If you mistake this device for a Microsoft Surface Pro 8, I won't blame you one bit.
This is Lebook Pro 2, a Surface Pro inspired 2-in-1 laptop that looks the same, sports
the same form factor, has the same premium build quality but costs far less money and
also includes a detachable magnetic keyboard cover and an active stylus pen.
So what's the catch?
Keep watching to find out
Let's start with the build quality.
So Microsoft Surface Pro is known for its premium build quality.
But typically when you look at its cheaper clones, they all suffer from shoddy construction.
Fortunately Lebook Pro 2 is an exception and it matches Microsoft Surface Pro’s build
quality.
This device is entirely made from aluminum and uses the same CNC molded design that Microsoft
employs in their Surface pro devices.
While holding Lebook Pro 2 in your hands like a tablet, one can appreciate its premium build
quality and attention to details.
For e.g. the corner edges are curved and its metallic sides are smoothened to make Lebook
Pro 2 feel very comfortable while holding in hands.
The power button and the volume rocker are made from aluminum and they provide nice clicky
feedback when pressed.
Just like Microsoft Surface Pro, Lebook Pro 2 also has ventilation grills on both its
sides as well as on the top for cooling.
These grills are hidden under the edges, blending nicely with the overall aesthetics of the
device.
And they do a really good job keeping the CPU cool.
Since my review unit is running a beefy quad core Intel Core-i7 processor, I was worried
about overheating.
But when I stress tested the CPU by putting all the 4 cores and 8 threads under 100% load,
Lebook Pro 2 did not overheat.
I could hear the fans spinning and pushing hot air from these vents, but the CPU cores
never reached over 70 degrees celsius and they kept running above the base clock frequency,
even turbo boosting from time to time.
Not once did the CPU throttle or slow-down, and this tells me that Lebook Pro 2 has an
excellent thermal design.
There is an old saying, “if it ain't broken, don't fix it”.
And it seems like Lebook Pro 2 is adhering to this philosophy by not messing with the
excellent thermal design developed by Microsoft Surface Pro devices
Let's talk about the rest of the hardware spec.
So you are getting 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 512 GB PCIE NVME SSD storage.
That's pretty impressive for such a thin and light 2-in-1 device.
You will have no trouble running any application on this laptop be it office productivity suite,
video and photo editing software or just casual browsing and streaming videos.
There are 2 stereo speakers on each side of the device that produce good sound, perfect
for watching streaming videos.
I especially love using Lebook Pro 2 in tablet mode while holding it in landscape orientation.
In this orientation the speakers are on my left and right hand side thereby creating
a perfect stereo separation
Now let's talk more about the tablet mode.
So you can detach the magnetic keyboard and transform this device into a large 12.6”
tablet.
Its screen is rocking an impressive 2160 by 1440 resolution which makes text look sharp
and videos and pictures pop out.
The bezels are also very small making the overall size of this device very manageable.
This display uses an LED backlit IPS panel which delivers wide viewing angles.
The brightness caps at around 250 nits which is fine for indoor use but will struggle outdoors
in bright sunlight.
I love the vivid color reproduction on this display, it's perfect for media and content
consumption.
Since this is a touchscreen display with support for active stylus pen, it's great for taking
notes and making digital art.
The best part is that the active pen is included with the device, so you don't need to spend
any extra dollars.
This pen supports over 4000 levels of pressure sensitivity and it attaches magnetically to
the keyboard when not in use.
For note taking and doodling, I really like this pen.
Added bonus is support for third party pens that are compliant with Microsoft Surface
devices.
For e.g. this pen from lazarite works flawlessly with Lebook Pro 2, and I had no issues taking
notes and making digital art with it.
Because you are using a 12.6” screen, it's the perfect size for taking notes.
I think students and working professionals who take copious amounts of notes will love
this device.
But please note that the pen latency is not in the same league as an Ipad Pro or Samsung
Galaxy Tab android tablet.
Which means you will see a lag when moving the pen rapidly across the screen.
Now, let's talk about this kickstand which is very similar to what you get in Microsoft
Surface pro.
This kickstand is made from high quality machined aluminum and its hinge feels very solid.
It supports infinite articulations which means you can prop up the display at any angle you
desire.
By utilizing this kickstand and the detachable magnetic keyboard, one can quickly easily
transform Leebook pro from a tablet to a traditional laptop.
I love the magnets on this keyboard, they are really strong and firmly attach to the
device.
You don't even need to line up the keyboard with the device or fiddle with them since
the magnets are so strong, they automatically snap the keyboard in place.
But what I love most about this keyboard are these metal pins that directly communicate
with the laptop.
No wireless business, this is a hardwired connection that ensures zero latency when
using the keyboard and the touchpad.
As soon as the keyboard magnetically attaches to the device, it's ready to go.
You also don't need to worry about bluetooth pairing or charging.
The typing experience on this keyboard is pretty decent.
Nothing spectacular but good enough to get the job done.
Don't expect a desktop keyboard style typing experience because of limited key travel distance
and tactile feedback.
But this is true for all keyboard accessories including Microsoft Surface and Apple's ipad
keyboards.
The touchpad is made from plastic but its surface feels very smooth.
I appreciate the fact that they did not skimp on the size of the touchpad.
It's pretty large for a 12.6” device and I didnt have any trouble executing various
windows gestures.
It makes a nice clicky sound when pressed but requires above-average pressure to register
a click.
Personally, I prefer double tapping the touchpad for simulating a left click.
Now the back of this keyboard accessory is made from soft Alcantara like fabric which
feels nice to touch.
It doubles as a screen protector and stays in place thanks to the powerful magnets.
Now, let's talk about the ports.
So you are getting 2 USB Type-C ports and one headphone microphone combo jack.
Unfortunately there are no USB Type-A ports and no HDMI ports.
For these you will have to use a USB Type-C dongle which Leebook has thoughtfully included
with the package.
A USB Type-C charger is also included with the device.
The battery capacity on this device is 41 Whr and I routinely got around 6 hours of
battery life during typical day to day usage.
Over the last one month, I have found myself mostly using this device in tablet mode with
an active pen.
This is because unlike my ipad or samsung galaxy tab, this device allows me to surf
the internet using a desktop class browser while still retaining a tablet form factor.
iPads and Android tablets are fine for watching videos and wasting your time scrolling various
social media apps, but when it comes to real serious work, I always prefer Windows device.
Overall, I have been pleasantly surprised by Leebook Pro 2.
It's a great budget alternative to Surface pro 8.
You are getting the same build quality, aesthetics and performance but at a cheaper price.
Most importantly, all the necessary accessories including the magnetic keyboard cover, active
stylus pen and USB Type-C dongle are already included.
So to find the latest price and availability of Leebook Pro 2, please check the links in
the video description below.
If you are interested in watching more 2-in-1 windows laptop reviews, please click on this
video over here.
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Now go ahead and watch that video and I will see you guys over there!
Bye