Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 review: A once-great laptop now is merely good

Time has caught up to Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 2. We loved it in its first iteration—what Microsoft now calls the Surface Laptop (1st Gen), and the low-cost clamshell remains a superb, optimized laptop for students and workers on the go. But while the Surface Laptop 2 has basically stood still, the competition has chimed in with their own progressive offerings. As our review shows, the 13-inch Surface Laptop 2 is still a solid laptop, but design choices made a year ago look a bit tired now.

The Surface Laptop is nearly identical to its predecessor in all three dimensions, the rated battery life, and even weight. In addition to the color, Microsoft has moved from a 7th-gen to an 8th-gen Core microprocessor, and the company has thankfully eliminated the 4GB memory option that was available in the first generation. Gone, too, is Windows 10 in S Mode, now replaced with Windows 10 Home. There aren’t any low-power Qualcomm or Intel Pentium-based options, and Microsoft hasn’t announced an LTE option—but those weren’t available on the first device, either. 

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2: Basic specs and buying advice

As you may recall from our hands-on with the Surface Laptop 2 after its announcement, Microsoft is selling both the Surface Laptop 2 for Business, and the more generic Surface Laptop 2 for consumers. The Business model begins at $1,199, versus $999 for consumers—quite a jump, especially since the additional $200 buys you just a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor with vPro capabilities, an improved warranty with the ability to receive a new device before sending in the defective model (Advanced Exchange), and Windows 10 Pro, rather than Home. We reviewed the consumer version. 

Note that Microsoft varies its configurations by color. The cheapest Surface Laptop 2 for consumers is $999 for the platinum color, in a Core i5/8GB RAM/128GB SSD configuration (available at the Microsoft storeRemove non-product link as well as AmazonRemove non-product link). In black, burgundy and cobalt blue, the cheapest option was a Core i5/8GB RAM/256GB configuration, for an MSRP of $1,299. We reviewed the black version. Other, more expensive configurations are also available; we note the ranges below in the basic specifications.

Here’s something to think about, though: At press time, what Microsoft now calls the ”1st Gen” platinum Surface Laptop is selling at a healthy discount for theCore i5/8GB RAM/128GB version, on AmazonRemove non-product link. The platinum Surface Laptop 2 with the same configuration is both more powerful and just $100 or so more.

While it feels a little... Apple-y... to go ga-ga over a new color, there’s no ignoring that the new jet black adds a note of distinction to the smooth anodized aluminum unibody construction as well as the slightly fuzzy Alcantara fabric coating the Surface Laptop 2’s palm rest and interior. Yet it’s odd and somewhat disappointing that Microsoft is essentially charging an additional $200 for it. 

Hands on with the Surface Laptop 2

The Surface Laptop 2 is sturdy without feeling especially weighty. There’s just a bit of back-and-forth flex in the display hinge when the Laptop 2’s base is wiggled. Inside, the Surface Laptop 2’s display reclines to an ergonomically comfortable 45 degrees or so away from the horizontal. I never noticed the base becoming especially warm or overheated, except during an intensive round of updates, when the bottom warmed to a level that was still comfortable.

A sheet of Gorilla Glass 3 houses the display in a 3:2 format —again, identical to the original Surface Laptop. (The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 has a higher-res 2736x1824, 12.3-inch display.) Our light meter recorded a maximum luminance of 337 nits, a slight 8 percent drop from our 1st Gen machine. (We consider anything over 260 nits of luminance to be of sufficient brightness.) There are no additional color space options like the Surface Book 2 beyond RGB, and the display uses a standard dynamic range. 

Beyond the numbers, the PixelSense displays used in Microsoft’s Surface products offer stunning color fidelity and they’re simply pleasing to use. Microsoft smartly picks default backgrounds that show off its displays to its best advantage. Note, however, that while a higher resolution can be easier on the eyes, it impacts battery life and performance.

Microsoft’s out-of-the-box experience feels a little bit different with each new Surface, and the Surface Laptop 2 is no exception. Like other Surface devices, a series of screens marches you through the setup process. There was something new here, though: Not only did the Surface Laptop 2 update itself before asking for a password...it didn’t ask for a password. That’s right—though I signed in with a Microsoft account, Microsoft knew I had two-factor authentication set up and merely asked to authenticate the new Laptop 2 with my phone. That’s a subtle yet powerful way of welcoming you back to the Windows ecosystem.

Unfortunately, the Microsoft ecosystem still includes the host of crapware that accompanies most Surface devices: Candy Crush Soda Saga, Hulu, Fitbit Coach,and more. Yes, you can uninstall it, and there’s an argument that students might actually enjoy the diversion. But for the rest of us, they’re unnecessary.

A new coat of paint hides some aging I/O

While I really love the simple minimalism of the Surface Laptop 2’s chassis—remember, Microsoft designed it to pry students away from Apple MacBook Airs—there’s no denying that it’s now a bit behind the times. Yes, a laptop is more “lappable” than a tablet like the Surface Pro 6, but the Surface Laptop 2 still lacks the microSD slot of the Surface Pro 6 and the USB-C port of many of its other rivals. There’s no rear-facing camera, either, though that’s more forgivable.

In the year or four that a student should expect to hold onto the Surface Laptop 2, however, USB-C devices will simply become more prevalent. Not only is the $80(!!) Surface to USB-C dongleRemove non-product link overpriced, users have given it poor reviews for charging and functionality. A microSD slot could make the entry-level Platinum version (with just 128GB of storage) much more tolerable. What was once a forgivable oversight is now a blemish. 

Instead, there’s the usual loadout of Surface ports: USB 3.0 Type A, miniDisplayPort and the mic/headphone jack on the left, and the Surface connector on the right.

Microsoft’s Surface devices have traditionally shipped with one of the better keyboards in the industry, and the Surface Laptop 2 continues that tradition. It provides slightly smaller keys than the Surface Book 2, but with adequate landing area and a pleasing springiness that makes them comfortable to type upon for long periods.

While Microsoft sheathes only the inside of its Laptops with its Alcantara fabric, the slightly fuzzy cloth provides a hint of give and a bit of warmth to your palms as they rest upon the typing surface. The fabric hasn’t become stained from prolonged contact with my hands or other liquids, either.

Microsoft doesn’t seem to have altered its trackpad. It’s still the spacious, smooth surface Microsoft provides for its other Surface devices, excepting the Surface Go.

The Surface Laptop’s speakers, embedded underneath the keyboard, deliver a surprising amount of volume. As with other laptops and tablets, however, the sounds those speakers produce is flat, without a great deal of bass or treble. You won’t find many options within the standard volume control panel; instead, Microsoft has migrated the audio controls to the separate Realtek Audio Console, which governs the Realtek audio chip inside. Here you’ll find the ability to toggle the Dolby Audio enhancements off and on, which doesn’t do a great deal for the speakers but adds depth to music played back via the headphones.

Personally, I’ve used the Surface Laptop as a test machine for Windows 10 Insider builds, banging away on it off and on every week or so, and especially in the month or so before a new feature release. From a longevity and usability standpoint, and speaking specifically about the 1st Gen laptop, the Surface Laptop line comes recommended. 

Keep reading for performance and battery benchmarks.