Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review

Finest Costs Right this moment: Microsoft Floor Laptop computer Go 2

What makes an amazing scholar laptop computer? There’s a normal impression that college students simply want an affordable machine that may deal with the fundamentals, however the wants of these in full-time schooling are evolving.  

Low-cost laptops and Chromebooks nonetheless have their place, nevertheless it’s clear many younger individuals need extra from their machine – whether or not it’s for learning or downtime. 

Microsoft’s Floor Laptop computer Go goals to ship that, whereas nonetheless retaining a light-weight design and an inexpensive value level. Regardless of the upgrades on this second technology, it’s really cheaper than 2020’s authentic within the UK. Nevertheless, US prospects must pay barely extra. 

However is it actually the best choice for college students? And will common customers contemplate it too? I spent just a few weeks with the Laptop computer Go 2 to seek out out. 

Design and construct

• Premium feel and look
• Impressively light-weight
• First rate fingerprint sensor and port choice

Microsoft has a transparent design language for all its Floor computer systems, and there’s no signal of the corporate switching issues up anytime quickly. Which means the Laptop computer Go 2 is actually a pint-sized model of the Floor Laptop computer 4, however that’s no unhealthy factor.  

It provides the machine a premium feel and look that belies its inexpensive value level. The glossy aluminium end is now out there in 4 finishes, with current Platinum, Ice Blue and Sandstone joined by a brand new Sage possibility. None of those are too garish or eye-catching – only a delicate solution to specific your self. 

The Platinum mannequin I examined is arguably the least fascinating of the 4, however this minimalist design is one thing I actually like. The reflective Microsoft brand on the again is the one space (except for the show) that draws fingerprint smudges, however you received’t be that fairly often.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Flipping the machine open reveals the 12.4in show, flanked by some slim bezels. These are bigger than you’ll discover on many rivals, however don’t detract from the viewing expertise and preserve a gorgeous symmetry. 

Above the display you’ll discover a 720p webcam, a noticeable step down from the 1080p digital camera on the Floor Laptop computer 4. Microsoft says this has been upgraded, nevertheless it’s onerous to note any enhancements in comparison with the unique Laptop computer Go. It’s effective for the occasional video name with family and friends, simply not far more. 

Nevertheless, and not using a separate IR sensor, there’s nonetheless no assist for Home windows Hey face unlock. The fingerprint sensor constructed into the facility button is your solely various, however this isn’t out there on the entry-level mannequin. It’s simple to arrange and dependable, however you’ll have to pay at the least $699.99/£629 to get it. 

The show tilts again fairly a good distance, however it might’t rotate a full 360 levels. Having the ability to transfer the keyboard out of the way in which would add to the Laptop computer Go 2’s worth, particularly as Microsoft doesn’t make a convertible laptop computer proper now.  

Annoyingly, the Laptop computer Go 2 nonetheless has Floor Join as its primary charging methodology, though you need to use the USB-C port with different laptop computer chargers you have already got.  

They’re joined by one USB-A and a 3.5mm headphone jack, however there’s no HDMI. It’d even be good to have extra ports, regardless of the wedge-shaped design. Because it stands, you’ll most likely want to attach an adapter or hub sometimes. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

However the Laptop computer Go 2 nonetheless weighs simply over 1.1kg. That makes it ultra-portable, but it nonetheless feels sturdy sufficient to be taken nearly anyplace with you. A thickness of 15.7mm is just a little chunkier than you may anticipate from a laptop computer of this dimension, nevertheless it’s sturdier consequently. 

Show and audio

• 12.4in LCD touchscreen
• Nonetheless supplies an amazing viewing expertise
• Strong audio system, very good mics

On paper, show is the realm of the Laptop computer Go 2 that has been compromised essentially the most. A 12.4in panel is smaller than most laptops and even the Floor Professional 8 (13in), so that you’ll be shedding out on some vital display actual property. 

All of Microsoft’s laptops use ‘PixelSense’ LCD screens slightly than OLED, whereas the decision right here drops to 1536×1024. That offers it a boxy 3:2 facet ratio, which takes some getting used to should you’re coming from a 16:10 or 16:9 show. As you’d anticipate at this value level, the refresh charge remains to be restricted to 60Hz. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Nevertheless, it’s outstanding how shortly these items fade into the background when you begin utilizing the Laptop computer Go 2. The extra compact design has its advantages for portability, particularly when mixed with contact assist. 

It’s nonetheless a high-quality show, and most of the people received’t discover any distinction in comparison with the Floor Laptop computer 4’s display. Inner testing is encouraging too, suggesting you’re getting 97% sRGB protection and 74% of each AdobeRGB and P3. A most brightness of 368 nits isn’t wonderful, nevertheless it’s nonetheless attainable to make use of the machine in some out of doors environments. 

For me, Microsoft has struck stability right here. Some premium options have been scaled again, nevertheless it nonetheless delivers the element and color accuracy you’d anticipate from a Floor show. 

On the audio facet, the Floor Laptop computer Go 2 included what Microsoft calls “omnisonic” audio system. These are positioned below the keyboard, with a lot of the sound emitted from simply above the keyboard. I wouldn’t name the audio they produce room-filling, however it’s spectacular for a tool of this dimension. 

Voice-based content material is crystal-clear, whereas most music has spectacular element and a pleasant hit of bass. It’s notably suited to slower songs, with an inclination for some distortion at larger volumes. 

Far-field studio microphones are positioned both facet of the webcam, they usually make for an amazing video calling expertise. Even with a number of visitors within the background and a fan working, the one factor you possibly can hear was my voice. 

Keyboard and trackpad

• Full-size keyboard with nice journey
• Nonetheless no backlit keys
• Massive, responsive trackpad

The Floor Laptop computer Go 2 is likely to be smaller than most laptops, however there’s nonetheless room for a full-size keyboard. It stretches nearly to the perimeters of the machine, permitting for a snug typing expertise. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

There are thinner laptops on the market, however what you get in return is a formidable 1.3mm of key journey. I might fortunately kind on this keyboard all day, however issues change into far more troublesome in low gentle. For some purpose, the Laptop computer Go 2 nonetheless doesn’t have backlit keys – a typical characteristic on even finances machines. It would seem to be a small factor, nevertheless it’ll change the way in which you utilize the machine. 

It’s even weirder when you think about there’s a vivid gentle bar across the fingerprint sensor. It’s joined on the highest row by your common brightness and quantity controls, plus a play/pause toggle and fast entry to go looking and Settings. 

Regardless of being a compact machine, there’s nonetheless loads of room to relaxation your palms both facet of the trackpad. That is coated in the identical soft-touch materials because the keys, though there’s no possibility for an Alcantara end right here. 

Nonetheless, the trackpad is impressively responsive and simple to make use of. It’s satisfyingly clicky, but nonetheless permits for exact navigation. You may nonetheless need to join an exterior mouse, nevertheless it’s not a necessity. 

Specs and efficiency

• Eleventh-gen Core i5 CPU
• Strong on a regular basis efficiency
• Gadget usually runs sizzling

The Floor Laptop computer Go 2 has had a processor improve, however to not the newest Twelfth-gen Intel CPUs. Microsoft says that is with value in thoughts, so that you’ll should be content material with the 11^th-gen Core i5-1135G7 throughout all configurations. 

It’s joined by Iris Xe built-in graphics and 8GB of DDR4 RAM on the mannequin I examined, though the most affordable model drops the latter right down to 4GB. 

Efficiency from the Laptop computer Go 2 received’t blow you away, nevertheless it’s a stable all-rounder that can serve most individuals nicely. I used it for looking the online, checking electronic mail, writing paperwork and retaining in contact with colleagues with no hesitations or slowdown. In case you don’t thoughts the 720p webcam, it delivers a easy video calling expertise too. 

However as you’ll be able to see from the benchmarks beneath, many similarly-priced units nonetheless carry out higher: 

Nevertheless, there’s one massive caveat to all this: the machine runs sizzling. Followers kick in nearly instantly after you begin utilizing the Laptop computer Go 2, and it begins heating up after a couple of minutes. There’s no noticeable drop-off in efficiency, however utilizing a tool that’s persistently heat to the contact is unsettling at occasions. 

By way of storage, you’ll be able to select between a 128GB or 256GB SSD on the Laptop computer Go 2. The previous might be effective should you commonly use a cloud storage service or again as much as an exterior onerous drive, however the $100/£100 premium for a 256GB SSD is barely extreme. 

Battery and charging

• 41Wh battery
• First rate battery life, however not all-day
• 39W charging on the sluggish facet

Earlier than utilizing the Floor Laptop computer Go 2, battery life was my largest concern. It has only a 41Wh cell, far considerably smaller than you’ll discover on many laptops. Whereas it doesn’t fairly ship all-day battery life, it does last more than I used to be anticipating. 

In our 720p video loop battery take a look at, I recorded precisely 10 hours. That was with Wi-Fi turned off and the brightness set to a comparatively low 120 nits, however with battery saver mode turned off. 

Realistically, you’re round seven or eight hours of typical utilization. A full working day is likely to be out of attain, however most individuals received’t be away from an influence supply lengthy sufficient to make it a problem. Utilizing the machine for a few hours on the practice isn’t an issue. 

Once you do run out of cost, there’s a 39W adapter included within the field. When related by way of the awkward Floor Join port, it reached 38% in half-hour from off. By 90 minutes it hit 93%, however a full cost takes nearly two hours.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Nevertheless, the Laptop computer Go 2 can obtain energy at as much as 60W by way of both of the USB-C ports. When you’ve got an appropriate charger out there, it’s price seeing if you will get sooner speeds. 

Software program

• Runs Home windows 11 Residence
• Works nicely on 12.4in touchscreen
• Will get common updates for a few years

The unique Floor Laptop computer Go shipped working Home windows 10 in S mode, however that’s not the case right here. On the Laptop computer Go 2, the total model of Home windows 11 House is put in out of the field, reflecting its extra widespread enchantment. 

As Microsoft makes Home windows, there are not any further tweaks or different software program to speak about right here. However Home windows 11 is well-optimised for the 12.4in show, and it’s getting higher as an working system for contact.

Regardless of not having the newest CPU, the Floor Laptop computer Go 2 will proceed to get software program updates for a lot of extra years to come back. 

Value and availability

Curiously, the Floor Laptop computer Go 2 is barely dearer within the US, however cheaper within the UK. It begins at $599.99/£529, however that solely will get you 4GB of RAM and no fingerprint sensor. 

I’d suggest most individuals spend at the least $699.99/£629 for the mid-spec mannequin, nevertheless it’s price contemplating the top-spec $799.99/£729 configuration should you want further storage. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

So, whereas that beginning value technically makes it a finances laptop computer, most individuals might be spending considerably extra. It clearly can’t rival flagship machines, nevertheless it’s a superb possibility for college students. 

However should you’re set on a Floor machine, your primary resolution might be between this and the Floor Laptop computer 4. The latter is commonly discounted nowadays and infrequently out there for the same value. 

That diminishes the Laptop computer Go 2’s worth considerably, nevertheless it stays an amazing purchase for many individuals. 

Verdict

The Floor Laptop computer Go 2 is a cautious improve from Microsoft, nevertheless it performs nicely in a number of key areas. 

Regardless of choosing older 11^th-gen Intel chips, efficiency remains to be sturdy throughout all on a regular basis duties – though it does run sizzling. The 12.4in touchscreen is nearly nearly as good as flagship Floor units, whereas the premium design and construct are nonetheless right here. Battery life is stable, whereas it’s impressively transportable at simply 1.1kg. 

However with simply 4GB of RAM and no various to manually coming into a password, the most affordable mannequin isn’t price shopping for for most individuals. You’ll have to spend at the least $100/£100 extra to get the total expertise, at which level there are many similarly-priced options.

Specs

• 278.2mm x 206.2mm x 15.7mm
• 1.16kg 
• 12.4in, 1536×1024 LCD show (3:2 facet ratio, touchscreen) 
• Full-size keyboard (no backlighting)
• 720p webcam 
• Omisonic audio system
• Fingerprint energy button 
• Intel Core i5-1135G7
• Intel Iris Xe graphics 
• 4/8GB LPDDR4 RAM 
• 128/256GB SSD 
• 1x Floor Join
• 1x USB-C 
• 1x USB-A
• 1x 3.5mm jack 
• 41Wh battery
• 39W charger
• Wi-Fi 6 
• Bluetooth 5.1
• Home windows 11 Residence