Microsoft Surface Go 2
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Product Overview
Microsoft Surface Go 2 is the entry-level 2-in-1 tablet in the Surface lineup. Still, it retains the versatility of a touchscreen, keyboard, Pen, and wireless connectivity that make the Surface Pro a favorite among consumers.
Starting at just over half a kilo, it is the lightest Surface tablet. Despite its compactness and affordability, the Surface Go 2 is up to 64% faster than the original Surface Go. It's FHD, 10.5-inch PixelSense Display boasts a 220 ppi pixel density, while the Dolby Audio speaker delivers clear, powerful sound. Enhanced dual far-field Studio Mics increase
voice clarity and reduce background noise for calls. The FHD 5MP front and 8MP rear cameras make the tablet even more versatile.
Ratings
What we found
Pros
- Slim bezels and better performance than the original Surface
- Long battery life
- USB-C port, headphone jack, and MicroSD card slot
- Long-lasting battery
Cons
- Type Cover feels cramped
- Keyboard feels cramped
What external reviewers found
External score 68%
Pros
- Good performance
- Great keyboard
- Good value for money
- Decent audio quality
Cons
- Middling performance
- Limited connectivity
- Mediocre battery life
- Not particularly powerful
- No LTE support
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Price Comparison
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Specifications
| WiFi | WiFi + LTE |
|---|
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External Reviews
androidauthority[1]
Reviewer score 59% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Microsoft Surface Go 2 is a fantastic little Windows tablet for entertainment and light workloads. The range offers a very affordable entry point into Microsoft's Surface line-up. However, the costs quickly add up once you add the keyboard cover and Office software. By the time you've added an accessory or two to your purchase, the tablet could cost close to $1,000 at the high-end.
Pros
- 120Hz display
- Good battery life
- Good value for money
Cons
- Expensive for what you get
digitaltrends[2]
Reviewer score 61% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Surface Go 2 is nearly 50% faster than its predecessor in benchmarks. Apps load more quickly, multitasking is smoother, and hitting the performance ceiling is much more difficult. This is the version most people will likely purchase, and that's a problem. It has less headroom for multitasking, especially if you intend to hook up an external monitor.
Pros
- Fantastic performance
- Great battery life
- Comfortable keyboard
- Great keyboard
Cons
- Lackluster performance
- Mediocre battery life
laptopmag[3]
Reviewer score 77% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Surface Go 2 runs on the purest version of Windows. It's a great option if you want a Windows 10 tablet for basic tasks and consuming content. If you can stretch the budget, the Surface Pro 7 gets you 10th Gen Intel CPUs, a larger display and a more comfortable keyboard.
Pros
- Gorgeous design
- Bright, colorful display
- Fantastic IR camera
- Long battery life
Cons
- Middling performance
- Lack of third-party apps
notebookcheck[4]
Reviewer score 67% (normalized by Neofiliac)The display has grown from 10 to 10.5 inches and the resolution is also a bit higher. 1920 x 1280 pixels (3:2 aspect ratio) create a very sharp picture on the small screen. The processor is sufficient for simple tasks right now, but there is not much headroom for the upcoming years.
Pros
- Matte IPS screen
- Good battery life
- Decent keyboard
Cons
- Mediocre graphics performance
- No SD card reader
pcmag[5]
Reviewer score 68% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Surface Go 2 is an eminently satisfying tablet. It's not as powerful as a comparably priced conventional laptop, but it's far more versatile. In several key areas, it also has a leg up on its chief competitor, the Apple iPad. While it may not be unequivocally better than the iPad, it trounces midrange tablets.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Excellent battery life
- Built-in kickstand
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Lacks a cooling fan
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
t3[6]
Reviewer score 62% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Surface Go 2 runs Windows 10 S, a version of Windows designed to run faster than normal. It is not a particularly powerful device, and downloads take longer than you're used to. The basic version starts at £399 and comes with 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and an Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y dual-core processor. Pay out £529 and you can double the RAM to 8GB and storage to 128GB.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Excellent battery life
- Decent audio quality
Cons
- Limited connectivity
- Not particularly powerful
techadvisor[7]
Reviewer score 57% (normalized by Neofiliac)At £399 it's by far the cheapest Surface PC, but at this price performance is severely compromised. As such I'd recommend stepping up to a Core M3 model, although you'll pay at least £619 for the privilege. Microsoft doesn't quote a specific battery capacity for the Surface Go 2, although it advertises ‘up to 10 hours of typical device usage'
Pros
- Slim and light
- Strong performance
- Decent keyboard
Cons
- Windows 10 in S mode
techradar[8]
Reviewer score 63% (normalized by Neofiliac)As a tablet, the aspect ratio feels quite normal, though in laptop mode you'll likely notice the difference. Windows 10 S Mode is more useful than it used to be – as there's a better selection of apps available on the Microsoft Store. There are still noticeable absences from the store, however, which means you may want to switch from S Mode to full Windows 10. With 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD, Windows 10 and its built-in apps ran fine.
Pros
- Decent performance
- Good battery life
Cons
- Windows 10 S Mode is more useful
theverge[9]
Reviewer score 64% (normalized by Neofiliac)There are two versions of the Surface Go 2: the base model and the upgraded spec model that I am reviewing. The base model comes with a pokey Pentium Gold processor, even pokier eMMC storage (64GB of it), and a mere 4GB of RAM. If you know the limits, you will have a good experience with the Go 2 — but only for five or, at most, six hours.
Pros
- Sleek, lightweight design
- Slim bezels
- Good battery life
Cons
- Battery life could be better
tomsguide[10]
Reviewer score 79% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Microsoft Surface Go 2 finally realizes the promise of the original Surface Go. Its bigger screen, smaller bezels and longer battery life add up to a 2-in-1 that can handle a lot. If you want the real Windows 10 experience, you'll want to turn off S Mode.
Pros
- Slim bezels
- Long battery life
- Dolby Audio Premium
Cons
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
tomshardware[11]
Reviewer score 78% (normalized by Neofiliac)Microsoft's Surface lineup has among the cleanest start menus that you'll see on a Windows 10 device. The Go 2 has smaller bezels, longer battery life and an option with LTE Advanced support at launch. As far as build quality and the display go, this is the most premium budget machine around.
Pros
- Attractive design
- Good battery life
- Good performance
Cons
- No keyboard
- No LTE support
wired[12]
Reviewer score 77% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Surface Go 2 is capable of some tablet-like behavior, but leans toward the laptop end of the spectrum. The Type Cover will set you back $129 and, if you plan to do anything more than browsing the web and watching movies, it is a must-have. Windows in S-mode attempts to impose some restrictions you'll see in app stores on other platforms to Windows.
Pros
- Sleek, lightweight design
- Long battery life
- Built-in USB Type Cover
Cons
- Type Cover is a little small
References
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 review: Small but mighty. [androidauthority].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 review: The awkward teenager. [digitaltrends].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 review. [laptopmag].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 Review: Compact Convertible gets a bigger screen. [notebookcheck].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 Review. [pcmag].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 review: Is this hybrid 2-in-1 worth buying?. [t3].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 review. [techadvisor].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 review. [techradar].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 review: don’t push it. [theverge].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 review. [tomsguide].
- ^ Microsoft Surface Go 2 Review: One Small Step. [tomshardware].
- ^ Review: Microsoft Surface Go 2. [wired].
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