The Microsoft Surface Book is a 13.5-inch detachable laptop we tested with Windows 10 Home, a 6th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, Intel HD 520 graphics, a touchscreen, and a 128GB solid-state drive.
Microsoft’s first laptop uses a unique electro-mechanical hinge to lock and unlock the display from the base to turn it into a tablet. It’s a powerful computer with long 15-hour battery life and excellent performance, but it’s also expensive – costing just under $1,500. The screen moves when you tap on it. There’s a rear-facing 8MP camera on the tablet and a forward-facing 5MP camera near the top of the screen, as well as stereo microphones at the top rear edge of the display.
The full-sized keyboard, touchpad, labeling, and LED indicators were all well-designed, making it comfortable and convenient to use. The display quality was very good overall. Colors were accurately reproduced, realistic, and natural looking. It was brighter than most, a plus for viewing in bright indoor lighting or outdoors.
All told, the Surface Book is a fantastic performer. It’s near the top of our ratings and is an easy recommendation.
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