Microsoft Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Go 3: Newer isn’t always better

Microsoft Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Get 3: Newer isn't e'er improve

Microsoft Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Go iii (Prototype credit: Microsoft)

Surface Go two vs. Surface Go three may be the virtually captivating tablet face-off we've ever hosted because, unfortunately for Microsoft, the Surface Get three received poor critical reception compared to its predecessor. We slapped the third-generation tablet with a 2.5 rating in our review while sister sites Tom's Guide and TechRadar gave it the same score. Prospective buyers who desire a Microsoft 2-in-1 tablet may exist wondering, "If the Surface Go 3 is getting dragged through the mud, should I get the Go two instead?"

That is the question we'll be answering after putting the Go ii and Go 3 through ferocious, brutish rounds to examination their mettle and resolve. Although 1 would await the Surface Become 3 to outshine and outperform the second-generation Go, I wouldn't overlook the Go 2's moxie and spunk.

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This tablet tug-of-war unveils the strengths and weaknesses of both devices, allowing you to make an informed ownership decision. Without farther ado, let the games brainstorm!

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Go 3
	Surface Go 2	Surface Get 3
Starting price	$399	$399
Processors	Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y, Intel Core m3-8100Y	Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y, Intel Core i3-10100Y
Display	10.five inches (1920 x 1280 pixels)	10.5 inches (1920 10 1280 pixels)
Battery Life	xi:39	6:l
RAM	4GB or 8GB	4GB or 8GB
Weight with keyboard	1.2 pounds	1.2 pounds
Size	ix.6 x 6.9 x 0.three inches	9.6 x half-dozen.9 x 0.3 inches
Ports	USB-C, headphone jack, Surface Connect	USB-C, headphone jack, Surface Connect

Surface Get 2 vs. Surface Go 3: Value and configurations

The Surface Become 2 starts at $400 and comes with a low-end Intel Pentium Gilt 4425Y processor, Intel UHD Graphics 615, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. If you want a faster CPU, you'll have to shell out $230 more for the 8th Gen Intel Core m3-8100Y variant, which sports 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage. The most expensive configuration ($729) features the same specs, but comes with LTE support.

Microsoft Surface Go 2 (Paradigm credit: Laptop Magazine)

The Surface Go iii also starts at $400 and is packed with an Intel Pentium 6500Y processor, Intel UHD 615 graphics, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. If you want a zippier CPU, opt for the $630 variant, which comes with a 10th Gen Intel Cadre i3-10100Y processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. Surface Get 3 LTE models are not bachelor nevertheless, but they are poised to exist released later this yr.

Blazon Cover Keyboards, which help transform the Surface Get 2 and 3 tablets into laptops, are $90 as of this writing, but they MSRP at $130.

Microsoft Surface Go 3 review — Microsoft Surface Go three (Image credit: Future)

Whether you lot get the Surface Get two or Get 3, I wouldn't recommend the low-end Intel Pentium models. Running Windows 11 will be a lot smoother and zippier with SSD storage and at to the lowest degree 8GB of RAM. To evade the Intel Pentium CPUs, you'll take to spend at least $630 for either the Go 2 or Go 3.

Winner: Tie

Surface Go ii vs. Surface Become 3: Design

The Surface Go 2 must be seething — the Surface Go 3 stole its aesthetic from head to toe. "You jacked my manner!" it must've yelled at its successor. Microsoft played it too safe with the third-gen Go; it doesn't look any unlike from its predecessor. Similar to the Go ii, the Go 3 has a silver magnesium trunk with the aforementioned obsolete, thick bezels that wrap around the 10.5-inch display. Though I'd adopt thinner bezels, I'm non complaining — I suppose your fingers need to rest somewhere. On the pinnacle edge, you'll detect a volume rocker and a power button. The bottom features connecting pins for the optional Type Embrace keyboard.

Microsoft Surface Go 2 — Microsoft Surface Become two (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Both the Surface Go 2 and iii accept a built-in kickstand that offers a 165-degree range of move, assuasive the tablets to exist propped up or converted into laptop style with the Type Comprehend keyboard. A lustrous Microsoft logo can exist found glimmering on the dorsum of both tablets. They also take identical camera pairs: a 5-megapixel front-facing camera that supports 1080p video and a eight-megapixel, auto-focus, rear-facing camera.

The Surface Go line has always been a snoozefest in terms of manner, design and skin. Information technology won't catch anyone'due south middle nor turn whatsoever heads, but it will earn a nod of respect in professional circles.

The Surface Go 2 and Go 3 are ideal for on-the-go decorated bees who need something compact and portable for their commute or travels. Both only weigh one.2 pounds and take dimensions of 9.6 x half-dozen.9 x 0.3 inches.

Winner: Necktie

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Go 3: Ports

Over again, the Surface Go 2 and Surface Go 3 are neck and cervix in this round.

Both sport the aforementioned ports: a headphone jack, a USB-C input and a Surface Connector. You'll also detect a microSD bill of fare slot under the kickstand. LTE models have a nano-SIM tray located on the left side (under the kickstand).

Winner: Tie

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Get 3: Display

As mentioned, the Surface Go two and iii accept the aforementioned ten.5-inch, PixelSense, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 brandish with 1920 10 1080-pixel resolution. Both serve up a screen-to-body ratio of 76.5%.

Strangely enough, according to our testing, the Surface Go 3 is a tinge dimmer than the Surface Become 2. Information technology climbed upwards to 402 nits of brightness while its predecessor emanated 408 nits. The Surface Become 2 also outperforms the Get 3 in terms of DCI-P3 coverage, claiming 76% of the color infinite; the third-gen Get covers 74%.

When nosotros tested the displays for color accuracy, both earned the same Delta-E score of 0.24 (closer to aught is better).

Winner: Surface Get 2

Surface Go 2 vs. 3: Keyboard and stylus

If in that location's one attribute of the Surface Go line that Microsoft gets right, it's the optional Blazon Cover Keyboard that transforms the Windows tablet into a mobile, lightweight laptop. It'due south a shame that Microsoft doesn't ship the Go 2 and Go 3 with the detachable keyboard. A Blazon Comprehend-less Surface Go experience doesn't sound very fun — the on-screen keyboard isn't efficient (especially for high-productivity workflows).

Is the Microsoft Surface Go 2 still worth buying in 2022? — Microsoft Surface Go 2 (Paradigm credit: Laptop Mag)

Spanning less than 10 inches from fundamental to key, the starting time thought that comes to heed is, "Will I experience comfortable typing on the Type Cover keyboard?" On one hand, the keys are surprisingly clicky and provide satisfactory tactile feedback. The 3.viii x ii.ii-inch, smoothen glass touchpad is small, but acceptable and responsive to Windows gestures, including compression-to-zoom and two-finger scrolling.

On the other hand, the Type Cover's disability to remain fixed while you're typing on it is a common complaint. The keyboard besides feels cramped and is unsuitable for big-handed users. On the plus side, if you're a frequent traveler, the miniature keyboard forces yous to "stay in your lane," so yous won't irk nearby passengers by accidentally elbowing them.

The Surface Go Type Cover is available in Ice Blueish, Poppy Red, Platinum and Black. You can also choose between a microfiber skin or a plush Alcantara torso.

You tin also add an optional stylus to the Surface Go 2 and 3 feel, merely it's not a must-accept unless you lot take an affinity for sketching or taking notes. The Surface Pen has four,096 pressure points. It too has a tail eraser, a customizable button and supports tilt for shading.

Winner: Tie

Surface Go two vs. Surface Go 3: Performance

Hither's where things get a little bit interesting. To exam their performance, nosotros pitted the Surface Get 2, packed with an 8th Gen Intel Cadre m3-8100Y CPU confronting the Surface Go iii (powered by a tenth Gen Intel Cadre i3-10100Y processor). Keep in mind that neither of these fries are au courant — not even the Surface Go 3'south processor. Intel'due south latest, a la mode fries are from the 11th generation known as Tiger Lake. As such, the Surface Go 3's CPU is a generation behind, but that's no surprise since it's Microsoft'south entry-level, budget tablet.

Ane would presume that the Surface Become three would totally fume the Surface Go 2 on the Geekbench 5.iv overall operation examination, simply the third-generation tablet but mustered a beggarly, embarrassing score of 1,571, which is worse than the Go 2's score (ane,617). These benchmarks caught me off baby-sit, but the Go three's 10th Gen Intel Core i3-10100Y CPU is based on the same 2022 Amber Lake compages as the Go two'due south eighth Gen Intel Cadre m3 SoC, so the results aren't likewise surprising.

On the file-transfer test, the 128GB SSD within the Surface Become 2 took 2 minutes and 44 seconds to duplicate 25GB of multimedia files, which translates to a snail-similar transfer rate of 163.7 megabytes per second. The Go iii (also sporting a 128GB SSD) emerged victorious in this competition, serving up a faster file-transfer charge per unit of 234 MBps.

The Surface Go 2 and 3 aren't gaming devices by any means (unless you decide to utilise streaming services similar Xbox Game Pass), just if you're curious about how well both tablets performed on the Sid Meier's Civilization Vi: Gathering Storm benchmark (Very High, 1080p), we have the numbers for yous. The Become 2 notched five frames per second while the Go iii served up six.

Winner: Surface Go 3

Surface Go two vs. Surface Go 3: Bombardment life

This i baffled us. Microsoft boasted that the Surface Get 3 offers "all mean solar day battery life" and up to 11 hours of "typical device usage." Well, our battery life results beg to differ.

The Surface Go three, later continuously surfing the spider web over Wi-Fi at 150 nits, tapped out after only half-dozen hours and 50 minutes. This is much shorter than the Surface Get two, which has a stellar runtime of 11 hours and 39 minutes. Splendid power efficiency is a must for portable, mobile devices. The Go's target consumers — on-the-go travelers who don't always have access to power outlets — can't compromise on battery life, so this is one of the most disappointing aspects of the Go 3.

Winner: Surface Go 2

Overall winner: None

I'm sorry to the competitors, but neither 1 deserves a championship belt. If you have a Surface Go two and are wondering if you should get its successor, don't bother. The Surface Go 3 was updated with new internals, but according to our testing, its performance scores are disappointing — it either trailed backside its predecessor or edged out the Surface Get 2 past an insignificant margin.

The Surface Go 3's battery life is another major setback, lasting simply 7 hours compared to the Get 2'south 11-hr runtime.

The Surface Go 3 is a clone of its predecessor, simply its poor endurance and sluggish functioning makes it the evil twin of the duo. Although the Surface Go 2 outperformed the Surface Go three in many rounds, we don't recommend purchasing a device with a processor that's several generations old.

If yous were planning on buying the whole shabang — a Surface Go three with a Type Embrace keyboard and the all-time CPU offer — information technology would gear up you back about $760. Let me offering yous some alternatives. You can get the 64GB iPad Air with the Magic Keyboard, simply it'southward pricier ($898). If you don't heed Chrome OS, yous should also consider the $300 Lenovo Chromebook Duet, which is reminiscent of the Go line. The best option, notwithstanding, is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE. You tin can get the $599, 128GB tablet (S Pen is included) with the $130 Volume Comprehend Keyboard for a full of $730. Plus, it has thirteen hours of battery life. Win!

Kimberly Gedeon, holding a Master's degree in International Journalism, launched her career as a journalist for MadameNoire'due south business beat out in 2022. She loved translating stuffy stories about the economy, personal finance and investing into digestible, easy-to-understand, entertaining stories for immature women of colour. During her time on the business beat, she discovered her passion for tech as she dove into articles well-nigh tech entrepreneurship, the Consumer Electronics Testify (CES) and the latest tablets. Later on eight years of freelancing, dabbling in a myriad of beats, she's finally found a domicile at Laptop Mag that accepts her as the crypto-fond, virtual reality-loving, investing-focused, tech-fascinated nerd she is. Woot!