Surface 2 specs, features, and tips

Full specs

	Surface 2 See at Amazon Compare
Key Features
What's new	Better design It’s now thinner (8.9mm), lighter (522g), and new platinum magnesium exterior. Better performance Better single-core and multi-core performance and much better graphics performance (72 graphics cores). Better battery Up to 10 hours of video playback. New kickstand Now in two angles, original 22-degree, and new 55-degree. Better display Higher display resolution with Full HD (1920 x 1080) display. Optional mobile broadband It comes with optional 4G LTE support. More Full-size USB 3.0 port, 3.5MP front, and 5MP rear camera, new thinner backlit type cover.
What's missing	Can't run desktop apps You can't run desktop apps (x86 or x64) on this device. The only way to get apps is through the Windows Store. No Windows 10 The latest OS you can get is Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 Platinum color only No longer available in black color.

Availability	Surface 2
Released	2013
Release Info	Introduced: September 23, 2013 Pre-ordered: September 24, 2013 Released: October 22, 2013
Pricing	Surface 2 Wi-Fi $449 - 2 GB \| 32 GB $549 - 2 GB \| 64 GB Surface 2 4G LTE $679 - 2 GB \| 64 GB

Surface 2 Price
	Microsoft 10.5 Multi-Touch Surface Go 2, Intel Core m3 8100Y, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 615, Windows 10 Home in S Mode, Silver, QUQ-00001 (Renewed) By Microsoft $199.99 $292.16 32% OFF	See at Amazon
	Microsoft Surface Go 2 - 10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 4GB Memory - 64GB - Wifi - Platinum By Microsoft $360.00 $399.99 10% OFF	See at Amazon
	Microsoft Surface Book 2 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB) - 13.5in (Renewed) By Microsoft $234.03	See at Amazon
	Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (2023) - 14.4" Touchscreen - Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, Windows 11, Platinum Color Copilot By Microsoft $1,975.55 $2,399.99 18% OFF	See at Amazon
	Microsoft Surface Go 2-10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - WiFi - Platinum (Latest Model) (Renewed) By Microsoft $279.00	See at Amazon
	Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB) - Platinum (Renewed) By Microsoft $349.00 $434.00 20% OFF	See at Amazon

Display	Surface 2
Size	10.6 Inches
Info	Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (2M Pixels) Density: 208 PPI Aspect ratio: 16:9 ClearType Full HD Display Touch: 5 points multi-touch

Exterior	Surface 2
Dimensions	10.81” x 6.79” x 0.35” (275 mm x 172 mm x 8.9 mm) Width: 10.81” (275 mm) Height: 6.79” (172 mm) Thickness: 0.35” (8.9 mm)
Weight	Surface 2: 1.15 lbs (522 g) Surface 2 with Keyboard: 1.7 lbs (771 g)
Colors	Silver
Keyboard and Trackpad	Surface Type Cover Not included Keyboard: Activation: Moving (mechanical) keys. Layout: QWERTY, full row of function keys (F1-F12). 4 directional keys; Windows and Media Controls Keys. LED backlighting. Trackpad: Two-finger multitouch gesture trackpad.
Ports	1 x Full-size USB 3.0 1 x microSD™ card reader 1 x Surface Charging Port 1 x Headset jack 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1 x Cover port 1 x Nano SIM card slot (Surface 2 with LTE only)

Internal Specs	Surface 2
Processor	NVIDIA Tegra 4 T40 4 cores, 1.70 → 1.90 GHz, 2MB Cache,
Integrated Graphics	NVIDIA Tegra 4 T40 NVIDIA GeForce ULP graphics 72 Graphics Cores, 672 MHz
Memory	2GB of RAM
Storage	32GB 64GB eMMC

Connectivity	Surface 2
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n compatible.
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0 low energy technology
	Optional LTE Nano SIM Tray 2G GSM (Quadband: 850/900/1800/1900) 3G UMTS (Bands 1, 2, 5) 4G LTE (Bands 4, 7, 17)

Battery	Surface 2
Size	31.5 Wh
Battery Life	Up to 10 hours of video playback
Power Supply	24W proprietary power supply

Software	Surface 2
OS	Windows RT 8.1
Built-in Apps	Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT with Outlook

Camera & Audio	Surface 2
Camera	3.5MP front-facing camera with 1080p HD video 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD video
Audio	Dual microphones Stereo speakers with digitally enhanced for fuller sound

Misc	Surface 2
Sensors	Ambient light sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope Magnetometer
In the box	Surface 2 Power supply Quick Start Guide Safety and warranty documents
Warranty	One-year limited hardware warranty
More	Casing: Magnesium Kickstand: 2 positions Physical buttons: volumes, power

Processor Specifications


Processor	NVIDIA Tegra 4 with power-saving 5th core
Processor Cores	4 + 1
Single-Core Frequency	1.9 GHz
Quad-Core Frequency	1.7 GHz
L1 Cache	64 KB
L2 Cache	2 MB
Graphics	NVIDIA
Graphics Cores	72
Graphics Frequency	672 MHz

Tips and tricks

Learn how to utilize your Surface 2 entirely with our tips and tricks. Our comprehensive guide will assist you in maximizing battery life, enhancing performance, boosting productivity, and efficiently solving any issues that may arise.

Basic

Advanced

Battery and power

Troubleshooting

Buying guide

Official pages

Communities

FAQs

Before making a purchase decision, it’s essential to have a good understanding of the device you are considering. To help you with that, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions regarding the Microsoft Surface 2. Our comprehensive guide covers all aspects of the device, including display, battery life, performance, software, and design. We hope that our Surface 2 FAQ will answer all your queries.

General
Display
Battery
Performance
Software
Miscellaneous

How much does a Surface 2 cost?

There are three configurations of Surface 2:

$449 – 2GB | 32GB
$549 – 2GB | 64GB
$679 – 2GB | 64GB | 4G LTE

What are the dimensions of Surface 2?

Microsoft Surface 2 has dimensions of 10.81″ x 6.79″ x 0.35″ (275 mm x 173 mm x 8.9 mm).

How much does the Surface 2 weigh?

Microsoft Surface 2 is weight at:

WiFi – 1.49 lbs (675 g).
4G LTE – 1.51 lbs (684 g).

What ports are on the Surface 2?

Here are all the available ports on the Surface 2:

1 x Full-size USB 3.0
1 x Micro HDMI video out port
1 x 3.5mm headphone jack
1 x Surface proprietary charging port
1 x MicroSDXC card reader
1 x Surface Cover port.
1 x Nano SIM card slot (Surface 2 [AT&T 4G-LTE] only)

Does Surface 2 have a camera?

Yes, there are two cameras on Surface 2:

3.5-megapixel front-facing camera.
5.0-megapixel rear-facing camera.

What processor is in Surface 2?

Microsoft Surface 2 has only one processor configuration:

NVIDIA Tegra 4

Graphics: NVIDIA.
Single-Core Frequency: 1.90 GHz
Quad-Core Frequency: 1.70 GHz
Cache: 2 MB
Graphics Cores: 72
4 +1 cores

Does Surface 2 support the Microsoft Surface Pen?

No, it doesn’t. Microsoft Surface 2 devices don’t have the inking capability.

Does the new Surface 2 come with a keyboard?

No, you must purchase the keyboard (Surface Touch Cover 2 or Surface Type Cover 2) separately. The Surface Touch Cover 2 costs about $120, while the Surface Type Cover 2 costs about $130.

When was the Surface 2 released?

Microsoft Surface 2 was:

Announced on September 23, 2013.
Preordered on September 24, 2013.
Available on October 22, 2013.

Can you upgrade the RAM on Surface 2?

No, you can’t upgrade your Surface 2 RAM as it was soldered directly onto the motherboard.

Is the Surface 2 fanless?

Yes, All Surface 2 is fanless.

What size is Surface 2’s display?

Surface 2 has a 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD Display.

What is the resolution of Surface 2?

Surface 2 has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a pixel density of 208ppi (pixels per Inch). For more information, check Microsoft Surface display size and resolution – a complete list.

What is the aspect ratio of Surface 2?

Surface 2 has a 16:9 aspect ratio.

How long does the Surface 2 last?

Microsoft Surface 2 lasts 10 hours of battery life for video playback, tested by Microsoft.

What is the battery capacity of Microsoft Surface 2?

Microsoft Surface 2 has a battery capacity of 31.5 Wh (4,257 mAh, 7.4V). For more information, check Microsoft Surface battery capacity – a complete list.

How do I charge my Surface 2?

You can charge your Surface 2 by using the OEM charger that came with your Surface 2 –Plug the charger into the power source and plug the Surface charging connector into the charging port on the right side of the Surface 2. It’s a magnet and reversible connector, an official and recommended charging method by Microsoft.

Can I charge Surface 2 via USB?

No, the USB port on Surface 2 is used for data transfer only.

Can Microsoft Surface 2 run Photoshop?

No, it can’t. Surface 2 uses the ARM processor, which cannot run traditional desktop software.

Can the Surface 2 run games?

Yes, you can. However, you can download and play games available on Windows Store only.

Can you code or program on Surface 2?

No, it isn’t an ideal device for coding or programming. Most of the programming tools aren’t available for Windows RT. However, some code editors are available for an essential code-writing assistant on the Windows Store.

Will Surface 2 run Office?

Yes, Surface 2 comes with a free Microsoft Office RT 2013. Office apps will run smoothly on Microsoft Surface 2.

Does Surface 2 run Windows 10?

No, it doesn’t. The latest update for Surface 2 and Surface RT is Windows 8.1 Update 3, which includes an option to switch between the Start Menu and the Start Screen.

Can you download apps on Surface 2?

Yes, you can. You can download safe and Microsoft-verified apps and games from Microsoft Store. However, you can’t download and install any apps from elsewhere.

Does Surface 2 run full Windows?

No, Surface 2 ships with Windows RT 8.1, which works exclusively with apps available in the Windows Store.

Is Microsoft Office free on Surface 2?

Yes, Surface 2 comes with a Free Microsoft Office RT 2013, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook RT 2013.

Does Surface 2 need antivirus?

In most cases, you don’t need a third-party antivirus. Windows 8.1 on Surface 2 has a built-in Windows Defender for virus and threat protection. And, since Surface 2 runs Windows RT 8.1 operating system, the traditional virus will not even execute.

Is Surface 2 a tablet or a laptop?

It’s a 2-in-1 tablet or laptop. It can be a tablet or laptop connected to a Surface Type Cover 2.

What is the company that makes Surface 2?

Surface 2 is a product among other Surface-branded products made by Microsoft.