Microsoft cuts Surface Book prices with new no-dGPU options

It's undeniable that the Surface Book has one of the most unique designs in mobile computing. (Source: Microsoft)

Microsoft has cut the barrier of entry for the Surface Book by US$200 on both the high and low ends by offering i5/128GB/8GB as well as i7/1TB/16GB SKUs without dedicated GPUs. While the Surface Book is still running on Skylake and lacks Thunderbolt 3 or USB Type-C, it is still an attractive device due to its unique design, active stylus, and solid build quality.

Douglas Black, Published 03/10/2017

Microsoft's Surface Book is now available for US$200 less than the previous entry-level price for the acclaimed series of convertibles. Perhaps in a bid to compete with Apple's MacBook Pro 13 for student customers, the Surface Book is available in an i5/128GB/8GB configuration without a dedicated GPU for US$1299. On the high end, the US$3199 i7/1TB/16GB model is available without a dedicated GPU for US$2999 as well.

When compared to the MacBook Pro 13, the new SKUs make the device much more attractive to those looking for a flexible and portable device to do basic work or take notes on, especially if they need active stylus support. However, when compared to other ultrabooks on the Windows side, it doesn't quite look so appealing when considering the 6th generation CPU, lack of USB Type-C, and limited storage. Coming from the entry-level model, if you want to upgrade to 256GB of storage, it will cost you US$1699—the same price as the i5 model with the dedicated GPU, confusingly.

Still, if you place design and extra functionality at a premium, the lowered price for a Surface Book does make it a more attractive purchase than before.