Microsoft Surface 2
Key specs
Critic consensus
“A year and an OS update later, we still have the same feeling. The Microsoft Surface 2 is a fine piece of hardware, held back by an OS which is stuck in no man's land between Windows Phone and full-blown Windows 8.1 territory. Intel Bay Trail powered tablets manage the same battery life so it's understandable that Microsoft's hardware partners have slowly quit making Windows RT hardware altogether.Things can be very different for the tablet, should Microsoft marry its ARM hardware with the constantly growing Windows Phone 8 library of apps. Until then, the Surface 2 is bound to remain a niche product - full of character but not quite hitting the bar yet set by Google and Apple tablets.”
“Let’s cut to the chase here folks! The Microsoft Surface 2 starts out at $450 for the base 32GB Wi-Fi version, which no doubt is pretty darn competitive . At that price point, we find it to be a more valuable offering compared to last year’s model, even more knowing it’s packing significant hardware upgrades over its predecessor.”
“The Surface 2 is a paradox. We love its hardware and the Start screen continues to improve, as does the Windows Store. If we never entered the classic desktop mode (old-style Windows), we’d enjoy this tablet a lot more. But, as Microsoft makes clear in its attacks on the iPad, the Surface is built for productivity. We need the Type Cover and Microsoft Office to get any work done, but using them requires you to enter the desktop. And the desktop isn’t fun.”
“There's nothing wrong with the Surface 2, and there's a lot that is very right about it. But it's not a full Windows device, despite appearances. Given that, it's a well put together and stylish Windows consumption device, a tablet with some unique and cool features, and a powerful performer.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
With the less than stellar launch of the original Surface RT, Microsoft appears to be working to fix many of the common complaints with the Surface 2. Reviews of the new Windows 8.1 RT-powered tablet are generally positive. Kevin Lee of TechRadar says “It’s still too early to say if the Microsoft Surface 2 is a safe Windows 8.1 RT tablet to stick with, especially after getting burned by the first semi-capable Surface RT. There’s definitely a decent pairing of hardware compared to all the 10-inch tablets.”
The device is powered by a 1.7-GHz quad-core Tegra 4 processor and features a 1080p screen for improved clarity and detail over the original surface. It comes from the factory with a full copy of Microsoft Office RT and 200GB of Skydrive cloud storage space for two years. For students or those looking for a tablet geared toward productivity, those offerings could be tempting.
Other improvements include redesigned Touch and Type covers, a dual-angle kickstand and a front-facing camera featuring a ⅓ -inch sensor for improved low-light performance. Kevin Lee calls the new covers “the most impressive pieces of tech to come out of the new Surface line.” The Touch cover features Swype-like capabilities while the tactile feel of the Type cover appears to have been improved as well.
All of these improvements are packed into a device that is roughly the same size and weight of any major competitors. Daniel Perez of UberGizmo notes that the Surface 2 “felt much lighter than the Surface Pro 2 as it resembled a weight that many of us who are familiar with tablets, such as the iPad or Galaxy Tab, many would be comfortable with.” This is due to the two-piece magnesium shell of the tablet.
All things considered, reviews indicate that this is a capable device that will hopefully help Microsoft recover from the mistakes of the original Surface RT. Multi-tasking capabilities, full Office productivity, outstanding visuals and a light-weight design help to add to the list of reasons to the consider it. Michelle of TechRadar was “impressed with what Microsoft put forth.”
The Good: 1080p display, light-weight design, sturdy construction, excellent multi-tasking capabilities and included Microsoft Office RT.
The Bad: Dependence on the Microsoft Store, lack of docking support and extra price for covers.
What people actually want to know
When was the Microsoft Surface 2 released?
The Microsoft Surface 2 was released on October 22, 2013.
Does the Microsoft Surface 2 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Microsoft Surface 2 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Microsoft Surface 2 have NFC?
No, the Microsoft Surface 2 does not have NFC. Contactless payments and tap-to-pair will not be available.
Where can I get support for the Microsoft Surface 2?
Visit Microsoft's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Where can I download the Microsoft Surface 2 manual?
You can view and download the Microsoft Surface 2 manual on our dedicated manual page.
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