Product overview Microsoft Surface Book 2

By Insight Editor / 5 Mar 2018 , Updated on 21 Aug 2019

The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a 2-in-1 designed for laptop lovers. Though it’s a convertible, the Surface Book 2 is truly a laptop at heart. The Surface Book 2 features a battery life that lasts up to 17 hours and has extra powerful graphics. With the optional Surface Pen, you can take notes & give voice commands via Cortana.

This second-generation Surface Book features a faster processor, longer battery life and upgraded graphics as compared to the original Surface Book. The 13.5-inch model uses an Intel Core i5 processor. For more power and storage, check out the Surface Book 15-inch Core i7 configuration.

Microsoft Surface Book 2 specifications

Operating system: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit edition
Screen: 13.5 inches; 3000 x 2000 pixel resolution
Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.1 x .9 inches
Weight: 3.38 pounds

Performance features

Intel Core i5 processor (7th gen)
Intel HD Graphics 620
Battery life: up to 17 hours

Surface Book 2 configurations

Software features

Windows Hello facial recognition
Microsoft Office 30-day trial
PixelSense display
Bluetooth 4.1 technology

Microsoft Surface Book 2 ports

(2) USB 3.1 (Type A)
(2) Surface Connect ports (1 on keyboard, 1 on tablet)
USB-C
SD card slot

Frequently asked questions — design & visualization

How is the Surface Book different from the Surface Pro?: The Surface Book is designed primarily as a laptop and the Surface Pro is designed primarily as a tablet. Both devices can go into laptop or tablet mode, but the Surface Book only gets about 3 hours of battery life in tablet mode and does not have a kickstand or ports in the tablet. However, the updated Surface Book 2 now has an audio jack in the tablet so you can listen with headphones while in tablet mode.
Can the Surface Book 2 screen be charged independently of the keyboard?: Yes, the screen (referred to as the clipboard) has a separate charging port. This allows you to charge the screen in tablet mode without having to reattach the keyboard.
Does the Surface Book 2 have an HDMI port & a slot for micro SD cards?: The Surface Book does not have an HDMI port, but you can get a mini DisplayPort to HDMI adaptor for use with HDMI. It does have a full-size SD card slot, which will work for micro SD cards if you use an SD card adaptor (usually included when you purchase a micro SD card).
Which graphics card does the Surface Book 2 use?: This Surface Book 2 uses an Intel HD 620 GPU for integrated graphics (located in the keyboard). It does not have discrete graphics. For discrete graphics, you’ll need to upgrade to the Surface Book 2 core i7 configuration, which features a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card.

Frequently asked questions — functionality, memory & use

How difficult is it to detach and reattach the screen on Surface Book 2?: The transition between laptop and tablet mode is easy to manage with the Surface Book 2. To detach, just press the detach key located in the upper right corner of the keyboard. You will see a notification when it’s safe to separate the screen from the keyboard. To reattach, simply click the screen and keyboard back together again. That’s it!
Can I upgrade the RAM or SSD on my Surface Book 2?: No, the RAM is soldered in place on the Surface Book, so it is not upgradeable. While the SSD can technically be replaced, the process would be very difficult and would also void your warranty. If you need more space, we recommend upgrading to the Surface Book 2 core i7 with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD.
How do I set up the Surface Pen to work with my Surface Book?: During setup you will be asked to pair your Surface Pen with your Surface Book. If you skipped this step during setup, visit Microsoft online for instructions on how to pair your Surface Pen. If you still have trouble, you can lookup instructions to troubleshoot Surface Pen.
Is there a Surface Book 2 docking station available?: Yes, you’ll want to pair your Surface Book 2 with the Microsoft Surface Dock. This space-saving dock allows you to set up an external display with your Surface Book. It has ports for all types of connections, including: SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (4), Mini DisplayPort (2) and Gigabit Ethernet.

Is the Surface Book 2 right for you?

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All keyword categories: Product overview Microsoft

Product overview Microsoft Surface Book 2

Microsoft Surface Book 2 specifications

Performance features

Surface Book 2 configurations

Software features

Microsoft Surface Book 2 ports

Frequently asked questions — design & visualization

How is the Surface Book different from the Surface Pro?

Can the Surface Book 2 screen be charged independently of the keyboard?

Does the Surface Book 2 have an HDMI port & a slot for micro SD cards?

Which graphics card does the Surface Book 2 use?

Frequently asked questions — functionality, memory & use

How difficult is it to detach and reattach the screen on Surface Book 2?

Can I upgrade the RAM or SSD on my Surface Book 2?

How do I set up the Surface Pen to work with my Surface Book?

Is there a Surface Book 2 docking station available?

Is the Surface Book 2 right for you?

Discover more

Infographic The Latest Microsoft Surface AI PCs

Whitepaper Prepare Your Environment for Copilot for Microsoft 365

Whitepaper Why Now Is the Time to Move to Microsoft 365 E5

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