Surface Laptop Go 2 review | Games.ca | Microsoft Laptop Hardware Test. bit Description Plug, shelf life, Nominal capacity, memory capacity, optimal location, Amazon Prime, Amazon Lockers, beautiful colors, Platinum Color, Studio, headphone / microphone, 1 Headphone Combo, eMMC card, family calls, compatible product, product use,
consider it Surface Laptop Go 2 As a successful compromise computer. Microsoft has updated the Laptop Go, a mid-range laptop that sits between the smaller Surface Go 3 tablet and the regular Surface Laptop 4. Phone Surface Laptop Go 2 It’s a modest update or upgrade to the original that replaces the CPU with a faster 11th Generation Intel chip and changes a few components. Offering features like a 3:2 PixelSense touchscreen (rarely found on budget laptops), this Microsoft mini is sleeker and better built than many of its affordable rivals.
Portable design in a new chassis
Microsoft has offered almost every price and size for its Surface line. The original Surface Laptop Go, as the name suggests, combined the DNA of the small detachable Surface Go and the traditional Surface Laptop model. Smaller than the latter, this portability-focused laptop targets daily productivity users on the go.
The first thing you notice about our test unit (although it’s less noticeable in our photos than in person) is the attractive new sage green color. This pale shade of green is very pleasing to the eye, it stands out from the crowd and adds a bit of charm to a car you often see on the road. One of four color options (the others are ice blue, sandstone, and platinum), the style is quite similar to that of Apple devices, as Surface devices have always represented Windows alternatives to the MacBook and iPad concepts.
Physically, the Surface Laptop Go 2 measures 0.62 x 11 x 8.1 inches and weighs 2.48 pounds, just as slim and portable as the original. The lid uses the same premium aluminum that gives it that MacBook feel, although like a budget laptop, the system isn’t all metal – the base is made from a fiberglass mix of aluminum and polycarbonate composite resin, 30% of which is post-consumer recycled material.
The bottom feels more like plastic than metal, but it’s neither cheap nor flimsy. Between its size and materials, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers an almost premium experience despite its low price.
The display, though somewhat disappointing, has not changed. I say this because the resolution of the 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen does not reach full HD at 1536×1024 pixels. Based on the pixel count, I thought it would be close enough to mimic Full HD or 1080p, but as my colleague Tom Brant did when he reviewed the first Surface Laptop Go, I found some text to look fuzzy or grainy compared to higher resolutions. which most laptop users are used to.
The display offers touch support and is pretty bright at max setting, so it’s not a total loss. On average, its colors and quality are decent, but as of this writing, I have to say that text in Google Docs doesn’t look very sharp.
Another disappointment is the lack of a backlit keyboard. I realize this is a budget laptop, but even many cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks offer backlighting these days. I worked in a dark room and immediately regretted the choice of basic lighting. Otherwise, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is pleasant enough to use: The keys can be a bit small depending on your finger size, but the keyboard has satisfying travel. And the touchpad is relatively wide and makes scrolling and clicking smooth.
Fingerprints, cameras and connectivity
The fingerprint reader is built into the power button, making it easy to sign in with Windows Hello. The webcam lacks IR facial recognition, so a fingerprint is the only way to use Windows Hello, but it’s acceptable for the price. The HD camera itself has been upgraded for today’s video calling culture; Microsoft has improved the sensor and added dual-field microphones to improve the conferencing experience. Unfortunately, the webcam resolution is not increased to 1080p; it’s still a 720p device.
Video quality from the webcam is decent, but it suffers from its low resolution and doesn’t handle low light particularly well. To be fair, many more expensive laptops still come with cheap 720p cameras, but a sharper webcam would be appreciated.
As for connectivity, you’ll find a USB 3.2 Type-A port, a USB Type-C port, and a headphone jack. The laptop is charged via a dedicated Surface Connector on the right side. This is the same download as the previous model. The lack of an HDMI port to connect an external monitor is a disappointment.
One of the changes made to this model is the inclusion of interchangeable parts. Like the use of recycled materials, this is partly a sustainability effort, allowing users to at least partially rejuvenate an aging system. A mass-produced laptop that is easier to maintain is always an advantage for consumers and office users.
What are the replaceable parts? The hard drive is replaceable again (Microsoft provides a guide for SSD replacement), but now it’s joined by a “C-Cover” that includes the keyboard and touchpad, display, battery, and “AB-Cover” inside. Surflink connecting cable.
Another addition: the Surface Laptop Go 2 is the first secure-core Intel computer in Microsoft’s lineup to support Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0. This may appeal to business buyers, and Microsoft published a blog post (Opens a new window) outlining the benefits for IT departments.
Surface Laptop Go 2: Configuration options
Admittedly, despite some minor revisions, a new processor and a general increase in the price of personal computers, Microsoft kept the starting price of the Surface Laptop Go 2 quite close to the original price. The base model ranges from $50 to $599.99, which is out of the extreme range, but still well below four figures. Now let’s see what the different configurations are.
The base unit is quite modest, with a quad-core Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 4GB of insufficient memory, an HD camera and 128GB of SSD hard drive space. Offered only in platinum, no other colors. Spending an extra $100 gets you the mid-range model, which boosts storage to 8GB and lets you choose from other available colors. Finally, another $100 increase ($799.99) doubles the SSD storage to 256GB.
No, you can’t buy a Surface Laptop Go 2 with a faster Core i7 processor, graphics card, 16GB of RAM, or a 512GB or 1TB drive. If you’re looking for something more rugged, Microsoft points you to the 13.5- or 15-inch Surface Laptop 4.
Surface Laptop Go 2 review: Smooth navigation (among budget laptops)
It’s basically a bunch of other budget machines, some of which are quite a bit cheaper than the Surface Laptop Go 2. Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 convertible is the same price as Microsoft’s laptop today. IdeaPad 3 14 is cheaper; and the detachable Surface Go 3 ranks below its stablemate in terms of power and price. As for the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 13, it’s a more expensive laptop, but it’s similar to the Surface in some ways and shows what you can get for a few hundred dollars. .
Battery and display tests
The best way to test a laptop’s battery life is to play a locally stored 720p video file with screen brightness at 50% and volume at 100% until the system shuts down.
The Surface Laptop Go 2 doesn’t offer record-breaking battery life, but it does avoid the cheap laptop trap of too little battery life. The Galaxy Book Pro’s battery life is off the charts, but that’s part of what you get for the higher price. You should be able to leave school or work for the day without worrying about where the nearest AC outlet is. The screen was average in terms of color coverage, but one of the brightest at the maximum setting.
A modest development for 2022
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is a modest upgrade over its predecessor, though there are few significant changes. A faster processor is a major improvement, combined with minor webcam improvements and a more durable design with few replaceable parts.
Otherwise, it’s the first laptop we’ve seen on the same budget, which isn’t a bad thing. The build is superior to many others in this category, and the starting price is attractive (even our highest configuration is reasonable). There are a few drawbacks, but that’s the case with any laptop at this price. If it fits your budget and you appreciate its added touch of style, the Surface Laptop Go 2 could be one of your best budget buys.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 doesn’t reinvent the original, but a few minor improvements and a new processor make this affordable and stylish laptop one of your best budget picks for 2022.
Advantages of Surface Laptop Go 2
- Competitive performance thanks to the updated processor
- Bright and colorful design
- Quality build and comfortable keyboard
- Reasonable price
- Replaceable SSD and chassis for longevity.
of the Surface Laptop Go 2
- Screen less than 1080p with non-standard resolution
- Updated front camera (but still tasteless)
