Surface Laptop 2 review

Microsoft introduced its Surface Laptop in 2017. It’s now released a second version, which is significantly improved on the inside but has the same, slim design.

Our Verdict

The Surface Laptop 2 is one of the very best Windows ultraportable laptops, but for our money the Dell XPS 13 offers a better all-round package.

For

  • Beautifully designed
  • Great to type on
  • Powerful

Against

  • No USB-C
  • Expensive

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Surface Laptop 2 is an update of the original Surface Laptop released in the middle of 2017. It answers the needs of those who rather like Microsoft’s approach to its Surface lineup but who want a traditional clamshell laptop. Unlike the 2-in-1 Surface Pro it’s not a 2-in-1 laptop-tablet hybrid. And unlike the Surface Book it doesn’t have a detachable screen that can be used as a tablet. It’s what used to be called an ‘ultrabook’ by Intel; an ultraportable laptop that’s directly opposed to Apple’s excellent all-new MacBook Air and – depending on configuration – the MacBook Pro.

Surface Laptop 2 is certainly a professional-looking device and differs significantly from the Mac lineup in terms of its excellent touchscreen and inking capability with Surface Pen.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

The Verdict
7

out of 10

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2

The Surface Laptop 2 is one of the very best Windows ultraportable laptops, but for our money the Dell XPS 13 offers a better all-round package.

The Creative Bloq team is made up of a group of design fans, and has changed and evolved since Creative Bloq began back in 2012. The current website team consists of eight full-time members of staff: Editor Georgia Coggan, Deputy Editor Rosie Hilder, Ecommerce Editor Beren Neale, Senior News Editor Daniel Piper, Editor, Digital Art and 3D Ian Dean, Tech Reviews Editor Erlingur Einarsson and Ecommerce Writer Beth Nicholls and Staff Writer Natalie Fear, as well as a roster of freelancers from around the world. The 3D World and ImagineFX magazine teams also pitch in, ensuring that content from 3D World and ImagineFX is represented on Creative Bloq. 

Latest in Laptops
An image representing the Maxon Redshift update with Apple MacBook M3 optimisation
Maxon's Redshift update finally adds M3 optimisation for MacBooks
ASUS Vivobook Pro 16
ASUS Vivobook Pro 16 review: budget-friendly laptop for creatives
An HP Omen Transcend 16 laptop
HP Omen Transcend 16 review: sleek gaming laptop is not quite transcendental
A blue ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) on a carpeted floor
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) review: beautiful, lightweight, powerful OLED laptop gets an AI boost
Asus Zenbook Duo laptop
Wild new laptop design from Asus could be a game-changer for creatives
MacBook Pro M3 deal
Apple's newest MacBook Pros are at the best prices yet in after-Christmas deals
Latest in Reviews
ABS Cyclone Ruby
I've tested the ABS Cyclone Ruby gaming PC, and it could be a good option for creatives too
A liquid silver Xiaomi 15 on a desk
I've had the Xiaomi 15 for a week, and I never want to see a Samsung or iPhone ever again
Sorry We're Closed review; a digital illustration of a stylised female character, featuring vibrant colours and a unique design, is presented against a dark background.
Sorry We're Closed review: a bewitching, bizarre and often frustrating horror cocktail
Wanderstop review; a stylised digital illustration shows a whimsical landscape with a large, stout figure gazing at a quaint, fantastical structure beneath a decorative archway.
Wanderstop review: a surprisingly intricate, de-stressing tea-making indie game
A white Boox Palma 2 ereader tablet on a yellow background
Boox Palma 2 review: ereader deja vu
The Sihoo C300 Pro office chair, facing a desk, in a home office.
Sihoo Doro C300 Pro review: A good-to-great ergo chair that's worth your time (when it's on sale)