Nearly the ultimate laptop. First unveiled way back in October 2015, Surface Book had many of us grinning when Panos Panay revealed the device's hybrid nature by detaching the so-called Clipboard. But then came news of middling graphics performance, the absence of USB Type-C and a somewhat wobbly display. Fortunately for fans of the original concept, the Surface team has been working to perfect those perceived wrongs and has edged closer to perfection with the refreshed Surface Book 2.

From the outside, you'd be hard-pushed to tell the difference, but that's no bad thing. Microsoft has maintained a consistent design language throughout the Surface range and the fact that you know a Book when you see one is a positive. The gap when folded between the lid and keyboard has always divided audiences, but we quite like the unique appearance and there are other attractions; the gap keeps the keys from touching the screen and the way in which the "dynamic fulcrum hinge" curves like the spine of a book is really quite beautiful.