Surface 2 is aSurface-seriesWindows RThybrid tablet computer created byMicrosoft. It was unveiled on September 23, 2013, and released on October 22, 2013 and is the successor to theoriginal Surface. As of January 2015, Microsoft no longer manufactures Surface 2, and providedsecurity updates for the device until January 2023.^[5] Microsoft's next attempt at a Windows-on-ARM tablet would be theSurface Pro X, released in 2019, six years after the Surface 2.

Pre-orders for the Surface 2 were opened on September 24, 2013, and the device was released on October 22, 2013. Asvalue-added services, the Surface 2 includes 200 GB of additionalOneDrive storage for 2 years, 1 year of freeSkype calls tolandlines, and access toSkype WiFi hotspots.^[6]

In January 2015, after its stock sold out onMicrosoft Store online, Microsoft confirmed that it had discontinued further production of Surface 2.^[1] After Surface 2, theNokia Lumia 2520 was the only remaining Windows RT device on the market, before that being discontinued as well just a week later.

Made ofmagnesium alloy and toughened glass, the outer shell of Surface 2 maintains a similar design to its predecessor, but in a "bare metal" silver color scheme with a black bezel. Surface 2 is also slightly thinner and lighter than the previous model. Surface 2 uses a 1.7 GHz quad-coreNvidiaTegra 4 chipset with 2 GB of RAM; Microsoft claimed that the new chipset and other improvements to its internal hardware made the Surface 2 three to four times faster than the original Surface, and that it had 10 hours of battery life playing videos. Unlike the original Surface (which used a 1366 x 768 display), the Surface 2 uses a1080p display, the same as in Surface Pro 2. This display is claimed to have almost 50% better color than the previous version, as well as the lowest reflectivity among competing tablets.The device also includes a full-sizeUSB 3.0 port, 32 or 64 GB ofinternal storage, and aMicroSD slot. The Surface 2 ships withWindows RT 8.1.^{[7][8][9][10]}

The4G LTE model of Surface 2 was launched on March 18, 2014, and comes as a 64 GB model only.^[11] AT&T is the Microsoft cellular partner and Surface 2 4G LTE comes with AT&T "All Access" app pre-installed but the device actually ships unlocked. The 4G models also come with GPS, Assisted GPS, and GLONASS. The Surface 2 includes what Microsoft calls a silver-magnesium color that is more scratch resistant compared to the original Surface.

The Surface 2 ships withWindows RT 8.1 and Office 2013 RT, unlike theoriginal Surface which launched with Office 2013 RT Beta (but which later received the final release version). Other bundled apps include Mail, Calendar, People (contacts),Bing apps including Food and Drink, Health and Fitness, Weather, Travel, Stocks, and Sports. These apps were later renamed to be MSN apps. Just like its predecessor, desktop apps other than those already bundled with the OS are forbidden to run on the Surface 2, so the device, unlike its successor,Surface 3, cannot be classified as a2-in-1 PC.

A notable change from the Surface to the Surface 2 is the hiding of the desktop tile from the Start Screen.^[15]

Updated versions of the Surface's cover accessories are available for the Surface 2; the Touch Cover 2 and Type Cover 2 are slightly thinner than the previous versions and now include a "dynamic"backlight system. The Touch Cover 2 has over 1,092 sensors on it compared to just 80 on the original Touch Cover.^[16] The keyswitch length of the Type Cover 2 have been reduced from 2.5 mm to 1.5 mm. A new Power Cover accessory was also available to add 30Wh additional battery capacity to the device. Accompanying the Touch Cover 2 and Type Cover 2 was a wireless adapter that allows them to be connected up to 30 feet away viaBluetooth. An updatedkickstand can now be tilted at a 55-degree angle alongside the original 22-degree angle. During its unveiling, Microsoft also showcased the Music Cover; a variation of the Touch Cover that serves as aDJ mixer with playback controls, a 16-buttonsampler, and three sliders. While mainstream public release has been announced, it will be distributed to musicians through theSurface Remix Project campaign.^[10][17]

Surface 2 Configurations[14]
Price Tier (USD)	CPU	Integrated GPU	RAM	Internal storage	LTE
$449	Nvidia Tegra 4	Geforce ULP	2 GB	32 GB
$549				64 GB
$679

Initial reviews of the Surface 2 have been mixed. Reviewers have generally been positive about the device's hardware and improvements when compared to the original Surface. However, the Surface 2 was often criticized for a lack of support for traditional Windows desktop programs and the low number of high quality apps available from the Windows Store.^[18][19]

In a financial report from Microsoft in second quarter 2014, revenue more than doubled from $400 million in the first quarter, to $893 million. However, Microsoft still lost $39 million since the development costs had equaled to around $932 million. But skeptics acknowledged that the growth was there despite still losing money on the Surface brand.^[20]

The Surface 2 has been reported to have some overheating issues. Microsoft delivered an update to try to fix the issue.^[21]

Timeline of Surface devices v t e
Sources:Microsoft Devices BlogMicrosoft Surface StoreMicrosoft Surface for Business store

Official website

• Microsoft Surface
• Tablet computers introduced in 2013
• Products and services discontinued in 2015
• Windows RT devices

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