Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5" 2017, Core i7-8650U, 16GB, 512GB SSD, GTX 1050, Silver

The Surface Book 2 pairs a stunning 3000x2000 detachable display with a dated Core i7-8650U and GTX 1050. The screen is top-tier, but the CPU sits near the bottom of our rankings. At $844 to $900 refurbished, it's a niche buy for people who specifically want the detachable form factor. Most buyers should look at newer options with better performance for the same money.

Let's talk about that Core i7-8650U. It's a 4-core, 8-thread chip from Intel's 8th generation, running at 2.6GHz base. In our database, it lands in the 14th percentile for CPU performance among laptops. That's rough. For everyday tasks like web browsing, email, and Office apps, it's fine. But throw video editing, heavy multitasking, or modern software at it and you'll feel the age immediately. The 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM helps a bit, but LPDDR3 is slower than the DDR4 and DDR5 you'll find in newer machines, and the RAM itself sits in the 25th percentile.

The GTX 1050 with 2GB of VRAM is a mixed bag. It's a discrete GPU, which is more than many thin laptops offer, and it lands in the 63rd percentile for graphics. That means light gaming and older titles will run acceptably at reduced settings. But 2GB of VRAM is a hard limit. Modern games and GPU-accelerated creative work will choke. The 512GB SSD is solid for storage but sits in the 37th percentile, which is about average for older machines. Boot times and app launches will feel snappy, just don't expect the speed of a modern NVMe drive.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro, the Surface Book 2 looks like a relic. The M4 Pro absolutely demolishes the i7-8650U in CPU performance, and the MacBook's unified memory and modern SSD are in a different league. The Surface Book 2's only real advantage is the detachable touchscreen and the fact that it runs Windows natively. If you're not married to Windows or the 2-in-1 form factor, the MacBook is the obvious choice for performance.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is another strong competitor. It's a workstation-class machine with modern internals, better port selection, and far superior reliability. The Surface Book 2's display is nicer, but the ThinkPad wins on nearly every other metric. The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is interesting because it also offers a detachable design, but with much newer hardware and a better GPU. If you want the Surface Book 2's form factor without the aging internals, the Flow Z13 is worth a serious look. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 and MSI Raider both offer dramatically better gaming and creative performance for similar or slightly more money.

Pricing on the refurbished market runs between $844 and $900 USD. For that money, you're getting a unique form factor, a beautiful display, and a discrete GPU. But you're also getting a CPU that's seven generations old and a GPU with 2GB of VRAM. The value proposition is tricky. If the detachable screen and PixelSense display are the main draws, this price might make sense for a specific buyer. If you just need a capable laptop, there are far better options at this price point.

Compared to other refurbished machines in the $800 to $900 range, the Surface Book 2 trades raw performance for design and display quality. You can find newer CPUs, faster RAM, and better GPUs for similar money if you're willing to give up the detachable screen. The value here is entirely dependent on how much you want that specific form factor.

The Surface Book 2 is one of those machines that still turns heads years after release. It's a 13.5-inch 2-in-1 with a detachable screen, a proper discrete GPU tucked into the keyboard base, and a 3000x2000 PixelSense display that still holds up against plenty of modern laptops. Microsoft went all-in on the hinge design here, and it remains a conversation starter. The version we're looking at pairs an Intel Core i7-8650U with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a GeForce GTX 1050 with 2GB of VRAM.

Who is this for in 2025? Honestly, it's a niche pick. The detachable clipboard mode is great for note-taking, sketching, or reading, and the display is a genuine standout. But the internals are aging, and the CPU sits near the bottom of our database rankings. If you're buying refurbished and know exactly what you're getting into, there's some charm here. If you expect modern performance, you'll be disappointed.

What makes it interesting is the mismatch between the screen and everything else. You get a top-tier display and a clever form factor wrapped around a processor that struggles with anything demanding. It's a laptop that feels premium in the hand but shows its age the moment you push it.

Skip this if you need real performance. Video editors, 3D artists, developers running heavy IDEs, and anyone who multitasks aggressively will find the i7-8650U frustrating. The CPU is simply too old, and the 2GB VRAM on the GTX 1050 is a hard ceiling for creative work. If you fall into this camp, look at a refurbished ThinkPad P14s or a MacBook Pro M4 Pro instead.

Also skip it if you need modern connectivity. The port selection is weak, with no Ethernet and limited USB-C. If you rely on external monitors, fast storage, or wired networking, this machine will fight you. The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 offers a similar detachable design with much better ports and modern internals, making it a smarter buy for most people drawn to this form factor.

If you're a student or professional who wants a detachable Windows laptop for note-taking, sketching, and light productivity, the Surface Book 2 can still work. The display is genuinely lovely, and the clipboard mode is handy. Just keep expectations in check. This is not a machine for video editing, modern gaming, or heavy multitasking. The CPU will frustrate you if you push it.

For everyone else, skip it. The performance gap between this and modern laptops in the same price range is too large to ignore. The Surface Book 2 is a design icon with aging guts. It's worth admiring, but hard to recommend as a daily driver in 2025 unless you find one at a steep discount and know exactly what you're signing up for.