The Microsoft Surface Go 2 (2020) is a 10.5-inch Windows tablet with a detachable keyboard. It feels solid and well-built and has an incredibly stable kickstand. The screen is bright and sharp and covers the entire sRGB range. The 3:2 aspect ratio offers more vertical space than a typical 16:9 display. It has an excellent 1080p webcam and clear microphone, decent-sounding speakers, and it’s absolutely silent.
Unfortunately, gaming performance is abysmal, and since there’s only a single USB-C port, you’ll need to use a dongle for multiple wired peripherals. Battery life is mediocre, especially for a device meant for mobile use, so you’ll need to carry a charger if you want to perform even moderately demanding tasks. None of the available models are suitable for running processor- or graphics-intensive programs.
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo hide=price]Consider it a successful compromise computer. Microsoft has refreshed its intermediate portable, the Laptop Go, which occupies the middle ground between the small Surface Go 3 tablet and the traditional Surface Laptop 4. The Surface Laptop Go 2 is a modest update to the original, replacing the processor with a faster 11th-generation Intel chip and tweaking some components. With features like a 3:2 aspect ratio display, this Microsoft mini-tablet is sleeker and better finished than many of its budget rivals.
Microsoft has covered just about every possible price and size category in the Surface lineup. The original Surface Laptop Go, as the name suggests, combined the DNA of the petite Surface Go and the traditional Surface Laptop. This laptop is smaller than the latter and targets everyday productivity users who are on the go a lot. The light shade of green is very appealing to the eye, standing out from the crowd and adding some style to a device you often carry around. It’s one of four color options and has a fairly Apple-like style, as Surface devices have always been Windows alternatives to MacBook and iPad concepts.
The Surface Laptop Go 2 measures 0.62 x 11 x 8.1 inches and weighs 2.48 pounds, so it’s just as slim and portable as the original. The same high-quality aluminum is used for the lid to further the MacBook feel, although as an economy notebook, the system isn’t entirely metal. The base is a blend of aluminum and polycarbonate composite resin with fiberglass, 30% of which is recycled material. The bottom part feels more like plastic than metal, but not cheap or flimsy. With its size and materials, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a near premium experience despite its low price.