It was late 2013. Steve Ballmer was about to exit the stage, and Microsoft was in the middle of a massive identity crisis. They wanted to beat the iPad. They really, really wanted to prove that a tablet could be a "real" computer, but the Surface 2 was caught in a weird limbo that most people still don't quite understand. It wasn't the "Pro" model with the heavy Intel chip. It was the thinner, lighter sibling that ran on something called Windows RT 8.1.
If you bought one back then, you probably remember that shiny, vapor-magnesium casing. It felt expensive. Honestly, it felt better than the iPad Air in some ways, especially with that two-stage kickstand that finally let you use the thing on your lap without it flopping over. But the software? That was a different story.
The Surface 2 and the Windows RT Gamble
Basically, the Surface 2 was built on ARM architecture. This is the same kind of tech that powers your smartphone today, but in 2013, it was a massive gamble for a desktop-first company like Microsoft. Because it used an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor, it couldn't run your old .exe files. You couldn't just download Chrome or Photoshop from the web and install them. You were stuck with the Windows Store.
And let's be real: the Windows Store in 2013 was a ghost town.
Most people bought the Surface 2 thinking it was a full laptop replacement. They'd get it home, try to install their favorite niche accounting software or a specific game, and realize they were boxed in. It was frustrating. Yet, looking back from 2026, the Surface 2 was actually a pioneer. It was trying to do what the M1/M2/M3 iPads and the "Windows on ARM" laptops are finally perfecting now. It was just ten years too early.
Why the hardware was actually incredible
I still think about the build quality. The Surface 2 moved away from the dark "Black" finish of the original Surface RT and went with a "Sliver" look. It was gorgeous. It had a 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD display. At 1080p, it was a massive jump over the grainy screen on the first model. Reading text was crisp. Watching movies was great because of that 16:9 aspect ratio, which meant no black bars like you’d see on an iPad.
The ports were a big deal too. You had a full-size USB 3.0 port. Think about that. In 2013, you could plug a thumb drive or a mouse directly into your tablet without a single dongle. It felt like the future.
Microsoft also included Office 2013 RT for free. You got Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and for the first time on RT, Outlook. For a student or someone who just needed to hammer out emails and spreadsheets, the Surface 2 was actually a productivity beast. The Type Cover 2 added backlighting, which seems like a small thing until you’re trying to type a paper in a dim dorm room at 2 AM.
What Really Killed the Surface 2?
It wasn't the hardware. It was the confusion.
Microsoft had two tablets that looked almost identical: the Surface 2 and the Surface Pro 2. One cost $449, the other started at $899. Salespeople at big-box retailers struggled to explain why the cheaper one couldn't run "normal" Windows. Consumers felt burned.
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Then there was the app gap. You had the basics—Netflix, Twitter, Skype—but you lacked the "long tail" of apps. No official YouTube app. No Instagram. No Spotify. You had to use the browser for everything. While the Internet Explorer on the Surface 2 was surprisingly fast and supported Flash (RIP Flash), it wasn't enough to satisfy people used to the rich ecosystems of iOS and Android.
The NVIDIA Tegra 4 Factor
The Tegra 4 inside this machine was a powerhouse for its time. It made the UI fluid. Swiping between the "Live Tiles" felt snappy. But because it was ARM-based, it had a hard ceiling. Microsoft eventually stopped making Windows RT devices altogether, pivoting entirely to the Intel-based "Pro" line and later the "Surface Go."
But here is the weird thing: the Surface 2 still has a cult following.
If you go on forums today, you'll find people trying to "jailbreak" these things. There are projects dedicated to porting Linux or even a version of Windows 10/11 for ARM onto this old hardware. Why? Because the chassis is so solid. It’s a testament to the engineering team that these devices are still turning on and holding a decent charge over a decade later.
Comparing the Surface 2 to Today’s Tech
| Feature | Surface 2 (RT) | Modern Surface Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Material | VaporMg (Magnesium) | Anodized Aluminum |
| Weight | 1.49 lbs | ~1.94 lbs |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, microSD, HD Video Out | USB-C (Thunderbolt), Surface Connect |
| App Support | Windows Store Only | Full Windows + Android Apps |
| Screen | 10.6" (1920 x 1080) | 13" (2880 x 1920) |
The Surface 2 was much lighter than the modern Pro models. It was truly a "tablet first" device. If you pick one up today, you’ll notice how thin it feels compared to the bulky "Pro" tablets of that era. It was sleek. It was ambitious. It was just stuck in a software ecosystem that wasn't ready to support it.
Can You Still Use a Surface 2 in 2026?
Honestly? It's tough.
The web has moved on. Modern websites are heavy with JavaScript, and the version of Internet Explorer on the Surface 2 hasn't been updated in years. Many sites will simply throw a certificate error or refuse to load.
However, if you have one sitting in a drawer, it’s not completely e-waste. It still works as:
- A dedicated distraction-free writing tool: Word and Excel still work perfectly offline.
- A digital photo frame: The screen is high-quality and the kickstand makes it easy to prop up.
- A video player: If you have MKV or MP4 files on a microSD card, the built-in video player handles 1080p content like a champ.
- A basic remote desktop terminal: You can use it to RDP into a much more powerful PC.
The Legacy of the Surface 2
We wouldn't have the current Surface Pro 11 or the Windows Dev Kit 2023 without the failures and lessons of the Surface 2. It taught Microsoft that users don't care about "architecture"—they care about apps. It forced them to rethink how Windows handles power management.
The "Live Tiles" that people loved (or hated) on the Surface 2 started the trend of glanceable information that we now see in Windows 11 widgets and iOS stacks. It was a bridge between the old world of desktop computing and the new world of mobile-first design.
Actionable Steps for Owners or Buyers
If you’re looking to buy a Surface 2 for nostalgia or a cheap project, or if you already own one, here is how to make the most of it:
- Don't overpay: These should not cost more than $30–$50 on the used market. Anything more is a rip-off.
- Update to 8.1 Update 3: Make sure you have the final official update from Microsoft. It adds a "Start Menu" feel to the desktop, making it slightly more usable.
- Use a MicroSD Card: The internal storage (32GB or 64GB) is slow and small. Pop in a 128GB card to store your movies and documents.
- Check the Battery: Since you can't easily replace the battery, use the Command Prompt (
powercfg /batteryreport) to see how much life is left before you commit to using it as a daily tool. - Look into the "OpenRT" Community: If you're tech-savvy, check out the XDA Developers forums. There are ongoing efforts to keep these machines alive with custom bootloaders, though it's definitely for "power users" only.
The Surface 2 was a beautiful piece of hardware trapped in a transition period. It remains a fascinating snapshot of a time when Microsoft was brave enough to break their own rules, even if they didn't quite stick the landing.