The Surface Book 2 has a wide range of competition within the Windows market in terms of internal specs, and is a direct competitor with HP's Spectre x360 line of 2-in-1 devices. Both sporting premium designs and high-end specs, which of the two is better?

The HP Spectre x360, like the Surface Book 2, has a wide range of options, here's the rundown of all four models of the devices, comparing both 13-inch and 15-inch variants.

Comparing Surface Book 2 and HP Spectre x360 specs

Model Surface Book 2 13-inch Surface Book 2 15-inch HP Spectre x360 13-inch HP Spectre x360 15-inch
Processor Core i5
Core i7-8650U		 Core i7-8650U Intel Core i5-8250U

Intel® Core i7-8550U		 Intel Core i7-8550U
Display type 13.5-inch PixelSense Display

1600:1 contrast ratio

10-point multi-touch		 15-inch PixelSense Display

1600:1 contrast ratio

10-point multi-touch		 13.3-inch 4K touch display 15.5-inch 4K touch

Glossy

Non-PenTile

72 percent Adobe color gamut
Display resolution 3000 x 2000

3:2 aspect

267 PPI		 3240 x 2160

3:2 aspect

260 PPI		 1920 x 1080 or 3840 x 2160

16:9 aspect

331 PPI		 3840 x 2160

16:9 aspect

282 PPI
RAM 8GB or 16GB 16GB 8GB or 16GB 8GB, 12GB or 16GB
Native graphics Intel HD Graphics 620

Intel UHD Graphics 620		 Intel UHD Graphics 620 Intel HD Graphics 620 Intel HD Graphics 630
Discrete graphics Core i5: None

Core i7: NVIDIA GTX 1050 (2GB)		 NVIDIA GTX 1060 (6GB) None NVIDIA GeForce MX150 (2 GB GDDR5 dedicated)
Storage 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB 256GB, 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD 255GB, 512GB, 1TB
Battery 70WHr
Up to 17 hours

Up to 5 hours in Tablet Mode		 80WHr

Up to 17 hours
Up to 5 hours in Tablet Mode		 57.8WHr

Up to 16 hours		 79.2WHr

Up to 16 hours
Wireless Marvel

Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Bluetooth 4.1		 Marvel

Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Bluetooth 4.1		 Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible

Bluetooth 4.2		 Wi-Fi: Intel AC-8265 802.11ac

Bluetooth 4.2
Xbox Wireless No Yes, built-in No No
Ports Two USB Type-A 3.1 (Gen1)

One USB Type-C w/ video, power in/out and USB 3.1 (Gen1) data

Full-size SDXC card reader (UHS-II)

Headphone jack (3.5mm)

Two Surface Connect ports (one in tablet, one in keyboard base)		 Two USB Type-A 3.1 (Gen1)

One USB Type-C w/ video, power in/out and USB 3.1 (Gen1) data

Full-size SDXC card reader (UHS-II)

Headphone jack (3.5mm)

Two Surface Connect ports (one in tablet, one in keyboard base)		 Two USB 3.1 Type-C Thunderbolt ports

One USB 3.1 Type-A

One headphone and microphone combo		 SD Card

2x USB Type-C 3.1

One Thunderbolt 3

One USB Type-A 3.0

HDMI 2.0

3.5mm jack
Audio Stereo speakers with Dolby Audio Premium

Windows Sonic for Headphones

Dolby Atmos for Headphones compatible		 Stereo speakers with Dolby Audio Premium

Windows Sonic for Headphones

Dolby Atmos for Headphones compatible		 Bang & Olufsen stereo speakers Bang & Olufsen stereo speakers
Dimensions 312 mm x 232 mm x 15 to 23 mm (L x W x D)
12.3 in x 9.14 in x 0.59 to 0.90 in		 343 mm x 251 mm x 15-23 mm (L x W x D)

13.5 in x 9.87 in x 0.57 to 0.90 in		 324 x 218 x 16mm

12.79 x 8.6 x 0.63 in		 14 x 9.88 x 0.7 in

356 x 251 x 17.7 mm
Weight i5 total: 1,533 g (3.38 lbs)

i7 total: 1,642 g (3.62 lbs)

Tablet: 719 g (1.59 lbs)		 Total: 1,905 g (4.20 lbs)

Tablet: 817 g (1.80 lbs)		 2.9 lbs (1.32 kg) 4.42 lbs (2 kg)
Cameras 5.0MP 1080p video at 30 FPS (front)

8.0MP 1080p video at 30 FPS with auto-focus (rear)		 5.0MP 1080p video at 30 FPS (front)

8.0MP 1080p video at 30 FPS with auto-focus (rear)		 Front-facing HP TrueVision 1080p FHD IR Webcam Front-facing HP TrueVision FHD IR webcam
Biometrics IR Camera IR Camera IR Camera IR Camera
Price Starts at $1,499 Starts at $2,499 Starts at $1,199 Starts at $1,280
Availability November 16, 2017

Preorders: November 9, 2017		 November 16, 2017 (U.S.)

Preorders: November 9, 2017		 July 2017 July 2017

Surface Book 2 vs HP Spectre x360: Making sense of the specs

When it comes to overall raw power, the Surface Book 2 is the clear winner here. Featuring an eighth-generation Core i7 processor, and a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1060 GPU in the 15-inch model, you simply can't beat that power when compared to the Spectre x360 15-inch model. The 13-inch models can be more fairly compared, both featuring Intel HD Integrated graphics. CPU-wise however, the Surface Book 2 is faster, more powerful and more energy efficient.

However, not all is won for the Surface Book. Some will likely prefer the design of the HP Spectre x360, which features a more traditional 2-in-1 laptop form factor. It has a normal 360-degree hinge that allows the screen to sit flush with the base of the laptop when closed, meaning there's no odd gap. Also the 13-inch model is ligher than the 13-inch Surface Book 2, which is good for those who are weight conscious.

Battery life in both laptops is superb, getting over 10 hours easily on a single charge. While Microsoft is claiming 17 hours, HP claims 16, but both will likely have great battery life when compared against each other in real-world usage.

When it comes to displays, both laptops are available with high-quality screens. The Spectre line has more options, including 1080p or 4K, with the Surface Book 2 only featuring higher-resolution displays, keeping prices higher. The Surface Book 2 features an aspect ratio of 3:2, which differs from the Spectre's 16:9 display. Depending on your work scenario, each aspect ratio has its own pros and cons.

The top end Spectre x360 is a great value, costing a little over $1,800 for the full package. The Surface Book 2's top end model will cost you over $3,000. The Spectre x360 15 is the clear winner when it comes to price.

Surface Book 2 vs. HP Spectre x360: The bottom line

Choosing which device to go for will depend on what you're looking for in your next computer. Are you looking for a more traditional form factor that doesn't break the bank while still maintaining powerful specifications and a premium design? If so, you're going to want the Spectre line. If, however, money is no object, and you want the overall best Windows laptop on the market, the Surface Book 2 is the choice to go for.

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