The most powerful Surface device ever made has just hit the UK

The most powerful Surface device that Microsoft has ever built has been released in the UK.

The Surface Book 2 has up to five times the graphics performance of the original Surface Book, is twice as powerful as the new MacBook Pro and features up to 17 hours of battery life.

The device, which can be used as a laptop or tablet by connecting or detaching the keyboard, is available to buy in retail stores across the country and online.

“Surface Book 2 removes the barrier between the desktop and the laptop by giving mobile professionals the power of a desktop, the versatility of a tablet, and the freedom of a light and thin laptop in one beautifully designed device,” said Panos Panay, Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft Devices. “Whether you’re a developer, a digital artist, a designer, or an accountant, you can bring your ideas to life anywhere, because Surface Book 2 is a portable powerhouse. We made no compromises building the most powerful Surface laptop ever.”

Boasting 8th Gen Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 and 1060 graphics options, the Surface Book 2 can run professional software like Adobe, Autodesk, and Dessault as well as popular games at 1080p and 60 frames per second – including Forza Motorsport 7 and Gears of War 4.

It comes in two sizes – a 13-inch model weighing just 3.38 pounds, and a 15-inch model that weighs 4.2 pounds.

The 15-inch version delivers almost seven million pixels – 45% more than the MacBook Pro – “giving artists and professionals alike amazing pixel density on an even larger creative canvas”, Panay added.

“When you detach [the keyboard] to sketch an idea or watch a video, the Surface Book 2 turns into the world’s thinnest and lightest 8th Gen Intel Core i7 PC, giving customers a powerful portable studio for those who want a single, device that can follow you from concept to sketch to creation.”

Surface Book 2

The Surface Book 2 comes in two sizes – a 13-inch model weighing just 3.38 pounds, and a 15-inch model that weighs 4.2 pounds.

The Surface Book 2 also features USB-A, USB-C and full-size SD card reader ports.

Panay unveiled the device for the first time in the UK at Microsoft’s Future Decoded conference in London last month. As a keynote speaker, he opened the first day of the company’s largest event in this country by showing off the new device and its features.

“Look at how the workplace is changing – how people work every day is changing, where they work is changing,” Panay said. “In just three years, 50% of the global workforce will be mobile. It’s up to us to create an entirely new world of work for them, and we have to do it simply.

“The Surface Book 2 is every part of Microsoft coming together.”

The 13-inch Surface Book 2 is available to buy now, with the 15-inch device following early next year.