Now that Surface 2 has been officially unveiled and as Pano Panay, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, said “Surface 2 is not subtle, but is a revamp”, however the big question still remains: will the tablet live up to customers expectations? This is something we’ll find out starting October 22nd in the U.S., Canada, and 21 other markets. In the meantime lets dig into what $449 and $549 will get you.
For more information about the new line of Microsoft tablet, check out my previous recap on pricing, spec details, and accessories.
Surface 2 specs
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Operating Sytem | Windows RT 8.1 with Microsoft Office 2013 RT versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook. Works exclusively with apps available in the Windows Store. |
| Chassis | 10.81” x 6.79” x 0.35” VaporMg Volume up/down and power buttons |
| Storage | 32GB 64GB |
| Usable Storage | 32GB = 18GB free 64GB = 47BG free |
| Display | 10.81” x 6.79” x 0.35” Less than 1.49 lbs VaporMg Magnesium (Silver) Volume up/down and power buttons |
| Processor | NVIDIA Tegra 4 (T40) 1.7GHz quad core |
| Memory | 2GB |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 4.0 low energy technology |
| Battery | Up to 10 hours of video playback 7–15 days idle life |
| Camera + A/V | 3.5MP front-facing camera 5MP rear-facing camera 1080p video capture Stereo speakers (digitally enhanced for fuller sound) Two microphones (with noise cancellation) |
| Ports | Full-size USB 3.0 MicroSDXC card reader Headset jack HD video out port Cover port |
| Sensors | Ambient light sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope Magnetometer |
| Weight | 1.49 pounds |
| Thickness | .89mm |
| Color | Magnesium (Silver) |
| Power supply | 24W power supply |
| Direct internet connectivity | No (but LTE is coming in 2014) |
| Availability | October 22, 2013 |
| Pre-installed app | Mail, Calendar, People, Internet Explorer 11, Photos, Music, Video, Games, Skype, Fresh Paint, Calculator, Reading List, Reader, Scan, News, Weather, Sports, Travel, Finance, Health & Fitness, Food & Drink, Help, Camera, SkyDrive, Sound Recorder and more |
| Price | 32GB $449 64GB $549 |
| Warranty | One-year limited hardware warranty |
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].