FEBRUARY 2019 PCWorld 49The Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (left) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop, now referred to as the Surface
Laptop (1st Gen). On the outside, they’re functionally identical.
shows, the 13-inch Surface Laptop 2 is still a
solid laptop, but design choices made a year
ago look a bit tired now.
The Surface Laptop is nearly identical to its
predecessor in all three dimensions, the rated
battery life, and even weight. In addition to
the color, Microsoft has moved from a
7th-gen to an 8th-gen Core microprocessor,
and the company has thankfully eliminated
the 4GB memory option that was available in
the first generation. Gone, too, is Windows 10
in S Mode, now replaced with Windows 10
Home. There aren’t any low-power
Qualcomm or Intel Pentium-based options,
and Microsoft hasn’t announced an LTE
option—but those weren’t available on the
first device, either.
BASIC SPECS AND
BUYING ADVICE
As you may recall from our hands-on with the
Surface Laptop 2 (go.pcworld.com/hsl2),
Microsoft is selling both the Surface Laptop 2
for Business (go.pcworld.com/s24b), and the
more generic Surface Laptop 2 for consumers
(go.pcworld.com/s24c). The Business model
begins at $1,199, versus $999 for
consumers—quite a jump, especially since the
additional $200 buys you just a slightly more
powerful Core i5 processor with vPro
capabilities, an improved warranty with the
ability to receive a new device before sending
in the defective model (Advanced Exchange),
and Windows 10 Pro, rather than Home. We
reviewed the consumer version.