The Surface Book 2 is an excellent laptop than tries to do a bit too much for its own good. While it excels in a number of areas, it's forced to make a couple of disappointing compromises that stop it from achieving its full potential.

Excellent performance; Superb screen; Great keyboard

Expensive; Surprisingly bulky; Poor battery life

It is hard to improve on perfection. Microsoft's Book design is unique, and given that others have not copied it will probably remain so.

It is unique; for what it is it is nealy perfect

Wish it had Thunderbolt 3

Microsoft Surface Book 2 review: The Microsoft Surface Book is ideal for those who are creative and want power in the laptop to do whatever they want to do.

As an update to the original, the Surface Book 2 makes some neat nips and tucks - mainly under the skin, with improved power and performance - that add up to make this Microsoft a seriously powerful contender for Apple's MacBook Pro.

Great muscle-wire release system to separate laptop and screen into two parts for versatile use; Oodles on power on tap; Solid design

It's rather heavy; Big price tag; Combined battery life is less than quoted; A little top-heavy and upright; Screen lacks ultra-wide colour gamut

Fantastic machine. Very pleased with the hardware and performance. One issue though, Microsoft's fault, is there is no printed visual accompanying the laptop showing what each connectors is. As a result, we bought the wrong connector to connect this to an external Monitor.

Typing at work on Microsoft's new 15-inch Surface Book 2 , I can't shake the feeling that this thing's not for me. Don't get me wrong, it's a powerful laptop, it's beautiful, and the workspace its giant screen affords made me completely forget I wasn't seated at my desk with my usual 32-inch...

Microsoft's Surface Book 2 solves a big problem for Microsoft: How do you market the Surface Book as a performance notebook when it's two years out of date? As our review shows, by making it bigger and faster, with longer battery life.

The Surface Book was an odd fish in a sea of 2-in-1 Surface wannabes. It was Microsoft's first attempt at building a proper laptop and it was good if a tad expensive. Now that the Surface Laptop is here, you might have forgiven Microsoft for conveniently shelving its ambitious detachable and...

The Surface Book 2 is still one of the most unique device designs out there. The detachable display docks to a solid keyboard base, which offers a powerful GPU and plenty of battery. The extra capabilities add to a laptop that can be used in a lot of scenarios.

After a somewhat shaky start (excuse the pun), Microsoft's Surface Book has found its stride. The new and improved Book 2 retains all that was good about the original - including beautiful design, a versatile Clipboard and an excellent keyboard and trackpad - while introducing a handful of...

Beautiful design; Clipboard works a treat; Excellent keyboard and trackpad; Gorgeous 3:2 PixelSense display; Chart-topping battery life; Fanless base specification; Good range of accessories

Doesn't support Thunderbolt 3; Surface Pen not included