Windows 10 offers plenty of great options, but Microsoft’s own Surface line always seems to come out on top in terms of quality and value. The newest addition to the lineup, the Surface Laptop Go, is no exception, and it might just be the best laptop Microsoft has ever made. Here’s everything you need to know about this powerful little machine.
Who it’s for
Need a work laptop, but can’t afford to spend $1,000+? The newest Microsoft Surface Laptop is the perfect option for students or those on a budget. With just a starting price of $799, this new version is both affordable and high-end. As expected with any Microsoft product, it’s beautiful and well-built. But when you take a closer look you’ll see that it’s also powerful and efficient.
You get all of the benefits of Windows 10 Pro with up to 16GB RAM at speeds of up to 1.2GHz (with turbo boost) in less than an inch thickness. It even comes with Adobe CC for Photoshop and Illustrator preloaded! Sure, if you want top-of-the-line specs, then the Microsoft Surface Book 2 will be your best bet. But if you’re looking for a lightweight device that won’t break your bank account, then this is an excellent choice.
Starting at $399
It’s perfect for when you need a laptop for emailing, word processing, and other basic computing tasks on the go. It’s not meant to be a powerhouse laptop like Microsoft’s other products but instead it is more lightweight and less powerful.
However, I would still recommend the Surface Pro 6 or Surface Book 2 if you want something with longer battery life. The keyboard is also very similar to the full size version which can be helpful if you want something that has many of the same features without taking up as much space.
The ports are also limited on this product as there are only two USB-C ports meaning that if you’re looking for your regular ports like USB-A then this product might not work for you in that regard. If you want a budget option and don’t care about having too many ports or some of the power features then this is definitely worth considering.
The screen is 13.5 inches and while it doesn’t have the 4K resolution that other models have, I didn’t notice any problems with viewing angles or brightness so if you’re just using this computer for emails, word processing, and web browsing then this could be a great fit.
Design and display
High-end specs mean nothing if the device is sluggish or not to your liking. Luckily, the Surface Laptop Go delivers a good value at $200 less than its big brother. It’s lightweight, it gets its work done, and it has a long battery life. The trackpad takes some getting used to but is fine once you learn where everything is.
The screen isn’t retina quality and if you’re looking for more processing power, this laptop may not be for you; but the tradeoff of weight and battery make it an attractive option for some buyers who are looking for an alternative to an iPad Pro or Chromebook. All in all, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go is worth checking out if you need a no-fuss device that just works. If you want high-end specs, though, keep on shopping.
Performance and battery life
Like the 13-inch model, the performance of the device has been excellent in our review. The aforementioned Intel Core i5-7200U is more than enough for most computing tasks, and it helps that there’s 8GB of RAM onboard to help multitasking feel more snappy. Furthering this point, Microsoft is offering the $899 base model with a 7th Gen Intel Core m3 CPU and 4GB of RAM – a solid deal for those who are budget conscious but don’t want to be caught doing all their work in an internet browser window.
What’s more is that battery life has also been outstanding – upwards of 9 hours in our usage depending on brightness levels, which means you can leave your charger at home when taking it around town or going off to school. One downside we’ve noticed is that the laptop isn’t great for gaming due to its integrated graphics, so if gaming is important to you then it might be worth saving up for something beefier.