Today, the two most common types of Windows 10 2-in-1s are tablets with detachable keyboards like Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4, and more standard notebooks with screens that swivel 360 degrees into tablet mode. Microsoft’s Surface Book is in its own category as a sort of hybrid between the two. It’s a more traditional notebook that morphs into a tablet, but with its own unique twist — the display detaches completely from its keyboard base via Microsoft’s unique “muscle wire” locking mechanism, and becomes a large yet still thin-and-light tablet.
Although it’s an innovative — and somewhat complex — approach to the notebook-oriented 2-in-1, the Surface Book provides the same basic benefits as more common flip-around 2-in-1s like HP’s new Spectre x360 15. The Surface Book is also an expensive machine, and while its 13.5-inch screen is smaller than the 15.6-inch display on HP’s machine, it’s also quite a bit larger than the 12-inch or so screens on tablets with detachable keyboards.
That makes the comparison between the Surface Book and the Spectre x360 15 an interesting one. The question is: does the Surface Book’s unique design make it better than the much less expensive Spectre x360 15?
Microsoft Surface Book
HP Spectre x360 15
Dimensions
12.30 x 9.14 x .51 – .90 (in)
14.00 x 9.88 x .70 (in)
Weight
3.34 pounds, Intel HD graphics
3.48 pounds, GTX 940M graphics
3.68 pounds, GTX 965M graphics (Performance Base)
4.42 pounds
Processor
6th Generation Intel Core i5 and i7 dual-core
7th Generation Intel Core i7 dual-core
RAM
8GB or 16GB DDR4
8 or 16GB DDR4
Display
13.5-inch IPS touchscreen
15.6-inch IPS touchscreen
Resolution
3,000 x 2,000, 3:2 aspect ratio
3,840 x 2,160, 16:9 aspect ratio
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB PCIe SSD
256GB, 512GB, 1TB PCIe SSD
Networking
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2
Ports
2 x USB 3.0, 1 x mini-DisplayPort, Headset, SD Card Reader
1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x USB Type-c with Thunderbolt 3, 1 x HDMI, Headset, SD Card reader
Webcam
1080P webcam with IR camera and Windows Hello support
1080p webcam with IR camera and Windows Hello support
Operating System
Windows 10
Windows 10
Battery
70 watt-hours
81 watt-hours (Performance Base)
79.2 watt-hours
Price
$1,499+$2,399+ (Performance Base)
$1,280+
Availability
Available now – Amazon, Microsoft
Available late-February – HP
Review
3.5 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5 stars