Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

The original Surface Go was a fascinating little device, with an accent on the little. Where Microsoft has made huge strides with its regular Surface devices, the Surface Go was a niche device for folks who wanted a more affordable and above all portable Surface.

It was hampered by its price point, smaller display and terribly ordinary app performance, but Microsoft is back for a second try with the inevitably named Microsoft Surface Go 2. It has improved performance somewhat and battery life massively, but it's still a device that struggles to justify its price point, despite appearing "cheap" on paper.

Design

Design

• 10.5-inch display
• Keyboard still isn't bundled

• Read more about the Microsoft Surface Go 2's design

  The first generation Surface Go sold itself as the shrunk Surface equivalent, and at first glance you might think that Microsoft hasn't changed anything in its second iteration.

  It measures 245 x 175 x 8.3mm which is exactly the same size as the original Surface Go. It's marginally heavier at 544g for the Wi-Fi model compared to the original model's 522g, but you're never going to notice that extra 22g in real-world use. You get the same iconic Surface kickstand at the back, understandably smaller than on a regular Surface device.

  You even still get just the one USB C side port, sitting just below a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and above the Microsoft Surface Connect charging socket on the right-hand side of the tablet.

  So what's changed? The big design story for the Surface Go 2 is in the display, which has a 10.5-inch display where the original only offered up 10 inches of screen space.

  Microsoft has managed this logically enough by shrinking the side bezels a little, but it has also upped the resolution to a much more pleasing 1,920 x 1,280. It's still not as sharp or pleasing a screen as you'd find on an iPad Air or iPad Pro, but for most workers on a Surface Go 2, it's a welcome upgrade.

  Microsoft does produce higher-end variants of the Surface Go 2 with integrated LTE, but that wasn't the model I tested with. In terms of expansion, there's a single MicroSD slot nestled just under the rear hinge, although you could always hook up a USB C external drive for added storage too.

  The classic catch with any Microsoft Surface device remains true for the Surface Go 2, because it's sold as a tablet competitor to the likes of the iPad.

  That means there's no bundled keyboard, which you'll have to buy separately. Microsoft provided me with a Surface Go 2 keyboard for the purposes of review, and it's a fine, but very small device. That Alcantara finish remains lovely under your fingers when you're using it, and key travel is decent. However, the realities of dropping a full QWERTY keyboard onto such a small frame means that it's all too easy to make typos whn yroue wrkoing no ti.

  Ahem.

Performance

Performance

• Entry-level processor isn't a huge leap in performance terms
• Windows S provides security at the cost of flexibility
• LTE only available for core M3 buyers

• View test results and read more about the Microsoft Surface Go 2's performance

  The Surface Go 2 follows that standard laptop trend over the years by selling prominently on the promise of a specifications bump. Microsoft claims up to 64% improvement in processing power for the new generation of its portable tablet versus the previous generation.

  However, there's a big catch there, because that's a comparison using the top-tier Core m3 variant of the Surface Go 2. If you want the cheapest Surface Go, that ships with an Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y processor, which really isn't that much of a jump over the previous generation.

  It's also the configuration that Microsoft provided for review, although it was the upper tier of the Pentium variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. Opt for the cheapest Surface Go 2 and that drops to just 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage – less the space Windows 10 itself takes up.

  So how does the Surface Go 2 stack up? It's a very basic machine in terms of capabilities in the configuration supplied for review, so if performance at this size is vital to you, you'll need to drop the extra cash for that Core m3 variant. That's also true if you want integrated LTE, because it only ships with the Core m3 model.

  We don't have that many benchmark results for similarly priced and specified machines, but you can see how low down the totem pole the Microsoft Surface Go 2 sits compared to a range of premium laptops, including several Surface models in PC Mark 10 and 3DMark Time Spy below:

  For practical purposes, this isn't a great machine for those fine Photoshop edits or Premiere rendering jobs, but if you're looking towards a more Microsoft 365 productivity viewpoint – and Microsoft clearly hopes you are – it's a serviceable platform, but certainly not a quick one. If you are stuck in virtual meetings purgatory right now, the front-facing camera is quite good, and unsurprisingly, it's also ready for Windows Hello for quick unlocking.

  By default, the Microsoft Surface Go 2 ships with Windows 10 S, which means it's locked down only to apps available in the Microsoft Store. That does provide a level of security, because you can't install any other apps despite Windows' long heritage in-app support.

  You can switch to Windows 10 Home through the Microsoft Store if you do need that flexibility, or pay a little more for Windows 10 Pro. I pretty quickly switched to Windows 10 Home in order to install benchmarks and get a better feel for what the Surface Go 2 could do, and I suspect most Surface Go 2 users will make that similar jump.

Battery life

Battery life

• Variable battery life, but it can be very good

• View test results and read more about the Microsoft Surface Go 2's battery life

  Microsoft's claims for the Surface Go 2 are that it will handle "Up to 10 hours of typical device usage" whether you opt for the Wi-Fi or LTE variant. "Up to" claims are of course weasel words, and I'd be very surprised if the added heft of LTE usage didn't impact battery life if you used it heavily enough. It's a bigger claim than the "up to 9 hours" of the original Surface Go, so I was keen to see how the lower-tier Pentium Gold variant stacked up in terms of battery life.

  Battery usage is, of course, a variable matter, but running a 1,080p video at full screen and full brightness gave me a genuinely pleasing result compared not only to the original Surface Go but also a range of other premium laptops. Here's how the Surface Go 2 compared:

  That figure is way above Microsoft's own claims, although it was effectively single-tasking when running video. Using it for browsing, email and review writing saw its battery life tumble down quite a bit, suggesting that the 10-hour claim is achievable for most real-world scenarios. Still, if you fancy a heavy video binge, the Surface Go certainly stands ready.

  The Surface Go 2 charges through Microsoft's Surface Connect port, or optionally via USB C, although I did have trouble finding a charger that it was happy to use that way. With only one USB C port for peripherals, you're probably only going to use it that way in an emergency, but it's worth keeping in mind that even then you might not be able to add any power if it doesn't like your charger.

Verdict

Verdict

How we score our reviews

• Nicely built, but still expensive

Should you buy it?

With the same essential design as the original Surface Go, a better display and better processors on offer, the Surface Go 2 might seem like an obvious recommendation. It's certainly well built, and that battery life is very good for such a small effective tablet/laptop hybrid.

However, to get an actually effective Surface Go 2, you've got to spend a fair amount. The base level model sells at $629, but you only get 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which isn't likely to be enough. Bumping that up to the model I tested at 8GB RAM/128GB storage will run you $829, while the Core m3/LTE variant with 8GB/128GB will set you back $1,199.

However, you're then faced with just a tablet with no keyboard, and while it is touch capable, Windows remains a mouse-and-keyboard environment.

You've got to factor in at least $149 for an additional keyboard, or $199 if you want the nicer Alcantara variant. Want a Surface Pen to go with that? You're down another $139.95. Add another $299.95 for a Surface Dock if you need that, and you're heading into seriously expensive territory where you can get much more power for your buying dollar.

All of that leaves the Surface Go 2 in the same space as the original Surface Go. It's a well built machine that could be a good match for those who need absolute ultra-portability, but you'll be paying just a bit too much for that luxury.

Pricing and availability

Price

RRP: $1,099.00

Where to buy

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Specifications

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