Microsoft Surface Go: Is This the Best Laptop You Need?

Shelling out $599 for a tablet that doubles up as a laptop may seem old-school, but Microsoft Surface Go might surprise you for the right reasons. The 9.7-inch iPad has always been a pet favorite in this segment, and now even Samsung has its own range, with S4 being one of the important options. Coming to Microsoft Surface Go, it is a beast of sorts, more so because it is powered by Windows. Agreed that Android has its benefits, but Windows packs in a lot more. Although known websites like PCtechynews have placed this among the best options money can buy in 2019, here’s more on what we think of Microsoft Surface Go.

Specs at a glance

Let’s start by saying that Microsoft Surface Go comes with its own keyboard, which also features a touchpad, so yes, you can literally turn this into a powerful laptop on the go. You get a 10″ PixelSense™ Displaym, which offers a resolution of 1800 x 1200 with 3:2 aspect ratio. The 10-point multi-touch is a breeze to work with. There are two storage variants – You can get the 64GB eMMC for a lower price, or 128GB SSD variant, with 4GB or 8GB RAM options respectively. For graphics, you have Intel® HD Graphics 615, and this device is powered by Intel® Pentium® Gold Processor 4415Y, which is designed for performance. Connectivity options on the device include Surface Type Cover Port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, USB-C, MicroSDXC Card Reader, and Surface Connect port.

The good

If you have just $499, the entry level model should suffice, and this includes the price of keyboard, as well. However, an extra price of $99 is required for the surface pen. We love the display of this device, and yes, the Pentium processor is a steal of sorts. The backlit keyboard is rather comfortable, and yes, the price is comfortable if you want to keep a tab on laptop budgets. The device also comes with Windows Hello.

The bad

You get around 8 hours of battery life, which leaves a lot to be desired. The accessories are not included in the price, which again can escalate the costs, and some user may agree that the iPad is still more powerful.