The Laptop Go is a well-built and lightweight machine that truly looks the part, but is let down by a few key omissions and cut-backs.īudget alternatives offer more storage and higher resolution screens than the £549 base model, while a Dell XPS 13 would give us serious pause for thought before pulling the trigger on the £899 version tested here. Swapping into full-fledged Windows 10 is free, but it’s a one-way ticket, with no way to change your mind later.ĭiluting down the Surface formula was always going to require a few compromises. This better protects against malware, but let’s be honest, what isn’t on the app store would make a big long list. The Surface Laptop Go arrives with Windows 10 S, a streamlined version of Microsoft’s OS that only lets you install apps from the Windows app store. Integrated UHD graphics means you won’t be playing games at full resolution, but it should still just about handle basic esports titles if you’re realistic with the detail settings. It’s a proven quad-core chip that peaks at 3.6GHz, which is more than enough grunt for desktop duties.ĭon’t expect to be rendering videos or running other intensive apps at any great pace, but stick to the basics and the system is nigh-on silent, only cranking up when you really push it. Whichever model you choose, every Surface Laptop Go has the same Intel Core i5-1035G1 CPU. Windows 10 alone can gobble up to a third of that capacity, so it’s the pricier models that make more sense: both have a healthier 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB of faster SSD storage. The entry-level Go does without, and none of the three can use the built-in 720p webcam for Windows Hello facial recognition.Īt its most basic, the Go ships with a lowly 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC flash storage. The one luxury is the power button, which doubles as a fingerprint sensor – if you buy the step-up model or this top-spec machine, anyway. It’s a shame, as the expansive touchpad is superb, with pinpoint tracking and reassuringly clicky response. This feels like a cost cutting too far, considering almost every rival in the same price bracket comes with illuminated keys. The bigger issue is that Microsoft has decided not to bother with a backlit keyboard. Rubberised feet run the whole width of the laptop, too, keeping it stable and wobble-free when working. The soft-touch keys are springy with a decent amount of travel, with the only real size compromise being the half-height up and down arrow keys. Tapping out this review on the Go’s full-size keyboard was largely a pleasure – during daylight hours, anyway.
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