Surface RT vs. Surface 2: Full specs comparison

We thoroughly analyzed technical specifications for Surface RT and Surface 2 models, including CPU, memory, storage, battery life, display quality, and other features.

Surface RT Pros

We couldn't find any advantages of Surface RT over Surface 2.

Surface 2 Pros

Reasons that Surface 2 is better than Surface RT.

Newer manufacturing

2013 vs. 2012

About 24% lighter

Surface 2 weighed 1.15 pounds, 24% lighter than the 1.5 pounds Surface RT.

WeightSurface RTSurface 2
Pound
1.5 lbs.
1.15 lbs.
Kilogram
0.68 kg
0.52 kg

Key Similars

Similar characteristics share between Surface RT and Surface 2.

Supports the same maximum memory size of up to 2GB

Both laptops supports up to 2GB of system memory.

Max system memory size
Surface RT
2 GB
Surface 2
2 GB

Prices

Here are the latest price updates and offers for both devices.

Surface RT Price
Microsoft Surface RT 32GB (Renewed)
Microsoft Surface RT 32GB (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$99.00
Microsoft Surface RT (32GB)
Microsoft Surface RT (32GB)
By Microsoft
$210.00
Microsoft Surface RT 64GB
Microsoft Surface RT 64GB
By Microsoft
$319.99
Surface 2 Price
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (2023) - 14.4" Touchscreen - Intel Core i7, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, Windows 11, Platinum Color Copilot
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (2023) - 14.4" Touchscreen - Intel Core i7, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, Windows 11, Platinum Color Copilot
By Microsoft
$3,199.99
$3,699.99 14% OFF
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB) - Platinum (Renewed)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB) - Platinum (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$249.00
$304.99 18% OFF
New Microsoft Surface Go 2 - 10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 4GB Memory - 64GB - Wifi - Platinum (Latest Model)
New Microsoft Surface Go 2 - 10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 4GB Memory - 64GB - Wifi - Platinum (Latest Model)
By Microsoft
$349.00

Availability

Surface RTSurface 2
Released20122013
Release Date
  • Introduced: June 18, 2012
  • Not available for pre-ordered
  • Released: October 26, 2012
  • Introduced: September 23, 2013
  • Pre-ordered: September 24, 2013
  • Released: October 22, 2013
PricingSurface RT
  • $499 - 2 GB | 32 GB
  • $599 - 2 GB | 64 GB
Surface RT with Black Touch Cover
  • $599 - 2 GB | 32 GB
  • $699 - 2 GB | 64 GB
Surface 2 Wi-Fi
  • $449 - 2 GB | 32 GB
  • $549 - 2 GB | 64 GB
Surface 2 4G LTE
  • $679 - 2 GB | 64 GB
Generations

Exterior

Surface RTSurface 2
Dimensions10.81” x 6.77” x 0.37” (275 mm x 172 mm x 9.4 mm)
Width: 10.81” (275 mm)
Height: 6.77” (172 mm)
Thickness: 0.37” (9.4 mm)
10.81” x 6.79” x 0.35” (275 mm x 172 mm x 8.9 mm)
Width: 10.81” (275 mm)
Height: 6.79” (172 mm)
Thickness: 0.35” (8.9 mm)
Weight1.5 lbs (680 g)
  • Surface 2: 1.15 lbs (522 g)
  • Surface 2 with Keyboard: 1.7 lbs (771 g)
Colors
Dark Titanium
Silver
Keyboard and Trackpad
  • Surface Type Cover
    • Not included
  • Keyboard:
    • Activation: Moving (mechanical) keys.
    • Layout: QWERTY, full row of function keys (F1-F12).
    • 4 directional keys; Windows and Media Controls Keys.
  • Trackpad:
    • Two-finger multitouch gesture trackpad.
  • Surface Type Cover
    • Not included
  • Keyboard:
    • Activation: Moving (mechanical) keys.
    • Layout: QWERTY, full row of function keys (F1-F12).
    • 4 directional keys; Windows and Media Controls Keys.
    • LED backlighting.
  • Trackpad:
    • Two-finger multitouch gesture trackpad.

Display

Surface RTSurface 2
Size10.6 Inches10.6 Inches
Info
  • Resolution: 1366 x 768 (1M Pixels)
  • Density: 148 PPI
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • ClearType HD Display
  • Touch: 5 points multi-touch
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (2M Pixels)
  • Density: 208 PPI
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • ClearType Full HD Display
  • Touch: 5 points multi-touch

Ports

Surface RTSurface 2
  • 1 x Full-size USB 2.0
  • 1 x microSD™ card reader
  • 1 x Surface Charging Port
  • 1 x Headset jack
  • 1 x Micro HDMI video out port
  • 1 x Cover port
  • 1 x Full-size USB 3.0
  • 1 x microSD™ card reader
  • 1 x Surface Charging Port
  • 1 x Headset jack
  • 1 x Mini DisplayPort
  • 1 x Cover port
  • 1 x Nano SIM card slot (Surface 2 with LTE only)

Internal Specs

Surface RTSurface 2
Processor
  1. NVIDIA Tegra 3
    4 cores, 1.30 → 1.40 GHz, 1MB Cache,
  1. NVIDIA Tegra 4 T40
    4 cores, 1.70 → 1.90 GHz, 2MB Cache,
Integrated Graphics
  1. NVIDIA Tegra 3
    NVIDIA GeForce ULP graphics
    12 Graphics Cores,
  1. NVIDIA Tegra 4 T40
    NVIDIA GeForce ULP graphics
    72 Graphics Cores, 672 MHz
Memory2GB of RAM2GB of RAM
Storage
  • 32GB 64GB
    Storage
  • 32GB 64GB
    eMMC

Connectivity

Surface RTSurface 2
Wi-Fi
  • Wi-Fi 4: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n compatible.
  • Wi-Fi 4: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n compatible.
Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth 4.0 low energy technology
  • Bluetooth 4.0 low energy technology
More-Optional LTE
  • Nano SIM Tray
  • 2G GSM (Quadband: 850/900/1800/1900)
  • 3G UMTS (Bands 1, 2, 5)
  • 4G LTE (Bands 4, 7, 17)

Battery

Surface RTSurface 2
Size31.5 Wh31.5 Wh
Battery LifeUp to 8 hours of video playbackUp to 10 hours of video playback
Power Supply
  • 24W proprietary power supply
  • 24W proprietary power supply

Software

Surface RTSurface 2
OS
  • Windows RT
  • Upgradeable to Windows RT 8.1 Update
  • Windows RT 8.1
Built-in AppsMicrosoft Office Home and Student 2013 RTMicrosoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT with Outlook

Camera & Audio

Surface RTSurface 2
Camera
  • 720p HD LifeCam front-facing camera with TrueColor Technology
  • 720p HD LifeCam rear-facing camera with TrueColor Technology
  • 3.5MP front-facing camera with 1080p HD video
  • 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD video
Audio
  • Dual microphones
  • Stereo speakers
  • Dual microphones
  • Stereo speakers with digitally enhanced for fuller sound

Misc

Surface RTSurface 2
Sensors
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Compass
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Magnetometer
In the box
  • Surface RT
  • Power supply
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Safety and warranty documents
  • Surface 2
  • Power supply
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Safety and warranty documents
Warranty
  • One-year limited hardware warranty
  • One-year limited hardware warranty
More
  • Casing: VaporMg
  • Kickstand: 1 position at 22°
  • Physical buttons: volumes, power
  • Casing: Magnesium
  • Kickstand: 2 positions
  • Physical buttons: volumes, power

Key Features

Surface RTSurface 2
At Glance
Released in Mid
2012
16:9 HD
10.6”
768p 60Hz
Weight
1.5 lb
0.68 kg
Powered By
NVIDIA Tegra 3
4C/1.30 → 1.40 GHz
With integrated
NVIDIA GeForce ULP graphics
12 Graphics Cores
2GB
DDR3 Memory
Released in Late
2013
16:9 FHD
10.6”
1080p 60Hz
Weight
1.15 lb
0.52 kg
Powered By
NVIDIA Tegra 4 T40
4C/1.70 → 1.90 GHz
With integrated
NVIDIA GeForce ULP graphics
72 Graphics Cores, 672 MHz
2GB
DDR3L Memory

Comments

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