Microsoft Surface Book 2 release date, specs: second-gen device needs to compete with MacBook Pro 2016
The majority of the talk about the rumored Microsoft Surface Book 2 is on how it will fare with the Apple MacBook Pro. It's no longer a secret that this specific professional laptop segment is dominated by the newly launched Apple product, so it is fair to say that the Surface Book 2 has a lot to prove in order to be rightfully considered as a better option to that of the MacBook Pro.
But because Microsoft opted to unveil the Surface Book i7 last month, it means that the well-documented and speculated release of the second-generation Surface Book will obviously be pushed back. But then again, it doesn't mean the rumors about what could be inside the upcoming device are going to stop. As a matter of fact, the longer Microsoft holds off on the release, the more speculations will come out.
The Surface Book 2 is going to be dressed up with premium hardware specs and equally high-end features, the reason of which is because the recently launched Surface Book i7 wasn't well-received by observers and critics alike. According to the Bit Bag, while the device came with high-end and premium features, many people still think it isn't worthy of being compared to the MacBook Pro 2016. Because of this, Microsoft should be hard-pressed to produce a Surface Book 2 that is ingeniously built to be in the same league as Apple's device.
For this reason, the upcoming 2-in-1 PC has to be filled to the brim with both hardware and software to at least compete. Based on initial rumors, there's a good chance the Surface Book 2 will do just that. According to Tech Radar, the device will have support for a magnetic Surface Pen with rechargeable functionality along with a small dock. It also is expected to be powered by the latest Intel Kaby Lake chipset, especially considering that its rumored launch this year has been delayed. It makes a lot of sense for Microsoft to insist on putting the Kaby Lake inside the Surface Book 2 in order to give the device better performance and battery life, as well as enhanced graphics, including a 4K resolution.
