5 Best Surface Book 2 Alternative in 2024

The Surface Book 2 is the best Microsoft hardware that they offer. This laptop is a beast, packing only the most high-end hardware in it. You won’t have a problem with high-end gaming on the Surface Book 2, and you won’t have issues with using demanding applications like AutoDesk AutoCAD, video editing software, photo editing software, and even audio editing applications.

You can configure the Microsoft Surface Book 2 to have some slightly lower end hardware, which makes the laptop more ideal for college students and professionals needing to use business apps like Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. Still, even at that, the Surface Book 2 costs a ridiculous amount of cash, cash that not everyone has sitting in the bank or in an expense account.

So, what about decent alternatives to the Surface Book 2? The good news is that there are plenty out there, and options that will serve you for years to come. Here are our top picks.

 

Surface Go

First up on our list is the Surface Go. If you’re looking for a cross between portability, great hardware, and a full-fledged laptop, then the Surface Go is your guy. This 10-inch Windows 10 tablet can handle a lot — it’s perfect for presentations, business meetings, creating projects, managing excel files, and even some heavy entertainment. It can do some light gaming. It can work as a full-fledged laptop, too. Just pick up the Surface Go keyboard accessory to go with it.

The Surface Go really is the perfect cross between portability and great hardware. A single charge will get you around six hours of battery life, with playing media for that straight six hours. Chances are, you’ll get more out of it, at least depending on your usage and especially if you take advantage of power saving modes.

Buy it now: Amazon

 

Google Pixelbook

Maybe you’re someone who doesn’t need the traditional computer experience. Maybe, when you use a laptop, all your really use is the Internet browser, and maybe a couple applications occasionally. In that case, consider looking at the Chrome OS-based Google Pixelbook. This laptop runs Google’s Chrome browser as the operating system, but you can also download most Android apps to it. It’s able to handle just about anything, and would be the perfect laptop for media, general use, and even in professional application. Battery life in this Chromebook is actually really stellar — a single charge can get you a whole 10 to 12 hours before needing to plug into the wire again.

We particularly recommend this Chromebook because it’s made out of premium material — the Google Pixelbook doesn’t have that cheap feeling that many Chromebooks sport.

Buy it now: Amazon

 

Surface Laptop

Next up on our list is the Surface Laptop. Microsoft designed this laptop as an alternative to the Surface Book 2. And it has a lot of advantages — for one, it doesn’t have that hinge that doesn’t close all how the Surface Book 2 sports. It also has the more traditional laptop style (you cannot detach it from the keyboard), and it doesn’t come with the Microsoft stylus. That said, you can still outfit it with some pretty high-end hardware, hardware that could do some heavy lifting in video editing or high-end gaming, too. The one unique aspect about the Surface Laptop is that it has the traditional keyboard layout, but it’s made with a microfiber material.

Buy it now: Amazon

 

MacBook Pro 15

If you’re looking to move away from Windows 10 entirely, or are simply looking for something that can handle graphical media well, the MacBook Pro 15 is your ideal option. It has the 15-inch Retina screen — with some really good hardware to boot — making it the perfect option for graphical artists, photo editors, video editors, and more. It’s even ideal for programmers, as MacOS is based on Linux — that makes it much easier to download development tools and initialize projects. The MacBook Pro 15’s Retina screen makes just about everything look great — movies, TV shows, videos, you name it.

Buy it now: Amazon

 

Acer Predator Helios

There’s also the possibility that you’re looking for something portable, but something that can keep up with the demands of gaming. That’s what the Acer Predator Helios is all about. Inside this laptop is a fast Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display to keep media looking crisp and clear. This laptop is on the larger side, and that’s because of its almost 16-inch display. Still, it’s thin and doesn’t take up too much space on the table. In addition, you’ll be able to use all of your traditional Windows 10 computer applications with this laptop as a bonus.

Buy it now: Amazon

Verdict

As you can see, there are plenty of great alternatives out there. The Surface Book 2 is nice, but there’s plenty of other laptops out there that are just as nice, and for cheaper or around the same price point.