Are there any alternatives?

If you want a touchscreen laptop with a 3:2 display, the best option is the Huawei MateBook X Pro. It is a bit more expensive, however, and has funky webcam positioning.

　　You might also consider the Surface Pro 6, which is similarly priced to the Surface Laptop 2. It’s like the clamshell in a lot of ways, except that it’s a 2-in-1. You can pick up the tablet alone for $799, though we highly recommend adding on the Type Cover keyboard, which pushes the Core i5 model up to close to the Surface Laptop 2’s price. The typing experience on the Surface Laptop 2 is obviously much better than the detachable keyboard, but the Surface Pro 6’s portability and tablet features make it stand out. There’s still a lot more to compare, so you can read other insights we wrote about the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2 if you want to know more.

　　Lastly, if you just want the best laptop you can buy, pick up the Dell XPS 13. It has better battery life, more performance, smaller bezels, and a futureproofed port selection. A similarly-configured XPS 13 is $65 more than the Surface Laptop 2, and a Core i3 model is offered for $200 less. Read up on how the specs of the Surface Laptop 2 and the Dell XPS 13 stack up against each other in our article about these devices.

　　

How long will it last?

The Surface Laptop 2 will physically last you four or five years, but performance and port selection will only last you a couple. Because Microsoft went with a processor that was already a year behind, that’s one less year this laptop will feel snappy and powerful.

　　You aren’t gaining anything special in terms of support either — just a standard limited one-year warranty. Microsoft does offer an extended two-year warranty, but you’ll have to pay extra for it.

　　

Should you buy it?

No. You’re better off picking up one of its competitors or waiting for an update later this fall.

　　If you’re hoping to find a discount, take a look at some of the best laptop deals and Surface Pro deals we’ve found for today.