Surface Laptop 2 Review: better than the original examination

In fact, the only noticeable upgrade to the Surface Laptop 2 is an improved power profile. Everything else remains largely the same and it's not necessarily a bad thing. The last Surface 2 may be short of innovations, but the Surface was so much ahead of the game. Maybe the sequel does not really need new tricks, with the exception of some essential internal improvements .

The new Surface Laptop 2 features eight-core Intel processors from the 8th generation and some color options, depending on availability. The lack of ports, especially of type C, is disappointing but, apart from that, the Surface Laptop 2 is becoming an excellent option for occasional PC users who need a slim, lightweight and portable computer with of sufficient power under the hood.

Price and availability

Surface Laptop 2 is available at local retailers in UAE and online via souq.com and SharafDG. Its price is similar to the introductory price of the first Surface laptop. It comes in a variety of specifications, including the basic Intel Core i5-8250U processor configuration, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD storage at a price of AED 4,150. If you're looking for more storage, be prepared to distribute an additional 1200 AED for a 256GB SSD.

It's not the most competitive ultrabook on the market, but it gives MacBook Air an edge over Apple and compares well with Huawei's Dell XPS 13 and MateBooks.

For most casual PC users who rely on multiple tasks and lightweight programs, the configuration of the evaluation unit we received, with an i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM and a SSD from 256 GB (priced at AED 5 399), should be largely sufficient.

There are more powerful but expensive configurations that are also available to heavy users who adapt the processor to an Intel Core i7-8650U processor with 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD.

Various color options are available this time – depending on market availability – for higher configuration models such as red, black and blue. And if money seems to be the most widely available option in the UAE, we've spotted a wild red on souq.com.

Design and display

Little has changed here in terms of design since the previous Surface laptop. It is still very portable with a slim profile of 14.48 mm and a light weight of 2.76 lbs. The matte aluminum of the laptop is still refined. It is smooth, strong and very resistant to fingerprints.

You still get the same sense of premium and ruggedness with the Surface 2 notebook as its predecessor. The opening of the hull is a simple one-handed operation, helped by firm but relaxed hinges. The Alcantara laced keyboard and wrist rest provide excellent grip and comfortable support.

The speakers are located under the keyboard, eliminating the need for speaker grills and emitting a clear, powerful sound with correct bass. We love the quality of the speakers, which are close to the excellent speakers of Huawei MateBook X Pro.

The selection of ports is quite sparse on the Surface Laptop 2, which is slightly disappointing. There is still no USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 port, which is disappointing and seems like a strange choice for an avant-garde ultrabook.

You get a USB port 3, a mini-screen port and a headphone jack on the left. And a single connection port Magnetic Surface right, which behaves like the old MagSafe connectors offered by Apple. The main use of the Surface connect is to connect the excellent lightweight charger, but you can also use it to extend the functionality by adding any type of adapter, including for display, data and USB-C.

The display on the Surface Laptop 2 is a 13.5-inch LCD touch screen with a resolution of 2256×1504 and a 3: 2 aspect ratio that lets you see more on a larger screen and more. to be more productive. It is certainly one of the best screens you will find on an ultrabook with a very responsive touch screen and a robust panel that does not wobble too much.

Despite the modest 201 pixels per inch, the screen is sharp and clear. The angles of view and the color reproduction are also excellent. The glasses on the screen are slightly thicker than the ones you will find on other ultrabooks, but they will not really affect the overall experience.

Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard itself is awesome and comfortable to type on. Alcantara fabric is comfortable to wear under the palm of your hand and offers comfortable support for long typing sessions. There is a slight bending of the board when you press firmly on it, but that does not bother you. The switches are soft, clickable and quiet, with a sufficient distance of travel. They also have a four-step backlight for convenience.

The glass touch pad below is not too big and, in our opinion, is the perfect size. It's pretty sticky with excellent scrolling and typing. It is also able to record gestures perfectly, but clicks are audible.