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![Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go 2.](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_0249-800x533.jpeg)
Andrew Cunningham
Anybody who buys a Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 ought to go into it totally conscious of the laptop computer’s shortcomings.
The primary and most necessary is that the bottom mannequin, the one that offers it its enticing $600 starting price, comes with solely 4GB of non-upgradeable RAM and must be ignored by just about all people. Severely, do not buy it, and do not attempt to speak your self into it simply to economize.
Behave as if the precise beginning value is $700, the quantity it prices to get the configuration with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. That is nonetheless nearer to “funds” than “high-end” as ultrabooks go, however the checklist of omissions, shortcomings, and odd choices does get more durable to miss as you spend more cash. The generation-old processor. The un-backlit keyboard. The tiny port choice. A touchscreen that’s neither notably high-resolution nor very colourful. A 128GB SSD that can really feel cramped for many individuals, and a 256GB choice that (1) is not all that a lot greater and (2) provides one other $100 to the value.
None of those issues must be glossed over or ignored. However as irritating as a few of them are, the very fact stays that the Laptop computer Go 2 is a cute, light-weight, competent laptop computer that is a pleasure to make use of. Microsoft will get a lot of the necessary issues proper right here, and there isn’t any laptop computer on this value vary that does not include some type of trade-off.
Particularly if you’ll find it on sale—and the previous Laptop computer Go was discounted frequently by Microsoft, Greatest Purchase, and others that bought it—the Laptop computer Go 2 is a no-fuss funds laptop computer that is value contemplating in case you can stay with its flaws.
Considerate design, minimalist options
![The Surface Laptop Go 2 doesn't have a backlit keyboard, though its power button-mounted fingerprint reader is a nice touch.](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_0262-980x653.jpeg)
Andrew Cunningham
Specs at a look: Microsoft Floor Laptop computer Go 2 | |
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Display | 12.4-inch 1536×1024 touchscreen (148 PPI) |
OS | Home windows 11 Residence |
CPU | 4-core/8-thread Intel Core i5-1135G7 |
RAM | 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4x |
GPU | Intel Iris Xe graphics (80 EUs) |
Storage | 128GB or 256GB NVMe SSD |
Battery | 41 WHr |
Networking | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1 |
Ports | USB-A, USB Sort-C, Floor Join, 3.5 mm headphone |
Dimension | 10.95×8.12×0.62 inches (278.2×206.2×15.7 mm) |
Weight | 2.48 lbs (1.12kg) |
Guarantee | 1-year |
Value as reviewed | $799.99 |
Different perks | 720p webcam, energy button-mounted fingerprint reader in 8GB fashions |
Externally, the Floor Laptop computer Go 2 is indistinguishable from the unique. Microsoft hasn’t modified the keyboard, trackpad, display, or chassis in any respect, opting merely to interchange the internals. The one exterior distinction is the addition of a colour referred to as “Sage,” a vaguely green-tinted silver end that enhances the returning pink-tinted Sandstone, blue-tinted Ice Blue, and non-tinted Platinum choices. It weighs lower than 2.5 kilos, and it is tremendous simple to select up and carry round, whether or not you are slinging it in a bag to journey or simply shifting between rooms in your house.
When you’re not aware of the unique Laptop computer Go, here is a short recap: The laptop computer has a light-weight aluminum lid and palm relaxation, mixed with a plastic backside cowl. The mix is light-weight and fairly sturdy-feeling, regardless that the skinny aluminum feels a bit extra pliable than what you get with a MacBook, a Dell XPS, or Microsoft’s personal higher-end Floor and Floor Laptop computer gadgets. The trackpad is on the small facet, but it surely’s correct and responsive. And whereas the keyboard lacks a backlight, its key spacing and journey each really feel nice, and its energy button-mounted fingerprint sensor is a welcome addition.
The laptop computer’s largest level of departure from different laptops on this value vary is a 12.5-inch 1536×1024 display with a 3:2 side ratio, making it narrower however a lot taller than the 16:9 or 16:10 screens in most ultrabooks. The display’s 376-nit peak brightness, 1,159:1 distinction ratio, and colour gamut protection (94 p.c of the sRGB gamut, simply 68.5 p.c of the DCI-P3 gamut) are all simply superb for the value.
![Screen brightness comparisons. The Laptop Go 2 is on the lower end of things, but it's also a lot cheaper than most of the hardware here.](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Surface-Laptop-Go-2.008-980x735.png)
Andrew Cunningham
However the show is not as dense as a extra typical 13.3-inch 1080p or 1920×1200 display (about 149 PPI, down from the mid-to-high 160s), which makes textual content look a bit jaggy by comparability, particularly at smaller sizes and lighter weights. However the display’s measurement and side ratio are nice for a laptop computer this small and light-weight. When you occur to be changing an older 11.6-inch 16:9 netbook-y funds laptop computer with the Laptop computer Go 2, the distinction is night time and day.
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Virtually the entire Floor Laptop computer Go 2’s ports are on the left facet: one USB-A, one USB-C (which might cost the laptop computer however is not the first charging port), and a headphone jack.
Andrew Cunningham -
The one port on the opposite facet is the proprietary Floor Join port.
Andrew Cunningham
It is more durable to love the Laptop computer Go 2’s port choice, although it shares this shortcoming with the larger Floor Laptop computer. You get a single USB-A port, a single USB-C port, a headphone jack, and the proprietary Floor Join port—and that is it. It is good to have the ability to cost the laptop computer with out blocking both USB port, and it is helpful to have the ability to cost through the USB-C port in case you want or want to. It is only a bare-minimum number of ports, and we would commerce Floor Join for one more USB-C port any day.
And whereas it would not actually make a distinction within the day-to-day use of the machine, there’s one thing to be mentioned for getting a number of the fringe advantages of Floor possession in a less-expensive laptop computer. There are loads of Home windows gadgets on the market that may’t pull down UEFI firmware updates or different {hardware}/firmware-level security measures seamlessly by Home windows Replace, and most funds gadgets are fortunate to get many of those sorts of updates in any respect. To its credit score, Microsoft retains budget-focused gadgets just like the Surface Go or Surface Laptop Go up to date frequently.
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