Refurbished Microsoft Surface 2-in-1 Laptops

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MS Surface is one of the best devices you can find for digital handwriting and note taking – a useful feature especially for students.

The problem – the Surface comes a little bit expensive.

That’s why taking slight older refurbished laptop is good option to save money and still be productive. Currently, there are refurbished models that go for $600 less than new last gen solution.

Our favorite model, that still makes a great device in 2020, is the Surface Pro 3. It has detachable keyboard witch makes it some kind of a hybrid between tablet and laptop.

Surface Pro 3 is not suitable for gaming, but if you settle for web surfing, note taking, coding, and light photo editing it’s perfect.

Let’s find more about it.

The Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface certified refurbished means it has been thoroughly checked, any issues have been fixed, and the laptop or tablet has been recertified by the Microsoft store.

Prices can drop significantly while the quality is still good – Surface is a premium line of products which are not only perfect solutions for students (who can’t carry a hefty laptop on top of all those books) but also for programmers and especially for artists.

Whatever you choose – and there are great deals on refurbished Surface devices – in our experience you’ll get a quality display, a great looking and sturdy body, a powerful Intel processor and a decent selection of RAM and SSD configurations to choose from.

Depending on your needs you can get the 2-in-1 Surface Pro, which has a few generations to choose from, the even smaller Surface Go, the super strong Surface Book or the Surface Laptop, in case you don’t actually need a detachable keyboard.

For more classic look, but still functional and compact, you can check other refurbished solutions like Asus ZenBook or Dell XPS 13.

Microsoft Refurbished Surface Pro

The Microsoft Surface Pro is a 2-in-1 Windows device which basically means you are getting a tablet that can be used as a touchscreen laptop. And not just because it supports a detachable keyboard but because of the powerful components inside, which turn it into a super portable ultrabook.

One important thing to note – none of the models comes with a keyboard and the newer ones are without a pen in the box, both are add-ons, and if you want them, you need to make sure that you have set aside a budget for them as well, unless they are specifically included in the refurbished offer you choose.

Surface Pro 4

Specification:

CPU: Intel Core i5-6300U @ 3.0 GHz | GPU: Intel HD 520 | RAM: 4GB DDR3 | Storage: 128GB  | Display: 12.3 inch @ 2736x1824 IPS 60 Hz | OS: Windows 10 Pro | Ports: USB 3.0, Mini DP | Release date: June 2015

Where to buy?

Seller	More info
Amazon	Availability and price
Newegg	Availability and price

The fourth generation Microsoft Surface Pro has a slightly larger display – 12.3 inches, thanks to the smaller bezels (casing remains really compact and light). It is not only ridiculously portable but with the decent specs, it could be your main machine for everyday use, since it also has a mini display port.

The Surface Pro 4 comes with either a Core m3, Core i5 or Core i7 processor and all are a good choice, depending on what you do with the device. The m3 is less powerful but has no fan, which makes it quieter. Not that the others are particularly loud, so no worries about that.

All in all, compared to previous generations, the Pro 4 is a faster, more powerful tablet and cooler to the touch. Not a good device for serious gaming, but it is perfect for note taking, documents and browsing.

And last but certainly not least – since it’s not the newest model on the block, a refurbished Surface Pro 4 can be found at a great price, indistinguishable from new.

Surface Pro 2017

Specification:

CPU: Intel Core i5 @ 2.6GHz | GPU: Intel HD 620 | RAM: 4GB DDR3 | Storage: 128GB  | Display: 12.3 inch @ 2736x1824 IPS 60 Hz | OS: Windows 10 Pro | Ports: USB 3.0, Mini DP | Release date: June 2017

Where to buy?

Seller	More info
Amazon	Availability and price
Newegg	Availability and price

At a first glance the Surface Pro 2017 is pretty hard to distinguish from the previous generation, except for very minor updates on the design and a lower maximum angle of repose, which is honestly not a very big deal.

However, there are major updates on the inside which make the 2017 model even better than previous Surface Pro devices.

The new pen is no longer included in the box and needs to be purchased separately (unless specifically mentioned in the refurbished offer you choose). However, it is a really good pen and works much better than previous models, especially for drawing, thanks to a few new features like tilt, for example.

Another thing that has also changed is the keyboard cover, which now comes in 3 subdued and rather stylish colors – it is still comfortable to use and it is still not included in the price, unless you find a deal that specifically mentions it. The older generation keyboard also works on the Pro 2017, so no need to spend money on a new one, if you already have it.

Surface Pro 6

Specification:

CPU: Intel Core i5-8250U @ 1.6GHz | GPU: Intel HD 620 | RAM: 8GB DDR3 | Storage: 256GB  | Display: 12.3 inch @ 2736x1824 IPS 60 Hz | OS: Windows 10 Pro | Ports: USB 3.0, Mini DP | Release date: June 2017

Where to buy?

Seller	More info
Amazon	Availability and price
Newegg	Availability and price

Surface Pro 6 looks a lot like the previous generation, except it also comes in black – the same design, same magnesium casing, same kickstand…

There are many changes on the inside however – most importantly, an Intel 8th gen quad core i5 or i7 CPU, which makes it powerful without the surface getting too hot regardless of how much you push it.

It might be a hybrid tablet – super light and thin – but it is more than capable, thanks to the excellent specs which include 8 or 16GB of RAM and a variety of SSDs, up to and including 1TB.

Another piece of good news is the battery life which has improved and is about an hour longer, compared to previous models. On the other hand, still no USB-C, so there’s that.

The bright and glossy LG display is 12.3 inches with lovely colors and contrast, and it works great with the Surface pen, especially for note taking, but also for drawing, making Surface Pro 6 a really good device for artists.

Microsoft Refurbished Surface Go

Specification:

CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y @ 1.6 GHz | GPU: Intel HD 615 | RAM: 8GB DDR3 | Storage: 128GB SSD  | Display: 10 inch @ 1800x1200 IPS 60 Hz | OS: Windows 10 Pro | Ports: USB-C, microSD, Headphone jack | Release date: June 2018

Where to buy?

Seller	More info
Amazon	Availability and price
Newegg	Availability and price

If you don’t think the Surface Pro line is exactly what you need, in the middle of 2018 Microsoft released the Surface Go. It is a 10-inch tablet that runs Windows 10 in S-mode, but you can switch to the full Win 10 Home if you really need it.

Obviously smaller and less powerful than the bigger 2-in-1 detachable devices, it is perfect for students, kids or people that travel a lot but really don’t need to get their ultrabooks out on a plane ride for example.

It’s not super powerful (runs on a Pentium processor) but chances are no one gets a 10-inch tablet to open a dozen programs anyway. It has a really cool design though and is obviously a premium device.

The Surface Go, as the name suggests, is the most portable model you can get and it’s a great deal to get it refurbished, since it means getting the higher specs for a lower price. Again, keep in mind the keyboard cover and pen are optional.

Microsoft Refurbished Surface Book / Book 2

Specification:

CPU: Intel Core M @ 2.1 GHz | GPU: Intel HD 520 | RAM: 8GB DDR3 | Storage: 128GB SSD  | Display: 13.5 inch @ 3000x2000 IPS 60 Hz | OS: Windows 10 Pro | Ports: USB 3, Mini DisplayPort | Release date: October 2015

Where to buy?

Seller	More info
Amazon	Availability and price
Newegg	Availability and price

Unlike the previous Microsoft Surface devices – the Surface Pro, for example, which is a tablet that can be used as a laptop – the Surface Book is first and foremost a 13.5-inch touch laptop.

But it does separate into a tablet and keyboard, at the touch of a button.

And unlike the detachable keyboard covers in other 2-in-1 devices, the Surface Book has a sturdy keyboard in a magnesium casing, that looks and feels just like a laptop. The keyboard also has a second battery and can hold an optional NVIDIA dedicated graphics card.

The second generation – the Surface Book 2 – has two versions: a standard 13.5-inch and a 15-inch model, which is even more powerful with an Nvidia GTX 1060 GPU, Intel’s 8th-gen i7 processor and two active cooling systems.

The Surface Book 2 is perfect for artists, even struggling artists, since as we’ve mentioned before, getting a refurbished device means a much lower price for the same performance.

Microsoft Refurbished Surface Laptop / Laptop 2

Surface Laptop

Specification:

CPU: Intel Core i5 @ 2.5 GHz | GPU: Intel HD 620 | RAM: 8GB DDR3 | Storage: 128GB SSD  | Display: 13.5 inch @ 2255x1504 IPS 60 Hz | OS: Windows 10 Pro | Ports: USB 3, Mini DisplayPort | Release date: June 2015

Where to buy?

Seller	More info
Amazon	Availability and price
Newegg	Availability and price

After designing a series of 2-in-1 detachable devices, Microsoft unveiled the Surface laptop – a so-called “traditional” design, which in fact is very distinctive and super cool. If design matters to you, the Surface Laptop will make you very, very happy.

An instantly recognizable machine, the Surface Laptop has a unique looking Alcantara keyboard deck, available in four different colors and really pleasant to the touch.

The keyboard itself is very nice and the touchpad is also a pleasure to work with, even though with the touchscreen it is usually not used a whole lot.

A thin and light 13.5-inch ultrabook, the first generation has an Intel Kaby Lake 7th gen i5 and i7 CPUs with Intel HD 620 or 640 graphics.

As mentioned before, as with all Surface devices, get the RAM and SSD configuration you need – you will not be getting inside the chassis to upgrade.

Surface Laptop 2

Specification:

CPU: Intel Core i5 @ 2.5 GHz | GPU: Intel HD 620 | RAM: 8GB DDR3 | Storage: 256GB SSD  | Display: 13.5 inch @ 2255x1504 IPS 60 Hz | OS: Windows 10 Pro | Ports: USB 3, Mini DisplayPort | Release date: October 2018

Where to buy?

Seller	More info
Amazon	Availability and price
Newegg	Availability and price

The Surface Laptop 2 is the second generation of the line and it is a sweet machine that keeps all the good things about the original – like the lovely design and build quality, for example, and improves greatly on performance.

The 13.5-inch touch display is even better than expected, the keyboard is great, CPU, RAM and SSD options are all very good – as a whole, a great Windows 10 device.

And speaking of Windows, logging in is a breeze thanks to a bug-free Windows Hello facial recognition and a front webcam on top of the display. A quick comparison with many other laptops shows that you can be logged in literally before others have opened their devices.

There are many pros to this laptop and it is worth noting that the biggest con mentioned is usually the price – a new Surface Laptop 2 will cost you quite a bit. Of course, that’s not the case if you get it refurbished – you get a premium, high-end machine for a much lower than the original price.

Is it worth buying refurbished MS Surface?

Actually getting a refurbished Microsoft Surface is one of the best deals out there – as we’ve already pointed out, these are really premium, top of the line machines, which can be hard for many people to afford.

Refurbished devices will cost you a lot less and you are still getting a high-end product that looks and works like new.

Thanks to the build quality, a Microsoft Surface 2-in-1 detachable or laptop will last much longer than a brand new, cheaper model and it will certainly look much, much cooler. Nowadays design really does matter and Surface devices are just a pleasure to work with.

Another thing worth mentioning is the Microsoft warranty which you get when buying a recertified product, which has been thoroughly examined and issues, if there were any in the first place, have been properly fixed.

As always, the first thing you have to be sure of is what you need, depending on what you plan to use your new refurbished Microsoft Surface for.

After that you generally have the choice between an older model – there are amazing deals on those if you plan to just get some work done in Word or Excel, browse the net or watch videos, or a newer, more powerful machine, that is still well below the original price.

Where to buy Microsoft Surface computers?

If you have decided to get a refurbished Microsoft Surface device, there are many good options out there. Make sure to check specifications carefully and you will get a great machine with a Microsoft warranty, to keep your mind at ease.

For US residents check out the following sites for a great selection:

• Amazon
• Best Buy
• Newegg
• Microsoft certified refurbished 

If you are UK-based your best bet is one of the suggestions below:

• laptopsdirect uk

And the following are our top suggestions for anyone in Canada, looking to get a refurbished Microsoft Surface tablet or laptop:

• Best Buy Canada
• Amazon Canada
• Newegg