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Home » Devices » Surface Pro 2 specs, features, and tips
Surface Pro 2 specs, features, and tips
Microsoft Surface Pro 2 is the second generation of Surface Pro series, introduced by Microsoft on October 22, 2013. It has a better performance and longer battery life with the fourth generation of Intel Core Processors.
Surface Pro 2 came out on September 23rd, 2013, at the Microsoft Surface event, with a starting price of $899 for the model with Intel Core i5-4200U, 4GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 RAM, and 64GB of SSD. It comes with a better display, performance, battery life, and a two-position kickstand.
Microsoft, at the event, introduced Surface 2, Surface Pro 2, Touch Cover 2, Type Cover 2, Surface Pro Docking station, and more.
What’s new
Surface Pro 2 brings a lot of improvements over the original Surface Pro. One of those is the 46% color accuracy improvement to the high-resolution touch screen with the addition of Dolby Audio support. It’s crucial for a professional graphics designer who uses software like Adobe Photoshop to get the most color accuracy possible on the go.
The tablet comes with the new 4th generation Intel Haswell processor, and you can configure up to 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of SSD as internal storage.
Improved kickstand
Surface Pro 2 kickstand supports two angled positions
The new generation also introduces an upgrade to the kickstand with a second position angle at 55 degrees, which is the perfect balance when using it on your lap.
New touch and type cover
Surface Pro 2 type cover is available in four colors
The tablet will support all existing touch and type keyboard covers plus the new releases of Surface Touch Cover 2, Type Cover 2, and Power Cover. The new Surface Type Cover is thinner and feels like a real keyboard. On top of that, the cover also has three steps backlit, perfect for working at night.
New docking station
Docking station for Surface Pro/Pro 2
Microsoft also announced the new docking station designed for Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2. It has three USB 2.0 ports, a USB 3.0 port, a mini DisplayPort, an Ethernet port, a headphone jack, a microphone jack, and a power connector. With all the improvements, accessories, and dock, the Surface Pro 2 can easily replace most desktops.
New 4th Gen Intel processors
The new fourth generation of Intel Haswell processors brings a lot of improvements and optimizations, especially for the battery life. The new chips are very efficient compared to its predecessor. It has two CPU variants: the Intel Core i5-4200U and the Intel Core i5-4300U.
The i5-4300U chip offers a considerably higher frequency 300MHz for the base and turbo boost frequency over the lower tier. The chip also has 100MHz faster boost speed Intel HD graphics, which offer slightly better gaming performance.
Processor
Intel Core i5-4200U
Intel Core i5-4300U
Base Frequency
1.6 GHz
1.9 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency
2.6 GHz
2.9 GHz
Thermal Design Power
15 Watt
Level 1 Cache
128 KB
Level 2 Cache
512 KB
Level 3 Cache
3 MB
Max Memory Size
16 GB
Graphics
Intel HD Graphic 4400
Graphics Frequency
200 – 1000 MHz
200 – 1100 MHz
Graphics Max Memory
2 GB
Graphics DirectX
11.2/12
Graphics OpenGL
4.3
# Display Supported
3
Surface Pro 2 processor options
Tips and tricks
Discover how to get the most out of your Surface Pro 2 with our tips and tricks. Our comprehensive guide will help you optimize battery life, enhance performance, boost productivity, and troubleshoot effectively.
Catch up on the latest information about the new Surface Pro 2 features and fixes introduced via driver and firmware updates from Microsoft. Here are the last five releases:
Having a thorough understanding of the device you intend to buy is crucial before making a purchase. To help you with this, we have prepared an all-inclusive list of frequently asked questions that will answer all your queries.
The FAQ covers all aspects of the new Surface Pro 2, including display, battery life, performance, software, and design, ensuring you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Microsoft Surface Pro 2 has dimensions of 10.81” x 6.81” x 0.53” (275 mm x 173 mm x 13.46 mm).
3How much does the Surface Pro 2 weigh?
Microsoft Surface Pro 2 is weight at 2lbs (~910g).
4What ports are on the Surface Pro 2?
Here are all the available ports on the Surface Pro 2:
1 x Full-size USB 3.0
1 x 3.5mm headphone jack
1 x Surface Charging Port
1 x MicroSDXC card reader (up to 64GB)
1 x Surface Pro Type Cover port.
5Does Surface Pro 2 have a camera?
Yes, there are two cameras on Surface Pro 2:
720p HD rear-facing camera.
720p HD front-facing camera.
6What processor is in the Surface Pro 2?
Microsoft Surface Pro 2 has two processor configurations:
4th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-4200U
Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics 4400.
Base Frequency: 1.50 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency: 2.60 GHz
Cache: 3 MB
2 cores, 4 threads
4th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-4300U
Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics 4400.
Base Frequency: 1.90 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency: 2.90 GHz
Cache: 3 MB
2 cores, 4 threads
7Does Surface Pro 2 include a pen?
Yes, Surface Pro 2 does come with a Surface Pen out of the box. It uses the old Surface Pen with Wacom technology which doesn’t have a battery.
8Does the new Surface Pro 2 come with a keyboard?
No, you will need to 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.
9When did the Surface Pro 2 come out?
Microsoft Surface Pro 2 was:
Announced on September 23, 2013.
Preordered on September 24, 2013.
Available on Oct October 22, 2013.
10Can you upgrade the RAM on Surface Pro 2?
No, you can’t upgrade your Surface Pro 2 RAM as it was soldered directly onto the motherboard.
11Is the Surface Pro 2 fanless?
No, All Surface Pro 2 comes with a fan inside for active cooling.
12How long will Microsoft support Surface Pro 2?
According to Surface lifecycle documentation, Microsoft Surface Pro 2 reached the end of its driver and firmware updates on April 10, 2018. The company promises to support all Surface devices starting from its release date for at least four years. In this case, the Surface Pro 2 has already received four years of driver and firmware updates from Microsoft.
Device
Release Date
End of Servicing Date
Surface Pro 2
October 22, 2013
April 10, 2018
After the end of servicing date, Surface Pro 2 devices will continue to receive Windows OS feature and security updates as long as it meets minimum hardware requirements for any future Windows OS. Currently, Windows 10 is the latest supported operating system for Surface Pro 2.
1Can Microsoft Surface Pro 2 run Photoshop?
Absolutely yes. Microsoft Surface Pro 2 equipped with the 4th Gen Intel® Core™ processors combined with Intel® HD Graphics, is powerful enough to handle most tasks available on Photoshop.
2Can the Surface Pro 2 run games?
Yes, you can play many game titles at low or medium settings.
3Can you code or program on Surface Pro 2?
For writing code, Microsoft Surface Pro 2 is more than powerful enough to handle most code editors such as VS Code, Atom, or Notepad++. Combined with its great tactile keys, it’s the perfect mobile development machine you want to have. It’s also capable of compiling complex codes on Visual Studio or Android Studio as well.
4Is Surface Pro 2 64-bit?
Yes, Microsoft Surface Pro 2 uses the 4th Gen Intel® Core™ processors which supports 64-bit instruction and it does come with a 64-bit version of Windows 8.1 Pro or Windows 10 Pro.
5Is Surface Pro 2 good for drawing?
Yes, drawing is really smooth on most apps such as Adobe Photoshop, Windows Ink, Sketchable, Bamboo Ink, OneNote, and more. It supports the latest Surface Pen with 1024 levels of pressure.
6Is Surface Pro 2 good for students?
Yes, it is. Surface Pro 2 now has a much better battery life compared to its predecessor, so you can take advantage of all kinds of note-taking including typing, drawing, and touch throughout the day. You will never get stuck on taking note of all kinds of information you want.
7Will Surface Pro 2 run Office?
Yes, Surface Pro 2 comes with a Microsoft Office 365 30-day trial. Office apps will run smoothly on Microsoft Surface Pro 2.
8Will the new Surface Dock work with Surface Pro 2?
No, The new Surface Dock required a new Surface Connect interface which isn’t available on Surface Pro 2.
1What is the battery capacity of Microsoft Surface Pro 2?
Microsoft Surface Pro 2 has a battery capacity of 42 Wh (5,676 mAh, 7.4V). For more information, check:
You can charge your Surface Pro 2 by using the OEM charger that came with your Surface Pro 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 Pro 2. It’s a magnet and reversible connector and it’s an official and recommended charging method by Microsoft.
3Can I charge Surface Pro 2 via USB?
No, the USB port on Surface Pro 2 is used for data transfer only.
1Does Surface Pro 2 run Windows 10?
Yes, it does. Surface Pro 2 shipped with a full version of Windows 8.1 Pro and can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for free.
2Can you download apps on Surface Pro 2?
Yes, you can. You can download safe and Microsoft-verified apps and games from Microsoft Store. Since it’s a full version of Windows 8.1 or 10, you can also download and install any apps from any source you’d like to.
3Does Surface Pro 2 run full Windows?
Yes, Surface Pro 2 comes with full Windows 8.1 Pro.
4How do I reset my Surface Pro 2?
To reset your Surface Pro 2 on Windows 10, plug in your Surface Pro 2 so you don’t run out of power during the refresh.
Open Settings > Update & Security.
Select Recovery.
Under “Reset this PC“, select Get started.
Choose either Keep my files or Remove everything.
If you choose to Remove everything, you can choose to clean only the drive where Windows is installed and all drives.
Next, you will have the option to just remove my files and remove files and clean the drive. The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if you are recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you are keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files.
Select Reset. Surface Pro 2 will restart and the Surface logo will appear during the reset process (this can take several minutes).
5Is Microsoft Office free on Surface Pro 2?
No, the 10.6-inch Surface Pro 2 comes with a free Office 365 30-day trial, and you need to purchase a subscription to continue using the full Office suite when the trial period ends.
6Does Surface Pro 2 need antivirus?
In most cases, you don’t need a third-party antivirus. Windows 10 on Surface Pro 2 has a built-in Windows Defender for virus and threat protection out of the box. It’s free and receives definition updates regularly via Windows Update.
1Is the Surface Pro 2 a tablet or a laptop?
It’s a 2-in-1 tablet or laptop. It can function as a tablet and also a laptop when connected to a Surface Pro Type Cover.
2What is the company that makes Surface Pro 2?
Surface Pro 2 is a product among other Surface-branded products that are made by the Microsoft company.
3Can I use older Surface Pro pens on Surface Pro 2?
Yes, you can. The new Surface Pro 2 uses the same Surface Pen as the original Surface Pro.
Here are the most frequently requested comparisons for Surface Pro 2:
Evan Forrest is the Editor-in-Chief of SurfaceTip, where he researches and writes articles about Surface-related news, tips, and reviews. He has been using Surface devices since the first release of the original Surface Pro and currently uses a Surface Laptop Studio as his full-time daily driver machine. Additionally, he owns multiple Surface devices, including Surface RT, Surface 3, Surface Go 1-2, Surface Pro 3, Surface Book 1-2, Surface Laptop 3 and many Surface accessories to aid him in his research and article writing.
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