Microsoft Surface Go 2 review
Our Verdict
The Microsoft Surface Go ii is a solid tablet with great battery life and a solid screen.
For
- Much improved battery life
- Bright, colorful (and bigger) screen
- Thinner bezels streamline pattern
- Splendid webcam
Against
- Performance doesn't impress
- Blazon Embrace has a learning curve
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Microsoft Surface Get 2 is a solid tablet with great battery life and a solid screen.
Pros
- +
Much improved battery life
- +
Bright, colorful (and bigger) screen
- +
Thinner bezels streamline design
- +
First-class webcam
Cons
- -
Functioning doesn't print
- -
Blazon Cover has a learning curve
Is the second time the charm for the Microsoft Surface Go two? On paper, this tablet seeks to erase the problems of its predecessor, with more screen and less bezel. You also go first-class battery life on par with the iPad Air, plus a webcam that is really sharp, different almost every internal camera I've ever tested on a laptop.
Microsoft Surface Go 2 Specs
Starting price: $399
Tested price: $629
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615
Display: ten.5-inches (1920 x 1280 pixels)
Retentivity: 4GB | 8GB
Storage: 64GB eMMC | 128GB SSD
Size: 9.7 10 half dozen.9 x 0.iii inches
Weight: 1.22 pounds (one.75 pounds with type cover)
Cellular connectedness: LTE (optional)
Visually, the Surface Go 2 looks to fit into the modern landscape by shedding its bezels to fit a larger screen in the aforementioned chassis (Apple'southward done similar with the iPad 7th Gen). Combine that with improved specs over the original and an impressive webcam, and this Surface Go two review will prove why it's an impressive low-cost car for those working on the go and one of the all-time tablets available today.
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But while its Core m3 CPU offers a performance boost against the old Surface Get, it doesn't hold upwards to friendly competition against other ii-in-1s. Still, the Surface Get 2 is earning a spot on our best laptops and best 2-in-i laptops lists, because it'south a strong pick for the folks on a budget looking for a tablet designed for productivity.
Microsoft Surface Go 2: Price and configurations
The entry-level Surface Go 2 launched on May 6 and costs $399, but information technology doesn't include Microsoft's Surface Type Encompass, which runs an extra $99 to $129. That model features a Pentium Gold CPU, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage.
Demand more retentivity and desire ameliorate storage? For an extra $150, you can bump that model to 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, with a configuration that costs $549.
We tested a $629 configuration that features an eighth Gen Intel Cadre m3 processor, which is rated to offering a 64% heave in CPU functioning vs the Pentium Gold version. It's also got 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD. Want ultimate connectivity? The LTE version of that model costs $729.
The Surface Pen costs $99, and Microsoft's new Surface Dock (for pairing with USB-C monitors and a wider range of accessories) runs you $259. All Surface Get 2 tablets support the the 802.11ax wireless standard otherwise known as Wi-Fi 6.
Microsoft Surface Become two: Pattern and ports
The Surface Go ii is nearly identical to its predecessor, at to the lowest degree until you plough it on and see the trimmed-down bezels surrounding its x.v-inch screen. It's amazing what a little tweak can do.
Bated from that, the Go ii is a lot like a smaller Microsoft Surface Pro 7. Yous've got a kickstand in the back that moves from 0 degrees (flat, in tablet style) to 135 degrees, and there's a small notch for your finger tips to slide into to easily open it.
The Surface Go 2 measures 0.3 inches thick and weighs 1.25 pounds, making it lighter than the Surface Pro 7 (0.iii inches, 1.7 pounds). Information technology'due south as well a hair thicker and heavier than the Galaxy Tab S6 (0.2 inches, 0.95 pounds) and the iPad Air (0.2 inches, ane pound). Attaching the Type Cover brings its thickness to 0.five inches and adds a half pound, making it a however-light one.75 pounds.
The Surface Go 2 looks a lot like its big brother, the Surface Pro, with a silver magnesium shell and cogitating Microsoft logo on the back. It's nice that the Surface Go Type Covers are available in an Ice Blue (seen hither), Poppy Red, Platinum and Black. But we wish Microsoft also offered similar striking colors for the Surface Go's chassis.
Nearly of the Surface Go ii'due south ports — the USB-C port, headphone jack and Surface connector — are on the right side, while the power and volume buttons sit on the pinnacle edge and the microSD reader is on the left. Nosotros'd love a USB-A port, which the Surface Pro 7 has, but alas.
Microsoft Surface Become 2: Display
As I watched the Wonder Woman 1984 trailer on the Surface Go two, I noted how the tablet produced bright and accurate colors. That included authentic aureate glimmers from Wonder Woman'southward boots and Kristen Wiig'southward glasses, vibrant reds in her armor and a range of verdant greens in oceanside flora. The merely outcome is that the Surface Get ii picked up whatever and all ambient lighting be it direct or otherwise, with visible reflection.
The Surface Get two's 10.v-inch PixelSense brandish measures 1920 x 1280 pixels and is a notable upgrade from the Surface Go's 1800 x 1200 10-inch panel. The additional screen space makes the tablet look a scrap more modern, and closer to the thinner bezels of the Galaxy Tab S6.
Producing 107% of the sRGB spectrum, the Surface Become 2's panel is slightly more colorful than that of the Surface Pro 7 (97%). Still, the iPad Air (132%) and Milky way Tab S6 (122%) are fifty-fifty more than colorful.
According to our light gun, the Surface Go ii maxes out at an average of 408 nits. Again, that'south slightly brighter than the 395-nit Surface Pro 7, while the 425-nit iPad Air and 473-nit Galaxy Tab S6 get even brighter.
Microsoft Surface Get 2: Type Encompass keyboard
The Surface Become 2 doesn't change its optional (and pricey) accessories. The Type Cover (which costs between $99 to $129) we tested came in a Platinum hue and is covered in the soft Alcantara fabric, which makes a combination that'southward pleasing to wait at and impact. Information technology'southward also got three degrees of backlighting, so it can be as slight or brilliant every bit you prefer.
But I found a slight learning bend when typing on it (much like I did with Apple'south Smart Keyboard Folio), every bit I clicked my manner to between 64 and 67 words per minute with 90 to 93% accurateness on the 10fastfingers typing test. That's a chip of a fall from my eighty wpm/98% accuracy average.
That dip is likely tied to how the keys are a little minor and packed in tightly (causing typos and errors) and how the keyboard defaults to sitting at an bending. This ways that you're tapping confronting it with room underneath, which makes the keyboard deck movement. That all existence said, I can see myself getting used to this keyboard over fourth dimension, especially since it allows the Go 2 to exist so portable and thin.
The Type Cover touchpad is a footling on the small side at three.eight 10 2.2 inches, but it offers shine scrolling and speedy recognition of Windows ten navigation gestures. It's got that traditional see-saw pattern where the top part doesn't click down, which may take some getting used to if you're like me and always disable tap to click.
The Surface Become 2 likewise supports the Microsoft Surface Pen, which costs $99 and has neat programmable shortcuts to Windows 10'due south inking features. We did not test 1 for this review.
Microsoft Surface Go 2: Cameras and Windows Howdy
The Surface Become two sports a pair of cameras, and while you become great results from one, the other has significant flaws. Let'due south start with the most important: the 5-megapixel front-facing camera that kicks the barrel of practically every single laptop webcam I've tested in 5-plus years of existence a tech journalist.
Most laptop webcams range from 0.9 to 1.2MP, and create blurry photos that lack detail. With the Surface Go 2, though, I looked clear enough that I had to make sure to comb my ever-lengthening hair and wipe the slumber from the corners of my optics. Your friends, family and colleagues on Zoom will actually run across you lot clearly, and they tin give thanks the Surface Go 2 for that.
The other big perk of the Surface Go 2's front camera is even more-seamless Windows Hello support. I've been consistently impressed at how fast the biometric security tool unlocks Windows ten whenever I lower the Surface Go 2'due south Type Cover.
Its rear 8-MP camera, however, is more of a mixed pocketbook. When shooting closeups of plants (both real and otherwise) around downtown NYC, the sensor captured accurate hues and fine textures.
Lots of natural lighting, however, proved to exist its Achilles' heel. Taking wide photos of facades and vistas, anything bright repeatedly got blown out. For case, some photos that contained both the sky and a row of buildings had one of those ii blown out and illegible. Fortunately, the phone in your pocket (similar my iPhone xi Pro Max) tin probably practice better with natural lighting.
Microsoft Surface Become 2: Audio
The Surface Go 2 can pump out some jams, but it's not a boombox. Its 2-watt stereo speakers support Dolby Audio Premium, and can produce enough volume to fill upward my small makeshift office, but not plenty to become drowned out by the errant motorcycle driving outside.
For instance, Andre 3000's vocals sounded articulate on UGK's "International Actor'south Anthem," but when the bass came in, it was on the softer side, similar a polite handshake when it should be a sonorous loftier-five. Similarly, guitar riffs and vocals on Hayley Williams' "Sudden Desire" sounded decent, but information technology didn't have the thump or intensity I've heard in various other speakers and headphones.
When I turned the volume up to 100 to try and recoup for its slight sound, a bit of baloney emitted from low-end bass, but it wasn't enough to distract from the music.
Microsoft Surface Go 2: Performance
Nosotros saw OK multitasking functioning out of the Surface Become 2, which is equipped with the Intel Core m3-8100Y and 8GB of RAM that's rated for 64% higher CPU functioning over the entry-level Pentium Golden chip.
I saw no lag when I divide my screen between a dozen Chrome tabs (including this review in a Google Dr.) and a 1080p YouTube video with Slack and Spotify open in the background. Once I added a couple more tabs, though, I saw a little lag every bit the system loaded older pages as I opened them.
On the Geekbench 4.3 full general functioning criterion, the Surface Go 2 eked out a mere 6,815. That' well behind the 11,471 from the iPad Air (A12 Bionic), the 10,387 from the Galaxy Tab S6 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 855) and the 17,225 from the Surface Pro 7 (which sports a much more powerful Core i5-1035G4 CPU).
The Surface Go 2'southward 128GB SSD took 28.ii seconds to complete our file duplication exam, which translates to a speed of 180 MBps. The Surface Pro 7 ate its lunch again, with its 256GB SSD posting a speed of 267 MBps.
Similarly, the Surface Go 2's integrated Intel UHD 615 Graphics didn't wow on the Dirt iii racing game test, striking a less-than-playable 16.37 frames per 2nd. The Surface Pro seven's Intel Iris Plus graphics helped it exceed our thirty fps smoothness threshold at 36 fps.
Microsoft Surface Go ii: Software
If you lot want the real Windows x feel from the Surface Go 2, you'll want to accept the old step to plow off South Way, which limits you to just utilize Windows Store applications and goes heavy on Microsoft Edge. All of our testing was done later turning off South Mode, as you lot tin't run whatever third party benchmarks on it.
Unless you're giving the Surface Become two to someone who oftentimes downloads malware-ridden applications off the cyberspace, you won't miss Windows 10 S.
The Surface Go 2 besides includes a newly updated Camera app that makes the 8-megapixel rear-facing camera a certificate and white-boards scanning machine. You tin can tap on the Document icon to employ information technology, and use the Surface Pen (or any other uniform stylus) to edit your document.
Microsoft Surface Get ii: Battery life
The Surface Go 2 has solved its predecessor's battery life trouble, and offers all day endurance. On our web-surfing test (at 150 nits of brightness), the Surface Go two made it 11 hours and 39 minutes, chirapsia the Surface Go (6:06), Surface Pro 7 (vii:52) and Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 (viii:58). Information technology's even within spitting distance of the iPad Air (xi:54).
Microsoft Surface Go 2: Verdict
The Microsoft Surface Go 2 finally realizes the promise of the original Surface Go. Its bigger screen, smaller bezels and longer battery life (with an optional functioning boost from the Core m3 CPU) add up to a sub-$800 2-in-i that can handle a lot. Power users may think twice when looking at how it stacks up against the Pro seven and the iPad Air.
The Surface Pro 7 tin be customized for much faster performance (the model we compared here costs $1,119, before Type Cover) though you're trading abroad hours of battery life. If you can be productive in iPadOS, you lot get a better screen, more speed and storage with the iPad Air, but it too costs more ($808 with Smart Keyboard).
Simply as you've seen in this Microsoft Surface Get ii review, Microsoft'due south made a solid Surface ii-in-1 for those who don't desire to pay Pro prices. And, importantly for everyone working from domicile right now, it'southward got a webcam made for today, not a decade ago.
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Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/microsoft-surface-go-2
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