the other hand, if you like the idea of a 2-in-1 that works exceptionally well as a tablet, the Pro X should be heavily considered. Keep port selection and LTE connectivity in mind when choosing.

Display and inking

Surface devices have some of the nicest touch displays out there, so no matter which laptop you choose, you're going to get a high resolution with touch and inking capabilities. The Pro X has the smallest display at 13 inches, and it comes with a 2880x1920 resolution at 267 PPI. It has thin bezel to accommodate the larger screen size compared to the Pro 7, and it offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt support for high-quality inking. Like the Book 2, it's built with a 3:2 aspect ratio for more screen real estate.

The Surface Book 2 comes in 13.5- and 15-inch options, both larger than the Pro X. The smaller screen has a 3000x2000 resolution with 267 PPI, while the larger display has a 3240x2160 resolution with 260 PPI. Both displays offer touch and inking capabilities, and you get the same 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt support. For ultimate productivity, the 15-inch Book 2 makes the most sense, especially when you figure in the dedicated graphics card (GPU) option.

Performance and price

The Book 2 can be had in quite a few configurations, especially when you factor in the two size options. The 13.5-inch model is still available with a 7th Gen Intel CPU, but there are also 8th Gen Core i5 and Core i7 options available for better performance. These aren't the later 8th Gen "Whiskey Lake" Intel CPUs with improved performance, but they're still able performers. The smaller Book 2 can be had with an optional NVIDIA GTX 1050 dedicated GPU for additional performance, ideal if you're interested in gaming or specialized work. Add up to 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM and a 1TB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD).

The larger Book 2 has 8th Gen Intel Core i5 and Core i7 CPU options, and you can add an NVIDIA GTX 1060 dedicated GPU with 6GB of VRAM for the best performance possible. It can also be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. Smaller 13.5-inch models start at about $1,082, slightly more than the Pro X, while the larger 15-inch Book 2 starts at about $1,699, considerably more than the Pro X.

The Book 2 models both have larger batteries than you'll get in the Pro X, and you should be able to push a full day of work without a charge if you're going about standard productivity work. However, if you're using the dedicated GPU, battery life will no doubt fall considerably below what you'll get with the ARM-powered Pro X. The Pro X has a custom Microsoft SQ1 CPU that's essentially a suped-up Snapdragon 8cx. It has a 3GHz clock, eight cores, and an Adreno 685 GPU with two teraflops of power. It will beat out the Core i5 CPUs in the Book 2, but the Core i7 CPUs will match up closer to what you can expect from the Pro X, especially since x86 apps must be emulated on the Pro X.

Despite the power of the GPU, don't expect the Pro X to be a gaming machine unless you're interested in Project xCloud. OpenGL games won't work, and the Pro X is overall better suited to web and scripted apps. UNITY and Unreal engines are getting ARM support, so we'll likely see some excellent mobile games for the Pro X, but the Book 2 is going to be much better cut out for standard PC gaming. We'll have to do our own testing to see how well the Pro X performs on all fronts.

Baseline Pro X models with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage start at about $999, while topped-out models with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD go for about $1,799.

Go with the Pro X for a portable device cut out for professional work

The Pro X is a thinner, lighter 2-in-1 compared to the Book 2, and combined with LTE connectivity; it's ideal for anyone on the move. Raw performance won't quite match up due to the lack of dedicated GPU and some ARM limitations, but it's still certainly a powerful device that can act as your daily driver.

The Surface Book 2 is still an excellent choice for power users

With dedicated GPU options and a form factor that's closer to a standard notebook, the Book 2 is a great pick for power users. 8th Gen Intel chips are starting to show their age, but they will still perform admirably. Battery life when you're not pushing the GPU is excellent, and you can remove the keyboard and touchpad portion when you just want to use a tablet.

The Surface Pro 7 and the Surface Book 2 are both built to a premium standard, but they're made for slightly different use cases. Thanks to the dedicated GPU and larger display options, the Book 2 is better cut out for specialized work or gaming, and the larger batteries (70Wh and 80Wh) will ultimately deliver longer life when going about regular productivity tasks. The Pro 7 is the more portable option, but a lack of dedicated graphics cards might be a deal-breaker for some. Still, it's using 10th Gen Intel Core "Ice Lake" CPUs for impressive performance and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. Let's take a close look at the specs that make up these two PCs.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 vs. Surface Book 2: tech specs

Features and design

The Surface Pro 7 hasn't seen much of a physical change compared to the Pro 6, though it does now have a single USB-C 3.1 port instead of Mini DisplayPort. This change adds some versatility to the accessories you can connect, including external monitors. The Pro 7 also has USB-A for your older devices, a 3.5mm audio jack, Surface Connect, and a microSD card reader. The larger Surface Book 2 has more room for ports and makes good on the space with two USB-A 3.1, USB-C, two Surface Connect ports, 3.5mm audio, and a full-size SD card reader.

Whereas the Pro 7 is sold as a tablet to which you can add a Type Cover for a full notebook experience, the Surface Book 2 comes as a complete notebook with a display, keyboard, and touchpad. The display portion contains everything it needs inside to work on its own, and it can be detached from the base. You can use it as a tablet to browse the internet, watch a movie, or sketch with a Surface Pen, then connect it back to the base to take advantage of extra battery and a dedicated GPU for maximum productivity. The tablet can even reattach backward to face out, effectively creating a stand with which you can angle the display.

Both devices utilize an IR camera for secure logins through Windows Hello, and both have similar standard camera hardware for shooting FHD video and stills. The main design decision between these two will come down to whether or not you want a tablet first, notebook second (in the case of the Pro 7), or a notebook first and tablet second (in the case of the Book 2). Keep in mind that the Pro 7 will prove to be more portable than even the 13.5-inch Book 2, making it an excellent choice for those always on the move.

Display and inking

The Surface Book 2 comes in both 13.5-inch and 15-inch display options. The smaller display has the same 267 pixels-per-inch (PPI) as the 12.3-inch Pro 7 display, while the larger Book 2 display sits at 260 PPI. The Book 2's resolution indeed appears higher in the stat sheet due to the larger physical size, but know that you're going to get a knockout touch display no matter which device you end up taking home.

The Pro 7 and both models of the Book 2 have a 3:2 aspect ratio for a boxy look with lots of real estate, and all displays are compatible with a Surface Pen for a natural inking feel. You get 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt support, and it can be combined with a Surface Dial for improved handling and productivity. Note that only with the Book 2 can you use the Surface Dial directly on the display, while the Pro 7 is compatible with off-screen interactions only.

Performance and price

The Surface Book 2, along with two available sizes, can be had in a wide variety of configurations. The 13.5-inch model is still available with a 7th Gen Intel CPU, but there are also 8th Gen i5 and i7 options available for improved performance. These are 8th Gen "Kaby Lake R" chips, so do not benefit from the performance boost we saw with the later "Whiskey Lake" CPUs, but they're still able performers. The smaller Book 2 has an NVIDIA GTX 1050 dedicated GPU available if you opt for the Core i7 CPU, and you can get up to 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 1TB PCIe SSD.

The 15-inch Book 2 has available 8th Gen Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs, and it can be had with an NVIDIA GTX 1060 dedicated GPU with 6GB of VRAM if you opt for the speedier CPU. It can also be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. Prices for the 13.5-inch Book 2 start at about $999, while the larger model starts at about $1,699.

The Surface Book 2 models have larger batteries than available in the Pro 7, and you should be able to push a full workday if you're just going about standard productivity work. However, if you're often using a dedicated GPU, battery life will no doubt fall below what's available in the Pro. Note that the tablet portion of the Book 2, when detached, doesn't have access to the full battery, so you won't get nearly as much life as in the Pro 7, which has all hardware contained within the tablet. On that note, the dedicated GPUs are also included in the base of the Book 2, so using it as a tablet without the keyboard attached will leave you with only integrated Intel graphics.

The main update to the Pro 7 is 10th Gen Intel "Ice Lake" CPUs. You can get Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 chips depending on how much performance you need, and you'll enjoy relatively powerful integrated Iris Plus graphics from the Core i5 and Core i7. It won't match dedicated GPU power, especially the NVIDIA GTX 1060, but you'll still be able to enjoy some light and medium gaming. We will have to wait to test on our own, but Microsoft is claiming about 10.5 hours of battery life from a charge.

Along with improved raw CPU performance compared to 8th Gen Intel chips, you have a device that's ready for Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, whereas the Book 2 is stuck on the familiar Wi-Fi 5. If you value blazing wireless speeds, the Pro 7 is undoubtedly the better choice, though you'll likely need to invest in a new router.

Surface Pro 7 models start at a lower $749 price, though baseline configurations have inside a Core i3 CPU, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. You also have to keep in mind that Type Covers are sold separately; adding a Signature Type Cover to your Pro 7 can tack on up to about $160 to the total price.

Stick the with Surface Pro 7 for a more portable, versatile PC

The Pro 7 doesn't have a dedicated GPU option, but 10th Gen Intel Core CPUs will offer more raw performance than 8th Gen CPUs in the Book 2. You also get Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for blazing wireless speeds, as well as a USB-C port for improved connectivity. If you value mobility and prefer a tablet first, notebook second type experience, the Pro 7 should be your first choice.

The Surface Book 2 is a powerhouse for power users

With dedicated GPU and up to a 15-inch size, the Book 2 is better cut out for power users. The 8th Gen Intel Core CPUs are starting to show their age, especially in the face of 10th Gen chips, but they will still perform. You'll get longer battery life as long as you're not pushing the GPU, and you can remove the display from the keyboard and touchpad base when you just need a tablet. If you like the idea of a powerful notebook first, tablet second, the Book 2 should make a great choice.

The Surface Book 2 is due for an update at this point, and in most areas the XPS 13 2-in-1 has it beaten on a pure hardware level. Unless you want the added horsepower you get from the GTX 1060 in the 15-inch Surface Book 2 for gaming or professional work, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is the better choice right now.

Surface Laptop 2 vs. Surface Book 2 tech specs

Get an XPS 13 2-in-1 unless you need dedicated graphics

For as good as the Surface Book 2 is, it's at a point in its life cycle now where it makes little sense to buy one. If you were considering the 13-inch model at all, you should probably discount it and get the XPS 13 2-in-1. The only real positive for the 13-inch Surface Book 2 is that the display detaches entirely so you have a proper tablet, and you can use it with some of the handy Surface accessories like the Dial and Dock. Even though it can come with a GTX 1050, Intel's latest integrated graphics won't be a million miles behind on the 10th Gen processor.

The XPS 13 2-in-1 is just better all-round, especially when considering overall value. The Surface Book 2 is still really quite expensive, especially considering it's still using Intel processors that are a couple of generations old at this point, along with slower LPDDR3 RAM. The XPS 13 2-in-1 is also good for inking with a digital pen thanks to its fold-around display and Dell Premium Active Pen support.

The biggest reason for still getting the Surface Book 2 is if you want the added power provided by the GTX 1060 in the 15-inch model. Even then you need to be absolutely sure it's something you'll use a lot be that for professional applications or gaming since you'll be paying more and dealing with a larger laptop. It still only has 8th Gen Intel processors, which still perform well, but when you're paying this kind of money you shouldn't be buying outdated hardware.

The next revision to the Surface Book is the one to wait for if you absolutely definitely want one at this point in time.

Dell's XPS 13 2-in1 is the one to buy

Dell revamped the XPS 13 2-in-1 with new 10th Gen Core CPUs, along with a switch to a 16:10 screen and a revamped cooling system. It's packing more up to date hardware than the Surface Book 2, with faster RAM on top of the latest processors, and it still has a cheaper entry-level model than the Surface Book 2. It's easy to recommend as the one to get right now.

Wait for the next Surface Book

If you're still really keen on a Surface Book it's probably best to wait right now. The current model is still pretty expensive and it's pretty outdated internally compared to the XPS 13 2-in-1. We'd expect a refresh in the not too distant future, so it really doesn't make sense to recommend it right now.

What you need to know

• Microsoft has placed a new upgrade block on the Windows 10 May 2019 Update.
• The block prevents the update from being automatically installed on Surface Book 2 devices with an NVIDIA discrete GPU.
• A compatibility issue prompted the block, but there is a workaround for those who have already installed the update.

Microsoft put a new upgrade block in place for the Windows 10 May 2019 Update this week, affecting Surface Book 2 laptops with discrete GPUs (dGPU). The issue was added to Microsoft's support document for the May 2019 Update on July 12 (via Michael West), and was prompted by a newly discovered compatibility issue between the update and the NVIDIA GPUs used in some Surface Book 2 models.

According to the issue's description, the discrete GPU "may occasionally disappear from device manager" if you're using a Surface Book 2 with a dGPU. From the issue tracker:

The upgrade block simply means that the update will be prevented from automatically installing on affected Surface Book 2 models until the issue is resolved. However, the May 2019 Update has been available for some time now and the update can be manually triggered through the "Update now" button or installed through the media creation tool.

If you've already installed the update on a Surface Book 2 with a dGPU, Microsoft suggests restarting your device or using the "Scan for hardware changes" in the "Action" section of Device Manager.

Currently, the Windows 10 May 2019 Update has four open issues and several that have either already been mitigated or resolved.

Our favorite computer speakers for less $100

Team Windows Central wholeheartedly recommends each of these computer speaker setups, because they all bring the NOISE and will not wound your wallet.

Bose Companion 2 Series III speakers ($99 at Dell)

If you want great sound quality and value, then you want Bose. You too can have room-filling, immersive sound, so Bose says in every advertisement.

Logitech Z313 speaker system with subwoofer ($49 at Dell)

The Z313 comes with a powered subwoofer and two satellite speakers to deliver 25 watts of total power. That's enough to fill your room and then some.

GOgroove BassPULSE ($50 at Dell)

These are clearly the coolest-looking speakers recommended here, but they're not all flash and guile – these speakers can produce amazing highs and lows, for just $50.

Toast is one of those exciting niche companies based in the United States that has found its calling: making wood-based covers for smartphones, tablets, and laptops. But a few months ago, the company expanded its natural wood offerings to genuine leather to the Surface Book line.

The idea of leather on a PC intrigued me partially due to HP's usage of it with the Spectre Folio. Between plastic, Alcantara, and metal surely leather had a place.

However, while I love the overall idea and feel of the Toast Leather Cover, some early generation-one issues keep me from enjoying it.

Updated February 20, 2019: This review has been updated with new photos and color variation from Toast, who sent us a second sample to consider. Our updated score reflects this re-evaluation.

Toast Leather for Surface Book - What you get

The Toast Leather Cover is like the rest of Toast's wood covers. You pick your device, which includes all the Surface Book models, and then choose which parts you want, colors, designs, and more.

With ten colors to choose from for at least two components (giving one hundred different combinations), the options are a tad overwhelming.

With Microsoft's new fondness for black, I figured "stout" would be a relevant choice accented by "syrah" – a reddish brown. In hindsight, I may have opted for something bolder like "bluetini" with "Moscow Mule" – be brash, right?

Additional options besides the top, bottom, and hinge covers include trackpad surround, which adds leather to the keyboard palm rest, custom design in the leather, custom text, and an option for a cutout for the Surface logo.

All those features can add up letting you jump from a base $99 for top and hinge to $249 for every option. It's not a cheap investment, but if your Surface Book 2 costs over $2,000 then an extra $200 to protect it in style is within reason.

Toast Leather Cover quality and that smell

From my experience, Toast always makes excellent stuff. Even when something is wrong, their customer service is accommodating. I once worked with them to get the Surface Pro with LTE wood cover right by doing some measurements and sending them photos. Within a few days, they had sent replacement parts that fit the off-center headphone jack.

The Leather Cover fits in that mold. Everything was precisely cut to fit my 13-inch Surface Book 2.

Installation is also easy. Each piece has 3M tape on the back, which is then peeled off. It was easy to line up and even fix if it was slightly off during placement.

However, I did notice the leather smell right away - this isn't your typical or even subtle smell (like the HP Spectre Folio) where you need to put your nose up to it – this was full on aromatic, just in a bad way.

Being brand new, I was willing to forgive that for a day or two while it aired out, but weeks on there is still a chemical/burning/glue smell that is not at all pleasant (especially if in your bag for a few hours). It was even worse when in direct sunlight that black leather absorbed all the heat and made the smell even more intense.

That scent has lessened, but for people who are sensitive to such odors, you will be immediately turned off from this cover.

In theory, that's a solvable problem for Toast by changing either the glue or how the leather is processed, but for now, it's a negative.

The other issue I had with the leather was susceptibility to wear. Leather breaking in with some worn look is expected with such a cover, but at least in my color choice, the black just looked imperfect as the weeks progressed. There's a wrinkle here, a crease there, some dimples in the center – it doesn't look like worn jeans or a saddle, but a bit cheap and, well, damaged.

Toast Leather Cover for Surface Book – A mixed bag

Here's what I can say about the Toast Cover. The theory behind it is spot on. The leather "feel" for my Surface Book 2 is excellent. Gone is the cold metal chassis and instead, I have a warm, book-like experience.

My Surface Book 2 is more comfortable to grip, and I even like the leather pads near the trackpad, which was convenient for typing. There's also this neat trick with how the leather binder props up the Surface Book 2 by about two degrees due to how it rolls. I liked this a lot.

The choices are also excellent although I can see how you want to spend hours pondering which color combination looks the best. From my experience, I would steer away from black "stout" if I could do it over again and instead go for "scotch" or something crazy like "mojito" – I think the lighter colors would hide some of the superficial changes in the leather that I noticed with black.

There's also the protection aspect. While this leather cover won't protect against big drops, I feel very confident in sliding it around a table, bag, or anywhere where scratching may occur. As a cover, it works.

My main complaints come down to the smell – which is just way too strong for me, and would be terrible for those with sensitivities to odors – and how the leather has worn in time, which doesn't look so great.

Updated February, 20, 2019: Since this review Toast has sent a new version of the leather cover for Surface Book 2 this time in "bluetini" for the color (images below). The wear on this version is much better than the Stout from the original review, and the smell, while still evident, is not nearly as intense. As a result, our review score is being bumped from 3.5 to 4.0 with a "recommended" buy.

Those issues aren't deal breakers though, and I'd love to see Toast make some modifications to its Leather Cover offering – it's a great idea that needs some refinement.

Related Reading

If you're interested in the Toast wood covers for various Microsoft Surface products, you can check out my previous reviews:

• Toast Wood Cover for Surface Pro review
• Toast Wood Cover For Surface Laptop review
• Toast Wood Cover for Surface Go review
• Toast Wood Cover for Surface Book review

The Surface Book 2 is the best device I've ever owned. For me, the 15-inch model represents the best of what Microsoft's leading industrial design team has to offer — with uncompromising power in a stunning, svelte package.

I'm not here to talk about what's great about the Surface Book 2, you can take a look at our Executive Editor Daniel Rubino's review for that. Instead, I'm here to talk about the things that … well, bug me about this PC. Things that I hope get rectified, or at least addressed, in the inevitable Surface Book 3.

Powerful, but not enough power

The Surface Book 2 packs a quad-core CPU complete with a GTX 1060, powering a 4K (horizontal) 3:2 display. In order to fully utilize the components in the Book 2 without turning your device into a makeshift BBQ grill, you need some pretty powerful cooling techniques. The Book 2, as such, can get pretty noisy under load. But that isn't the real problem.

The Surface Book 2 simply doesn't draw enough power for its components when maxed out. As a result, gaming or 3D editing tasks while on max settings, which the Book 2 is completely capable of, drains the battery even when it's plugged in. It's widely believed that this issue is why the Surface Book 2 can only connect a single 4K display at 60 Hz, and straight up refuses to allow for two, despite having the capability to do so.

There are ways around some of these problems, like dropping the quality of your games, lowering the display resolution of your screen, or running your Book 2 in battery saver mode, but you shouldn't have to. Hopefully, any prospective Surface Book 3 will provide enough power to actually utilize the components you're paying for inside the device.

Detachment issues

Another problem that I perceive with the Book 2 pertains to its unique detachment feature. The CPU and GPU are split between the display and base. The Book 2's "unique" feature is the fact that the display can be removed and act as a gigantic clipboard. The problem is, really, I'm not sure what use a gigantic 15-inch tablet really is, for anyone. The 13-inch model could maybe almost make sense in some limited boardroom scenarios, but I suspect the vast majority of users only detach the display to flip it into canvas or tent mode for media consumption or digital inking.

Additionally, the fact the display detaches creates a range of design and construction issues that are largely needless. At least on my Book 2, angling the display down can cause it to become disconnected for a brief moment, which can disable the dedicated GPU and USB devices in the base. Sometimes, it requires a reboot to fix. Other times, it requires a BIOS refresh to fix, both of which are inconvenient.

I think the Book 3 should catch up to how people actually want to use laptops. I suspect Microsoft has data to suggest virtually nobody detaches the display for an elongated period of time, and it doesn't help that Windows 10's tablet mode is, well, bad.

The obvious solution is to go with a 360-degree hinge. The Lenovo Yoga lineup is a great example of devices that can still enjoy tent, tablet, and canvas modes, without the needlessly complex, virtually redundant detachment scenario.

Paint it black

The latest Surface Laptop and Pro both come with black variants. It's subjective, but I never really liked the metallic finish on the modern Surface devices, as it's something I tend to associate with Apple devices.

Naturally, adding a black finish to the Surface line has typically come with a range of its own problems. There are reports that, like the old black Surface Pro 1 and 2, the paint can become scuffed quite easily, revealing the magnesium alloy underneath. That's obviously not something I want, but if Microsoft could figure a way of solving that issue, I'd take a black Book 3 over a metallic Book 3 in a heartbeat.

Inking ... on the trackpad

I'm sure there are technical reasons why this may or may not be possible, but I've always found it to be odd that if I want to do any form of inking, I either need to poke awkwardly at the screen set to a 90-degree angle, go through the motions of detaching, flipping, and resetting, or simply flop the Book 2 on its back. The Laptop 2 also shares this problem, and to a lesser degree so do the Pro and Go Surface devices, when all you want to do is make a quick signature or ink out a Sticky Note. (By the way, the new Sticky Notes app for Windows 10 is awesome.)

Surely it makes sense for some sort of low-fidelity inking capability on the trackpad itself. My Book 2 won't even recognize a stylus as a touch event, presumably because it's looking for fingers rather than something smaller, but it'd be far more intuitive for a quick inking piece to just grab the pen and drop some ink on the trackpad via the cursor, rather than angle the screen around.

Thunderbolt 3

I suppose one way Microsoft could solve its power draw woes from its dedicated GPU would be to enlist full Thunderbolt 3 in the next Surface Book model.

Thunderbolt 3 is four times faster than the standard USB 3.1 ports included on the Surface Book 2, and it also comes with four lanes of PCIe Generation 3, allowing you to utilize external GPU docks. Theoretically, you could grab a lower-end Surface Book 3 and grab an external, independently-powered dedicated GPU that wouldn't drain the Book's battery while maxed out, and you could slap in a desktop-class GPU for some serious gaming.

Almost perfect

The Surface Book 2 has been a dream device for me for the most part. I tend to prefer Microsoft products for the peace of mind that comes with stellar customer service (at least in my experience) and the knowledge that generally driver updates are tested thoroughly for compatibility before hitting the Surface line.

Still, it's maddening that despite paying top-of-the-line prices, you can't get the full capability out of the components you paid for due to the power drain issue. Also, as someone who does digital art on occasion, it's a bit of a hassle to go through the ritualistic detachment process every time I want to lay the display out flat.

The Book 3, hopefully, will incorporate a bigger design revision than the Book 2 did, to address some of the most pressing usability issues. Either way, the quality has already ensured that I'll typically consider Surface before any other laptop. I'd just like to see Microsoft push it to the next level.

What changes do you want to see?

The Surface Book 2 is an outstanding laptop with a modular design and internal hardware available to tackle tough tasks. One common task is running Windows Mixed Reality (WMR), Microsoft's own version of VR that competes with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Related: How well does Surface Book 2 handle WMR?

The Surface Book 2 is available in two sizes — 13.5 and 15 inches — and each size has separate graphics hardware (GPU) available. The smaller model has up to an NVIDIA GTX 1050, while the larger model is available with up to an NVIDIA GTX 1060.

There are likewise two tiers of WMR that require separate levels of hardware. Ultra, the upper tier, needs at least an NVIDIA GTX 1060, while the standard WMR needs just integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 to get off the ground. Experiences differ in terms of frames-per-second (FPS) depending on the GPU, and this raises an important question.

Related: What is Windows Mixed Reality Ultra?

Windows Central forum member tralala177 recently created a thread asking whether or not WMR with a 13.5-inch Surface Book 2 and NVIDIA GTX 1050 is really worth the money.

Sure, the 13.5-inch Surface Book 2 will run most WMR experiences, but would the Oculus Go make more sense in terms of quality and cost? If you've had experience with one or both of these VR systems, head on over to the forum and let tralala177 know what you've seen so far.

Join the discussion on the Windows Central forum

Updated April 19, 2018: We have confirmed that updates are rolling out to Surface Book 2 and Surface Pro devices enrolled in Insider rings as well.

If you've got a Surface Laptop enrolled in the Windows Insider program, you'll want to check Windows Update. Microsoft has begun rolling out a firmware update for the machine, but it's not entirely clear what's new.

The update itself is listed in Windows Update as "Surface - Firmware - 2/28/2018." And while the date attached is the same as the most recent public release listed on the Surface Update page, the version number for the Insider update (135.2139.257.0) is newer than the public release's (135.2114.3.0).

We've spotted the update rolling out to two Surface Laptops enrolled in the Fast ring. A user on Reddit also reports receiving the update on the Slow ring.

If you have a Surface Laptop in the Insider program, the update should be rolling out now. If and when Microsoft issues release notes, I'll update this post with more information on what's new.

The Surface Book 2 is a beastly laptop, providing quad-core i7 processing, 16GB of RAM, and a GTX 1060 – which, in theory, is all the internal power you need to run Windows Mixed Reality (WMR).

WMR and VR, in general, are still in their infancies. Just earlier this week, Oculus Rift headsets all around the globe were rendered useless by an expired security certificate, and while WMR headsets are slowly gaining ground, they're still a niche within a niche. In that sense, using WMR on a Surface Book 2 is probably a niche within a niche within a niche, but alas, here we are.

I spent the day in virtual worlds with the Surface Book 2 in WMR, and here's what you need to know before considering this set up as a go-to VR option.

Related: Are Surface PCs well suited for mixed reality?

Enough power?

The VR experience, as in visuals and head tracking on the Surface Book 2 using the HP Mixed Reality headset, were quite good. The load times on some games, in particular, Arizona Sunshine were shockingly long for some reason when compared to my Razer Blade 14, which I can only attribute to the Blade's more powerful CPU.

The in-game experience was smooth enough, as long as you're willing to accept resolution compromises and jagged edges on 3D models. The Book 2 simply doesn't feel like it was designed with WMR in mind, which, considering it has no HDMI port, is easy to believe.

Additionally, WMR drained my battery like crazy even when it was plugged in with the official charger. There's a chance that the fact I'm using a Europe-to-UK power adapter might affect things, but an hour of gaming was enough to wipe 60 percent off my battery, which isn't exactly ideal. The Surface Book 2 is known to suffer from this issue, but only in extreme circumstances. It certainly feels like WMR is enough to push the Book 2's power draw to its limits, judging by the experiences of other members of the Windows Central team.

A question of accessories

Another issue I found with WMR on the Surface Book 2 came in the form of motion controller tracking, which again doesn't feel completely smooth. I'm not a fan of Bluetooth as a solution for tracking the controllers in general, and found similar radio interference issues using them on my Razer Blade 14 as well. Controller tracking jitter was quite aggressive on the Book 2, and while I could improve the situation by moving closer to the Surface Book 2, you then run the risk of knocking into things. I really hope Microsoft can find an alternative method for this.

As noted earlier, you also need a USB-C to HDMI dongle to use any WMR headset on the Surface Book 2, which is a tad annoying, but not a big deal. I found no issues with the connection between the USB-C dongle and HDMI cable, besides how damn expensive Microsoft's version is. There are cheaper options on Amazon, but I've had issues previously with cheaper dongles for HDMI, so I decided to just go with Microsoft's for guaranteed reliability.

Final thoughts on mixed reality and the Surface Book 2

Overall, the WMR experience on the Surface Book 2 isn't terrible, but it's certainly not ideal. The battery drain issue, controller tracking problems, and the fact you have to use a dongle, make it sub-par when compared to the Razer Blade 14, or other similarly spec'd laptops (and certainly when compared to true VR desktops).

If you're considering getting a Surface Book 2 for portable VR alone, simply put, don't. There are better and cheaper options out there. The Surface Book 2 is certainly a great device for creative types and regular HD gaming, but VR seems to push it to its limits. You can certainly use the Surface Book 2 to dabble with VR and WMR, and even set up brief sessions, but the shortcomings are relatively broad. Look elsewhere if you prioritize WMR.

Last year, I wrote about switching from a Surface Book to a Razer Blade 14, citing the Blade's superior CPU and GPU as the reasons why. Now that the Surface Book 2 is here, I couldn't resist the urge to switch back.

I really enjoy the Razer Blade 14. It's a beastly device, without sacrificing style and size. Not only can it run games like a dream, it powers through all other tasks with ease, including video editing, heavy duty Photoshop, and even Mixed Reality and VR. Considering the internal spec difference between the Blade and the Surface Book 2 are negligible, why did I feel the need to drop over a thousand extra euros to switch back to Surface?

The reasons are numerous and potentially nuanced, but it boils down to one thing: the Surface Book 2 is the perfect device for me. And my experiences might help you decide which device is best for you.

• See Surface Book at Microsoft
• See Razer Blade at Amazon

Surface Book 2 15-inch vs. Razer Blade 14 (2017): Tech specs

The Razer Blade experience

The Blade and the Book are fundamentally different devices, but they can be used for similar tasks. The Blade's quad-core processing and GTX 1060 GPU makes a breeze of intensive gaming, video editing, and Windows Mixed Reality, and produce a smooth Windows 10 experience across the board. Performance-wise, there's nothing to complain about with the Razer Blade, which packs a magical amount of power into a svelte, 4.3-pound package.

I was using the Blade's 1080p non-touch offering, and while this display is nowhere as impressive as the Surface Book 2's, it more than gets the job done. I was amazed at how much I actually missed the touch capabilities on Windows 10, and if you feel the same, know that Razer offers touch variants of this device. But if you want digital inking, you'll have to get an external drawing tablet.

Perhaps the biggest annoyance I experienced personally with the Blade was the noise. Even lighter tasks like Skype calls would engage the fans underneath, which are incredibly noisy. If you fire up Windows Mixed Reality or even a modest game, the Razer Blade will sound as though it's about to blast off into orbit. It got to a point where I was trying to work around the noise, looking into cooling pad solutions or deliberately lowering the frames per second (FPS) or resolution in games to make it run a little more quietly.

Some other minor gripes with the Blade include the non-Precision touchpad, which while not terrible is a far cry from Microsoft's Surface line, although you can install Microsoft's Precision drivers to improve the situation.

There are now some gunmetal variants, but most Blades are matte black, making them prone to visible smudges and dust. You'll potentially be cleaning it a lot, and it's made all the more annoying by the fact the speaker grills face upwards next to the keyboard.

For the most part though, the Blade is a beautiful and ultimately reliable device. I've never had a single crash or hang through several months of daily use. If you're willing to put up with the noise, it'll crush most modern games with ease, and it makes a joy of more intensive tasks like VR and video editing. This is the ultimate laptop for those who need something that travels with them, while not sacrificing the power, provided you don't want inking.

Surface Book 2 is a Swiss Army Knife

The Surface Book 2 is an gorgeous slab of engineering like no other. It's truly stunning how Microsoft was able to squeeze so much power into a relatively thin device. The CPU and other internals are packed into the display, while the GPU and batteries reside in the base, which comes with that unique fulcrum hinge.

The internals are relatively similar between the Blade and the Book 2. Quad-core processing joins a 6GB GTX 1060 for high-end gaming and other tasks, and crucially for me, the Surface Book 2 doesn't sound like a jet engine when under heavy load. That's not to say it doesn't get noisy at times, but you really have to push it.

The Surface Book 2 has a weaker CPU than the Blade, and it shows. The Blade produces a smoother OS experience, both in terms of animations and speed. Multi-tasking is noticeably better on the Blade, too. As I type this, I have a few programs open, and adding Google Hangouts into the mix (which is notoriously resource-heavy), the Surface Book 2 is having a slightly harder time than my Blade would have had.

When you're not multi-tasking, the difference is harder to notice. Gaming performance generally feels near-identical, and the Surface Book 2's display really makes some games shine, particularly space games, making use of the Book 2's deep blacks. The Book 2 can suffer from battery drain in certain situations, when you're pushing it really hard, but it's unlikely you'll encounter this issue if you're using the Book 2's official charger.

The Book 2 should generally outperform the Blade on battery life, although you're not going to get more than an hour or two while running an intensive game on either. For general use, though, I get around five to six hours on the Blade, and around eight to 10 on the Book 2, which is impressive.

Most impressive of all is just how versatile the Surface Book 2 is. It's a creative studio in a single package, offering robust digital inking, high-level processing power, and a stunning display. It's also several hundred dollars more expensive than the Blade.

Which should you buy?

The Blade and Book 2 might seem similar when you're the looking at the internals, but ultimately, the choice boils down to what you intend to use them for. Both devices are beautiful, well-designed, robust, and powerful, packing serious processing into a petite package.

Unless you intend to use digital ink, flipping the screen and laying it flat for artsy pursuits, it's almost impossible to recommend the Book 2 at that price point. There are simply cheaper options out there, which are often more powerful to boot. What you will get if you choose Surface over Razer are refinements: slimmer bezels, better cameras, a better trackpad, an SD-card slot, and a better display. But whether all of that is worth the extra cash is something only you can decide.

The Blade provides a slightly smoother OS and multi-tasking experience, at the cost of fan noise. While the Book 2 provides better battery life, you won't experience any sort of throttling while using the Blade, and you also have the option of Thunderbolt 3 peripherals, such as an external GPU.

I think for pure gamers, the Blade should certainly be considered first, but the Surface Book 2 is a jack of all trades across the board for creatives, prosumers, and gamers, and truly represents Windows at its best and most versatile.

• Surface Book 2 review
• Razer Blade 14 review

• See Surface Book at Microsoft
• See Razer Blade at Amazon

Microsoft's 15-inch Surface Book 2 is one of the finest laptops on the market today, but that doesn't mean it stands without some stiff competition. Dell's XPS 15, also a fine device with impressive hardware inside, comes at a significantly lower price but without a few of the key features that make the Surface Book 2 the special device it is. Let's take a look at exactly how the two 15-inch laptops compare to help you decide which is best for your needs.

• See at Microsoft
• See at Dell

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Specifications

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Performance

The 15-inch Surface Book 2 is intended as the high performance option of the lineup, so it comes only with an eighth-gen Intel Core i7-8650U processor (CPU). You're getting four cores for great performance, but it also has a 15W thermal design point (TDP). Compared to the seventh-gen Core i7-7700HQ in the XPS 15 that has a 45W TDP, the eighth-gen CPU is going to be sucking up less power.

When it comes to raw performance, these two CPUs are closely matched, though the one in the Surface Book 2 has a higher single-core turbo frequency at 4.20GHz. If you're going to be primarily multitasking, you'll likely be able to squeeze better performance out of the XPS 15 when all cores are engaged. If you're in need of a PC with less processing power, the XPS 15 does also come in Core i3 and Core i5 configurations, saving you a bundle of cash.

Likewise, you can go as low as 8GB or as high as 32GB of RAM in the XPS 15, whereas the Surface Book 2 is set at 16GB. As for the hard drive, the XPS 15 has some budget-friendly hard-disk drives (HDD), but like the Surface Book 2, also comes with PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) options up to 1TB in size.

The big difference in performance here is in the graphics card (GPU). The cheapest XPS 15 model uses integrated Intel HD Graphics 630, but the rest have a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1050 with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM. This is enough for a decent gaming experience, but compared to the NVIDIA GTX 1060 with 6GB of GDDR5 VRAM in the Surface Book 2, it won't compete.

Winner: Surface Book 2. The XPS 15 does come in more configuration options, but the GTX 1060 in the Surface Book 2 will outperform the GTX 1050 all day.

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Display

The IGZO displays that Dell uses in the XPS line are downright gorgeous, stretching seemingly from edge to edge without much bezel at all. Whereas older models were capped at 1800p, you can get a 4K touch version alongside the standard 1080p non-touch version. Either one will serve you well, offering up a high color gamut and deep contrast.

The Surface Book 2's display has a 3:2 aspect ratio, making it seem boxier than usual. It's perfect for tablet mode when you remove the display from the keyboard, and is the perfect shape for use with the Surface Pen (which is no longer included with the laptop). The bezels here are also thicker than on the XPS 15, something that might help a lot of you decide.

Winner: XPS 15. The fact that the Surface Book 2's display can be removed and be used on its own with a Surface Pen does certainly count for something, but strictly speaking appearance, the XPS 15 has it beat.

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Design and features

The Surface Book 2 has a modular design, meaning the display can detach from the keyboard base. There's still decent battery life in the tablet, though the bulk of it, along with the dedicated GPU, is housed in the base. The two pieces attach at the fulcrum hinge, and can be separated with the click of a switch. For something a bit different — mainly to get the display closer to you while retaining a base to sit on, the display can be replaced backwards to face out when closed.

The XPS 15 is far less complicated, designed to be a standard notebook and not much else. Made from aluminum on the outside and a carbon-fiber finish on the inside, the XPS 15 sits at about four pounds for the non-touch version and 4.5 pounds for the touch version. The Surface Book 2 weighs about 4.20 pounds.

For ports, you have similar USB-A 3.0 and an SD card reader, and while the Surface Book 2 has two proprietary Surface Connect ports, it is lacking a Thunderbolt 3 port that the XPS 15 has. If you're a gamer, though, the Surface Book 2 has Xbox Wireless built right in, making it easy to connect a gamepad.

The keyboard and touchpad on both laptops are comfy, though you're getting more key travel with the Surface Book 2 (1.55mm compared to 1.3mm). Both have large Precision touchpads, and there is an adjustable backlight behind the keys.

As far as logging in with Windows Hello, the Surface Book 2 has an IR camera above the display. The XPS 15's standard 720p is below the display — giving a nose view at best — and doesn't support Windows Hello, but you can choose to add a fingerprint reader.

Winner: Surface Book 2. Though the XPS 15 makes a great notebook, the Surface Book 2's modular design and bonus features make it the winner.

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Battery

If you opt for the basic XPS 15 model, you'll get a 56WHr battery, smaller to make up for the size of the HDD. For other models using an SSD, you get a 97WHr battery. Battery life varies depending on whether you have a dedicated GPU and whether you have the FHD or 4K version, but you can expect about ten hours of straight use with the lower-res display and running a GTX 1050.

The Surface Book 2 can hit about the same life, getting about 10 hours of standard use from a charge. This number is impacted by the GTX 1060, and if you remove the tablet from the base, you'll only have access to about 20 percent of the total battery reserve.

Winner: Tie. Both laptops can provide all-day life, but are impacted by the dedicated GPUs.

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Price

Considering the 15-inch Surface Book 2 starts at a whopping $2,500 and the XPS 15 comes in with a model that costs just $1,000, it's kind of clear who the winner is for anyone who wants a cheaper device.

See at Microsoft

However, that base model of the XPS 15 has no dedicated GPU, has an HDD, and is running a Core i3 CPU. Compared to the Surface Book 2, there's no performance contest. If we look at an XPS 15 that's closer matched to the entry-level Surface Book 2 — Core i7, 16GB RAM, dedicated GPU, and a 512GB SSD — it's clear that you can still save nearly $1,000 by sticking with Dell's laptop.

See at Dell

Winner: Dell XPS 15. You get a lot of laptop for the price you pay, and though the Surface Book 2 has a lot going for it, the price can be prohibitively high.

Surface Book 2 vs. XPS 15: Conclusion

Like with a lot of laptop comparisons, the final score comes down to a tie. Here, the XPS 15 has a better display, costs far less, and offers a Thunderbolt 3 port, but the Surface Book 2 offers better performance, a few important extra features, and a killer design.

The price will likely play a big part is choosing between these two, but it's safe to say that the XPS 15 makes a great notebook while the Surface Book 2 makes a great notebook and more. If you're in it for Windows Mixed Reality (WMR), keep in mind that either of the laptops can run it, though you'll likely want to check out my guide to adapters to get it all set up.

More resources

Check out our in-depth reviews for far more information about these great devices.

• Surface Book 2 15-inch review: The ultimate Windows laptop gets bigger and better
• Dell XPS 15 (9560) review: An impressive laptop with key upgrades and few flaws

Watch now!

Audience questions for Episode 32

• How do you see Cortana expanding to other parts of the world where it isn't available at the moment? - Dean G.
• Are we still going to see Windows 10 on ARM devices in 2017? Will those devices be able to run power applications? – Frajo & Jcmg62
• I've noticed a faint hissing and static noise in my Surface Book 2 13-inch with Core i7. Normal or not? – hardy1076

Thanks, everyone, for the questions! Make sure to use Twitter, email, or our forums to ask me your question for next week!

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It's easy to dismiss the Surface Book 2 15-inch model as just a bigger version of the 13-inch. After all, it is physically bigger, heavier, and it sports a display that's one and a half inches larger. But to do so misses the more significant point: the Surface Book 2 15-inch is a monster of a PC for raw performance and computational power.

Microsoft calls Surface Book 2 a "powerhouse." It was not exaggerating. The 15-inch model may go down as the best laptop on the planet. I've spent the last week with it and I'm confident no other laptop can do as much as well as the Surface Book 2 15-inch.

About this Surface Book 2 review

Microsoft supplied a loaner Surface Book 2 15-inch for review purposes. The unit tested features a Core i7-8650U processor, with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It costs $3,299. Starting price of the 15-inch model begins at $2,499 with the same specifications but only 256GB of storage. A middle variant has 512GB of storage and costs $2,899.

See at Microsoft

Check out our review of the smaller 13-inch Surface Book 2

Technically a beast

Microsoft Surface Book 2 15 specifications

The Surface Book 2 15 only has three tiers differing just in storage options: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. Everything else, including the Core i7 processor, RAM, and discrete NVIDIA graphics is the same.

Full Surface Book 2 specifications

The big deal here with the Core i7 processor is it is the brand-new 8th generation version that goes from a dual-core to quad-core. Up until now, only more massive laptops with 45W processors were quad-core, but now Ultrabooks with 15W motherboards can get double the cores and threads. That matters less for running a web browser or Windows Store apps and more for CPU-intensive applications like CAD, video and photo rendering, 3D model makers, or crunching large amounts of data in Excel or engineering applications.

More interestingly, the Surface Book 2 15 has the same processor as the 13-inch Core i7 model, but it has a higher TDP at 20W instead of 15W. That means the 15-inch model should run and maintain higher CPU speeds for longer durations given the same test environment. Microsoft was able to do this by including active cooling – a CPU fan – in the 15-inch model, which is eschewed in the 13-inch variant.

At least with the 1TB version Microsoft is using a Samsung PCIe NVMe solid-state drive (SDD), which is an excellent choice for those concerned about performance.

As summarized, here is how the Surface Book 2 15 with Core i7 differs from the 13-inch variant:

• Core i7 with a thermal design point (TDP) of 20W compared to just 15W in the 13-inch.
• Fan for the CPU in the tablet half of the Surface Book 2 15.
• NVIDIA GTX 1060 with 6GB of video memory instead of an NVIDIA GTX 1050 with 2GB.
• Larger display (15- vs 13.5-inch) with a higher resolution (3240 x 2160 vs. 3000 x 2000), but a slightly lower dot-per-inch (260 DPI vs 267).
• Xbox Wireless support built-in.
• Larger battery (80WHr vs. 70 WHr).
• Enhanced and sRGB color profiles.
• Magnetic attachment for Surface Pen (optional) works on either side of the display instead of just the left.
• Slightly thinner bezels.

For the CPU and GPU, those changes result in a significantly more powerful computer, which will be demonstrated in benchmarks below.

Not messing with a good thing

Surface Book 2 15 design

Microsoft did not deviate from the original Surface Book design with the Surface Book 2. Take the 13-inch Surface Book 2 and enlarge it and you now have Surface Book 2 15. Microsoft kept everything the same except for the larger display and matching base.

The magnesium chassis of the Surface Book 2 15 is stable, smooth, and very durable. Since there is no paint – unlike the Surface Laptop in various colors – there is only concern over light scuffing rather than paint scratches. There are no creaks or weak points due to the unibody design. That also means, however, there are no entry points for repairs on the Surface Book 2 nor any way to upgrade internal components.

The claim to fame with Surface Book 1 and 2 is the ability to press a release button on the keyboard that separates the display from the main laptop body. Microsoft achieved this by putting all the PC innards – CPU, RAM, storage, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and some battery – into the display, while the base acts as a larger battery and houses the full NVIDIA GPU. It's a fantastic feat of engineering.

The display removed from the base can act as a standalone PC tablet with multiple hours of battery life. It can also be reversed to bring the screen closer to the user (e.g., when watching a movie) or lay down flat ("studio mode"), which simulates a drafting table.

For 2017, the fulcrum hinge, which expands the base of the laptop when opened, has not changed from its predecessor. There is still the iconic "gap" when the Surface Book is closed giving the device its book-like shape. However, the muscle wire mechanism that releases the tablet from the base and the tabs that hold it secure have been rebuilt and simplified internally. The release is now much quieter when engaging, and the larger tabs reduced any screen wobble when using it as a laptop. The display can also be opened one-handed and is easy to do with the massive front notch.

At 4.2 pounds (1,905 grams) the Surface Book 2 15 is just below the average weight for 15-inch laptops with touch displays and discrete graphics.

As a tablet the Surface Book 2 15, while a bit large to hold one-handed, weighs 1.8 pounds (817 grams). Giving the tablet portion to friends and everyone remarks how much lighter it is than expected. Considering there is a full, quad-core Core i7 processor with 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM behind that display, the tablet is quite remarkable for its size and weight.

A delight to behold

Surface Book 2 display and inking

Featuring a 3240 x 2160 PixelSense LCD touch display with a 1600:1 contrast ratio and 3:2 aspect the screen in the Surface Book 2 15 is excellent.

A calibration test revealed 98 percent sRGB and 75 percent Adobe RGB coverage, which is near the high-end, but slightly below the 13-inch model at 99 percent and 80 percent, respectively. Colors looked bright, contrasty, and the backlight is evenly distributed. Glare is also not an issue though it is a glossy display. The bezels are slightly thinner on the 15-inch model than the 13-inch.

Display brightness is also excellent, though not extraordinary, compared to some newer laptops with an outdoor mode. There is an auto-adjust sensor to manipulate display brightness based on ambient room light. It works well and evidently uses direct current to reduce some subtle screen flickering that cheaper displays exhibit.

There is some minor light bleed found in all LCD type displays, but it is only noticeable during initial boot when the display brightness is maxed on a gray background and not during usage.

Microsoft no longer includes a Surface Pen with the Surface Book – just like with Surface Pro – so users will need to pay another $99 (or use an older Surface Pen). The Surface Book 2 supports 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt support, and offers a mere 21-millisecond latency thanks to Microsoft's custom PixelSense Accelerator chip — though that's only with the new Surface Pen.

While I'm no artist, I enjoyed using the Surface Pen especially with the display in "studio mode" (reversed display). For taking notes, signing a PDF document, or drawing the Surface Book 2 appears to deliver the same level of digital inking as the new Surface Pro.

In the upper bezel of the display sits a 5MP front-facing camera with dual microphones capable of 1080P video for Skype calls. Video quality is excellent; the Surface team worked with their Microsoft cohorts on the Skype team to make sure viewing angles, width, and color were optimized for the video phone service.

That camera area also houses the Windows Hello infrared facial recognition system. Matching Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, the Surface Book 2 now has an instant-on mode for quicker resume times from standby. With Windows Hello, biometric login times are significantly faster than the original Surface Book due to improved hardware.

Clickity

Surface Book 2 15 trackpad and keyboard

There are a few subtle changes in the new Surface Book 2 keyboard. Key travel was marginally reduced from 1.6mm to 1.55mm (that difference is less than the width of a human hair). The response curve for key return now matches the tuning of Surface Laptop. The F1 and F2 secondary functions now control display backlight (instead of FN + Backspace).

The Surface Book 2 typing experience is better than the original Surface Book. Key clicking is also now quieter, drawing less attention when you're mashing away at that term paper in a silent library.

There is still a three-stage backlight for the keyboard. It works well, but you'll have to manually enable it through the F7 key.

The trackpad is glass-covered, very smooth and broad. Like the keyboard, the trackpad in the 15-inch is the same size as the 13-inch model. That seems like a missed opportunity as the Surface Book 2 15 has more deck space to accommodate a larger trackpad, but at no time did I feel the current size was too small, either.

Microsoft, of course, uses its Precision drivers, so all Windows 10 gestures, tracking, and tapping are perfected.

Compared to the last Surface Book the new trackpad is better for clicking and smooth for tracking. It is subtle, but Microsoft tuned the Surface Book 2 to the Surface Laptop's trackpad. These are all excellent modifications.

I have no qualms about claiming – like the Surface Book 2 13 – the Surface Book 2 15 easily has the best keyboard and trackpad of any Windows device I have ever tested. It's no contest.

Why no Thunderbolt 3?

Surface Book 2 15 ports

Whereas the Surface Laptop is now the "true" Surface Ultrabook, the Surface Book 2 is now a full-fledged workstation. That is reflected in performance as well port selection.

Microsoft kept the two USB Type-A 3.1 ports on the left side with a full SD card slot for photographers. On the right is the proprietary Surface Connect port used for the modestly-sized 102W charger. That port also doubles as a connector for the Surface Dock port expander.

Instead of a DisplayPort, however, Microsoft chose a USB Type-C 3.1 port, bringing the Surface Book 2 a bit more into the future compared to Surface Laptop and Surface Pro. The port can charge Surface Book 2 – if the wall charger is high enough – charge other devices, act as a display-out or can be used for data, e.g., a Type-C hub.

When splitting it between power, data, and display, such as through a port hub, users will get only two data lanes for the screen. That results in a maximum secondary display resolution of 2880 x 1800 at 60Hz allowing the most popular resolution today — QHD (2560 x 1440) — to be used.

Alternatively, if you are only using a secondary display through USB Type-C (using all four data lanes), the Surface Book 2 supports up to a 4K output resolution at 60Hz.

What is lacking is Thunderbolt 3 – a variant and superior specification of USB Type-C. That means users will not be able to utilize an external GPU (eGPU) with the Surface Book 2 nor power multiple 4K displays at 60Hz through a single port. It's not clear why Microsoft went with USB Type-C 3.1 – which lays the groundwork for Thunderbolt 3 – but did not go all the way. I'll concede eGPU use is very niche and with a GTX 1060 graphics card not entirely necessary, but it would have been excellent future proofing for such an expensive product.

Otherwise, the port selection on Surface Book 2 is excellent. Many professionals still need the SD card slot and USB Type-C 3.1 is still much more useful and flexible than a DisplayPort going into 2018.

Loud and proud

Surface Book 2 audio and speakers

There are two front-firing speakers located in the upper side area of the display. Microsoft had to precision cut the glass for the barely visible speakers.

Audio quality is excellent despite the small size. The speakers are improved for 2017 and are aimed right at the user's ears. The sound was loud, crisp, and overall just excellent. Audio separation is excellent delivering a substantial stereo effect.

Dolby Audio is supported out the box and users can use Windows Sonic or Dolby Atmos for headphones to enhance the audio further.

Off. The. Charts.

Surface Book 2 15 performance

Microsoft made some hefty boasts and claims about the Surface Book 2 when it came to horsepower and performance. I'm happy to report the company was not exaggerating.

While there are straight up gaming laptops with higher benchmark scores the Surface Book 2 15 leads the class of full, non-Ultrabook laptops for this size. In fact, it competes with and even beats the Razer Blade 14 with a 45W quad-core i7 processor and the same GTX 1060 GPU for processor tests.

CPU

Geekbench 4.0 benchmarks (higher is better)

Compared to the original Surface Book the Surface Book 2 has a higher single core score and nearly doubles the multi-core, due to the new quad-core abilities. More significantly, a 20W Ultrabook processor handily beat a 45W quad-core chip – last year's flagship Intel i7-7700HQ. That's remarkable progress.

GPU

Geekbench 4.0 CUDA (higher is better)

While the Razer Blade's GTX 1060 edges out the Surface Book 2's GTX 1060, it's very close. Considering the Razer Blade is a straight performance gaming laptop and Surface Book 2 is not reveals its power. Compared to Surface Book with Performance Base (GTX 965M) the Surface Book 2 15 doubles its CUDA score.

PCMark

PCMark Home Conventional 3.0

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (higher is better)

The Samsung PCIe NVMe SSD appears to be a good one with solid read and write speeds for this class of device. While there are faster storage options, e.g., Samsung 960 PRO for most users the storage speeds are excellent and performant.

Update August 15, 2018: Re-testing Surface Book 2 after many firmware updates reveals that Microsoft has dramatically increased read speed from 1,411 MB/s to 2,428 MB/s. However, write speeds took a bit of a tumble likely related to Intel and Specture patches.

Taking a closer look at the new PCMark 10 the Surface Book 2 15 gets a score of 4,323, which is better than 51 percent of all results. That number puts the Surface Book 2 15 just below a gaming PC classification and well ahead of a standard productivity laptop.

Putting aside synthetic benchmarks is real-world gaming. Comparing 2016's Gears of War 4, which has multiple graphics configurations and a built-in benchmark, we can compare the Surface Book 2 15 to the newer 13-inch model with a GTX 1050 and the older Surface Book with Performance Base and its GTX 965M:

Gears of War 4 UWP

Surface Book 2 15 effectively doubles the frames-per-second (FPS) rate of the Surface Book with Performance Base. That is a massive improvement. With that much overhead, a user could enable high or ultra-graphics while still being well above 30 FPS.

In Id's DOOM (2016) I was able to get over 30 FPS when set to High graphics and native resolution (3240 x 2160). Destiny 2 hits 60 FPS as well, though only at 1282 x 728, which is still very enjoyable. Playing an intense game like Resident Evil 7 biohazard is also a cinch for the Surface Book 2.

Rig for silent running

Surface Book 2 15 fan, heat, noise, and battery

Microsoft did an excellent job of thermal dissipation with the Surface Book 2 15. That's due in part to having fans in the tablet area for the CPU and adequate ventilation and active cooling for the GPU in the base.

During intense gaming, while maximizing the CPU and GPU the bottom of the Surface Book 2 15 did get warm peaking at 106 degrees F (41 degrees C), but it was never hot or uncomfortable. Likewise, the back of the display where the CPU resides also got warm, but never got hot to the touch.

Fan noise when gaming and using the CPU and GPU at 100 percent is audible at 53dB – you certainly will hear the rush of air being pushed out from the Surface Book's GPU. The noise, however, is never annoying like a high pitch whine, more like just rushing air being pushed out a small vent.

During normal PC use, e.g., web browsing, watching videos, using standard Windows applications noise levels were barely audible with only the CPU fan whirring on occasion. Even then, you would need to put your ear near the upper tablet area to listen for it.

While plugged in and with the processor set to performance I did hear some mild coil whine, but it was much less than the 13-inch model. Off AC power I did not hear any such noise.

Battery life gets complicated. Microsoft claims 17 hours based on a closed-video feedback loop. It's a decent benchmark to compare with other laptops tested the same way, but it's also a rare use case for a laptop. Real world use, loading websites, editing photos, some light gaming, and the like will hit the battery harder. I was able to comfortably get 8-10 hours a day out of the Surface Book 2 15, and I'm a relatively heavy work user. Throwing on battery saver and keeping the display brightness down should easily yield a few more hours.

Those numbers shift, however, if taxing that GTX 1060 GPU. For instance, I played Destiny 2 (2017) for 80 minutes and the battery dropped from 99 percent to 57. That yields around two and half hours of intense gameplay — even the massive batteries in the Surface Book 2 15 can't hold up for hours on end, but that's long been the story for mobile PC gamers. In normal day-to-day use most tasks won't call upon the GPU for nearly as long or as hard as hours of gaming will.

As a tablet the Surface Book 2's top half is about 20 percent of its total capacity. When used alone you can expect about 20 percent of the battery life of the whole Surface Book 2, though that's also without the battery-taxing GPU in the base. I fired up Netflix and set the display brightness to 50 percent and the tablet half alone got close to two and a half hours of non-stop Stranger Things. That's not terrible, but also not fantastic. It's also right in line with what I get from the smaller 13-inch Surface Book 2 in tablet mode, as well as the original Surface Book. Pushing display brightness down to 25%, which is still very enjoyable, or using Battery Saver pushes tablet battery life closer to three hours.

After depleting the battery dropping the tablet back onto the base leaves around 80 percent battery in total.

The Surface Book 2 15 simply has outstanding battery life. I never felt I had to take the 102W AC wall charger with me for the day or monitor my usage to preserve the battery. Of course, how you use the Surface Book 2 untethered will significantly affect your experience, but even for those pushing the device hard should be pleased.

One note of caution, however. During intense gaming with the screen brightness set to high and performance mode engaged the power supply unit (PSU) cannot recharge the battery faster than it can deplete - the 102W charger is simply not enough for the GTX 1060. That means if you game for two or three hours straight you may drain the battery. To alleviate this Microsoft should sell a larger wattage PSU for those who need more power. While not a gaming laptop per se the Surface Book 2 15 clearly blurs the lines, its power brick may be too small for real power users.

Update 11/17/17: A Microsoft spokesperson has responded to the battery drain issue. We'll have more about this is in the coming days.

Finally, for stress testing the CPU held up after extended duration in a 68 degree F room (20 degrees C) with some minor power-limit throttling, but still maintained above 2.5GHz for max core frequency. Core TDP wattage dropped down to 12W from a high of 25W, but overall CPU speeds never veered far from the maximum. This contrasts with the Surface Book 2 13, which being passively cooled, did see greater reduced CPU speeds during extended usage while running at 100 percent.

Exceeding lofty expectations

Surface Book 2 15: The Bottom Line

It's not hyperbolic to state that the Surface Book 2 15 is a real monster for performance. The experience is like combining a Dell XPS 15 (9560) with the gaming ability of the Razer Blade (2017), but with the inking and tablet abilities known to Surface.

The hardware is outstanding. Everything is a delightful experience to use whether it is the keyboard, display, trackpad, audio, and especially raw performance. Being able to seriously game on a Surface is a first for Microsoft hardware, and it's exciting. Sure, the Surface Book with Performance Base could game too, but it was more a foot in the door rather than a serious gaming PC.

As seen in my results the Surface Book 2 15 effectively doubles that device's graphics performance, which is incredible. Forget the comparison to the original Surface Book with its discrete 1GB GPU, which is barely a blip in comparison.

Crazy performance though is one thing, but the battery life is the icing on the cake. Sitting on the couch and using Surface Book 2 15 for 3 hours and seeing 78 percent battery still left makes it hard to kill for casual usage. At night, playing Destiny 2 for over an hour without plugging in for power yet still have 60 percent battery left was also striking.

That's not to say everything is perfect. Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality Ultra seems to be an afterthought with the Surface Book 2. With no HDMI port – which all Windows Mixed Reality headsets use – consumers need to get a USB Type-C to HDMI converter. Moreover, they should get a USB-C hub with HDMI and USB Type-A, because those Type-A ports are on the other side of the laptop which makes splitting the cable difficult. Even then, the display looked weird to me with a subtle pulsing almost as if the refresh rate was off. It was not enjoyable compared to other laptops. My hunch is this is a software or converter issue. Microsoft has a special HDMI converter that can be used for Windows Mixed Reality, and I am told the experience should be fine, so this may be just an early-adopter issue with matching the right components (I'll update this review if that changes).

Microsoft missed an opportunity by not including Thunderbolt 3 support, which just seems weird since there's already a USB Type-C port. I can already hear some enthusiasts lamenting how close this laptop is to perfection – and they're not wrong. It's a bizarre oversight when so much else was done right.

Others will opine that Microsoft does not include the Surface Pen this time around, but I see that as forgivable mostly because I rarely use the pen myself (even if I think it works great). Microsoft says they sunk those costs from the pen back into using higher quality components – we'll have to take them at their word.

But those complaints are minimal. The overall experience with Surface Book 2 is fabulous. During my testing, I didn't experience any bugs, quirks, crashes, failure of the Windows Hello camera, random battery drains, or failures to turn on. I mention those because those were all common issues with the original Surface Book launch two years ago. Like the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, the Surface Book 2 feels complete and not rushed to market like the original (it was timed to launch with Windows 10).

Sure, it's expensive as hell. Paying $3,299 for the 1TB model is crazy, but it is $100 cheaper than a similarly configured Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch. And that laptop doesn't have a touch display, turn into a tablet, or handle graphics as well. I won't even mention that butterfly-switch keyboard, missing ports or SD card slot. Compared to other PC laptops you can find better deals – and still be very happy – but the Surface Book 2 15 is worth it if you can afford it.

I have a lot of laptops at my disposal, but it is the Surface Book 2 15 that does everything. Gaming, inking, tablet, productivity, all the ports I need, excellent typing and that outstanding battery life. There is no other device on the planet right now that is as capable as the Surface Book 2 15 and that says a lot seeing all the great hardware HP, Dell, Lenovo and the rest are bringing to market.

The Surface Book 2 15 is not just the ultimate laptop it may very well be the ultimate PC.

See at Microsoft

Pros:

• Excellent build quality and features.
• A true gaming PC with outstanding performance.
• All-day battery life.
• It does everything a PC an do in 2017.

Cons:

• Very expensive.
• No Thunderbolt 3 or eGPU support.
• Windows Mixed Reality seems like an afterthought.

Next week on November 16, Microsoft will begin selling the all-new Surface Book 2 - now in two sizes with a 13- and 15-inch option.

Preorders were pre-announced as going live on November 9 and true to its word Microsoft threw the switch at midnight Eastern Standard time.

See at Microsoft

Starting at $1,499 for the 7th generation Intel Core i5 version - which is also wholly fanless - and going up to $3,000 for the 1TB 8th Generation Intel Core i7 version (the quad-core one with fans and NVIDIA GTX 1050) the 13.5-inch model is likely to be the most popular and abundant.

Full Surface Book 2 specifications

For those who need serious power, the 15-inch model offers an NVIDIA GTX 1060 with a full 6GB of video memory. The 15-inch model only provides a choice for storage between 256, 512GB, or 1TB varieties ranging from $2,499 to a whopping $3,299.

Other improvements include:

• Reworked fulcrum hinge — While Microsoft is keeping the gapped hinge, it has been rebuilt to be sturdier, and now both models can easily be opened with one hand.
• Keyboard — The Surface Book 2 keyboard and trackpad both borrow from the Surface Laptop's design, with 1.55mm of key travel and the same overall response curve. There are also now dedicated keys for display brightness.
• Display — Microsoft has improved the display with thinner materials and a higher contrast ratio, plus it fully supports that latest Surface Pen and Surface Dial on the display.
• Improved audio — Surface Book 2 has reworked the speakers, which are now slightly more powerful but also take up less space
• Front camera for Skype — Microsoft worked closely with the Skype team to make the front-facing camera work well with Skype.
• Windows Mixed Reality ready — Both Surface Book 2's support Windows Mixed Reality. A USB Type-C to HDMI adapter will let current head-mounted displays (HMDs) connect easily.

Orders in the U.S. will likely ship on November 15th from Microsoft for a November 16th delivery. No word on store availability, but you'll probably be able to walk into a physical Microsoft Store and grab one on November 16th.

Stay tuned for our review in case you're unsure, but Microsoft seems to have pulled off the most potent Surface ever.

See at Microsoft

Update: It appears that other markets are also live for preorders as well including Germany and likely the other nine markets in Europe and Canada.

Updated November 9, 2017: The 512GB and 1TB variants of the 15-inch model are already sold out online. You may still be able to find 512GB versions at Microsoft retail stores.

More on Surface Book 2

• Surface Book vs. Surface Book 2: How they compare
• Microsoft Surface Book 2 full specifications
• This is the new Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse

The original Surface Book celebrates its two-year anniversary this month. With Surface Book 2, there are now two sizes with a 13.5-inch and new 15-inch version. Packing powerful Intel eighth-generation quad-core processors and either a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (13.5 inch) or GTX 1060 (15 inch) these new Surface Books are five times more potent than their predecessor (and twice as powerful as the 2017 Apple MacBook Pro).

With up to 17 hours of battery life and the addition of USB Type-C 3.1, the Surface Book 2 could very well be the best all-around Windows laptop.

Surface Book 2 features and tech specs

Microsoft is not playing around, as the new Surface Book 2 brings some serious computing power to the table.

The most significant additions are the new ultra-low-voltage (ULV) Intel eighth-generation quad-core processors and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 and 1060 GPUs, with the latter bringing some serious gaming-level power to the Surface line.

Full Surface Book 2 specifications

Only the 13-inch Core i5 Surface Book 2 is dual-core (the older, seventh-generation Intel) while all the Intel Core i7 models are the newer eighth-generation quad-core variety.

For ports, Microsoft still uses its proprietary Surface Connect for power and the optional Surface Dock. There are also two USB Type-A ports, a full SD card reader, and now USB Type-C instead of a mini DisplayPort.

Surface Book 2 finally gets USB Type-C

All Surface Book 2's come with USB Type-C 3.1 instead of a mini DisplayPort. That Type-C port can handle data, video out, and power charging (in and out). However, it is not Thunderbolt 3, meaning there won't be support for external GPUs (eGPU), which is still very niche, according to Microsoft.

What the Type-C port can do for output depends on how it is used. When splitting it between power, data, and display, such a third-party USB Type-C dock or port expander, users will get only two DisplayPort lanes. That results in a maximum secondary display resolution of 2880 x 1800 at 60Hz, allowing the most popular resolution today — QHD (2560 x 1440) — to be used.

Alternatively, if you are only using a secondary display through USB Type-C (using all four DisplayPort lanes), the Surface Book 2 supports up to a 4K output resolution at 60Hz.

For charging, like all Type-C charging solutions, users will need a powerful enough wall charger to power the Surface Book 2, especially while using it. The 15-inch model can draw up to 75W between the CPU and GTX 1060. If a user slaps on the magnetic Surface Connect charger it will override a USB Type-C charge.

Surface Book 2 13-inch drops the fan

For the 13-inch model, there is no fan in the top half of the Surface Book 2, unlike the original Surface Book. That means when you use the 13-inch model as a tablet it will be completely silent even if running the new Intel quad-core i7 version.

For the base, there is a fan for the Core i7 model because it features a GTX 1050 GPU. The Core i5 model only uses native Intel HD graphics and is 100 percent fanless for both the top and bottom.

The 15-inch model has a small fan in the tablet-half, but for a good reason. The 15-inch model runs the Intel quad-core i7 processor at a full 20W compared to the 15W found in the 13-inch version. The idea is that unless under extreme circumstances (a sweltering room), the 15-inch model should not throttle. Users will always get max performance.

Surface Book 2: Serious performance and battery life

Microsoft is betting that people who purchase the Surface Book 2 will be professionals, such as engineers, data scientists, architects, software developers, or even prosumer gamers who want a Surface but need desktop-class power.

Our Xbox editor Jez Corden recently gave up on the Surface Book precisely because it was underpowered for his job, which includes gaming. The new 15-inch model, however, with a GTX 1060 (6GB), Xbox Wireless built-in for an Xbox Controller, and a new Quad-Core Intel CPU means he can finally move back to Surface without compromise.

When we benchmarked Gears of War 4 on the15-inch Surface Book 2, it managed a very respectable 80 frames per second (FPS) when configured at a resolution of 1620 x 1080 and graphics set to "Ultra." Combined with the native Xbox Wireless support, the 15-inch model is going to be a beast for gaming.

Microsoft claims "up to 17 hours" of battery life, but that number will vary depending on how you use the Surface Book 2. Like all PC manufacturers, Microsoft uses a standard video-rundown test due to its repeatability when measuring battery. When gaming and taxing the GTX 1050 or GTX 1060 to its max, battery life may be as low as two-hours, which is common for all gaming laptops. However, for typical usage of Windows 10 with modest GPU execution, pushing 10 hours in a real-world scenario should be possible.

Surface Book 2 rebuilt from the ground up

While the Surface Book 2 looks like the original, Microsoft says it is completely rebuilt. Besides the refreshed hardware there are many smaller changes:

• Reworked fulcrum hinge — While Microsoft is keeping the gapped hinge, it has been rebuilt to be sturdier, and now both models can easily be opened with one hand.
• Keyboard — The Surface Book 2 keyboard and trackpad both borrow from the Surface Laptop's design, with 1.55mm of key travel and the same overall response curve. There are also now dedicated keys for display brightness.
• Display — Microsoft has improved the display with thinner materials and a higher contrast ratio, plus it fully supports that latest Surface Pen and Surface Dial on the display.
• Improved audio — Surface Book 2 has reworked the speakers, which are now slightly more powerful but also take up less space
• Front camera for Skype — Microsoft worked closely with the Skype team to make the front-facing camera work well with Skype.
• Windows Mixed Reality ready — Both Surface Book 2's support Windows Mixed Reality. A USB Type-C to HDMI adapter will let current head-mounted displays (HMDs) connect easily.

Despite no massive redesigns for the external appearance underneath the Surface Book 2 is a significant upgrade over the original. With improved battery life – the tablet jumps from "up to 3 hours" to 5 – and those NVIDIA graphics the Surface Book 2 should be a contender for one of the best – and most versatile – laptops in the world.

Why name it Surface Book 2?

Despite Microsoft ditching the number in the name of the Surface Pro (see explanation), the company is adding a "2" to Surface Book for a few reasons.

First, it is introducing a second size, with the larger 15-inch version. That's a significant expansion and change for Surface Book, which was originally only available as a 13.5-inch PC.

Secondly, Microsoft is obviously still iterating, learning, and improving Surface Book. The laptop debuted in 2015 as a fancy Ultrabook with an optional discrete GPU, but it couldn't match the performance of gaming laptops or workstations or the MacBook Pro.

That all changes now, as Surface Book 2 features a very powerful quad-core Core i7 processor and some serious graphics cards with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 or 1060. In fact, these new Surface Book 2s are basically another class of PC compared to the original, and they rival many desktop systems. Microsoft even claims these are twice as powerful as the latest MacBook Pro laptops.

That sounds deserving of a proper sequel and number designation.

Surface Book 2 price and availability

The new Surface Book 2 laptops start at $1,499 for the 13-inch model and $2,499 for the 15-inch version (topping out at $2,999 for the 1TB version). Both are expected to launch on November 16 in the U.S.

The Surface Book 2 13-inch should launch in 10 additional markets that same day.

Microsoft says the Surface Book 2 will be available for preorder on November 9.

See at Microsoft

More on Surface Book 2

• Surface Book vs. Surface Book 2: How they compare
• Microsoft Surface Book 2 full specifications
• This is the new Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse

The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is expected to launch on November 16, 2017.

There are two Surface Book 2 models, a 13-inch and a more powerful 15-inch version, both with discrete NVIDIA GeForce GPUs for extra graphics power.

Here are the full specifications for both models and how they compare.

Surface Book 2 full specifications

Surface Book 2 processors

Both the 13-inch and 15-inch models feature the new eighth-generation Intel Quad-Core Core i7-8650U processors with a maximum turbo boost of 4.2GHz and 16GB of RAM.

On the 13-inch model with the Core i7 runs at 15W, while the 15-inch model runs at 20W.

The entry-level Surface Book 2 at 13 inches costs $1,499 and uses an older, seventh-generation Intel dual-core Core i5-7300U processor that maxes out at 3.2GHz. It has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage. This model has no discrete GPU.

Surface Book 2 storage

All versions of the Surface Book 2 use PCIe NVMe SSDs for internal storage. It is not user upgradable. Storage sizes are available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options.

Surface Book 2 graphics

For the Core i7 models, the 13-inch has a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card with 2GB of GDDR5 video memory.

The more substantial 15-inch model, however, has a much more powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card and 6GB of GDDR5 video memory.

Surface Book 2 fans

How Microsoft cools the Surface Book 2 depends on the model.

• 13-inch Core i5: No fans.
• 13-inch Core i7: No fan in display or tablet. Fan in keyboard base for NVIDIA GPU.
• 15-inch Core i7: Fan in display and tablet. Fan in keyboard base for NVIDIA GPU.

The 15-inch Surface Book 2 has multiple fans because the Intel Core i7 processor runs at a full 20W all the time, whereas the 13-inch Core i7 runs at 15W and therefore is passively cooled.

Since the 13-inch Surface Book 2 with a Core i5 does not have a NVIDIA GPU, it needs neither a fan in the display or tablet area for the CPU nor one in the keyboard base for graphics.

Surface Book 2 ports

All Surface Book 2s have the same port configuration regardless of size or model.

Microsoft is still using its proprietary Surface Connect for power and the optional Surface Dock. There are also two USB Type-A 3.1 (Gen 1) ports for data and charging out. There is also a full SDXC card reader and USB Type-C instead of a mini DisplayPort.

Surface Book 2 USB Type-C

All Surface Book 2's have a USB Type-C 3.1 port instead of the mini DisplayPort found in the original Surface Book. It is not Thunderbolt 3 compliant, however, so there is no external GPU (eGPU) support.

What the Type-C Display Port can do for output depends on how it is used. When splitting it between power, data, and display, such as through the Surface Dock, users will get only two lanes of PCIe for the screen. That results in a maximum secondary display resolution of 2880 x 1800 at 60Hz allowing the most popular resolution today — QHD (2560 x 1440) — to be used.

Alternatively, if you are only using a secondary display through USB Type-C (using all four PCIe lanes), the Surface Book 2 supports up to a 4K output resolution at 60Hz.

External USB Type-C docks, including third-party options, are all supported through the USB Type-C port on the Surface Book 2.

Surface Book 2 and Xbox Wireless

Only the 15-inch Surface Book 2 features built-in Xbox Wireless support letting users connect an Xbox game controller using the native protocol.

The 13-inch Surface Book 2 can utilize the newer Xbox One S controller via Bluetooth instead, though it loses haptic feedback.

Surface Book 2 charging

All Surface Book 2s use the proprietary magnetic Surface Connect port and charger for power

The Core i5 13-inch uses a small 39W charger, while the Core i7 models (13-inch and 15-inch) both have larger 95W Surface chargers.

While both Core i7 Surface 95W chargers also have a secondary USB Type-A port for charging peripherals, the 15-inch charger supports 7.5W versus just 5W for the 13-inch model.

Users can also recharge the Surface Book 2 with a USB Type-C charger as long as it is powerful enough. Devices can be charged from the Surface Book 2, such as a phone using USB Type-C.

See at Microsoft

More on Surface Book 2

• Microsoft Surface Book 2 is announced with a quad-core processor and NVIDIA graphics
• Surface Book vs. Surface Book 2: How they compare
• This is the new Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse

If you're in the market for a new Windows laptop, you're liking holding off until later this year to see what Microsoft has planned for its next generation Surface Book, unofficially known as the Surface Book 2. We don't really know much about the second generation Surface Book at this point, but Intel may have given us a first clue.

In Intel's recent promotion video for its new 8th Gen Core processors, the video appears to feature a never-before-seen black edition of the Microsoft Surface Book. There's no doubt about it, it's a Microsoft Surface Book — in black. Could this be a sign of things to come?

I did ask Microsoft about this, and they declined to comment. This is par for the course when it comes to talking about unannounced products, but if the Surface Book in Intel's video was nothing, then surely Microsoft could have said that, right?

Of course, it's entirely likely that Intel is using a custom render of the Surface Book, in which they simply decided to coat the device in black. Or, perhaps Intel knows something we don't and is giving us a little tease. We can only speculate at this time.

Regardless, the black Surface Book in Intel's new promo video looks cool as hell. In fact, it makes me want a stealth black Surface Book right now. We've still got a few months to wait before we officially know what Microsoft has planned for its next Surface Book, with rumors suggesting Microsoft is looking to hold another hardware event in October this year.

Looking to get your hands on Microsoft's awesome Surface Book but don't have the money available to purchase one for yourself right now? Well, Windows Central Offers is hooking up one lucky winner with a 128GB Surface Book, and it could be you.

All you have to do is sign up for the offer, which is completely free, to be entered for a chance to win it.

There is only one winner, and it could be you!

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Sounds simple, right? That's because it is, and there is very little reason you shouldn't click through and enter for your chance now. The only way to know you won't win is not to enter, so don't do that to yourself.

Microsoft's new high-end Surface Book is aimed at two types of people: those who need extra graphics power and those with deep pockets. While the Surface Book with Performance Base still runs the same dual-core Intel Core i7 Skylake processor it gets a significant bump in graphics and, thankfully, battery too.

Let's take a look at what is new and what's different.

Surface Book specs

More GPU

Previously, Surface Book had two different levels: one that used Intel HD 520 graphics and one with an optional (and more expensive) Nvidia GPU. That GPU was a custom job with 1GB of video memory and it offered similar performance to a GTX 940M.

Now, Microsoft has added a third option with the Performance Base. This time, instead of an oddly specced custom GPU it has a more standard and more powerful Nvidia GTX 965M with 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 video memory. The 965M is a solid performer, but it is based on the older Maxwell microarchitecture announced two years ago. It also pales in performance compared to the new Nvidia Pascal microarchitecture found in the GTX 10xx series of gaming laptops.

That's important to keep in mind for perspective. While the Surface Book can now do heavier gaming — including brand-new titles like Gears of War 4 — it will not outperform the most recent gaming laptops hitting the market. Nor would we expect it too.

Nonetheless, it is a significant increase from the previous Surface Book's dedicated GPU.

Playing Gears of War 4 this machine averaged 47 FPS but often went higher. That's at the native 3000 x 2000 resolution. Dropping down to 1621 x 1080 ("Full HD") and that number went even higher. That's solid gameplay at medium settings with vertical sync disabled.

Forza Horizons 3 is also perfectly playable, as are many other Windows 10 games on the Store. Keep in mind, the hissing fans of the Surface Book will kick in as well. You'll probably want to use headphones when hard gaming to avoid the distraction.

I don't want to hedge here: The Surface Book with Performance Base is perfectly playable for some high-end games. Unfortunately, Microsoft did not update the CPU to the newer 7th gen Kaby Lake processor. Combined with the 965M and the Surface Book with Performance Base is a more powerful, but somewhat dated, two-in-one.

CrystalDiskMark Benchmarks (Samsung SSD)

Geekbench 4.0 Benchmarks (GTX 965M)

3DMark

While not a gaming monster the Performance Base is a notch higher than nearly all Notebooks. Due to the last-gen GPU and being "only" a dual-core machine the Surface Book hits walls compared to beefier quad-core gaming laptops. Nonetheless, can gaming PCs take off their displays to become a tablet? Do they get 10 hours battery life? Definitely not.

Don't mind our humps

Microsoft did have one issue tossing in the GTX 965M: Heat. To get thermals under control the company had to increase the size of the Surface Book's base to add a second fan for cooling. The result is a somewhat bulging hump near the display, and now the front of the base does not taper off.

However, the Surface team was smart. Most of the increased sized is pushed to the empty gap created by the unique Surface Book hinge. That means this variant doesn't feel too different when closed. While the base comes up around the keyboard somewhat, the travel of the keys has not changed and typing feels the same between models.

Heat-wise, the laptop peaked at 113° F (45° C) with 20 minutes of intense gaming in Gears of War 4. The heat was isolated towards the upper center of the keyboard near the function keys. You could also feel the heat on the bottom although it never became uncomfortable to use.

More battery

In a way, that physical change to the Surface Book is a blessing in disguise. Microsoft used the additional space to increase the primary battery by 30%, a jump from 52 Wh to 63.4 Wh. Combine that with the 18 Wh battery in the top half and you get an impressive 81.4 Wh of total power.

To put that number in perspective: most Ultrabooks are in the 50 Wh range, and no laptop goes over 100 Wh due to airline safety restrictions.

Microsoft claims this larger battery will power the Surface Book for 16 hours. As usual, those claims are under ideal conditions. In real world testing, however, the enlarged battery makes a real difference. In my tests over the last week, I consistently pushed 10 hours of real world productivity and went off the charger for two days. When you consider that this machine is running 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an upgraded GPU, that is very impressive. That's also roughly the 30% increase I'd expect from the 7-8 hours of battery life I typically get on my older non-Performance Surface Book.

Note, however, if you tax the GTX 965M GPU at 100% e.g. gaming, video editing, etc. you'll probably eek out 5 hours. I have a gaming laptop that can do 90 minutes tops under those situations so again, the Surface Book here impresses.

That increased battery life means you can easily leave the AC charger at home. That's also a good thing as this machine comes with a larger and heavier 102 Watt power supply (11.4oz/323g) versus the standard 65W (7.2oz/204g) one. Also heavier is the Surface Book itself, the Performance Base brings the weight up to 3.63 lbs (1,647g), a small jump from the previous 3.48lbs (1576g).

You can feel it too. While a 3.6-pound laptop is not heavy per se, the Performance Base variant seems dense for its size, which is fine. When combined with the magnesium chassis the Surface Book feels substantial and premium. Nonetheless, it's a lot of computing power and battery cells packed into a 13.5-inch laptop — it's smaller and lighter than many so-called pro-level laptops (looking at you, new 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro) but still brings all of the expected performance.

It's time to pay

All of this comes at a price, though. The Surface Book with Performance Base starts at $2,399. That's for 256GB of SSD storage and 8GB of RAM. If you want 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM, you'll have to pony up $2,799.

At the top of the mountain is our review unit which has 16GB of RAM and a massive 1TB SSD for a wallet-murdering $3,299. And no, Microsoft has no plans to sell just the base with new GPU in case you wanted to upgrade your current Surface Book. Though you could always buy a Surface Book Performance Base and sell your old one on Swappa to make up some of the difference

To buy or wait?

Microsoft has done an incredible job with the Surface Book with Performance Base. While it gains some weight and gets thicker in the middle, it still crushes the competition. If anything, the new Performance Base feels better to hold and use. The 965M GPU does wonders for mid-level gaming and graphic-intensive tasks.

The downside is what comes next. Microsoft is expected to release a true Surface Book 2 sometime next year. There's little reason to doubt they won't include Kaby Lake, which brings improved battery life and a 10% bump in performance. We'll also likely see the inclusion of USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3.

What does all of that mean for the Surface Book with Performance Base? Perhaps not much. Microsoft may keep this SKU level 'as is' for the next year with no upgrades. While the Nvidia 10xx Pascal series is excellent, I'm not convinced Microsoft is ready to put that into such a slim machine. Nonetheless, there is that concern for missing the next big iteration.

It's important to remember that people who buy the Surface Book with Performance Base are getting it for its current level of performance and outstanding battery life. It's not, however, the same crowd as elite gamers who always need to push the envelope.

Judging the Surface Book with Performance Base by today's competition and there is nothing else like it. Personally speaking, I find the Surface Book to be the perfect laptop. The keyboard, trackpad and unique 3x2 aspect ratio make it a joy to use. With improved graphics and even better battery life – a rare trade up – and you'll have to pry this device away from me before I hand it over.

Assuming you have the money, you can't beat the Surface Book nor its improved Performance Base variant. If you're looking for the best in this class this is it.

See at Microsoft

Pros:

• Much improved GPU performance
• Potential choice for gamers
• Outstanding battery life
• Still the best all-around laptop
• It still has ports and an SD card reader

Cons:

• Expensive!
• GTX 965M is 2 years old
• No Kaby Lake CPU

Do you have questions or want to talk about the Surface Book with Performance Base? Jump into our dedicated forums for the Surface Book today and get started!

Enpass has posted an update for the Windows 10 version of its popular password manager. It includes full-time Windows Hello support for Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book devices.

Enpass explains what's been updated in a blog post:

The update also includes secondary tile support, which means Windows 10 users can put Enpass tiles to their Start screen for any frequently used items so they can get to them much faster. The new version also allows users to re-order the fields in an item any way they want.

There are also some minor improvements, such as a new password strength indicator on the app's Detail screen. Windows 10 Mobile users can now open web URLs from the clipboard in the Enpass browser and several new search engines, including Bing, have also been added to the browser as well

Download Enpass from the Windows Store

Windows Insiders in the UK are getting emails offering them some special Surface Book-Xbox One S bundles, saving them some money compared to buying the notebook and game console separately.

Windows Central reader "mryosh" was one of those Insiders and sent us his email detailing those special bundle deals. One combines the Surface Book with Intel's Core i5 processor with the 500GB FIFA 17 bundle version of the Xbox One S. Insiders can get this bundle with the Surface Book that has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage for £1,318.99. saving them £230, or they can get the same bundle with the Surface Book that has 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a discrete GPU for £1,608.99, saving them £240.

The other bundle deal combines the Surface Book that has an Intel Core i7 processor with the 1TB Xbox One S FIFA 17 bundle, along with an extra Xbox One Wireless Controller and a Wireless Display Adapter. Insiders who get this bundle with the Surface Book that has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage will pay £1,869.94, a savings of £339. The bundle with a Surface Book that has 512GB of SSD storage, 16GB of RAM and the discrete GPU (misidentfied as having a i5 procesor in the email) will be sold to Insiders for £2,258.97, a savings of £390. Finally, getting the bundle with a Surface Book that has 1TB of SSD storage will cost £2,653.97, a saving of £395.

Again, this offer is only being sent to Windows Insiders in the UK, so if you are one of them you might wish to check your inbox or spam folder if you want to take advantage of this deal.

Thanks again to "mryosh" for the tip!

Microsoft is working hard in preparation of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update even on the weekend. We can confirm that the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 are picking up further driver updates following the big July 14 release last week.

It is unclear if these drivers are being pushed to those on Production builds, but we can confirm at least for Release Preview and Fast Rings that these updates should now be available. Here are the drivers that should be coming down from Windows Update:

• Intel driver update for Intel Imaging Signal Processor 2500
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft Camera Rear
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel Control Logic
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft Camera Front
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft IR Camera Front
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel AVSTream Camera 2500
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel CSI2 Host Controller

If you noticed a theme with those drivers, it is that they all involved the cameras on the Surface. That heavily implies some optimizations around image quality as well as involving Windows Hello for facial recognition.

Microsoft has not refreshed their Surface Update History page yet, but we will add new information as it becomes available.

Microsoft is offering a one-year subscription to Adobe's Creative Cloud Photography plan — valued at £102 — to those purchasing the Surface Pro 4 or the Surface Book from its U.K. store. The promotion is live now, and is available on all configurations of the Surface Pro 4 or the Surface Book until September 15.

Here's the legalese behind the promotion:

If you're interested, head to Microsoft Store U.K. from the link below to check out the promotion.

See at Microsoft Store

Something new is brewing at Microsoft, and it appears the company is pushing out driver updates for its new Surface devices, but only for those on the Fast Ring (we have not tested Slow, but possibly there too).

Both our Surface Book and Surface Pro 4, which are on build 'Redstone' 14352.1002, received no less than seven Intel driver updates. The updates appear to be tied directly to improvements with Windows Hello, facial recognition, and the Surface's cameras.

Here are the drivers updated:

• Intel driver update for Intel(R) Imaging Signal Processor 2500
• Microsoft driver update for Surface Camera Windows Hello
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft Camera Front
• Intel driver update for Intel(R) AVStream Camera 2500
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft IR Camera Front
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft Camera Rear
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel(R) Control Logic

These updates come in addition to the refreshed Intel CSI2 Host Controller driver published last Thursday for Surface owners in the Fast Ring.

Besides improved performance and reliability we also now noticed that the privacy light (white) now comes on along with the infrared one when Windows Hello is initiated. The privacy light is to the right of the camera, whereas IR is to the left. We compared it to a Surface Pro 4 on Release Preview, and only the IR light comes on during the Windows Hello process. It is not clear why there is this change, but it is new. Users can see this light in action when the front-facing camera is engaged using the native Camera app.

Hopefully, these updates fix the issues Windows Hello has been having lately on the Redstone builds in the Fast Ring.

A new driver update appears to be rolling out to the Surface Book — at least for those on the Slow and Fast Ring of the Windows Insider program. As seen in the screenshot below, the update simply brings a driver update for the Intel CSI2 Host Controller, and nothing else.

This new driver update is dated 5/17/2016 and is version number 30.10586.7076.2424, which is different from the production version that was last updated on May 9.

Without a changelog, it's not entirely clear what the driver update addresses. However, according to a tip, the update appears to address issues with the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 resuming from Sleep.

The Intel CSI2 Host Controller is related to the camera and how it functions with the System Bus/Bridge, which is exactly why it may help with Resume issues on the latest Windows 10 builds and the Surface. At least from our experience, Windows Hello would loop, sometimes get stuck, and overall just be less reliable with the latest Redstone releases.

We can confirm that after the update Windows Hello is now fast and smooth again.

In any case, Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 users should be able to pull the update down through Windows Update now. Remember, this update is only visible for Slow and Fast Ring "Redstone" builds. And be sure to shout out in the comments if you notice any changes we may have missed!

Thanks to Jesse Cook on Twitter for the tip!

Microsoft is now pushing a batch of firmware updates to the Surface Pro 4, Surface Book and Surface Pro 3. The updates for the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book both contain a number of driver updates centered around the camera, including one directed at improving Windows Hello reliability. Also included are graphics driver updates and much more.

Here are the highlights of each update:

Surface Book April 19 Update

• Microsoft driver update for Surface System Aggregator Firmware
• Microsoft driver update for Surface UEFI
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel(R) HD Graphics 520
• Intel(R) Corporation driver update for Intel(R) Display Audio
• NVIDIA driver update for NVIDIA GeForce GPU
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel(R) AVStream Camera 2500
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel(R) Control Logic
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel(R) CSI2 Host Controller
• Intel driver update for Intel(R) Imaging Signal Processor 2500
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft Camera Front
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft Camera Rear
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft IR Camera Front
• Microsoft driver update for Surface Camera Windows Hello
• Microsoft driver update for Surface Dock Integration
• Microsoft driver update for Surface Dock Firmware Update

Surface Pro 4 April 19 Update

• Microsoft driver update for Surface Embedded Controller Firmware
• Microsoft driver update for Surface System Aggregator Firmware
• Microsoft driver update for Surface UEFI
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel(R) HD Graphics 520
• Intel(R) Corporation driver update for Intel(R) Display Audio
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel(R) AVStream Camera 2500
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel(R) Control Logic
• Intel Corporation driver update for Intel(R) CSI2 Host Controller
• Intel driver update for Intel(R) Imaging Signal Processor 2500
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft Camera Front
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft Camera Rear
• Intel Corporation driver update for Microsoft IR Camera Front
• Microsoft driver update for Surface Camera Windows Hello
• Microsoft driver update for Surface CoSar
• Microsoft driver update for Surface Dock Integration
• Microsoft driver update for Surface Dock Firmware Update

Lastly, the firmware update rolling out to the Surface Pro 3 simply contains new drivers for the Surface Dock that improve the dock's reliability and stability when connected.

For the full, detailed list of changes, be sure to check out the Surface update history page for more.

Thanks for the tip, Harshad!

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates held his fourth Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) session earlier today, and he answered a bunch of community questions on a wide variety of topics.

Here's just a few things he discussed. One person asked him about his own personal computer specs. Gates replied:

Another person asked him about his opinions on the current virtual reality trend. Gates stated:

One person asked Gates about his famous goal of seeing a computer in every home, which the Reddit member called an "easy goal". This person asked Gates what kind of new goal would he have if he was to start over. Gates wrote:

One person asked, "Mr. Gates, can we please have another Age of Empires?". He replied at first with:

When this question rose to the top, Gates stated:

Check out Bill Gates' Reddit AMA

If you like living on the edge, you can be a Windows Insider to get early builds of Windows 10. If you want to push it even further, you can install beta (or non-Microsoft approved) drivers from Intel for their graphics chipset.

Although installing beta drivers is not recommended for non-power users, the new 6th-generation Intel Skylake processors are still quite buggy. If your new computer's giving you fits that updates to Windows 10 haven't fixed, you might want to consider installing the beta drivers to nix any severe bugs like screen flickering or Blue Screen of Deaths (BSODs).

For those running a Microsoft Surface, however, there is a caveat: you cannot just execute the installer and update your drivers. Microsoft signs off on their display drivers so that only approved ones get pushed to users. (Other manufacturers may do the same).

You can still install the drivers, but there you have to do it manually. Here is how to do just that.

1. Download Intel beta drivers in ZIP format not EXEYou can find the latest direct from Intel at Download.intel.com.For most users, including those on Surface you want the 64-bit drivers e.g. win64_1540144352.zip.

2. Extract the contents of the ZIP file to a new folder. You can delete this folder later. Usually, your Desktop is a good place for extraction.

3. Right-click on the Start menu and choose Device Manager

4. Navigate to Display Adapters and double-click to reveal nested options.If you are using a Surface Book with discrete graphics you will see Nvidia in addition to Intel(R) HD Graphics 5xx.Double-click the Intel(R) HD Graphics 5xx area to open up the tabs.

5. Choose the Driver tab and select Update Driver…

6. Select Browse my computer for driver software

7. Select Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer

8. Select Have Disk... button in lower right-hand area

9. Navigate to folder where you extracted the Intel beta drivers.You must go into the Graphics folder and choose the igdlh64 file.

10. On the Install From Disk window choose OK

11. Select Next

12. The Update Driver Software window should now appear showing installation progress. Your display may flicker as the old driver is removed and the new driver added. This is normal. Once completed you can verify the driver's new date and version number under the Driver tab.

After the installation, you do not need to restart the computer. However, you may still want to. If you had set a custom text display size, it might have been reset to the default.

If you wish to undo the driver installation at any time, just retrace the above steps but instead of Update Driver… choose Roll Back Driver or Uninstall in the worst case.

That's it! Remember, companies like Microsoft eventually do approve of these Intel drivers after weeks of testing. They will eventually roll out their own approved and signed versions through Windows Update proper. What is outlined here is just a way to get an early look at what is likely coming, but there could be other unintended consequences so as always heed caution.

More Resources

If you want to see more how-to for Windows 10, make sure you check the following resources:

• Microsoft Surface help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10: Help and discussion forum at Windows Central

There are many new owners of the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book these days who have lots of questions. Don't forget, there are some users jumping from the Apple world to Windows and with that there is lot to catch up on from the last two years.

One question we see a lot and one that will cause constant debate is whether or not you should install Windows Insider builds to either device (or any new PC for that matter).

Today, we're going to take a look at the pros and cons of becoming an insider with a new Surface.

On the face of it, many of you will rightly point out that for your main PC installing a beta version of the OS is never a good idea. This advice is something we stand behind and have been advocating even for Windows Phone users early on (the latest build, however, is borderline due to the increased stability).

Still, what about users who use the Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book often, but don't necessarily rely on it 24/7? Are there benefits in using the latest version of Windows 10 on such machines?

We have been using Windows 10 build 10576 on our Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro 3 both with Core i5 processors. For the most part, we stand behind that build of Windows 10, but we should point out a few important things:

• Insider builds will rarely address problems caused by bad or non-optimized drivers and firmware
• While you can roll back to a stable build, it is not always a smooth and clean experience
• You may create new problems and confound (and compound) any bugs
• Results and experiences will vary on each PC
• Windows 10 Threshold 2 (aka Fall refresh) is expected for November 12

We've reached these conclusions from our experience, but also a cursory look at what people are saying in support forums, Reddit, and our Windows Central forums. Indeed, the best way to describe it is people's experiences with the latest Insider build is all over the place. Some users say it dramatically improves their Surface while others note no change or worse, increased instability with various BSODs and other driver failures.

A response to the above is quite the opposite:

Others also have mixed results even before the latest firmware:

Meanwhile, on Reddit a user is thrilled with the latest Insider release:

Other Redditors chime in:

In that same thread:

The bottom line

Even assuming your new Surface is a secondary or even tertiary device, installing an Insider build right now seems unnecessary.

1. Timing

The main reason would be that the 'big' Fall refresh update is due on November 12, according to our sources. And if not on that date, certainly very soon. All the Insider builds are leading up to that one making the official wait just over one week.

2. Inconsistent results

As you can see, your results will vary, and there is no concensus from users who did jump to Insider builds. If we could point to a dependable experience or say 'yes, this will be better' we would be less hesitant, but that is not the case.

3. OS does not fix drivers

Most of the issues and complaints about the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book are driver and firmware related. No OS update will fix that on its own. If you are having constant display driver crashes, BSODs, issues with the Type Cover not being detected and trackpad woes there is no clear evidence that using an Insider build will make those go away.

Your best bet? Wait until Microsoft releases more official Surface and OS updates. At this time, there is no obvious benefit from using an Insider build on these new devices. Even if you are using these as secondary computers the effort in upgrading although minimal seems unworthy with Threshold 2 right around the corner.

So sit tight, folks and just wait until next week. If you want to take the risk, just read our guide on how to do a proper backup.

Anyone in our audience running an Insider build on a Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book? Let us know what you think in comments!

More resources

Not sold on either device yet? Check out our Surface Pro 4 review and our Surface Book impressions or jump into our forums.

• Microsoft Surface Tips and Tricks
• Windows Central Surface Book forums
• Windows Central Surface Pro 4 forums

Looks like we got caught up in Halloween this weekend as #AskDanWindows got pushed to the side in lieu of free street candy. Luckily, we dug through our tapes and managed to cobble up this 10-minute Q&A session recorded last week.

Grab your Monday morning coffee (or dinner if in another part of the world) and catch our latest episode!

• Lumia 950 and 950xl have OLED and still they support glance...Even low end Lumias do. Why hasn't MS done the same with Lumia730? – Ocean S.
• Do you know if Microsoft plan on making options available to turn all app tiles transparent. – Mark S.
• If Windows 10 Mobile fails, will you switch to Android or iOS? – Laura K.
• Odds of future voice commands from the Band 2 when paired to Android devices with Cortana – Kevin H.
• What, if anything, would you want changed on the Surface Book based on your usage? – Tiled In
• Do you see Microsoft releasing a Surface 4 – Dan J.
• Have you heard any rumors when 950 and 950 XL will be released in US from Microsoft Store? – Stanislav Z.
• If I'm a big lazy blob with a Windows phone and still want a smart wearable, is a Band 2 worth the money? – Miles J.
• Should Microsoft be worried about Google's project to merge Chrome OS with Android? - piknikd0uille
• Will MS ever extend the messaging/phone/video apps to Xbox One. It would be nice to use Cortana to text while I'm playing. - Woelfel

Thanks to everyone who submitted a question and as always, thanks for watching!

New email!

Don't use Twitter? Well after much feedback we are happy to announce you can forward your questions to AskDan@WindowsCentral.com to submit your requests!

Missed previous episodes? You may be surprised what I have revealed. You can find previous episodes of #AskDanWindows here on the main landing page.

• Watch the #AskDanWindows playlist on Youtube
• Subscribe to #AskDanWindows in podcast format (RSS)

File this under another interesting bug but some users are claiming that disabling the new Windows Hello facial recognition may save your battery in Standby and prevent the computer from heating (See our earlier report).

Several users have done before and after sleep tests and verified the result although it does not solve all battery drainage issues for everyone.

Indeed, we have seen our IR camera stay on a few times with our Surfaces along with some quirky behavior and have since disabled them with no issues. The problem may also explain why reviewers did not report widespread battery drainage problems as the firmware to enable Windows Hello was not released during the embargo review period.

The possible bug does not seem to impact those using the new Type Cover with fingerprint ID and Windows Hello.

We should remind readers that we are in the early stages of these devices and general release. Windows Hello and IR facial recognition cameras are very new and this is its first release on Windows. As such, there will be confusion, varying reports, and many factors affecting user experiences. In other words, some people are using Windows Hello and facial recognition with no issues, while others are supposedly experiencing them. Your experience may vary.

At the very least, we want to put it out there as a possible fix in case you are experiencing this problem.

If you have setup Windows Hello facial recognition it is very easy to remove:

1. All Settings
2. Accounts
3. Sign-in Options
4. Under Windows Hello hit the Remove button. You do not need to restart the computer.

Other potential workarounds include putting the computer into Hibernate directly, which we covered before. Some users also recommend disabling Wi-Fi when the device is in Sleep mode (Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Wi-Fi) also to save battery life.

Microsoft is set to release Windows 10 Threshold 2 in November as a semi-major update to the new OS and with that there will likely be new firmware and drivers for the new Surface PCs. We'll keep you posted on any further developments.

Has disabling Windows Hello worked for you? Let us know in comments.

Via: Reddit, Windows Central forums

More Info

To learn more about Microsoft's Sleep Study to understand your Surface's battery usage see our previous coverage (Only for devices with Connected Standby e.g. Surface Pro 3, Pro 4 and Surface Book)

• Use 'Sleep Study' to learn what drains your battery on the Surface Pro 3 and 4
• Windows Central Surface Book forums
• Windows Central Surface Pro 4 forums