The new Surface Book 2 rocks the latest "Kaby Lake" i7 processors, USB-C (finally), and a badass GTX 1050 GPU, putting it on par with some of the best 13.5-inch laptops out there. Speaking of which, the Surface Book 2 comes in two flavors this time around: a 13.5-inch version and a 15-inch model with more powerful specs.
Here's a look at how much of a bump you'll get with the new 13-inch model versus the original Surface Book, which launched in 2015.
Microsoft Surface Book 2 full tech specs and FAQ
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Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch model) vs. Surface Book
| Category | Surface Book 2 (13.5 inch) | Surface Book (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Core i5-7300U (3.2GHz dual-core) Core i7-8650U (4.2GHz quad-core) | Core i5-6300U (3.0GHz dual-core) Core i7-6600U (3.4GHz dual-core) |
| Display size | 13.5-inch PixelSense Display | 13.5-inch PixelSense Display |
| Display resolution | 3000 x 2000 (267 PPI) | 3000 x 2000 (267 PPI) |
| RAM | 8GB or 16GB | 8GB or 16GB |
| Native Graphics | Core i5: Intel HD Graphics 620 Core i7: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 520 |
| Discrete Graphics | Core i5: None Core i7: NVIDIA GTX 1050 (2GB) | Core i5: None Core i7: NVIDIA GTX 940M (1GB) |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB |
| Battery | Up to 17 hours Up to five hours in Tablet Mode | Up to 12 hours Up to three hours in Tablet Mode |
| Wireless | Marvel Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology | Marvel Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible Bluetooth Wireless 4.0 technology |
| Ports | Two USB Type-A 3.1 (Gen1) One USB Type-C with 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 base) | Two full-size USB 3.0 Full-size SD card reader Two Surface Connect ports (one in tablet, one in base) Headset jack (3.5mm) Mini DisplayPort |
| 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 |
| Dimensions | 312 mm x 232 mm x 15 to 23 mm (L x W x D) | 232.1 mm x 312.3 mm x 13.0 to 22.8 mm (L x W x D) |
| Weight | Core i5: 1533 g (3.38 lbs) Core i7: 1642 g (3.62 lbs) | i5 GPU: 3.34 lbs (1516 g) i5/i7 dGPU: 3.48 lbs (1576 g) |
| Sensors | Ambient light sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope Magnetometer | Ambient light sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope Magnetometer |
| Cameras | 5.0MP 1080p video @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) |
| Windows Hello | IR Camera | IR Camera |
| Price | Starts at $1,499 | Starts at $1,499 |
| Availability | November 16, 2017 Preorders start November 9, 2017 | November 2015 |
Surface Book comparison conclusion
As you can see, the Surface Book 2 dominates the original Surface Book across the board, with more powerful processors, a beefy 1050 GTX GPU, and even a quad-core option. Microsoft also put the Surface Book 2 through a round of refinements and tweaks. The "screen wobble" between the base and the detachable tablet screen has been reduced. The balance on the fulcrum hinge has been improved, allowing for one-handed opening. The Core i5 model without the dedicated GPU (dGPU) is completely fanless, and the dGPU model only has a fan in the base. The battery life has been significantly boosted, and there are other additions such as USB-C and improved key travel.
All of these design refinements carry across to the verifiably insane, no-compromises Surface Book 2 15-inch model as well, which sports a GTX 1060 with 6GB of VRAM and a quad-core i7 GPU atop a stunning 15-inch display.
Preorders of the Surface Book 2 are now available, starting at $1,499. For a more detailed look at the Surface Book 2 devices, hit the link below.
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Surface Book 2: 13.5 and 15-inch models detailed
Updated November 9, 2017: We checked our spec list and republished this post as soon as Surface Book 2 preorders became available.
Jez Corden is a Senior Editor for Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by caffeine. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his Xbox Two podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!
