Microsoft Surface Book 2 review: A laptop that will make Apple sweat

When it comes to high-powered laptops, Apple’s (AAPL) MacBook Pro is among the best. It’s become the go-to device for professionals ranging from video editors to graphic designers on the go.

And that doesn’t sit well with Microsoft (MSFT). So to change that narrative, the company is rolling out its new 13.5-inch Surface Book 2. The follow-up to 2015’s Surface Book, the Surface Book 2 is a laptop-tablet hybrid designed not only to take on the MacBook Pro 13-inch, but also crush to it entirely.

Microsoft isn’t just targeting Apple’s 13-inch machine, though. It’s also taking aim at the company’s beastly 15-inch Macbook Pro with its first 15-inch Surface Book.

And while the Book 2 doesn’t completely knock Apple out of the race for the best power laptop for professionals, it will likely give even the most ardent Mac addicts reason to make the switch.

Here are the main things you need to know about the Surface Book 2:

• Starts at $1,399, but can reach $3,299
• Big-time performance
• Lightweight tablet portion
• No Thunderbolt 3

Fixing past mistakes

The original Surface Book was an impressive device, but suffered from software problems including driver crashes that resulted in a high initial return rate. In announcing the Book 2, Microsoft Vice President Panos Panay addressed those issues and said that Book users ended up using their devices for longer stretches of time than any other Surface product.

The Surface Book 2 13-inch and 15-inch models.

The Book 2 uses the same design of the first-generation system. Its industrial design features a sleek, silver magnesium chassis and the line’s unique fulcrum-style hinge that allows you to use the book like a laptop, but completely detach the display via a dedicated keyboard button.

I was a fan of the original Book’s design, and I liked the Book 2’s look just as much. Microsoft did, however, work to remove the vents and fans from the Book 2 to ensure it is not only lighter than its predecessor, but quieter. Not every Book 2 goes fanless, though. Models equipped with Intel’s Core i7 processor simply generate too much heat to not use fans.

Taking the screen with you

The Surface Book 2’s biggest selling point, outside of its power, is that you can detach its display and use it as an independent tablet. And thanks to Microsoft’s Windows 10 and Universal Windows Apps, there are a number of touch-friendly apps at your fingertips. It’s not nearly as much as Apple’s enormous App Store, but you’ve got the basics like Netflix (NFLX)and Hulu, as well as Facebook (FB) and Twitter (TWTR).

Microsoft managed to make the Book 2’s tablet portion both thin and light enough to use on its own with ease. But at 13.5 inches, it’s just a bit too wide for my liking, which means the 15-inch version would be far too large to comfortably use for long stretches or while lying in bed.

Still, if you’re on a plane and want to watch a movie, or want to handwrite notes using the $100 Surface Pen, tablet mode is a joy.

The Surface Book 2 has a gorgeous display.

In the short time Microsoft has been creating its own devices, it has quickly become known for offering some of the best displays you can find on a laptop or tablet. And the Book 2 is no different in that regard. Whether you’re using the 13.5-inch model or the 15-inch, you’ll get a gorgeous PixelSense panel.