Microsoft has launched its new high-end laptop back in October this year. The new laptop is called as Microsoft Surface Book 2. Microsoft’s new offering will compete against Apple MacBook Pro range of laptops. Let’s compare the Microsoft Surface Book 2 Vs MacBook Pro (2017) laptops and find out who’s having the upper hand.
Microsoft Surface Book 2 Vs MacBook Pro (2017)
| Model | Surface Book 2 13-inch | Surface Book 2 15-inch | MacBook Pro 13-inch | MacBook Pro 15-inch |
| Display | 13.5-inch PixelSense Display 3000 x 2000 3:2 aspect ratio | 15-inch PixelSense Display 3240 x 2160 3:2 aspect | 13.3-inch Retina Display 2560 x 1600 16:10 aspect | 15.4-inch Retina Display 2880 x 1800 16:10 aspect |
| Processor | Core i5 (dual-core 3.2GHz) Core i7-8650U (quad-core 4.2GHz) | Core i7-8650U (quad-core 4.2GHz) | Core i5 (dual-core 3.3GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz) Core i7 (dual-core 3.5GHz, Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz) | Core i5 (dual-core 3.3GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz) Core i7 (dual-core 3.5GHz, Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz) |
| RAM | 8GB or 16GB | 16GB | 8GB or 16GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB, 2TB |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 620 (Core i5) Intel UHD Graphics 620 NVIDIA GTX 1050 (2GB) (Core i7) | Intel UHD Graphics 620 NVIDIA GTX 1060 (6GB) | Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 | Intel HD Graphics 630 Radeon Pro 555 (2GB) Radeon Pro 560 (4GB) |
| Battery | 70WHr Up to 17 hours Up to 5 hours in Tablet Mode | 80WHr Up to 17 hours Up to 5 hours in Tablet Mode | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Connectivity | Marvel Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, Two USB Type-A 3.1 (Gen1), One USB Type-C w/ video, power in/out and USB 3.1 (Gen1) data Full-size SDXC card reader (UHS-II) | Marvel Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, Two USB Type-A 3.1 (Gen1), One USB Type-C w/ video, power in/out and USB 3.1 (Gen1) data Full-size SDXC card reader (UHS-II) | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, Headphone jack (3.5mm) | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, Headphone jack (3.5mm) |
| Cameras | 5.0MP 1080p video at 30 FPS (front) 8.0MP 1080p video at 30 FPS with auto-focus (rear) | 5.0MP 1080p video at 30 FPS (front) 8.0MP 1080p video at 30 FPS with auto-focus (rear) | 720p (front) | 720p (front) |
| Biometrics | IR Camera | IR Camera | Touch ID | Touch ID |
| Price | Starts at $1,499 (roughly Rs 97,500) | Starts at $2,499 (roughly Rs 1,62,500) | Starts at $1,799 (roughly Rs 1,17,000) | Starts at $2,399 (roughly Rs 1,55,850) |
Surface Book 2 Vs MacBook Pro (2017): Quick Comparison
Looking at the specifications, the Surface Book 2 is better than the MacBook Pro in almost every aspect. However, both laptops have different OS integration and you can’t judge the performance on the basis of just hardware components.
For graphics and editing work, the Surface Bok 2 is better with GTX 1060 Mobile chipset against the Radeon Pro 560 one. Let’s check each and every parameter of both laptops.
(Microsoft Surface Book 2)
Design
Design wise, the Surface Book 2 resembles totally to its predecessor. Same goes for this year’s MacBook Pro; although there are few changes, it looks identical to its predecessor.
Display
The Surface Book 2 has a super high-resolution display of both 13.5-inch and 15-inch models. On the other hand, the screens of both Apple’s notebooks are vibrant and look beautiful. However, the contrast ratio of 1600:1 on Microsoft laptops are overwhelming than the 720:1 ratio of Apple’s MacBooks.
Battery
Microsoft is claiming up to 17 hours of battery backup on the Surface Book 2 on a single charge. While that said, the actual usage might differ based on the nature of users’ work. Apple, on the other hand, is claiming up to 10 hours of battery life on its MacBooks.
(Apple MacBook Pro 2017)
Connectivity
Connectivity options are an important aspect while looking for a laptop. On Microsoft’ laptop, you will get a USB Type-C port, which is becoming a standard these days. Apple has offered 2 USB Type-A ports and an SD card reader. Both laptops have other necessary connectivity options; you can check them in the table mentioned above.
Conclusion
From our quick comparison of Surface Book 2 Vs MacBook Pro (2017), it appears that Microsoft has an edge over Apple. The performance, looks and sturdiness make it a perfect top-notch laptop. Surface Book 2 competed neck-to-neck against Apple’s notebooks in every category. Microsoft and Apple are one of the most popular laptop brands in India.
While this is just a preliminary comparison, the winner among the top-notch laptops can’t be declared this soon; as we haven’t got our hands on these laptops yet. The Surface Book 2 is expected to be made available in India soon after the global availability.