i just got my SB2 today. first impressions are excellent. got the 16gb 1TB SSD, i7 version of the 13.5". Second hand from an electronics store, mint condition, still with original packaging and a 2 year warranty. Couldn't be any happier as i got it for 1/3 of the retail price. Sorry for the boast, but i am late to the party. i hope the SB3 is even better, but i wouldn't be able to afford one at the expected RRP.
Connor Traynor wow how much did you exactly pay bc im in the market to get one of these. Would I get a better one at a second hand electronic store, eBay?
I bought Surface Book 2 while working as a graphic designer. This laptop made me truly mobile. It enabled me to travel and still comfortably work with GPU heavy apps, draw in 10k resolution and play games. My best investment. Not recommended for people who don't have a need for the stylus.
Yep, not a device for everyone and I think a lot of people were drawn to it because of how different it was, not because they actually needed what it did.
It is the best laptop I will probably ever own. It has and is still helping me finish my cpet degree with every tool I need. Its the only laptop I could confidently go through a full school day without needing to even bring my charger. It still runs like new a year and a half later.
Thank you for the 2 years of reviews. You've helped me decide to get this laptop. I was worried about the graphics card not showing up but I haven't had a problem ever.
I think if you stick with the 391.40 driver provided by Microsoft, it all works. But if you need to update your nvidia driver to use anything that requires update driver, you are basically left alone. As the driver in SB2 is Microsoft proprietary.
kristoff me too but I think anything bigger than the current size would make it even more heavier and it’s pretty heavy for the tablet portion. Also I don’t really know about the new pen tho they haven’t announced anything yet.
I have been using it too for two years, and it has been used in everyway possible and has been admired by everyone.... specially when you detach it , it is a beauty 💕
I’m in love with my SB2 13.5”, especially for its amazing display, perfect for watching movies and consuming content, also it looks very attractive and feels good too
I bought the original book in December of 15 and used it pretty heavily. It finally gave up on me almost 4 years to the day. Sadly, while I was toying with buying a modern device rumors of the 3 were becoming more prevalent. Microsoft was kind enough to let me buy a new (or refurbished) of the same model for $600. I'm toying again with using it until it dies again.
Just sold off my SB 2. Had a bunch of connector issues, where the keyboard and trackpad were very inconsistent - had it for two years. It worked well but to me was not worth the cost
That's a very good video, it shows how really this PC last in years. Now I would like to change my pc with the Surface Book 3 13 inches. The only big question that I have for you is: did you miss or fell unable to do certain tasks without a thunderbolt 3?
I never had the need for it. TB3 gives you super fast transfer rates, high res displays and eGPU's. I don't need the last once since I have a dGPU, I work on the cloud so storage isn't a factor and rarely get the chance to sit down long enough to use an external display to the point where it matters to me. As for the security side of things, we are learning more every day and seems like it will be a while before we know everything there is to know about Thunderspy.
I love my SB2, but the function key is horrible, the weird behaviour is what keeps me from recommending this device Also the audio jack on the top of the screen makes pluggin in a headphone a ridiculous experience.
Didn't have any issues with the function key but you might use more than I do. Regarding headphones, it's not the best, but using Bluetooth sets or a USB C to 3.5mm jack are good alternatives.
Hi, just ordered the sb3 without Microsoft Complete Protection package... But the order comes with a standard 1 year limited warranty. I've been seeing you always recommending to get it with warranty coverage which is Microsoft Complete Protection package which costs a bomb ($200+) for just one extra year. Did you experience alot of hardware issues/defects on your sb2 that made the warranty worth? Have kinda watch most of your sb2 reviews and you were a big influence to my order! Thanks
Hey Calven. I've never had to use my warranty, but here's the thing. There is a flat rate of $600CDN for any repairs outside of warranty. 3 years of warranty was $300 or $100 a year here. It's insurance protecting your investment. You might never use it, but if you have to use it once, it's cheaper than a repair.
I been using the surface book 2 for 2 years now too (15 inch with GTX 1060), I mainly got it for work since I used to use both a laptop and a tablet. When I bought it felt like a beefy laptop that can do everything smoothly. It turned out to be a jack of all trades. a very expensive one. and I love it for the most part. If they go for a surface book 3, I really hope they add USB ports to the "tablet" side. and maybe included 2 audio jacks, one on the display and one on the keyboard bass (Or lower the audio jack so it's not awkwardly coming out from the top side). as far as specs go, I am happy with the current spec for a laptop, finding a reason to upgrade to surface book 3 would be hard.
@@LaptopRetrospective and they still added the ridiculously located audio jack which I need very much on the same absurd location !!! they build something so good like the Mona Lisa and then sprinkle all over it !
@@LaptopRetrospective how so how? audio you either use bluetooth or audio jack. I use both. I need the jack for when my earphones have low or no battery or when I don't feel like using it. the jack is very important and useful and convenient. what on earth its the 3rd iteration of the sb and they still placed it up there ! have microsoft engineers used the SB with an audio jack and seen that absurd and uncomfortable wire situation ? this small thing , added with the lack of sd card and hdmi ports, are what's making me search for alternatives , Lenovo, etc because I seem to love almost everything about the SB except the ports and jack situation...
If you use the tablet for audio, it's position makes a lot more sense because you always have access. I also have long cables so it never got in the way. SB2 and I believe 3 have an SD card slot and HDMI is easily adapted from the USB C port.
Love my SB2 (1st Gen). The magnesium alloy on top of the hinge where it touches the table gets a lot of wear, although I understand it is a necessary sacrifice for the structure of the hinge.
Thanks for the review! Which of the following do you think is better? 1) surface book 2 15", 8th gen i7 16g ram, 256g storage , 1060 graphics 2) surface book 3 13.5" 10th gen i7, 16gb ram, 256g storage, 1650 graphics
Well I'm currently using a surface go which is 10". Not sure if I will be used to a 15" which is a big jump but screen size doesn't bother me that much. It's more of the CPU vs GPU like you mentioned. Just 2 concerns i have for choosing between surface book 2 15" or 3 13.5" given that price range is pretty similar with the above specs: 1) Which will be better/smoother for video editing purpose. 2) Which surface book will i be able to keep them for as long as possible (durability). Not going to be any intense usage of the laptop like gaming. Just some work and light video editing. 1 last question: Is there much difference in graphics between Geforce 1060 and 1660? Thanks for the reply by the way!
I suspect the stronger CPU and GPU will give better editing results. The 3 will have the longer warranty available imagine and this is a machine that you should get one for since any repair will be more than the cost of it. Lastly I don't have GPU data for those two on hand but it is easily accessible online.
You got to pump those numbers up... My 3.5 years old Surface Book has over 800 cycles already.. the battery life has had a few issues over the years and the wear can be felt from time to time with unexpected drops in percentage... (I.E. suddenly jumping from 75% to 60%)... a couple of calibrations sort of fixes this... and the combined capacity of mine sits at about 55Wh... so it's down to about 80% of its original capacity. In my opinion, this is still acceptable because it is near what Apple guaranteed on their Macs (80% at around 1000 cycles), and being able to play around 6~630 hours of UA-cam is still very good after all these years... Certainly better than what my previous devices provide and lasted.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks for replying, I let it drain to critical status and completely charge a couple of times... I also made a graph of my battery degradation over the years here: drive.google.com/open?id=1zxgmDDtwNIwUMiWdtAezBx2Ejs7etDEj I had spikes which indicates a low capacity and weird behavior a few times.
WOW...your review method is brilliant and really AWESOME!! I pulled the trigger on the 15", i7, 512gb, GTX1060 model because of your videos. I purchased mine April of 2019. Just like you have said, the machine is well worth the investment. This is the longest I have had a laptop, period. I am a systems architect and content creator. I own a very powerful gaming rig and the sb2, but I use the sb2 for all of my work, which is architecture design, photo, video editing and software development . You hit the nail on the head with the consideration of the sb 3 upgrade. My only consideration for the sb3 would be a move from 16 gb to 32 gb. I would be willing to upgrade if that was a new option.
Thanks for the kind words Stanley and I'm glad your Surface Book 2 had served you well so far. I'm curious to know what the future holds for this line as well.
For light computing it is fine, but as soon as you start doing some heavy number crunching or multitasking it can get choppy and slow. This is because the CPU on the 13" is passively cooled. I use an external USB fan blowing on the back of the display to improve performance when multitasking. This also means you can't keep the laptop closed when using an external monitor since CPU cooling via the front of the display is also impaired and affects performance. The GPU in the base has a cooling fan and works fine. Except for the cooling it has been an excellent laptop.
My SB2 just arrived today! I'm loving it so far and your video amped me up even more. How much gaming did you do on yours? My worry is that excessive gaming will run it down too quickly. I'm trying to be careful with it to keep it going as long as possible.
Firstly, thanks for an excellent series of reviews on the Surface Book 2. I generally dislike video reviews as they're often more self-promotion than review, but your review style is genuinely helpful. I've got an original Surface Book 13.5, and have had it in a UAG Plasma case on it since new. It's obviously lasted fine over the years. I've not got any wear/tear around the trackpad or keyboard, which is the only bit of it uncovered. I wear a watch and ring, but even those haven't inflicted any damage. With the Surface Book 3 realease, I've ordered one. i7/32GB/1TB/1660ti model... I'm looking at a ToastMade leather skin for it, but notice that your machine has lost the hinge portion of the skin? The adhesive holding that in place looks like a fairly thin strip. Did you remove it on purpose, or did that hinge skin just not survive use?
I've done a few videos on the ToastMade skin and they have/had put on their website that their design for the hinge cover doesn't handle heat well. I could never get it to stay, so I removed it. If you check out the lift design you'll see why.
Hey thanks for the vid. Very informative and helped me with my decision. I bought SB2 base model today since it was on a good discount after SB3 was announced. Cant wait to receive it next week. Would like to get your advice if you recommend adding on the Microsoft Complete? Its pretty expensive (roughly 20% of the overall device cost), but I am on the fence if I should, given that it also covers accidental damage. Cheers!
Nick S I’ve debated the same but I have heard that plenty of SB2 users have had their screen crack from just shutting their laptop normally. (you can find a ton of reviews saying this) There obviously is a design flaw. I’d recommend waiting. The current prices are probably as good as they are because of this issue.
@@dpfutbol Again, lots of review are often generated from a smaller source. If it was a known problem, the amount of time I've used my device I feel my odds are high of finding such things.
I mean i have had my surface pro 4 since day one and its still basically new. The battery is the only thing which is defiantly degrading (2-4 hours max if that), the charger is also finished and the keyboard only has wear (colour change from my hands) at the bottom (both of which can be replaced).
Not going to lie. I was tempted to get the Surface Book 3 on Black Friday, but decided against it. I have the Surface Book 2 with i7/16gb/1t/1060/15inch. I'm not going to get much return unless I get another maxed one. I don't game, nor do I do any 4k video editing. Since mine is still in new like condition, I'm just going to keep enjoying it!
I bought the surface book 2 after the last beefy laptop from MSi I had(Apache Pro GE) died bc the screen connection via the hinge degraded in its terrible plastic shell. I also needed a laptop I could take notes on that wasn’t bigger than the desks in my college lecture halls. Great investment. Has lasted longer than any laptop I’ve bought and most of my friends that went with the 3 grand MacBook equivalent ($1k more than SB2 at the time) have had issues. I’m a professional video editor that uses the full Adobe suite with all the bells and whistles and fancy plugins in After Effects and there’s nothing I threw at the SB2 in my projects that it couldn’t handle. I’ve even been able to edit projects on cramped airplanes with just my pen and flipping the display over (I follow teams across the country and have to edit on the go often) And when I am fortunate enough to edit at a proper workstation, I can edit in native 4K with an external monitor at 60Hz no problem. Best desktop, laptop, tablet I have ever bought hands down. The engineering has made it pretty much indestructible over the test of time (even as the hardware becomes dated!)
Great review! Just pre-ordered the SB3 and looking for confirmation whether I am doing the right thing. Use my laptops for four years and am switching from a Thinkpad.
@@LaptopRetrospective That is true! I have been using the 360 degree of hinge of the Thinkpad X1 Yoga every day. The SB takes that idea to the next level.
What do you think about which one is more worthy between Surface Book 3 15'', core i7, 16 G, 256 for AU$3,330 vs Surface Book 2 15'', core i7, 16 GB, 1TB for AU$3,492?
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks for your insight. The Surface Book 2 are on sale for 28% whereas the Surface Book 3 I am eligible for student discount (10%). The prices include 1 year warranty if I want 2 years I need to pay extra.
@@LaptopRetrospective Or should I just go for Surface Book 2 13.3 inch i7, 256 for AU$2,699.10 or i5, 256 for AU$1,820.77 to save some money for other stuff. Sorry for asking so many questions.
Apparently a ton of Surface Book 2 users’ screen cracked from normal use because of the way the laptop closes. I really wanted to purchase the Surface Book 2 but didn’t because of this issue. Hopefully the Surface Book team have fixed this design flaw for the SB3.
TheRealBandito i don’t know why you’re talking about the hinge. I just mean that I have read and seen video reviews of people shutting their SB2 overnight and then waking up to find the screen cracked. I don’t think people are slamming it shut either. Some may have picked it up closed on the side where the glass meets the base (not hinge side) and that pressure may have been enough to weaken the glass and break it.
I’m currently considering getting either the SB2 or the surface pro 7. All in all, I like the SB 2 more but I’m just concerned that it’s a much older model while the pro 7 has just been launched a few months ago. I’ve noticed SB2 uses the 7th gen intel processor while the pro 7 uses 10th gen. And SB2 is at around 1800mhz while pro 7 is double the speed. I’ve went to the Microsoft stores and they tell me the difference isn’t really noticeable unless I’m doing heavier work like video editing but I’m still skeptical. Should I still get the SB2 over the pro 7? Or maybe another option would be to wait till SB3 is out but I feel like it wouldn’t be launched in the very near future but I really want to get a new laptop soon. Thanks!
Rumours were a SB3 this year, but with the virus it is hard to say now. The SB2 is 8th Gen. I'd say if you're having troubles, I'd base it on the keyboard configuration and battery life/location.
Used it for a year, edges of display slowly turned orange/yellow (like the edges were burning). Looked up the issue online and many many people experienced the same thing, and some people even got swollen display batteries. All on Microsoft's forums.... Microsoft did nothing, asked for over 600$ for a reconditioned device replacement.... Literally happened a few days after warranty was over. PC is good, but Microsoft's lack of customer support and lack of repairability is just ridiculous, for the price. Just beware.
Strange, must have been a production batch issue. Haven't heard anything about swollen batteries outside that one generation of the Surface Pro. Glad I have one more year of warranty all the same.
@@LaptopRetrospective Yeah, would've been great if they aknowledged it for the many people who experienced the issue. It's a shame because it was a great laptop! But now it's just sitting in my room...
Yeah definitely, nobody wants that to happen. $600 does seem a bit high for servicing, the problem is you pretty much have to risk breaking the display to open it anyway, so depending on the repair, it's either a bargain or too expensive depending on the component being serviced.
The decrease in battery capacity overall should be additive (top + bottom decline values) not averaged as if you only cycled through the bottom part's battery, you would expect there to be greater than 15% battery decline.
Interesting point. I suppose we also need to consider that both batteries are not a similar capacity and you'd likely want the larger to wear a bit more before the smaller one as you'd notice it faster.
I use the tablet on a semi regular basis. That and the Surface Laptop available at the time was no where near as good as the one now and still not as powerful.
Hello there, I love your videos and I have a question please help me with it, will the laptop suits my needs or not. I am planning on buying the surface book 2 for work and personal usage (13"/ i5 /8 GB RAM). I will be working on it for 11 to 12 hours daily (7 days a week) on heavy word documentations, excel and web browsing activities (I am a system analyst, and will watch Netflix on it too using the tablet option) Should I worry about thermal issues and CPU throttling during the use for 3-4 years, since I will be using it for a long time on a daily basis.
Your use probably won't throttle it. Keep in mind the battery in the tablet is small since most of the computer is stuffed in there as well. If all your going to use the tablet for is watching movies then there might be more cost effective combinations of devices.
Hi, new to the channel. I am currently planning on buying a SB2, as I recently switched over to Aerospace Engineering for my major and my HP Envy 360 started bugging out whenever I run CAD software. I need some advice on whether to buy the 13.5" or the 15" I'm willing to pay the extra to get the 512 GB of storage either way. The key is that this will simultaneously be my home desktop and my do everything for school (notes, online homework, CAD, MATLAB). Here's what my requirements are to run, at minimum. SolidWorks MATLAB Python NX (That's my CAD software for work which I would like to become proficient in). Also, I have a duel monitor set up currently, so I was wondering how well the surface book would work if I'm trying to take notes on the tablet portion, while simultaneously running other code in the background on the other screens? Does it handle two extra monitors well? Guy, probably sounds like a weird question but does OneNote work really well with it. It gliches a tone on my HP but I was hoping a Microsoft device would be better with the native app. Any help would be really appreciated!!!
OneNote is a dream. It can drive two extra displays but nothing crazy like 4k. If you're new to the channel, check out my videos on the Vertical Dock. It's a great setup. Both sizes have the same CPU configuration, so it comes down to size, dGPU options and how much cooling you need. Hope that helps. Again we also dict know what the future holds either.
Thanks for the help! I just tested the two in store. In my opinion having a smaller version doesn't make difference after testing them. And that point about rendering is a very helpful point as well since I hope to do a little on my own. Thanks for the help!!!
I just got the 1st gen i7 and at first charge..... well it didnt charge but after that it's been charging. When I adjust the screen back a forward I get pop ups, if I want to switch to tablet mode. Other than that I havent had any problems. I wanted the 2and gen but it was way to expensive for me and so far I'm pretty happy with it. Might save up for the next gen. Great review too!!
@@LaptopRetrospective seems that way. I'm going to look up and see if I can change the setting manually instead of it notifying me when even it thinks it's being unplugged but I haven't had any other problems even with it charging the battery now. I think it's still a great buy for the price I got it for. I just got it so let see how it holds up for it's age.
Features I'd like to see on the surface book 3 -A kick stand to use it in tablet mode on its own -Thunderbolt 3 (please microsoft) -Wifi 6 -10th Gen Intel or Ryzen mobile (Edit)- Easier upgradibility, it scored a 1 out of 10 on ifixit's taredown. It would be nice to upgrade the SSD (especially with the prices for more storage) or Ram sometime down the line. -Better graphics cards. 2060 MaxQ or something along those lines (Easier said then done, I know). Something you can take home and do some light gaming.
The Surface Book 3 15" is rumoured to come with the GTX 1660 as the baseline model and also the Quadro RTX 3000 on the higher end (Which is just the RTX 2060 but Quadro branded) While the 13" model is getting a upgrade to the GTX 1650, however some Surface book 3 models may include Tiger Lake chips inside from Intel (According to rumours) It would be interesting to see how these machines perform :)
I am thinking about trying to learn coding. I have a Mac from 2014. I have always used apple. But I’m really trying to open my mind new ways of learning. Is Mac good for learning to Code and everyday use? Or would Microsoft be better?
Features I would love: 1. Better integrated speakers (compared to MacBook aren’t that great), maybe with additional speakers under the keyboard 2. Larger and less loud trackpad 3. Slimmer display borders 4. Better IO with at least 2 thunderbolt 3 ports
Laptop Retrospective I guess this is something that can be handled with software (see iPad Pro), but except for that the big limit is definitely the I/O. I would further add the fact that external monitors can run only via the iGPU and not the dGPU. The combination of poor I/O and bad GPUs management make impossible to have two 4K @ 60Hz monitors, which for a pro-device like the SB2, targeting pro-users, might be a big issue
Looking to pick up an SB2 given the price drop for about 1200, for that getting 13.5” 8th gen i5, 256, 8gig RAM. I’m a law student so I’m hoping having the tablet feature will make doing my reading more convenient (and actually encourage me to do it....) and it’ll be used mostly for workflow stuff documentation, research, reading, etc. Should I be worried about the “outdated” processor/speed issues? My mother actually has a SB2 for nearly a year and a half and it’s the only piece of tech she’s ever truly loved besides her iPhone. Opinion cross shopping with a similarly priced MacBook option?
MacBooks are hard for me to recommend these days since they have remained expensive, their keyboards put a sour taste in my mouth, even when they do work. So long as you are able to score an 8th gen version and not the 7th gen one they had for a while, I think you will be happy. I still enjoy my SB2 and feel it does everything I need.
@@LaptopRetrospective What do you mean by teething problems? I listed my issues in previous post but I don't understand what you mean here. The early software bugs were addressed in 2016. Otherwise my Surface Book 1 is a great device. Still working great with 80% of its battery life. (i7 / 512GB / 16GB / dGPU) I work with SolidWorks 2017 (this version needs the dGPU otherwise it crashes) and the performance is great. I also use Sketchbook for sketch and designs, PowerPoint, GIMP, SketchUp. For entertainment I can play older games at 720p-900p-1080p reasonably well... lower res (720p) for titles such as Resident Evil 7, Helblase Senua's Sacrifice, Alien Isolation, etc... higher res for simpler games.
By the way I also wouldn't recommend you to get a Surface Book Gen1 today, because at that price you can get the SB2 maybe with 256GB instead of 512GB... but it would be a much better purchase... HOWEVER the Surface Book 1 is still a great device for me and considering that mine is not as well preserve, I would probably sell it for 800$... but I am not selling it just yet.
I actually did a video back in the day on this very topic. ua-cam.com/video/n9rMrQVA4M0/v-deo.html In short, I don't think I'll ever get another 15 inch laptop ever again.
@@LaptopRetrospective trying to update my windows 10, version 1909 gave me an error, I updated my firmware, I also have problems with base battery not charging and gpu not being recognized in device manager
Is it worth getting Surface Book 2 15" i7, 16GB RAM and GTX1060 with almost 2 years of warranty for about 1200$. Or buy a new gen Lenovo or HP 2in1 Laptop for about the same price ?
Totally depends on which form factor you prefer I think. If a newer CPU is king then that is also a factor to consider. Which other models were you looking at?
@@LaptopRetrospective Yeah, the thing is that I have desktop PC for though work, and this is just for work on the go and the versatility of 2in1. Thats why maybe those high end specs would be an overkill and I am still thinking about the SB2 .
The Surface Book 2 is not really the same kind of 2 in 1 experience as the others though. They have touch screens and have a tablet like mode but that's where the similarities end really. There is nothing like a Surface Book. That could be good or bad. It depends on what is the most important thing to you.
First of all, thank you for all these amazing reviews you're doing! I did my research and came to the conclusion that I still like the thing very much even in 2020 and it would be powerful enough to help me out for a few years I think. I found a great deal for a secondhand SB2 i7 15 inch 16gb ram 512 ssd for around $1400. Would you recommend me still to go for it? And oh yeah, my budget is indeed around $1500 dollars as a student so waiting on the SB3 is not a real possibility I think. It's more that I wonder if should go for a newer convertable or just go ahead for the SB2? What would you say?
ThinkPad convertible or that uses Surface Book 2. Give it a good once over. Anything odd then walk away. Repairs outside of warranty would be expensive.
@@LaptopRetrospective I think I'll walk away unfortunately. It suffers from image retention. Seems like a common problem after a quick look on the internet. Do you recognize this issue or now a solution? No insurance left.
joost bakker you should give the dell XPS 2-in-1 a look although a bit expensive it’s one of the best convertibles out there right next to the thinkpad and HP Spectre. Those usually goes on sale for discounted prices especially the thinkpad.
I have the first surface book since the very beginning. I am still very pleased. But time definately have shown its signs.... the connection between Keyboard and Tablet portion got fairly insecure. Mechanically it seems to be like on the first day, no backlash or anything but when i rattle on the screen the keyboard disconnect and reconnect. other flaw that i am experiancing is that the surface connect port got like worn out. When i plug the book to power i am sometimes getting flickering light and it is changing between charging and not charging. The battery starts to loose a lot of running time. i got to about 3-4 hours depending on the workload. however these things are no big concern, cause i used bit basically as a device both at home and while my engineering degree. So it has a good 4 years of straight 16hrs/day use and has not had any major issue in the whole time. What i was surprized though was, that i had a lot of trouble with bootloops which i find kind of funny because it is the same hardware and software company. I am very eagerly awaiting the Surfacebook 3. What i am really would be looking for is a Thunderbolt 3 port. Rumors where, that this was not possible due to not enough PCIe Lanes -> The connection between Keyboard and Tablet seems to be a PCIe lane. Even if the thunderbolt will be in the tablet portion and some ports like usb on the base will be deactivated i really hope for thunderbolt 3 to build a thunderbolt homestation including an external graphics card.
Interesting, I've had my SB2 for a year and a half now. I've only had about 350 charge cycles, yet my battery has diminished to 11Wh for the tablet and 43Wh for the base. How often do you have your SB2 connected to a charger compared to on the go?
I appreciate the review, I have a like new SB2 i7 16GB 1TB on order for much less than the retail price. I want to use it as an all purpose laptop for light gaming, digital art, media consumption, music production, etc. Seems like this is one of the only devices that should be capable of all that (the i7 version anyway with the GTX 1050 in the base).
I replaced my 5 year old Surface Pro 3 with a book 2 during the Christmas holiday. A laptop computer lasting 5 plus years is testimate IMHO as to how solid these things are. The reason I went for a replacement was because battery charging was beginning to fail. Again after 5 years! This was not treating it lightly. Used for programming, excel, email and the web. I was able to purchase the book 2, 13.5" i7 16GB 512 from best buy for $1899. Never considered anything other than Microsoft's laptop products when shopping for a replacement. I have no doubt this one will last another 5!
I owned the 15" top spec machine and sold it. It was too big so I went back to my usual Surface Pro ownership. I barely ever used the tablet on its own as it was too big and didn't have its own kickstand. The lack of thunderbolt was a big minus. I also prefered the keyboard in the touch cover than on the SB2. Otherwise my device was a performance beast, able to play any game I installed. It was hard selling it because it really is a beautifully engineered device but it was too big for me. If I could, I'd probably go for the 13" model if I was to buy one again.
Did you have any issues with overheating? I tried 3 Surface Books 2 (15inch) over a year and a half and every single one of them had an issue with overheating when the CPU underclocked itself to 0,4Ghz (Power Limit Throttle). Also I had an issue that my SB2 just won't enter sleep mode no matter what (after closing the lid, pressing the power button, even using the start menu>sleep). Even after MS "fixed" this overheating issue I still had it so I replace the SB2 two times at the local retailer, they gave me brand new one each time and all of them had the same issues... :/
@@LaptopRetrospective Yea, I tried, I even undervolted the CPU and GPU but after replacing the SB2 2 times, still the same issue, even after the firmware update. Like it was working nice when there was like 24°C in the room but more than that and well... It is pretty much unusable :D
I am a student and I'm thinking about getting the SB2, but the choice is so hard between all these 2in1 devices and tablets. I definetly want something with a touchscreen so I can write by hand. Should I go for the SB2 or do you recommend any other device?
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks for the response! No, I don't need a detachable screen, I mean I'll take it if I can but I'm definetly not looking for it :D Do you have any recommendation on which series to choose? I dont have any experience at all with ThinkPads and they have so many different series...
It will really come down to budget I suspect. Their Yoga line is convertible, their X1 Carbon line is thin and light, their X and T lines are powerhouses. Even getting an older gen is not a bad thing. But if you want to handwrite notes and such, that flat surface is a must.
@@LaptopRetrospective Do you recommend devices with an i3 and 128GB storage? Because they're the only ones I can find which are somewhat distant from the 1000$ mark. Apparently there will be a sale in my area soon where you can get a SB2 for 1000$ (i5 and 256GB) so I'm wondering if the cheaper products are just fine for the next few years or if I should spend more money now (and hopefully once). If the 600-700$ devices aren't that promising, then I think I'll just take the SB2. That 100$ I can save by buying a higher end Lenovo product for 900$ are negligible since they also seem to be still worse than a SB2 for a similar price (from my *inexperienced* POV, maybe they are just as good or even better. You have to teach me :D). But if the "middle class" Lenovo products are just fine, I'll happily safe a few hundred bucks!
Shop around your local classifieds for some last generation ThinkPads, I think you'll be surprised on what is out there. Write down some models that interest you and read the reviews, watch some videos and begin to develop yourself a knowledge portfolio. That's what I did for months before deciding on buying the Surface Book 2. It can be a fair bit of work, but it is educational, rewarding and gives you greater peace of mind than any one suggestion someone can give you. :-D
@@LaptopRetrospective do you think is a bad purchase to get a 15inch, 16gb i7, nvidia gtx 1060, for a UX/UI, I'm currently using a surface pro 4, and I'm getting the flickering screen issue when I'm on heavy use (I can fix it but cleaning the fan and changing the thermo gel, that must be dry - happened to a MacBook air that I had) ... I had de chance to get a SB2 used (but in good condition - battery at 89%, checked) but Ive been hearing all this issues... -sorry if I exceed the limitations on this question.. 🙏🏻
No problem, I will do what I can to answer. The 15 inch machine is a biggie, keep that in mind. It also might be more computer than you need, but that will depend on your system requirements for your more demanding applications.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks! I've been cheking, because sometimes ou just use adobe After Effects, Protopie, adobe XD (or Lunacy), some photoshop and things like that, and hear that some times is nice to have more RAM, nice processor, and a video dedicated memory in case you start prototyping (in my case is when my surface pro 4 starts to fail hard)... But thanks, i'll have this SB2 in consideration, known that may be too much :D
I use surface products in the construction industry so that I have access to plans at all times. I'd like to see the ability to either completely flip the screen and keyboard or the ability to rotate the screen quickly without having to wait for the annoying detach (which is also nearly impossible to do whilst standing up. Whilst I could work with just the screen only, the battery in the keyboard is the lions share for the 'book' and I end up leaving the keyboard in all different places. Also, the keyboard on all surface devices should work even when disconnected.
I have had several hardware issues with my original Surface Book which ironically has been very robust in other areas as well.. so it has been a bittersweet experience, but overall mostly sweet. My issues have been: - Original 60W charger had a faulty USB port that wouldn't charge my phone. Microsoft Store in Boston exchanged it for a 102W under warranty. - Rubber feet unglued and I had to glue them back but even with super glue is a recurring issue, so I had to tape them with adhesive which looks horrible in a $2k device. Luckily I almost never expose the underside. Maybe I should have bought a Toast skin. - The Ctrl key broke in half. This is a known issue, in fact my best friend also has a SB and he has a broken Ctrl key and the left Shift key as well... If you browse spare parts for it the regular keys cost a normal amount but the Ctrl and Shift key for Surface Book cost about 40$ which is insane. Hopefully this has been resolved for the SB3 On the positive side, the robustness experienced was the following: - My Surface Book survived 3 or 4 drops from waist height, inside a simple ProCase bag (with not much padding) onto concrete, tile and other hard floors... every time it happened my heart skipped a beat and I think I might have caught it a couple of those drops with my foot dampening the fall, but still an amazing feat, and probably a lucky one as well. - My wife accidentally spilled a full glass of water from the left side closed to the USB-A ports over the keyboard and over the dGPU card. I quickly detached the display which didn't get much water anyway, and flipped the keyboard upside down and let it drain as much water as I could. Then when I got home I place the keyboard on top of a dehumidifier all night long, and luckily it worked perfectly afterwards. My keyboard is fully functioning and the dGPU still performs great under graphic stress. The battery is worn but normal after 800 cycles. I will upgrade to another Surface Book that's for sure
I'm on my 3rd SB2 in less than a year. I wish I had never bought it. The first one lasted around 3 months and then developed a fault which made it randomly disconnect the keyboard so it was unusable even though it was still attached. The connections between the keyboard and the screen basically just fell apart, so I returned it under warantee. The 2nd unit arrived, but I could tell it was a "rework" not new replacement, so I loaded everything up ... takes about 3 hours to get everything back to where you want it. I noticed the battery had run out ... I charged and discharged several times but the battery would only last about 3 as compared to the 17 hours claimed. I returned it, and complained bitterly to Microsoft that having purchased a "Rolls Royce" machine I didn't expect to be driving a Mini. They sent my unit number 3, which was new - you could tell by the packaging. The 3rd unit performs OK, but I don't disconnect the screen much as I am afraid I will damage the connectors again. The battery is now about 6 months old, and I am down to 6 hours of life max .... I have never got even close to 17 as claimed. Most achieved when new was around 9 hours. A huge misrepresentation by MS in my view.... Would never buy another one.
Sorry to hear about your experience, where are you located for the record as stories like this sometimes end up in specific parts of the world. Can't say I've had any of the issues you've described.
Have you not had the issue where tiny little bits of the grey "paint" (it's some kind of fancy coating) has come off, revealing the black magnesium beneath? It's a very common problem that I certainly have a bit of. Maybe check around the edges of the base just below the trackpad, the corners, that sort of thing - any tiny black marks there? Was surprised you didn't mention it in the video. It's just cosmetic of course, but a little disappointing for a device so expensive. I still love my Surface Book 2 though - don't think there's another device out there that would suit my use case so well.
@@LaptopRetrospective Sounds like you got lucky! It's quite a common complaint. I've seen far worse examples than mine on the Surface subreddit before now. It's something to do with the process required to apply the coating - it has to be done at a low temperature as a result of using magnesium instead of aluminium, which works, but is prone to flaking when exposed to wear, tear, and sweat. Another common complaint is the rubber feet/strips coming off the bottom of the base - the glue wears off after a certain amount of time (seems to be over a year and a half in general). Luckily this one is very easy to fix - just buy some strong glue intended for metals/plastics/etc and away you go). I just had to do this myself recently. Sounds like none of this has happened to you yet - seems you hit the jackpot! However if it does, hopefully I've been some help in preparing you for it! Thanks for covering the Surface Book 2 over the past couple of years. Your videos helped me make the decision to go for it, and despite the small issues I've encountered, I really have no regrets. It's a wonderful machine. Thanks again!
Excellent overview! Thanks for the info. Especially on its durability. Helped out a lot. Going from my Surface 3 with 4GB RAM (which has been amazing) into something with much more speed (8 or 16GB RAM). Also at an affordable price. Probably going to wait a little longer. Thx again
Hello, I have placed an order for the Surface Book 2 HNM-00022 13in i7 8th Gen/16GB/512GB SSD/ GTX 1050 2GB GPU. Wanted the new one but it won't be available where I live for a few months so decided on going with the high speced SB2. I am really excited as this is my first laptop upgrade from the Dell Studio 15 i7 which I got way back in 2010! Yes you read that right. This video is really helpful in what I can expect from the device. I really hope the SB2 lasts me as long as the Dell one did. The Dell one still works fine but I needed a spec upgraded laptop along with a tablet and it seems like there is nothing in the market like the Surface Book. Contemplated buying the new surface Pro 7 but ended up with my heart set up with the Surface Book as it's a complete laptop which transforms into an amazing tablet. I am just a bit worried about the so called screen cracking issue which I have seen on a few videos here on UA-cam. I just hope that isn't a norm with the Surface Book. I do take care of my devices really well so i just hope my laptop survives at least 6-7 years like my last one did(still going strong actually 😂). Othet than this screen breaking issue I dint find any other thing to be worried about. Hope my decision of buying this device is the right one *fingers crossed*. Anyone reading this - Have a good day and a great life ahead 😁
I've heard of the screen cracking videos, but the matter is, we don't know for sure the conditions that they occurred under... If you watch the whole series, I document how this laptop was treated and it was moved and even stepped on once without any damage. But I'm in a sample size of one, in the same breath, I'm also a daily user for over 2.5 years. Be sure to get a Warranty from Microsoft. One repair of any kind is more than what you'll pay. Protect your investment.
@@LaptopRetrospective Hey you replied! And that too so promptly. Thank you! Yes I did opt for the warranty as seeing so many videos convinced me that it's better safe than to be sorry. Thank again, have an awesome day ahead and I wish you all the best in life. Btw Subscribed 😁
@@LaptopRetrospective Got my Surface Book 2 yesterday. It is all that I could dream of and more. Thanks to your video I could make that choice. Keep up with the great content. Cheers and love from India 😁🙏🏻
Thank you for your review! I have been following your videos on SB2 over the years, esply before I bought SB2. Mine is a basic SB2 (13.5 inches, 8gb, 256gb). May I ask if you have faced any battery issues like battery draining (7-12%) after shutting down for about 24 hours?
Laptop Retrospective oh I didn’t know that, even after combing thru all the internet posts. My battery reports didn’t state the cause of the drain too haha. Thanks for the advice!
I got mine a month ago, but I have many concerns regarding durability and accessories I should get? Pen tips, would y recommend a skin? And would it affect the color if i removed it?
Just got my SB 2 today. Massively discounted due to the SB 3 coming out. 15inch, 16gb ram, 500gb ssd, 1060 and a Pen all for £1400. Pretty happy with that.
How is the software doing so far though (Windows 10 on the SB2)? Because I remember having those errors when detaching the book and also the blue screen of death..
I love the surface book 2 but I had to sell it i cant use screen so glassy. I wish they. Make a matte finish one. I did put and antiglare one but is not the same. I really love it but what can I do.
Have you or anyone experienced a static/hissing sound coming from the speakers off and on? It's driving me crazy how I can't figure out why it's happening. My device is only 7 or 8 months old. I treat it like a baby.
If there's no warranty, go in eyes open that repairs of any kind will be VERY expensive. Do your homework for what Microsoft will charge to fix it in your area.
open the powershell in administrator mode and text the command below powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:\battery_report.html" You can see battery report in C:/.
Watching this video on my SB2 (2,5years old), while comparing to yours. 🤣🤣 Unfortunately, my 44watt just broken. Should I search for the 102watt? Or just 44watt? Can i use the 65watt? My SB2 is i5, 13,5inch.
I'd choose a Surface Pro 5 in every scenario over the Pro 4. The risk of the screen issue developing isn't worth it. Lots of information about the problem can be found online. "Surface Pro 4 screen issue" is a good search term.
I don’t know what to buy. Either buy the 15“ SB2 with GTX1060 And 256gb or the 13.5“ SB2 with GTX1050 innit? But 512gb Both have the same price of 2000€ Do you know what to do?
@@LaptopRetrospective it is actually brand new and still under warranty. I got replaced device (refurbished) from Microsoft and it had issues . Now I am requesting 2nd replacement which technically means my purchase of $1600 was a big mistake and it won't last after warranty expires.
I guess time will tell. What isn't working? If you're unhappy with it I'd suggest selling it after you get your next replacement if you're not confident it will last. Can't say I've had anything close to a warranty issue.
I do have as well the SB2, so I'm asking you.... How do you feel about the NVIDIA Graphic driver?? I felt like: Microsof... Got my money, and then they drop the product as the driver is not updatable. It is on 391.40 the actual SB2 Nvidia Driver, and it is more than 1 year old. No way to update on nvidia website. Pls include this problem as well.
Microsoft has nothing to do with Nvidia drivers, you download them from Nvidias website. Edit: Doesn't normal driver for gtx 1050/1060 work? (Don't use automatic detection)
@@happygiraffe9787 If you own a SB2 you should know, that you can not instal nvidia drivers straight from they website. THOSE DRIVERS ARE MICROSOFT PROPRIETARY, IF YOU INSTAL NVIDIA DRIVERS YOU MESS UP YOUR SB2. that's it, hope you understand what I wrote.
I've been running into severe problems with video editing lately. Since the last updates for Adobe and windows. I can't add a simple transition like a cross zoom or fade without rendering times taking extremely long. And like I said it's a new problem that I never had before as I've been using it consistently. I have the 13 inch model with 16 GB ram 512. Any ideas how I can fix this
@@LaptopRetrospective thanks for the quick response! It seems I have a problem where the cpu usage is extremely high off regular functions/editing. It seems I have the latest firmware update and it's not just with Adobe but I also tried filmora and the same thing!!! Thanks again! Love your channel and definitely have a new subscriber
Any ideas would help as the Microsoft store didn't offer much help. I hope I don't have to reset it but I'm weary it may have been a windows update that caused this
Your initial reviews have been what’s gotten me to buy the Surface Book 2, so I’ve been using it for a while. Recently, I’ve been having issues of the CPU throttling down to 0.4ghz, which makes the laptop so slow and laggy. Any thoughts on this? Keep up the great reviews!
You need to run WIndows Update and get both Windows 10 and your firmware updated. They fixed this problem a while back. It was absolutely horrific and was rendering the thing practically unusable for all but the lightest of tasks. Felt like a new machine once I updated everything after they put the fix out!
Can you attempt to see if they'll send you one for a trial thing just for your channel so you can review it and send it back? Just a possibility that might be good that I've seen some other channels do on expensive things they can't afford.
Very good review and unbiased I absolutely love my SB2. Only problem im getting yellow spots on the display when charging. But I heard customer service is excellent from MS. One of the reasons that made me buy this over another laptop
@@LaptopRetrospective yeah definitely will try to get it replaced. Currently it only appears when charging and the tablet gets hot at the bottom. That's kinda hard to show to the customer service
i also have surface book 2, its the perfect device for me. a couple of days ago it just randomly died on me, does not turn on, the keyboard just blinks then nothing. no screen response even if i long press the power button. the eject works fine though.
i just got my SB2 today. first impressions are excellent. got the 16gb 1TB SSD, i7 version of the 13.5". Second hand from an electronics store, mint condition, still with original packaging and a 2 year warranty. Couldn't be any happier as i got it for 1/3 of the retail price.
Sorry for the boast, but i am late to the party. i hope the SB3 is even better, but i wouldn't be able to afford one at the expected RRP.
Boast away, you did well!
Connor Traynor wow how much did you exactly pay bc im in the market to get one of these. Would I get a better one at a second hand electronic store, eBay?
New prices are down due to the SB 3.
How much did you pay for your SB2?
i just bought mine, same specs but with the 512 gb ssd, for 600 bucks...
I bought Surface Book 2 while working as a graphic designer. This laptop made me truly mobile. It enabled me to travel and still comfortably work with GPU heavy apps, draw in 10k resolution and play games. My best investment. Not recommended for people who don't have a need for the stylus.
Yep, not a device for everyone and I think a lot of people were drawn to it because of how different it was, not because they actually needed what it did.
It is the best laptop I will probably ever own. It has and is still helping me finish my cpet degree with every tool I need. Its the only laptop I could confidently go through a full school day without needing to even bring my charger. It still runs like new a year and a half later.
That's awesome to hear.
Awesome! I bought same time as you have followed all your surface book videos thank you for doing these throughout the past 2 years.
Thanks for coming along on your journey with me. 😁
@@LaptopRetrospective same! this has been a heck of i ride. I just subscribed!
@@jaki505 Thanks for the support Jacob!
Me too, I had a good experience too.
Thank you for the 2 years of reviews. You've helped me decide to get this laptop. I was worried about the graphics card not showing up but I haven't had a problem ever.
You're welcome!
I think if you stick with the 391.40 driver provided by Microsoft, it all works. But if you need to update your nvidia driver to use anything that requires update driver, you are basically left alone. As the driver in SB2 is Microsoft proprietary.
Features I’d like to see in the new surface book 3 are:
-A kick stand
-To use the keyboard even detached from the top via Bluetooth
-A larger trackpad
Sounds good to me.
I'd like a bigger battery for the tablet portion.
Question, will the SB 3 use the surface pro x pen?
kristoff me too but I think anything bigger than the current size would make it even more heavier and it’s pretty heavy for the tablet portion. Also I don’t really know about the new pen tho they haven’t announced anything yet.
@@hemlimchhay288 Yep, all discussion and speculation for now.
I heard that graphite batteries are turning into a thing. But idk if microsoft will be doing that anytime soon.
I have been using it too for two years, and it has been used in everyway possible and has been admired by everyone.... specially when you detach it , it is a beauty 💕
Yep, it's an awesome device for those that utilize it.
Anvay Jain What is your primary use case? Which apps etc?
Watching this on my Surface Book 2.
Nice!
I’m in love with my SB2 13.5”, especially for its amazing display, perfect for watching movies and consuming content, also it looks very attractive and feels good too
It's a jack of all trades.
I bought the original book in December of 15 and used it pretty heavily. It finally gave up on me almost 4 years to the day. Sadly, while I was toying with buying a modern device rumors of the 3 were becoming more prevalent. Microsoft was kind enough to let me buy a new (or refurbished) of the same model for $600. I'm toying again with using it until it dies again.
Just sold off my SB 2. Had a bunch of connector issues, where the keyboard and trackpad were very inconsistent - had it for two years. It worked well but to me was not worth the cost
Fair, it is an expensive device, no doubt.
That's a very good video, it shows how really this PC last in years. Now I would like to change my pc with the Surface Book 3 13 inches. The only big question that I have for you is: did you miss or fell unable to do certain tasks without a thunderbolt 3?
I never had the need for it. TB3 gives you super fast transfer rates, high res displays and eGPU's. I don't need the last once since I have a dGPU, I work on the cloud so storage isn't a factor and rarely get the chance to sit down long enough to use an external display to the point where it matters to me. As for the security side of things, we are learning more every day and seems like it will be a while before we know everything there is to know about Thunderspy.
I love my SB2, but the function key is horrible, the weird behaviour is what keeps me from recommending this device
Also the audio jack on the top of the screen makes pluggin in a headphone a ridiculous experience.
Didn't have any issues with the function key but you might use more than I do. Regarding headphones, it's not the best, but using Bluetooth sets or a USB C to 3.5mm jack are good alternatives.
I watched your videos two years ago before i bought myself a Surface Book 2 15"👍
Thanks for watching. Hope they helped.
Hi, just ordered the sb3 without Microsoft Complete Protection package... But the order comes with a standard 1 year limited warranty. I've been seeing you always recommending to get it with warranty coverage which is Microsoft Complete Protection package which costs a bomb ($200+) for just one extra year. Did you experience alot of hardware issues/defects on your sb2 that made the warranty worth?
Have kinda watch most of your sb2 reviews and you were a big influence to my order! Thanks
Hey Calven. I've never had to use my warranty, but here's the thing. There is a flat rate of $600CDN for any repairs outside of warranty. 3 years of warranty was $300 or $100 a year here. It's insurance protecting your investment. You might never use it, but if you have to use it once, it's cheaper than a repair.
I been using the surface book 2 for 2 years now too (15 inch with GTX 1060), I mainly got it for work since I used to use both a laptop and a tablet. When I bought it felt like a beefy laptop that can do everything smoothly. It turned out to be a jack of all trades. a very expensive one. and I love it for the most part.
If they go for a surface book 3, I really hope they add USB ports to the "tablet" side. and maybe included 2 audio jacks, one on the display and one on the keyboard bass (Or lower the audio jack so it's not awkwardly coming out from the top side). as far as specs go, I am happy with the current spec for a laptop, finding a reason to upgrade to surface book 3 would be hard.
I think there are a few incremental things that can be done, but we will have to wait and see what they do next.
@@LaptopRetrospective and they still added the ridiculously located audio jack which I need very much on the same absurd location !!! they build something so good like the Mona Lisa and then sprinkle all over it !
It really depends how you use the device. I'm not really bothered by it.
@@LaptopRetrospective how so how? audio you either use bluetooth or audio jack. I use both. I need the jack for when my earphones have low or no battery or when I don't feel like using it. the jack is very important and useful and convenient. what on earth its the 3rd iteration of the sb and they still placed it up there ! have microsoft engineers used the SB with an audio jack and seen that absurd and uncomfortable wire situation ? this small thing , added with the lack of sd card and hdmi ports, are what's making me search for alternatives , Lenovo, etc because I seem to love almost everything about the SB except the ports and jack situation...
If you use the tablet for audio, it's position makes a lot more sense because you always have access. I also have long cables so it never got in the way. SB2 and I believe 3 have an SD card slot and HDMI is easily adapted from the USB C port.
Love my SB2 (1st Gen). The magnesium alloy on top of the hinge where it touches the table gets a lot of wear, although I understand it is a necessary sacrifice for the structure of the hinge.
My hinge is wearing ok. Might be due to the Toast skin.
Thanks for the review! Which of the following do you think is better?
1) surface book 2 15", 8th gen i7 16g ram, 256g storage , 1060 graphics
2) surface book 3 13.5" 10th gen i7, 16gb ram, 256g storage, 1650 graphics
Personal preference will decide. Do you need the larger or smaller machine? I found a 15 inch tablet unwieldy. Do you need the newer CPU and GPU?
Well I'm currently using a surface go which is 10". Not sure if I will be used to a 15" which is a big jump but screen size doesn't bother me that much. It's more of the CPU vs GPU like you mentioned.
Just 2 concerns i have for choosing between surface book 2 15" or 3 13.5" given that price range is pretty similar with the above specs:
1) Which will be better/smoother for video editing purpose.
2) Which surface book will i be able to keep them for as long as possible (durability). Not going to be any intense usage of the laptop like gaming. Just some work and light video editing.
1 last question: Is there much difference in graphics between Geforce 1060 and 1660?
Thanks for the reply by the way!
I suspect the stronger CPU and GPU will give better editing results. The 3 will have the longer warranty available imagine and this is a machine that you should get one for since any repair will be more than the cost of it. Lastly I don't have GPU data for those two on hand but it is easily accessible online.
Cool thanks for the insight!
You're most welcome.
You got to pump those numbers up... My 3.5 years old Surface Book has over 800 cycles already.. the battery life has had a few issues over the years and the wear can be felt from time to time with unexpected drops in percentage... (I.E. suddenly jumping from 75% to 60%)... a couple of calibrations sort of fixes this... and the combined capacity of mine sits at about 55Wh... so it's down to about 80% of its original capacity.
In my opinion, this is still acceptable because it is near what Apple guaranteed on their Macs (80% at around 1000 cycles), and being able to play around 6~630 hours of UA-cam is still very good after all these years... Certainly better than what my previous devices provide and lasted.
Thanks for sharing your experience. What calibration steps did you take?
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks for replying, I let it drain to critical status and completely charge a couple of times... I also made a graph of my battery degradation over the years here:
drive.google.com/open?id=1zxgmDDtwNIwUMiWdtAezBx2Ejs7etDEj
I had spikes which indicates a low capacity and weird behavior a few times.
That's awesome, really appreciate you for sharing it.
WOW...your review method is brilliant and really AWESOME!! I pulled the trigger on the 15", i7, 512gb, GTX1060 model because of your videos. I purchased mine April of 2019. Just like you have said, the machine is well worth the investment. This is the longest I have had a laptop, period. I am a systems architect and content creator. I own a very powerful gaming rig and the sb2, but I use the sb2 for all of my work, which is architecture design, photo, video editing and software development . You hit the nail on the head with the consideration of the sb 3 upgrade. My only consideration for the sb3 would be a move from 16 gb to 32 gb. I would be willing to upgrade if that was a new option.
Thanks for the kind words Stanley and I'm glad your Surface Book 2 had served you well so far. I'm curious to know what the future holds for this line as well.
For light computing it is fine, but as soon as you start doing some heavy number crunching or multitasking it can get choppy and slow. This is because the CPU on the 13" is passively cooled. I use an external USB fan blowing on the back of the display to improve performance when multitasking. This also means you can't keep the laptop closed when using an external monitor since CPU cooling via the front of the display is also impaired and affects performance. The GPU in the base has a cooling fan and works fine.
Except for the cooling it has been an excellent laptop.
The vertical dock I have does a good job by blowing air in between the two halves.
My SB2 just arrived today! I'm loving it so far and your video amped me up even more. How much gaming did you do on yours? My worry is that excessive gaming will run it down too quickly. I'm trying to be careful with it to keep it going as long as possible.
I've got a desktop that I use as my primary game machine. I'd game on it but semi frequently as I mostly use this as my work computer.
Firstly, thanks for an excellent series of reviews on the Surface Book 2. I generally dislike video reviews as they're often more self-promotion than review, but your review style is genuinely helpful.
I've got an original Surface Book 13.5, and have had it in a UAG Plasma case on it since new. It's obviously lasted fine over the years. I've not got any wear/tear around the trackpad or keyboard, which is the only bit of it uncovered. I wear a watch and ring, but even those haven't inflicted any damage.
With the Surface Book 3 realease, I've ordered one. i7/32GB/1TB/1660ti model...
I'm looking at a ToastMade leather skin for it, but notice that your machine has lost the hinge portion of the skin? The adhesive holding that in place looks like a fairly thin strip. Did you remove it on purpose, or did that hinge skin just not survive use?
I've done a few videos on the ToastMade skin and they have/had put on their website that their design for the hinge cover doesn't handle heat well. I could never get it to stay, so I removed it. If you check out the lift design you'll see why.
Hey thanks for the vid. Very informative and helped me with my decision. I bought SB2 base model today since it was on a good discount after SB3 was announced. Cant wait to receive it next week. Would like to get your advice if you recommend adding on the Microsoft Complete? Its pretty expensive (roughly 20% of the overall device cost), but I am on the fence if I should, given that it also covers accidental damage. Cheers!
I'd get it. Remember any repair will be more than the warranty.
I debate taking advantage of the Surface book 2's great deals...or wait for the newest Book 3 set to release in the Spring
I'd wait either way as it will cover the SB2 price down.
Nick S I’ve debated the same but I have heard that plenty of SB2 users have had their screen crack from just shutting their laptop normally. (you can find a ton of reviews saying this) There obviously is a design flaw. I’d recommend waiting. The current prices are probably as good as they are because of this issue.
@@dpfutbol Again, lots of review are often generated from a smaller source. If it was a known problem, the amount of time I've used my device I feel my odds are high of finding such things.
I mean i have had my surface pro 4 since day one and its still basically new. The battery is the only thing which is defiantly degrading (2-4 hours max if that), the charger is also finished and the keyboard only has wear (colour change from my hands) at the bottom (both of which can be replaced).
True facts, nothing is forever but it has to last in the now and get the job done.
Not going to lie. I was tempted to get the Surface Book 3 on Black Friday, but decided against it. I have the Surface Book 2 with i7/16gb/1t/1060/15inch. I'm not going to get much return unless I get another maxed one. I don't game, nor do I do any 4k video editing. Since mine is still in new like condition, I'm just going to keep enjoying it!
Sounds like the best move to make.
Which software did you use to get the remaining specs for the battery?
Powercfg in Windows.
I bought the surface book 2 after the last beefy laptop from MSi I had(Apache Pro GE) died bc the screen connection via the hinge degraded in its terrible plastic shell. I also needed a laptop I could take notes on that wasn’t bigger than the desks in my college lecture halls. Great investment. Has lasted longer than any laptop I’ve bought and most of my friends that went with the 3 grand MacBook equivalent ($1k more than SB2 at the time) have had issues. I’m a professional video editor that uses the full Adobe suite with all the bells and whistles and fancy plugins in After Effects and there’s nothing I threw at the SB2 in my projects that it couldn’t handle. I’ve even been able to edit projects on cramped airplanes with just my pen and flipping the display over (I follow teams across the country and have to edit on the go often) And when I am fortunate enough to edit at a proper workstation, I can edit in native 4K with an external monitor at 60Hz no problem. Best desktop, laptop, tablet I have ever bought hands down. The engineering has made it pretty much indestructible over the test of time (even as the hardware becomes dated!)
That's awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Great review! Just pre-ordered the SB3 and looking for confirmation whether I am doing the right thing. Use my laptops for four years and am switching from a Thinkpad.
The Surface Book line is unlike any other. If you use the unique features only it provides then you'll be happy I think.
@@LaptopRetrospective That is true! I have been using the 360 degree of hinge of the Thinkpad X1 Yoga every day. The SB takes that idea to the next level.
Yep.
What do you think about which one is more worthy between Surface Book 3 15'', core i7, 16 G, 256 for AU$3,330 vs Surface Book 2 15'', core i7, 16 GB, 1TB for AU$3,492?
You're not upgrading the storage, so if you want 1TB you best buy it now. Also, do those prices include warranty coverage?
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks for your insight. The Surface Book 2 are on sale for 28% whereas the Surface Book 3 I am eligible for student discount (10%). The prices include 1 year warranty if I want 2 years I need to pay extra.
@@LaptopRetrospective Or should I just go for Surface Book 2 13.3 inch i7, 256 for AU$2,699.10
or i5, 256 for AU$1,820.77 to save some money for other stuff. Sorry for asking so many questions.
You'll want the extra years. Repairs will only go up as the device ages.
Apparently a ton of Surface Book 2 users’ screen cracked from normal use because of the way the laptop closes. I really wanted to purchase the Surface Book 2 but didn’t because of this issue. Hopefully the Surface Book team have fixed this design flaw for the SB3.
More myth than actual fact. If it were otherwise my device should be destroyed. This device isn't a ThinkPad, can't treat it the same.
@TheRealBandito I'm not entirely sure as we've yet to see this happen and filmed. If you closed it hard, then that's another matter.
TheRealBandito i don’t know why you’re talking about the hinge. I just mean that I have read and seen video reviews of people shutting their SB2 overnight and then waking up to find the screen cracked. I don’t think people are slamming it shut either. Some may have picked it up closed on the side where the glass meets the base (not hinge side) and that pressure may have been enough to weaken the glass and break it.
TheRealBandito that makes sense. some people probably had this issue. Most that I heard of were at the top of the screen near the camera
@Sonymnms 52 I think I've seen one plausible case of this happening and we still aren't entirely sure what conditions it needed to occur.
I love mine, I find that I use tablet Mode best when I attach it backwards
Yeah that would be a good way to use it. Slight tilt, access to both batteries, the ports, etc.
In you opinion what is a good price to pay for a second hand Surface book 2 , i5-8350u , 8gb , 128gb, no graphics version?
I've seen similar units go for $500-650 CDN from refurbish businesses. Regional pricing varies of course.
I’m currently considering getting either the SB2 or the surface pro 7. All in all, I like the SB 2 more but I’m just concerned that it’s a much older model while the pro 7 has just been launched a few months ago. I’ve noticed SB2 uses the 7th gen intel processor while the pro 7 uses 10th gen. And SB2 is at around 1800mhz while pro 7 is double the speed.
I’ve went to the Microsoft stores and they tell me the difference isn’t really noticeable unless I’m doing heavier work like video editing but I’m still skeptical. Should I still get the SB2 over the pro 7? Or maybe another option would be to wait till SB3 is out but I feel like it wouldn’t be launched in the very near future but I really want to get a new laptop soon. Thanks!
Rumours were a SB3 this year, but with the virus it is hard to say now. The SB2 is 8th Gen. I'd say if you're having troubles, I'd base it on the keyboard configuration and battery life/location.
@@lionelcooper7251 That's a real possibility.
Used it for a year, edges of display slowly turned orange/yellow (like the edges were burning). Looked up the issue online and many many people experienced the same thing, and some people even got swollen display batteries. All on Microsoft's forums.... Microsoft did nothing, asked for over 600$ for a reconditioned device replacement.... Literally happened a few days after warranty was over.
PC is good, but Microsoft's lack of customer support and lack of repairability is just ridiculous, for the price.
Just beware.
Strange, must have been a production batch issue. Haven't heard anything about swollen batteries outside that one generation of the Surface Pro. Glad I have one more year of warranty all the same.
@@LaptopRetrospective Yeah, would've been great if they aknowledged it for the many people who experienced the issue. It's a shame because it was a great laptop! But now it's just sitting in my room...
Yeah definitely, nobody wants that to happen. $600 does seem a bit high for servicing, the problem is you pretty much have to risk breaking the display to open it anyway, so depending on the repair, it's either a bargain or too expensive depending on the component being serviced.
@@LaptopRetrospective Yeah, was definitely not made to be opened/repaired! Too bad cause it was a great year playing around with it!
Mine has yellow botches too
Nice
What's the speed of the SSD, is it above 1000 or 2000 MB/s or.....
The decrease in battery capacity overall should be additive (top + bottom decline values) not averaged as if you only cycled through the bottom part's battery, you would expect there to be greater than 15% battery decline.
Interesting point. I suppose we also need to consider that both batteries are not a similar capacity and you'd likely want the larger to wear a bit more before the smaller one as you'd notice it faster.
So how much percentage do you use it as a tablet, would of it been better to buy a surface laptop instead?
I use the tablet on a semi regular basis. That and the Surface Laptop available at the time was no where near as good as the one now and still not as powerful.
Hello there, I love your videos and
I have a question please help me with it, will the laptop suits my needs or not.
I am planning on buying the surface book 2 for work and personal usage (13"/ i5 /8 GB RAM).
I will be working on it for 11 to 12 hours daily (7 days a week) on heavy word documentations, excel and web browsing activities (I am a system analyst, and will watch Netflix on it too using the tablet option)
Should I worry about thermal issues and CPU throttling during the use for 3-4 years, since I will be using it for a long time on a daily basis.
Your use probably won't throttle it. Keep in mind the battery in the tablet is small since most of the computer is stuffed in there as well. If all your going to use the tablet for is watching movies then there might be more cost effective combinations of devices.
Hi, new to the channel. I am currently planning on buying a SB2, as I recently switched over to Aerospace Engineering for my major and my HP Envy 360 started bugging out whenever I run CAD software. I need some advice on whether to buy the 13.5" or the 15" I'm willing to pay the extra to get the 512 GB of storage either way.
The key is that this will simultaneously be my home desktop and my do everything for school (notes, online homework, CAD, MATLAB).
Here's what my requirements are to run, at minimum.
SolidWorks
MATLAB
Python
NX (That's my CAD software for work which I would like to become proficient in).
Also, I have a duel monitor set up currently, so I was wondering how well the surface book would work if I'm trying to take notes on the tablet portion, while simultaneously running other code in the background on the other screens? Does it handle two extra monitors well?
Guy, probably sounds like a weird question but does OneNote work really well with it. It gliches a tone on my HP but I was hoping a Microsoft device would be better with the native app.
Any help would be really appreciated!!!
OneNote is a dream. It can drive two extra displays but nothing crazy like 4k. If you're new to the channel, check out my videos on the Vertical Dock. It's a great setup. Both sizes have the same CPU configuration, so it comes down to size, dGPU options and how much cooling you need. Hope that helps. Again we also dict know what the future holds either.
Depending on what you're doing in CAD, a dedicated GPU can make a difference, 3D rendering of a complex model especially.
@@coder0xff Thanks for chipping in Brent.
Thanks for the help! I just tested the two in store. In my opinion having a smaller version doesn't make difference after testing them. And that point about rendering is a very helpful point as well since I hope to do a little on my own. Thanks for the help!!!
@@peterkeil6557 Awesome, glad you had the chance to try it out.
great video . I am getting one for a steal , will you recommend this in 2020
If you're getting a good price, why not? How good we talking?
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks i got it . I paid 1300 for 15 inch 512gb 16 gb ram + 6 gb vram . I hope the price is good .
Between its a brand new machine, 50 cycles for battery . Love it .
I just got the 1st gen i7 and at first charge..... well it didnt charge but after that it's been charging. When I adjust the screen back a forward I get pop ups, if I want to switch to tablet mode. Other than that I havent had any problems. I wanted the 2and gen but it was way to expensive for me and so far I'm pretty happy with it. Might save up for the next gen. Great review too!!
Sounds like the first gen has a connection issue.
@@LaptopRetrospective seems that way. I'm going to look up and see if I can change the setting manually instead of it notifying me when even it thinks it's being unplugged but I haven't had any other problems even with it charging the battery now. I think it's still a great buy for the price I got it for. I just got it so let see how it holds up for it's age.
Features I'd like to see on the surface book 3
-A kick stand to use it in tablet mode on its own
-Thunderbolt 3 (please microsoft)
-Wifi 6
-10th Gen Intel or Ryzen mobile
(Edit)- Easier upgradibility, it scored a 1 out of 10 on ifixit's taredown. It would be nice to upgrade the SSD (especially with the prices for more storage) or Ram sometime down the line.
-Better graphics cards. 2060 MaxQ or something along those lines (Easier said then done, I know). Something you can take home and do some light gaming.
To be fair, light gaming is easily done now. We will see about upgrading, it would need to get thicker for that.
The Surface Book 3 15" is rumoured to come with the GTX 1660 as the baseline model and also the Quadro RTX 3000 on the higher end (Which is just the RTX 2060 but Quadro branded) While the 13" model is getting a upgrade to the GTX 1650, however some Surface book 3 models may include Tiger Lake chips inside from Intel (According to rumours)
It would be interesting to see how these machines perform :)
@@epickryton8119 Yep, all we can do is wait and see.
I am thinking about trying to learn coding. I have a Mac from 2014. I have always used apple. But I’m really trying to open my mind new ways of learning. Is Mac good for learning to Code and everyday use? Or would Microsoft be better?
Answered your comment on the other video. 😉
Features I would love:
1. Better integrated speakers (compared to MacBook aren’t that great), maybe with additional speakers under the keyboard
2. Larger and less loud trackpad
3. Slimmer display borders
4. Better IO with at least 2 thunderbolt 3 ports
I agree on the I/O but the thick boarder helps hold the tablet without touching the screen and registering a touch.
Laptop Retrospective I guess this is something that can be handled with software (see iPad Pro), but except for that the big limit is definitely the I/O. I would further add the fact that external monitors can run only via the iGPU and not the dGPU. The combination of poor I/O and bad GPUs management make impossible to have two 4K @ 60Hz monitors, which for a pro-device like the SB2, targeting pro-users, might be a big issue
Looking to pick up an SB2 given the price drop for about 1200, for that getting 13.5” 8th gen i5, 256, 8gig RAM. I’m a law student so I’m hoping having the tablet feature will make doing my reading more convenient (and actually encourage me to do it....) and it’ll be used mostly for workflow stuff documentation, research, reading, etc. Should I be worried about the “outdated” processor/speed issues? My mother actually has a SB2 for nearly a year and a half and it’s the only piece of tech she’s ever truly loved besides her iPhone. Opinion cross shopping with a similarly priced MacBook option?
MacBooks are hard for me to recommend these days since they have remained expensive, their keyboards put a sour taste in my mouth, even when they do work. So long as you are able to score an 8th gen version and not the 7th gen one they had for a while, I think you will be happy. I still enjoy my SB2 and feel it does everything I need.
What if I want to buy the Surface Book 1 with 16GB RAM and Core i7. Would you recommend it? I have a budget of US$1,000.
Can't say I would. The 1 had since teething problems and you wouldn't have a warranty available if something went wrong.
@@LaptopRetrospective What do you mean by teething problems? I listed my issues in previous post but I don't understand what you mean here. The early software bugs were addressed in 2016. Otherwise my Surface Book 1 is a great device. Still working great with 80% of its battery life. (i7 / 512GB / 16GB / dGPU)
I work with SolidWorks 2017 (this version needs the dGPU otherwise it crashes) and the performance is great. I also use Sketchbook for sketch and designs, PowerPoint, GIMP, SketchUp. For entertainment I can play older games at 720p-900p-1080p reasonably well... lower res (720p) for titles such as Resident Evil 7, Helblase Senua's Sacrifice, Alien Isolation, etc... higher res for simpler games.
By the way I also wouldn't recommend you to get a Surface Book Gen1 today, because at that price you can get the SB2 maybe with 256GB instead of 512GB... but it would be a much better purchase... HOWEVER the Surface Book 1 is still a great device for me and considering that mine is not as well preserve, I would probably sell it for 800$... but I am not selling it just yet.
I'm still using my SB2 and I still love it!!
Awesome. I'm using mine now to transfer some files.
Were can I find (or what app do you use) to report your battery status as shown on your video ?
It's a Windows command prompt command. I'll find it for you later but you can probably Google it faster.
in cmd you prompt powercfg /batteryreport and then find generated file :)
@@Kecajaloj Thank you sir!
Do you find the 13.5” screen too small? Would you have gone with the 15” model?
I actually did a video back in the day on this very topic. ua-cam.com/video/n9rMrQVA4M0/v-deo.html
In short, I don't think I'll ever get another 15 inch laptop ever again.
@@LaptopRetrospective i think the 12"-13" is perfect for pro work and tablet use. any bigger nope.
Awesome Nobody makes this Kind of Reviews . My father also has a Surface Book 2 and he is really happy with it. top Quality and Design.
Thanks for the kind words Mauricio. I'm glad to hear he is enjoying it.
Can you tell me the latest firmware you are running? as well as windows update? I'm having trouble with my windows update for my sb2
What trouble are you having exactly?
@@LaptopRetrospective trying to update my windows 10, version 1909 gave me an error, I updated my firmware, I also have problems with base battery not charging and gpu not being recognized in device manager
Version here is 20H2, 19042.662 I'm running Insider builds. Sounds like a firmware update would be wise.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks! i'll give it a try, does your nvidia gpu disconnect from device manager at all?
Way back it did. Firmware updates have been a known fix.
Is it worth getting Surface Book 2 15" i7, 16GB RAM and GTX1060 with almost 2 years of warranty for about 1200$. Or buy a new gen Lenovo or HP 2in1 Laptop for about the same price ?
Totally depends on which form factor you prefer I think. If a newer CPU is king then that is also a factor to consider. Which other models were you looking at?
@@LaptopRetrospective HP Envy x360 with Ryzen 7, Lenovo Thinkbook 14s yoga, Lenovo Yoga 7i, Asus Zenbook Flip.
Those Ryzen 7's are beasts. They will give you better performance so long as the chassis can keep them cool.
@@LaptopRetrospective Yeah, the thing is that I have desktop PC for though work, and this is just for work on the go and the versatility of 2in1. Thats why maybe those high end specs would be an overkill and I am still thinking about the SB2 .
The Surface Book 2 is not really the same kind of 2 in 1 experience as the others though. They have touch screens and have a tablet like mode but that's where the similarities end really. There is nothing like a Surface Book. That could be good or bad. It depends on what is the most important thing to you.
First of all, thank you for all these amazing reviews you're doing! I did my research and came to the conclusion that I still like the thing very much even in 2020 and it would be powerful enough to help me out for a few years I think. I found a great deal for a secondhand SB2 i7 15 inch 16gb ram 512 ssd for around $1400. Would you recommend me still to go for it? And oh yeah, my budget is indeed around $1500 dollars as a student so waiting on the SB3 is not a real possibility I think. It's more that I wonder if should go for a newer convertable or just go ahead for the SB2? What would you say?
ThinkPad convertible or that uses Surface Book 2. Give it a good once over. Anything odd then walk away. Repairs outside of warranty would be expensive.
@@LaptopRetrospective I think I'll walk away unfortunately. It suffers from image retention. Seems like a common problem after a quick look on the internet. Do you recognize this issue or now a solution? No insurance left.
@@joostbakker Not entirely sure what you mean by image retention but I have no issues to report. But if it has a problem, walk away.
@@LaptopRetrospective I will. Hmm, you could google it. I'll look into Thinkpad's as well
joost bakker you should give the dell XPS 2-in-1 a look although a bit expensive it’s one of the best convertibles out there right next to the thinkpad and HP Spectre. Those usually goes on sale for discounted prices especially the thinkpad.
I have the first surface book since the very beginning. I am still very pleased.
But time definately have shown its signs.... the connection between Keyboard and Tablet portion got fairly insecure. Mechanically it seems to be like on the first day, no backlash or anything but when i rattle on the screen the keyboard disconnect and reconnect. other flaw that i am experiancing is that the surface connect port got like worn out. When i plug the book to power i am sometimes getting flickering light and it is changing between charging and not charging. The battery starts to loose a lot of running time. i got to about 3-4 hours depending on the workload. however these things are no big concern, cause i used bit basically as a device both at home and while my engineering degree. So it has a good 4 years of straight 16hrs/day use and has not had any major issue in the whole time. What i was surprized though was, that i had a lot of trouble with bootloops which i find kind of funny because it is the same hardware and software company.
I am very eagerly awaiting the Surfacebook 3. What i am really would be looking for is a Thunderbolt 3 port. Rumors where, that this was not possible due to not enough PCIe Lanes -> The connection between Keyboard and Tablet seems to be a PCIe lane. Even if the thunderbolt will be in the tablet portion and some ports like usb on the base will be deactivated i really hope for thunderbolt 3 to build a thunderbolt homestation including an external graphics card.
Time will tell on the Surface Book 3 but I've got my fingers crossed along with you.
Interesting, I've had my SB2 for a year and a half now. I've only had about 350 charge cycles, yet my battery has diminished to 11Wh for the tablet and 43Wh for the base. How often do you have your SB2 connected to a charger compared to on the go?
I'd say so far maybe 60/40 on the go vs the charger.
@@LaptopRetrospective I'd say about the same for myself, It's quite interesting that we get such different results :/
I appreciate the review, I have a like new SB2 i7 16GB 1TB on order for much less than the retail price. I want to use it as an all purpose laptop for light gaming, digital art, media consumption, music production, etc. Seems like this is one of the only devices that should be capable of all that (the i7 version anyway with the GTX 1050 in the base).
It's a great all around machine. A good deal just makes it sweeter.
What exactly price you got it for and from where as well?
I replaced my 5 year old Surface Pro 3 with a book 2 during the Christmas holiday. A laptop computer lasting 5 plus years is testimate IMHO
as to how solid these things are. The reason I went for a replacement was because battery charging
was beginning to fail. Again after 5 years! This was not treating it lightly. Used for programming, excel, email and the web. I was able to purchase the book 2, 13.5" i7 16GB 512 from best buy for $1899. Never considered anything other than Microsoft's laptop products when shopping for a replacement. I have no doubt this one will last another 5!
I hope it serves you well!
I owned the 15" top spec machine and sold it. It was too big so I went back to my usual Surface Pro ownership. I barely ever used the tablet on its own as it was too big and didn't have its own kickstand. The lack of thunderbolt was a big minus. I also prefered the keyboard in the touch cover than on the SB2. Otherwise my device was a performance beast, able to play any game I installed. It was hard selling it because it really is a beautifully engineered device but it was too big for me. If I could, I'd probably go for the 13" model if I was to buy one again.
Size was a factor for me too, that is what led to my main decision on the 13 inch.
Did you have any issues with overheating? I tried 3 Surface Books 2 (15inch) over a year and a half and every single one of them had an issue with overheating when the CPU underclocked itself to 0,4Ghz (Power Limit Throttle). Also I had an issue that my SB2 just won't enter sleep mode no matter what (after closing the lid, pressing the power button, even using the start menu>sleep). Even after MS "fixed" this overheating issue I still had it so I replace the SB2 two times at the local retailer, they gave me brand new one each time and all of them had the same issues... :/
Firmware issue by the sounds of it. Another guy in the comments had the same issue and fixed it.
@@LaptopRetrospective Yea, I tried, I even undervolted the CPU and GPU but after replacing the SB2 2 times, still the same issue, even after the firmware update. Like it was working nice when there was like 24°C in the room but more than that and well... It is pretty much unusable :D
I am a student and I'm thinking about getting the SB2, but the choice is so hard between all these 2in1 devices and tablets. I definetly want something with a touchscreen so I can write by hand. Should I go for the SB2 or do you recommend any other device?
There are some ThinkPads that are awesome if you don't need the screen to detach.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks for the response! No, I don't need a detachable screen, I mean I'll take it if I can but I'm definetly not looking for it :D
Do you have any recommendation on which series to choose? I dont have any experience at all with ThinkPads and they have so many different series...
It will really come down to budget I suspect. Their Yoga line is convertible, their X1 Carbon line is thin and light, their X and T lines are powerhouses. Even getting an older gen is not a bad thing. But if you want to handwrite notes and such, that flat surface is a must.
@@LaptopRetrospective Do you recommend devices with an i3 and 128GB storage? Because they're the only ones I can find which are somewhat distant from the 1000$ mark.
Apparently there will be a sale in my area soon where you can get a SB2 for 1000$ (i5 and 256GB) so I'm wondering if the cheaper products are just fine for the next few years or if I should spend more money now (and hopefully once).
If the 600-700$ devices aren't that promising, then I think I'll just take the SB2. That 100$ I can save by buying a higher end Lenovo product for 900$ are negligible since they also seem to be still worse than a SB2 for a similar price (from my *inexperienced* POV, maybe they are just as good or even better. You have to teach me :D).
But if the "middle class" Lenovo products are just fine, I'll happily safe a few hundred bucks!
Shop around your local classifieds for some last generation ThinkPads, I think you'll be surprised on what is out there. Write down some models that interest you and read the reviews, watch some videos and begin to develop yourself a knowledge portfolio. That's what I did for months before deciding on buying the Surface Book 2. It can be a fair bit of work, but it is educational, rewarding and gives you greater peace of mind than any one suggestion someone can give you. :-D
The surfacebook 2 is an excellent laptop. I have retired min after 2 years and moved on to a X1 nano.
You've got good taste in machines. 😉
Thanks man, your surface book 2 videos were the reason I bought mine a year ago
You're welcome. Glad I was able to help.
Hi. What's the battery life you were getting before and what you are getting now?
I've only seen about 12-15% wear on the battery. It's been a while since I've ran it down since I'm not using it mobile as much anymore.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks
Have you had any problems, with the screen, some people report the blue screen, an auto cracked screen, and so on... Fans problems...?
Nope, none to report here.
@@LaptopRetrospective do you think is a bad purchase to get a 15inch, 16gb i7, nvidia gtx 1060, for a UX/UI, I'm currently using a surface pro 4, and I'm getting the flickering screen issue when I'm on heavy use (I can fix it but cleaning the fan and changing the thermo gel, that must be dry - happened to a MacBook air that I had) ... I had de chance to get a SB2 used (but in good condition - battery at 89%, checked) but Ive been hearing all this issues... -sorry if I exceed the limitations on this question.. 🙏🏻
No problem, I will do what I can to answer. The 15 inch machine is a biggie, keep that in mind. It also might be more computer than you need, but that will depend on your system requirements for your more demanding applications.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks! I've been cheking, because sometimes ou just use adobe After Effects, Protopie, adobe XD (or Lunacy), some photoshop and things like that, and hear that some times is nice to have more RAM, nice processor, and a video dedicated memory in case you start prototyping (in my case is when my surface pro 4 starts to fail hard)... But thanks, i'll have this SB2 in consideration, known that may be too much :D
Best of luck, hope you get something that works hard for you!
When will the Surface Book 3 come out? Because I am literally looking to buy one now.
We don't know, especially with the current situation. They've even closed retail stores.
May?
I use surface products in the construction industry so that I have access to plans at all times.
I'd like to see the ability to either completely flip the screen and keyboard or the ability to rotate the screen quickly without having to wait for the annoying detach (which is also nearly impossible to do whilst standing up. Whilst I could work with just the screen only, the battery in the keyboard is the lions share for the 'book' and I end up leaving the keyboard in all different places.
Also, the keyboard on all surface devices should work even when disconnected.
Yep, agreed.
Or get a Surface Pro :)
@@t0ddgreg0ry41 I prefer the surface book. Extended battery life, better keyboard. More I/O and no need for a kickstand.
@@t0ddgreg0ry41 and the screen size!
I have had several hardware issues with my original Surface Book which ironically has been very robust in other areas as well.. so it has been a bittersweet experience, but overall mostly sweet.
My issues have been:
- Original 60W charger had a faulty USB port that wouldn't charge my phone. Microsoft Store in Boston exchanged it for a 102W under warranty.
- Rubber feet unglued and I had to glue them back but even with super glue is a recurring issue, so I had to tape them with adhesive which looks horrible in a $2k device. Luckily I almost never expose the underside. Maybe I should have bought a Toast skin.
- The Ctrl key broke in half. This is a known issue, in fact my best friend also has a SB and he has a broken Ctrl key and the left Shift key as well... If you browse spare parts for it the regular keys cost a normal amount but the Ctrl and Shift key for Surface Book cost about 40$ which is insane. Hopefully this has been resolved for the SB3
On the positive side, the robustness experienced was the following:
- My Surface Book survived 3 or 4 drops from waist height, inside a simple ProCase bag (with not much padding) onto concrete, tile and other hard floors... every time it happened my heart skipped a beat and I think I might have caught it a couple of those drops with my foot dampening the fall, but still an amazing feat, and probably a lucky one as well.
- My wife accidentally spilled a full glass of water from the left side closed to the USB-A ports over the keyboard and over the dGPU card. I quickly detached the display which didn't get much water anyway, and flipped the keyboard upside down and let it drain as much water as I could. Then when I got home I place the keyboard on top of a dehumidifier all night long, and luckily it worked perfectly afterwards. My keyboard is fully functioning and the dGPU still performs great under graphic stress. The battery is worn but normal after 800 cycles.
I will upgrade to another Surface Book that's for sure
That's awesome, thanks for sharing your experiences with the original machine.
I'm on my 3rd SB2 in less than a year. I wish I had never bought it. The first one lasted around 3 months and then developed a fault which made it randomly disconnect the keyboard so it was unusable even though it was still attached. The connections between the keyboard and the screen basically just fell apart, so I returned it under warantee.
The 2nd unit arrived, but I could tell it was a "rework" not new replacement, so I loaded everything up ... takes about 3 hours to get everything back to where you want it. I noticed the battery had run out ... I charged and discharged several times but the battery would only last about 3 as compared to the 17 hours claimed.
I returned it, and complained bitterly to Microsoft that having purchased a "Rolls Royce" machine I didn't expect to be driving a Mini.
They sent my unit number 3, which was new - you could tell by the packaging.
The 3rd unit performs OK, but I don't disconnect the screen much as I am afraid I will damage the connectors again. The battery is now about 6 months old, and I am down to 6 hours of life max .... I have never got even close to 17 as claimed. Most achieved when new was around 9 hours.
A huge misrepresentation by MS in my view....
Would never buy another one.
Sorry to hear about your experience, where are you located for the record as stories like this sometimes end up in specific parts of the world. Can't say I've had any of the issues you've described.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thailand, but purchased from the official MS store
Have you not had the issue where tiny little bits of the grey "paint" (it's some kind of fancy coating) has come off, revealing the black magnesium beneath? It's a very common problem that I certainly have a bit of. Maybe check around the edges of the base just below the trackpad, the corners, that sort of thing - any tiny black marks there? Was surprised you didn't mention it in the video. It's just cosmetic of course, but a little disappointing for a device so expensive. I still love my Surface Book 2 though - don't think there's another device out there that would suit my use case so well.
No black specks anywhere. This is the first I've heard of it.
@@LaptopRetrospective Sounds like you got lucky! It's quite a common complaint. I've seen far worse examples than mine on the Surface subreddit before now. It's something to do with the process required to apply the coating - it has to be done at a low temperature as a result of using magnesium instead of aluminium, which works, but is prone to flaking when exposed to wear, tear, and sweat.
Another common complaint is the rubber feet/strips coming off the bottom of the base - the glue wears off after a certain amount of time (seems to be over a year and a half in general). Luckily this one is very easy to fix - just buy some strong glue intended for metals/plastics/etc and away you go). I just had to do this myself recently.
Sounds like none of this has happened to you yet - seems you hit the jackpot! However if it does, hopefully I've been some help in preparing you for it!
Thanks for covering the Surface Book 2 over the past couple of years. Your videos helped me make the decision to go for it, and despite the small issues I've encountered, I really have no regrets. It's a wonderful machine. Thanks again!
@@snowbeatuk Glad to hear you didn't regret it. I didn't buy mine until later due to availability in Canada.
Excellent overview! Thanks for the info. Especially on its durability. Helped out a lot. Going from my Surface 3 with 4GB RAM (which has been amazing) into something with much more speed (8 or 16GB RAM). Also at an affordable price. Probably going to wait a little longer.
Thx again
You're most welcome.
Hello, I have placed an order for the Surface Book 2 HNM-00022
13in i7 8th Gen/16GB/512GB SSD/ GTX 1050 2GB GPU. Wanted the new one but it won't be available where I live for a few months so decided on going with the high speced SB2. I am really excited as this is my first laptop upgrade from the Dell Studio 15 i7 which I got way back in 2010! Yes you read that right. This video is really helpful in what I can expect from the device. I really hope the SB2 lasts me as long as the Dell one did. The Dell one still works fine but I needed a spec upgraded laptop along with a tablet and it seems like there is nothing in the market like the Surface Book. Contemplated buying the new surface Pro 7 but ended up with my heart set up with the Surface Book as it's a complete laptop which transforms into an amazing tablet.
I am just a bit worried about the so called screen cracking issue which I have seen on a few videos here on UA-cam. I just hope that isn't a norm with the Surface Book. I do take care of my devices really well so i just hope my laptop survives at least 6-7 years like my last one did(still going strong actually 😂). Othet than this screen breaking issue I dint find any other thing to be worried about. Hope my decision of buying this device is the right one *fingers crossed*. Anyone reading this - Have a good day and a great life ahead 😁
I've heard of the screen cracking videos, but the matter is, we don't know for sure the conditions that they occurred under... If you watch the whole series, I document how this laptop was treated and it was moved and even stepped on once without any damage. But I'm in a sample size of one, in the same breath, I'm also a daily user for over 2.5 years. Be sure to get a Warranty from Microsoft. One repair of any kind is more than what you'll pay. Protect your investment.
@@LaptopRetrospective Hey you replied! And that too so promptly. Thank you! Yes I did opt for the warranty as seeing so many videos convinced me that it's better safe than to be sorry. Thank again, have an awesome day ahead and I wish you all the best in life. Btw Subscribed 😁
I try to reply to as many comments as I can. Thanks for your support and I hope that you will have a great time with your Surface Book 2.
@@LaptopRetrospective Got my Surface Book 2 yesterday. It is all that I could dream of and more. Thanks to your video I could make that choice. Keep up with the great content. Cheers and love from India 😁🙏🏻
Thank you for your review! I have been following your videos on SB2 over the years, esply before I bought SB2. Mine is a basic SB2 (13.5 inches, 8gb, 256gb). May I ask if you have faced any battery issues like battery draining (7-12%) after shutting down for about 24 hours?
No major issues unless it is set to do a bunch of updates. It will wake up to do them if it can. You can adjust it in power settings.
Laptop Retrospective oh I didn’t know that, even after combing thru all the internet posts. My battery reports didn’t state the cause of the drain too haha. Thanks for the advice!
@@zumonade92 No problem!
Mine drains 2-3% overnight, first I was worried about it, but now I don’t care. I think that’s normal
@@Strawhat.. mine drains about 10% per night now even when it is totally shut down. sigh.
I got mine a month ago, but I have many concerns regarding durability and accessories I should get?
Pen tips, would y recommend a skin? And would it affect the color if i removed it?
The first year I had it without a skin, it was fine. Pen is great, that's about it. No concern about colour transfer.
Laptop Retrospective would y recommend any skins’ brand?
How y protect the keyboard and palm rest area?
@@antoniosbakhet6220 Toast made the one in the video.
@@antoniosbakhet6220 there is a skin available but I didn't feel it needed protection. It has been fine and I wear a watch and a steel ring.
Just got my SB 2 today. Massively discounted due to the SB 3 coming out. 15inch, 16gb ram, 500gb ssd, 1060 and a Pen all for £1400.
Pretty happy with that.
Nice! Some good deals to be had. Warranty as well?
@@LaptopRetrospective yes but only for 12 months. Got a secondhand pen for £38 too. No box but in mint condition.
12 months is still better than none. 😁
How is the software doing so far though (Windows 10 on the SB2)? Because I remember having those errors when detaching the book and also the blue screen of death..
Can't say I've experienced issues like that, or at least not in recent memory.
Have you ever wanted to use the keyboard while the clipboard is detached?
Very few times.
I love the surface book 2 but I had to sell it i cant use screen so glassy. I wish they. Make a matte finish one. I did put and antiglare one but is not the same. I really love it but what can I do.
Interesting. I never felt it was overly glossy.
I can agree it's glossy but it does not bother me but I'm sure you can put a decal over it to mattify it
@@985Mindy yes I try but is not the same as matte screen. Is because my eyes . Let's see if 3 will do something about it or make 2 different versions
I'm still in my SB1 it's still amazing and wanted to say Microsoft has excellent customer service
That has also been my experience, but I understand like many things, it isn't the same everywhere.
Did u ever have some problems regarding the rendering of Excell's sheets while scrolling it really rapidly? (Especially if the fill is very big)
Can't say I have. If check your CPU usage and maybe update your firmware.
Have you or anyone experienced a static/hissing sound coming from the speakers off and on? It's driving me crazy how I can't figure out why it's happening. My device is only 7 or 8 months old. I treat it like a baby.
I have never had that issue. Should be still under warranty, so you might want to contact support.
hello do you guys think still it is legitimate decision to buy in 2020, with a very good price (i5 2020 mac air book price) as the second hand
If there's no warranty, go in eyes open that repairs of any kind will be VERY expensive. Do your homework for what Microsoft will charge to fix it in your area.
You can be buying a brick
I have the Surface Book 1!
Question... how do you measure the health of the battery?
open the powershell in administrator mode and text the command below powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:\battery_report.html"
You can see battery report in C:/.
Thanks Frank!
I’m honestly thinking about buying this now that the book 3 came out
There are savings to be had. I discuss it in my latest Surface Book video.
Watching this video on my SB2 (2,5years old), while comparing to yours. 🤣🤣
Unfortunately, my 44watt just broken. Should I search for the 102watt? Or just 44watt?
Can i use the 65watt?
My SB2 is i5, 13,5inch.
The higher wattage was designed for the i7, I'd do some reading to see if there would be adverse affects. Wouldn't want to fry anything.
I read from this dancharblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/10/surface-book-pro-3-pro-4-and-docking-station-power-supplies/amp/.
What do you think?
There are few people that know more about the Surface Book than Dan. He made the Vertical Dock. If he says it is okay then you are golden.
Surface book 3 must have tigerlake CPU or NO sale
Time will tell.
Hi ! I need advice about the difference between surface pro 4 laptop and surfase pro 5 ? Is there any special advantage in using?
Surface Pro 5 doesn't have the screen issues the Surface Pro 4 had.
@@LaptopRetrospective Is it so bad compared with other one ? Or simple issues?
I'd choose a Surface Pro 5 in every scenario over the Pro 4. The risk of the screen issue developing isn't worth it. Lots of information about the problem can be found online. "Surface Pro 4 screen issue" is a good search term.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thank you so much 💖
@Thaprill No problem. 👍
I don’t know what to buy.
Either buy the 15“ SB2 with GTX1060
And 256gb or the 13.5“ SB2 with GTX1050 innit? But 512gb
Both have the same price of 2000€
Do you know what to do?
I did a video comparing the two sizes back in the day and why I chose the 13 inch model. ua-cam.com/video/n9rMrQVA4M0/v-deo.html
I got the i7 version and stopped working after 6 months of use. It won't turn on... that's $1600 purchase that went to the drain after only 6 months.
Sounds like you either purchased it used or somehow without any warranty.
@@LaptopRetrospective it is actually brand new and still under warranty. I got replaced device (refurbished) from Microsoft and it had issues . Now I am requesting 2nd replacement which technically means my purchase of $1600 was a big mistake and it won't last after warranty expires.
I guess time will tell. What isn't working? If you're unhappy with it I'd suggest selling it after you get your next replacement if you're not confident it will last. Can't say I've had anything close to a warranty issue.
Should I get this or surface laptop 3?
With the rumors increasing on the leaked specs for the Surface Book 3, it might be advisable to wait and see.
I expect that the tablet could be mounted both ways which will allow her to win a bendable hinge with inputs on both sides of the base.
Guess we will have to wait and see.
the tablet can be mounted both ways on the sb2. I think the fact that it is reversible has alleviated my need for a kickstand.
I am using my macbook pro since 2012 now. Everyday and the last 2 years even for my business. You think 2 years is an achivement really?
Not saying it is or isn't. Just a matter of fact. I've still got my MacBook Pro Retina from 2013.
I do have as well the SB2, so I'm asking you.... How do you feel about the NVIDIA Graphic driver??
I felt like: Microsof... Got my money, and then they drop the product as the driver is not updatable.
It is on 391.40 the actual SB2 Nvidia Driver, and it is more than 1 year old.
No way to update on nvidia website.
Pls include this problem as well.
I haven't had an issue with the Nvidia drivers.
Microsoft has nothing to do with Nvidia drivers, you download them from Nvidias website.
Edit: Doesn't normal driver for gtx 1050/1060 work?
(Don't use automatic detection)
@@happygiraffe9787 I've had good luck either way.
@@happygiraffe9787 If you own a SB2 you should know, that you can not instal nvidia drivers straight from they website. THOSE DRIVERS ARE MICROSOFT PROPRIETARY,
IF YOU INSTAL NVIDIA DRIVERS YOU MESS UP YOUR SB2. that's it, hope you understand what I wrote.
@@nikoulph You don't mess anything up. I installed nvidia drivers straight from the nvidia website and my sb2 15" works just fine
I've been running into severe problems with video editing lately. Since the last updates for Adobe and windows. I can't add a simple transition like a cross zoom or fade without rendering times taking extremely long. And like I said it's a new problem that I never had before as I've been using it consistently.
I have the 13 inch model with 16 GB ram 512.
Any ideas how I can fix this
Do a firmware update to make sure the CPU isn't throttling.
@@LaptopRetrospective thanks for the quick response! It seems I have a problem where the cpu usage is extremely high off regular functions/editing. It seems I have the latest firmware update and it's not just with Adobe but I also tried filmora and the same thing!!!
Thanks again! Love your channel and definitely have a new subscriber
Any ideas would help as the Microsoft store didn't offer much help. I hope I don't have to reset it but I'm weary it may have been a windows update that caused this
Your initial reviews have been what’s gotten me to buy the Surface Book 2, so I’ve been using it for a while. Recently, I’ve been having issues of the CPU throttling down to 0.4ghz, which makes the laptop so slow and laggy. Any thoughts on this?
Keep up the great reviews!
Interesting, the CPU shouldn't be throttling that far down. What model do you have?
Laptop Retrospective I have the 13.5’, 16GB ram, core i7 8th gen, nvidia gtx1060, 512GB storage
@@danielkang4012 very strange indeed. Might want to try the Intel Management engine.
@@danielkang4012 it was a 1809 bug, recommend clean install your sb2 and update to newest.
You need to run WIndows Update and get both Windows 10 and your firmware updated. They fixed this problem a while back. It was absolutely horrific and was rendering the thing practically unusable for all but the lightest of tasks. Felt like a new machine once I updated everything after they put the fix out!
Can you attempt to see if they'll send you one for a trial thing just for your channel so you can review it and send it back? Just a possibility that might be good that I've seen some other channels do on expensive things they can't afford.
I'd love if that were to happen, those partnerships often start with them reaching out to you or another agency brokering it.
Might as well make a request since there's nothing to lose. That's my opinion on it
@@trippinthecreator3148Good point, the question is where to ask.
I'm about a year and a half into my surface book 2 with no sort of skin or protection on it and I have like to no scratches
Any of this black undercarriage being exposed?
Very good review and unbiased
I absolutely love my SB2. Only problem im getting yellow spots on the display when charging. But I heard customer service is excellent from MS. One of the reasons that made me buy this over another laptop
Glad you enjoyed the video, be sure to get your unit swapped while still under warranty.
@@LaptopRetrospective yeah definitely will try to get it replaced.
Currently it only appears when charging and the tablet gets hot at the bottom. That's kinda hard to show to the customer service
@@savejeff15 Yes, but hopefully the screen is enough to prompt a replacement.
i also have surface book 2, its the perfect device for me. a couple of days ago it just randomly died on me, does not turn on, the keyboard just blinks then nothing. no screen response even if i long press the power button. the eject works fine though.
Interesting! Still have a warranty?
Go to the ms store they have amazing customer service
@@985Mindy Yep, I'd your area has one. It's a fairly large factor for these devices and their ownership.