Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

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• Microsoft Surface Go 2 review

THE BEST DEALS OF THE DAY

Two minute review

The Surface Go 2 is proof that Microsoft can go after affordable devices just as easily as it builds premium devices. Honoring the legacy of the Surface Go, this Windows 10 tablet is a bit of a departure from Microsoft's usual high-end (and expensive) offerings, and is aimed primarily at people who liked the look of the Surface Pro 7, but didn't they did it. afford (or justify) its high sale price. At $399 / £399 / AU$547 for its entry-level model, the Surface Go 2 is certainly an attractive proposition for those on a budget. But, here are some caveats. This model only comes with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and a dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y processor, which is underpowered. This 64 GB storage will also be incredibly reduced after installing a few apps. You can get Surface Go 2 configurations with slightly more powerful innards, but they'll hardly break any records. Also, the higher its specification, the more expensive this tablet starts to get, and therefore less competitive for people looking for a good deal. So while this lineup offers a cheaper option for consumers, it won't be the best value for those looking for a more powerful tablet. Hopefully Microsoft will fix this in the upcoming Surface Go 3. The other thing to note is that while you can see photos of the Surface Go 2 with the Type Cover on, which not only protects the screen, but includes a keyboard and trackpad to turn the Surface Go 2 into a device. Laptop type, these are not included with the tablet. Instead, you have to purchase them separately, further increasing the total cost of the product. However, from a design point of view, we can't fault the Surface Go 2. Considering the price, it has a solid and attractive design, and it's thin and light enough to be easily carried and used anywhere. There aren't many ports, but the selection is pretty decent, with a USB-C port that can also charge the device. It also has a proprietary charging port. Performance-wise, the Surface Go 2 would never blow us away, but with the version we had, it was a capable device on a day-to-day basis. If you stick to Windows 10 S mode, where you're limited to light apps from the Microsoft Store, you won't have much of a problem with that. However, by upgrading to Windows 10 Home (which is free), you can install more complex apps, and this is where the Surface Go 2's limited hardware becomes apparent. For casual use, this is fine, but it excludes gaming and all intensive tasks like video editing. Battery life, however, is brilliant, lasting over eight hours on a single charge in our tests. This long battery life, along with its lightweight design and low price, make it ideal for students who need something to take on campus, or anyone who wants a portable device that can be used on campus.

(Image credit: Avenir)

• Microsoft Surface Go 2 in Microsoft US for € 29,99

Datasheet Here is the Microsoft Surface Go 2 configuration submitted to TechRadar for review: Processor: Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y at 1,7 GHz (dual core, 2 MB cache)
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 (integrated)
RAM: 8GB RAM
Display: 10,5-inch PixelSense (1920 x 1280)
Storage: 128GB SSD
Ports: 1x USB-C, combo audio jack, Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover port, microSSDXC card reader
Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth
Camera: 5 MP 1080p Windows Hello front camera, 8 MP 1080p rear camera
Weight: 1,2 pounds (0,55 kg)
Size: 9,65 '' x 6,9 '' x 0,33 '' (245mm x 175mm x 8,3mm; Width x Depth x Height)

Prices and availability

As with the original Surface Go, the Surface Go 2 is an affordable device from Microsoft and aims to lead Chromebooks when it comes to appealing to students. This makes it a more attractive device than other Surface products, which typically target the premium and high-end markets. By offering a compelling and capable device at a price that many more people can afford, Microsoft is doing something that rivals like Apple and Google often overlook. The Surface Go 2's starting price is very reasonable at $399 / £399 / AU$547. This gets you a device with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and a dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y processor. These are the kinds of specs you'll find on ultra-cheap laptops or Chromebooks, but for a Windows 10 machine it's pretty low. The 4GB of RAM is passable, but don't expect to launch a bunch of heavy apps at once. However, that 64 GB of storage will fill up incredibly quickly, especially with Windows 10 installed. So if you plan to do light everyday tasks like browsing the web and typing documents while staying in Windows 10 S mode (which limits the apps you can install on the device to those from the Microsoft Store, which are generally very limited), then this model should do the trick. But for anyone with more ambitious plans for the Surface Go 2, you'll need to opt for a more powerful model. The good news is that there are plenty of customization options out there that could help you get a GB 2 more suited to your needs. However, the price also goes up a bit. So to double the RAM and storage to 8GB and 128GB respectively, you'll need to shell out $549.99 / £529 / AU$879. This will give you a much smoother experience and a bit more space to store files and documents. This is also the template that was sent to us for this review. In the UK and US, you can also get a model with a more powerful Intel Core M3 processor, which is still an energy efficient processor designed for thin and light mobile devices that prioritize battery life and portability for the performance.

(Image credit: Avenir) This comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD for £629.99 / £619. Interestingly, this model isn't currently available in Australia. There is also the same model as above, but with built-in LTE connectivity, which allows you to insert a SIM card and use mobile data to connect to the Internet. This is a very useful feature that means you don't have to rely on Wi-Fi access points when you're on the go. As long as you have a strong enough signal, you can get download speeds that are just as fast, if not faster, than public Wi-Fi networks, and they're also more secure. This model will set you back $729.99 / £719 / AU$1,199. To get the full Surface Go 2 experience, you'll also want to purchase the Type Cover. This magnetically clicks onto the Surface Go 2, and in addition to protecting the screen, it has a built-in keyboard and trackpad. This turns the Surface Go 2 into a laptop-like device and makes it a much better product to work with. Many people will find this to be an essential supplement, but you have to pay more for it: $99 / £100 / AU$149 to be precise. This is for the standard black cover. If you want a stylus, the Surface Pen is $78.99 / £100 / AU$139.95. So, as you can see, this cheap and affordable Surface device can get expensive fast when you start bumping up the specs and adding features that many people think should be included by default. There's good news for owners of older Surface devices, as their existing Type Cover keyboards and Surface Pen will work with the Surface Go 2. So if you already have them, that makes the Surface Go 2 much more affordable. However, unless you're happy with the lower-end model and just use it as a tablet, you'll find the Surface Go 2 isn't quite the bargain it seems at first.

(Image credit: Avenir)

Integrated

The Surface Go 2 is designed roughly the same as the original Surface Go, which means it's essentially a slightly smaller and lighter version of the Surface Pro. As for budget devices at this price, the design is solid with a few touches of high end. The dimensions are 9,65 inches x 6,9 inches x 0,33 inches (245mm x 175mm x 8,3mm) for the Surface Go 2 tablet itself. It's the same as the previous model, and with 1,2 lbs (0,55 kg) is slightly heavier than the original. These dimensions make it slightly smaller than the iPad Pro 11, it is Apple's biggest rival. This has dimensions of 9,74 x 7,02 x 0,23, which means Apple's device is a bit thinner, and at 1,04 pounds (471g), the iPad Pro 11 is also noticeably smaller. light. Still, the iPad Pro 11 is a high-end product that costs more than twice the price of the entry-level Surface Go 2 model. One notable change in the Surface Go 2's design from its predecessor is that it now has a larger screen. 10,5-inch (the original has a 10-inch screen). This size boss is also accompanied by a resolution boss (1920 x 1280 vs. 1 x 800 for the Surface Go), which means that the Surface Go 1 doesn't lose any of its net in opting for a screen plus big. In fact, it now has a slightly higher pixel density of 200 ppi (pixels per inch). It maintains the 2:220 aspect ratio, which means it's slightly better than standard 3:2 widescreen displays. The extra vertical space can be useful for document creation, and as a tablet, the aspect ratio seems quite normal, although in portable mode you will probably notice the difference. When playing widescreen videos, it also means that black bars appear above and below the images. On the port side, you have a headphone audio jack, a USB-C port, and a proprietary charging port on the right side. This charging port is magnetized, which means the charger easily snaps into it. The good news is that the USB-C port can also be used to charge the tablet, so you can use a charger from another device, instead of relying on the Surface Go 16's charger. It's a nice and handy feature. At the bottom of the Surface Go 9 is another magnetized port; this time it's all about easily snapping the Type Cover, if you have one, onto the Surface Go 2. As with previous models, it works well, so there's no need to adjust to get the case on, and the Go 2 immediately detects the type cover. keyboard and touchpad. His...