Mini review video: Our verdict on the Surface Book in under a minute
Did you read our Surface Book review? We know quite a few of you did -- this turned out to be one of the most popular reviews Engadget has run all entire year. That said, in case you missed it, here's a quick recap: Despite the fact that this was Microsoft's very first attempt at crafting a proper laptop, it actually got most things right. The device's magnesium case and snake-like "Fulcrum" hinge give the Surface Book a premium but distinctive look. The keyboard and trackpad are both comfortable to use. Performance is fast, with some specs you won't find on most other 13-inch laptops in this weight class. Battery life is insanely long -- up to 14 hours in our tests. What's more, when you detach the 13.5-inch screen, it becomes an impossibly light 1.6-pound tablet, and the included pen works well too.
All told, there are very few downsides. Perhaps the most disappointing is that battery life for just the tablet is pretty skimpy, at three hours, and the screen also wobbles a bit once you reattach it to the keyboard dock. Also, though the Surface Book weighs about the same as similarly powerful machines like the 13-inch MacBook Pro, it still feels a bit heavy compared to other flagship Windows laptops. Even so, though we very much hope the Surface Book 2 is a bit lighter with a sturdier hinge, the first-gen edition has earned our strong recommendation. Get a closer look in the mini review video above, and then check out our full review when you have time for a long read.
