Microsoft Surface Laptop Go
Product Gallery
Product Overview
Surface Laptop Go is the lightest and most affordable laptop in Microsoft's Surface lineup. Weighing at just over 1 kg, the Surface Laptop Go features a 3:2 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen, full size keyboard, and a large precision trackpad.
The long battery life and high mobility of the Surface Laptop Go make it a compelling option for on-the-go computing. The choice of vibrant colors exude an air of youthfulness.
The Surface Laptop Go supports Windows Hello and One Touch sign-in with a FingerPrint Reader integrated into the power button on select models. Studio Mics and Omnisonic Speakers make it a good option for media consumption and video conferencing, too.
Ratings
What we found**
Pros
- Beautiful 12.4-inch display
- 3:2 aspect ratio
- Decent battery life
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Subpar performance
What external reviewers found***
External score 61% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Good performance
- Excellent build quality
- Solid performance
- Excellent trackpad
Cons
- Middling performance
- Mediocre keyboard
Price Comparison
Specifications
Connectivity
Ports
1x USB-C + 1x USB-A + 1x 3.5mm headphone + 1x Surface Connect
Wireless Connectivity
WiFi 6 + Bluetooth 5.0
Construction
Camera | Front
720p HD f2.0 camera
Colors
Ice Blue, Sandstone, and Platinum
Material
Aluminum (top) + Polycarbonate composite resin system with glass fiber and 30% postconsumer recycled content (base)
Microphone
Dual far-field Studio Mics
Speakers
Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Audio Premium
Dimensions
Size | Depth
205.67 mm
Size | Height
15.69 mm
Size | Width
278.18 mm
Weight
1110 g
Display
Aspect Ratio
3:2
Display Diagonal
12.45 inch
Display Type
PixelSense IPS
Pixel Density
148 ppi
Resolution
1536 x 1024
Function
Fast Charging
Charge to 80% in just over one hour
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics
Keyboard Backlight
Yes
Operating System
Windows 10 Home in S mode
Processor
10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 Processor
Security
Firmware TPM / Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello sign-in / One Touch sign in with FingerPrint Reader Power button
Sensor
Ambient light sensor
Touch Screen
10 point multi-touch
Touchpad
Precision trackpad: 115 mm x 76.66 mm, glass
Performance
Battery Life
13 h
Key Travel
1.3 mm
Memory | Capacity
4 / 8 / 16 GB
Memory | Type
LPDDR4x
Power Supply
39 W
Storage
EMMC drive: 64GB / 128 or 256 GB SSD
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
3rd-Party Review Videos
External Reviews
arstechnica[1]
Reviewer score 46%The Surface Laptop Go is solid for moderate-to-casual workloads and holds its own in single-threaded performance. It's not outstanding, though, and it gets less impressive the harder you push it. The device is by no means a weakling, but if all you care about is raw power, you can do better for a similar price.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent design
- Solid performance
- Good battery life
Cons
- Mediocre keyboard
- Middling performance
gizmodo[2]
Reviewer score 47%The i5-1035G1 is a 10th-gen, 10nm, 4-core/8-thread processor. It handled hours of work in Google Docs and marathon sessions of Baldur's Gate 3 in Stadia. The trackpad and keyboard are more on par with what you expect from a Microsoft device.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Small, light, and portable
- Good battery life
- Built-in fingerprint scanner
- USB-C port doubles as a charging port
Cons
- Mediocre performance
- Keyboard isn't backlit
digitaltrends[3]
Reviewer score 70%The Surface Laptop Go has an Intel Core i5-1035G1 quad-core processor. This processor is great for multitasking and general productivity. It's rare to see this kind of processor in a budget laptop, even if it is paired with just 4GB RAM and slower eMMC storage on entry-level models. Battery life is key, as you don't want to be plugged into a wall socket all day. It can last up to 13 hours on a single charge.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Excellent battery life
- Solid performance
Cons
- Mediocre display
- No keyboard backlighting
laptopmag[4]
Reviewer score 55%The Surface Laptop Go is a compelling option for those who want a premium product at a not-so-premium price. With everything it has going in its favor, it's a shame the laptop's battery life is so far behind the competition. Microsoft still brings the standard fare of pre-installed Windows apps, like Your Phone, Xbox Game Bar and several Windows admin tools.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Stunning 12.4-inch display with 3:2 aspect ratio
- Stylish design
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Subpar webcam
- Subpar battery life
notebookcheck[5]
Reviewer score 71%Size and weight are the most noticeable advantages of the Surface Laptop Go. The Intel AX201 comes standard for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connecitivty. There are no extras in the box other than the Surface Connect AC adapter and paperwork. The usual one-year limited warranty applies.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Good battery life
- Good performance
Cons
- Dim display
- No Thunderbolt 3
pcmag[6]
Reviewer score 76%The Surface Laptop Go is more capable than the Surface Go 2, especially when it comes to computing power. It's a better choice for most budget-minders eyeing a Microsoft device. Although it's missing some nifty features from the pricier Surface 3, it's what many people are looking for.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Sleek, lightweight design
- Plenty of ports
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- No Thunderbolt 3 port
- Lackluster performance
t3[7]
Reviewer score 67%Microsoft Surface Laptop Go is a lightweight laptop that sticks to the basics. It's a great choice for students or for anyone who needs a lightweight, mid-range laptop. The typing experience is comfortable and snappy, while the trackpad hits the required level of responsiveness for a smooth working experience. Battery life is reasonable without being spectacular.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Comfortable typing experience
- Built-in webcam
Cons
- Battery life isn’t great
- No number pad
techadvisor[8]
Reviewer score 57%The Surface Laptop Go is one of the most affordable laptops on the market. Unusually, you get i5 processors and UHD graphics on all configurations, with the variation coming in RAM and storage. All configurations are available from the Microsoft Store, where the top-spec model is currently discounted to £809. You'll need to pay at least £699 for a model that's worth buying. Any more than 128GB of storage will set you back £899/US$899.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Slim and light
- Solid performance
- Great battery life
Cons
- Loud fan noise
- Mediocre performance
tomsguide[9]
Reviewer score 65%The Surface Laptop Go is a mid-range laptop that almost is elegant. Its display isn't bright enough, nor does its battery last as long as the $900 model. It's a good productivity laptop for a reasonable price, but the battery life could be better.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Decent battery life
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Mediocre performance
- No 1080p webcam
tomshardware[10]
Reviewer score 59%The $549.99 Surface Laptop Go fills a huge need in Microsoft's hardware lineup. The Core i5 Ice Lake chip will give people with largely browser-based workloads enough headroom. But 4GB of RAM doesn't really cut it beyond a few browser tabs, and just 64GB of eMMC storage.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Sleek, premium design
- Slim bezels
- Good battery life
Cons
- Sub-1080p display is lackluster
- No fingerprint reader
wired[11]
Reviewer score 59%There are three models of the Surface Laptop Go, but all feature the same Intel Core i5 chip. The base is $550 and will get you 4 gigabytes of RAM, and a paltry 64-gigabyte eMMC storage drive. The battery lasted through 10 hours and 22 minutes of looped video playback.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Excellent trackpad
- Good battery life
Cons
- Mediocre display
- No SD or MicroSD card slot
User Reviews
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References
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop Go review: Goldilocks and the three SKUs. [arstechnica]. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/11/microsoft-surface-laptop-go-review/. 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Is Trying. [gizmodo]. https://gizmodo.com/the-microsoft-surface-laptop-go-is-trying-1845349567. 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Review: A sensible compromise. [digitaltrends]. https://www.digitaltrends.com/laptop-reviews/microsoft-surface-laptop-go-review/. 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop Go review. [laptopmag]. https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/microsoft-surface-laptop-go. 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Review: An Overpriced Netbook. [notebookcheck]. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Microsoft-Surface-Laptop-Go-Review-An-Overpriced-Netbook.498859.0.html. 2020-10-24. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/microsoft-surface-laptop-go. 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop Go review: a lightweight laptop perfect for students. [t3]. https://www.t3.com/reviews/microsoft-surface-laptop-go-review. 2020-12-22. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop Go review. [techadvisor]. https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/review/microsoft-surface-laptop-go-3799750/. 2020-12-21. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop Go review. [tomsguide]. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/microsoft-surface-laptop-go. 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Review: Economy of Scale. [tomshardware]. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/surface-laptop-go. 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Review: Microsoft Surface Laptop Go. [wired]. https://www.wired.com/review/microsoft-surface-laptop-go/. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.
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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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