Looking for a travel-friendly or a two-in-one machine? Then check out this comparison and see which one is a better purchase.
Surface Book 2 was released earlier this year, challenging the MacBook Pro. But does it have what it takes to beat Apple? Let’s see the specs, design and all of their features.
Specs – Surface Book 2 vs. MacBook Pro
Surface Book 2 has an Intel Core i7-8650U 1.90 GHz (8th Generation), while MacBook Pro has an Intel Core i7-7920HQ 2.7 Ghz (7th Generation), with Surface Book 2 being the leader in processing power.
Looking at the GPU, Surface is much better, having an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, which is better than the Radeon Pro 560.
Both devices come with almost the same size, but the same storage space (256 GB – 1 TB) and RAMs (8 GB – 16 GB).
Both machines have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to benchmarking. The Surface Book 2 has a great CPU and GPU performance, but it lags where the MacBook Pro excels: storage performance. MacBook also outperforms the Surface Book when running Lightroom.
A difference between the two devices is that the Surface Book 2 has a better resolution: 3240 x 2160 pixels, and the display is a touchscreen, also coming with a Pen – the MacBook Pro doesn’t come with a touchscreen and it only has 2880 x 1800 pixels.
What’s great about Microsoft’s Surface Book 2 is that they kept two USB Type-A ports, added a USB Type-C port and also put in an SD card slot. Apple threw it all away and replaced them with 4 Thunderbolt 3 via USB Type-C.
The cameras are different, each providing different functions: the MacBook Pro has a 720p Facetime HD, while Surface Book 2 comes with two cameras – a 5 MP camera in the front, and an 8 MP rear camera.
Charging – Surface Book 2 vs. MacBook Pro
The great thing about the MacBook Pro is that you can charge it through any USB-C port. Microsoft has taken something that Apple left behind: MagSafe, which allows attaching the charger to magnetic power.
Design and Other Features – Surface Book 2 vs. MacBook Pro
Versatility is the main focus when it comes to Surface Book 2, as it has the touchscreen + pen combination that allows you to leave your Wacom device at home when you travel. Detaching the device from its keyboard will let you use it as a tablet. Or you can just reverse the screen and keep the keyboard under it, enjoying the fast GPU, powerful battery and the Pen.
The design of the Surface Book 2 is much better, as it screams versatility. The MacBook Pro is meant to be a laptop, so it has none of the above features. Many Apple fans would choose MacBook Pro over the Surface Book 2, because they’re familiar with the OS and haven’t experienced Windows 10 OS natively running on Microsoft hardware.
Price – Surface Book 2 vs. MacBook Pro
The MSRP Price is between $1,499 – $3,299 for the Surface Book 2 and for the MacBook Pro it starts at $2,399, going up to $4,179.
Coming at almost the same configurations, the difference between the two devices is not that big: $3,299, for the Surface Book 2 and $3,349 for the MacBook Pro.
Conclusion – Surface Book 2 vs. MacBook Pro
The Surface Book 2 is not perfect, but it is a lot more practical than the MacBook Pro, adding far more features to the ring. And if you’re searching for both efficiency and practicality, then you could go with the Surface Book 2.
