14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has recently announced the second-generation Surface Go, the company’s smallest and most affordable Surface model that excels in terms of portability.
And the new model is based on the same approach as the original version, so it also comes with a focus on portability, but at the same time, it also invests more in productivity with added power and some other refinements here and there.
First and foremost, the biggest change versus the previous Surface Go is that the second-generation model comes with a larger screen.
The Surface Go 2 features a 10.5-inch PixelSense display with support for the Surface Pen for writing and drawing. This is one of the best improvements that unleashes the creative side of the Surface Go, and given the bigger screen, it’s clearly something that was a must-have.
Then, Microsoft claims it has improved the performance of the Surface Go 2 by as much as 64 percent, and it’s all thanks to the 8th Generation Intel Core M chips.
The Surface Go 2 is available with two different processor options, as it follows:
- Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4425Y
- 8th Gen Intel Core m3 Processor
Needless to say, the latter is the one that offers better performance, especially when paired with 8 GB of RAM. The base model is offered with just 4 GB of RAM.
When it comes to storage, Microsoft offers an eMMC drive with 64 GB or an SSD option with 128 GB. All models come with one USB-C port, a headphone jack, the typical Surface Connect port, a microSD card reader and the Surface Type Cover port to attach a keyboard.
Another change on this model is the addition of Studio Mics, which is Microsoft’s dual microphone system, again another welcome improvement for productivity as it enhances voice clarity during video calls.
“We’ve also added the new Camera app for the rear-facing camera to make it easy to scan documents and whiteboards – whether you’re sharing notes from a meeting or turning in homework. Paired with Surface Pen, Surface Go 2 allows distance learners and remote workers to stay digital, while unlocking the power of natural ink for things like drawing diagrams, marking up documents or working through math equations. You can personalize your Surface Go with Type Covers, Sleeves and accessories in a variety of colors, including Platinum, Black, Poppy Red, and Ice Blue,” Microsoft says.
Like the Surface Go, the second generation comes with a $399 starting price that increases as you choose better hardware.
So after all of these, is the Surface Go 2 worth buying?
As I said before, the Surface Go wasn’t necessarily an appealing product, especially because of its limited performance and reduced screen size.
But Microsoft has obviously listened to all these complaints, and now the Surface Go has become the super-portable productivity device that’s finally worth having.
If anything, the Surface Go 2 isn’t necessarily just the device that students and teachers should buy, but it’s also the right choice for office workers who don’t need to run hardcore apps that would require an insane processing power.
Things like voice calls and Microsoft Teams should run just fine, and at this price level, the Surface Go 2 is one of the best purchases. And of course, given the Surface brand, you shouldn’t expect anything else than premium quality, which is one very important thing for everyone.
At the end of the day, the Surface Go 2 is one device that I would rather purchase as a portable extension of my main laptop and home PC. You can configure the Surface Go 2 on Microsoft’s site here.