Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2: Review

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2: Review

Written by Moli Mishra, In Gadgets, Published On
March 11, 2023
, 352 Views

In the past few years, small, high-end laptops that are small have gone out of style. The screen on Apple’s most miniature computer is 13.3 inches. The screen on Dell’s smallest XPS is 13.4 inches. HP’s line of Spectre X360 laptops has screens as small as 13.5 inches, which the company calls a 14-inch class. Most 11- or 12-inch laptops (that aren’t tablets trying to look like something else) are cheap and slow. Modern laptops have slimmed down a lot in weight, bezels, and frames, making it easier to carry around 13 inches or larger screens. However, it can be hard to find a high-end consumer laptop with a screen that is 12 inches or smaller for the most portability.

This is where the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 comes in. The Laptop Go 2, which starts at $599 and goes up, is the smallest and lightest Laptop Microsoft sells. It has a 12.4-inch screen and weighs just under 2.5 pounds. The Laptop SE, which is only sold to schools, is the least expensive Laptop Microsoft sells. But it keeps the Surface look and features, like a comfortable keyboard, clear speakers and microphones, a smooth trackpad, and a 3:2 aspect ratio.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Specifications

ProcessorIntel Core i5-1135G7
RAM8 GB
Networking802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth
OSWindows 11
Battery12:35
Graphics processorIntel Iris Xe
Screen Size12.4 inches
Display1536 by 1024

PROS

  • The design is small and light.
  • The trackpad as well of the keyboard is easy to use.
  • Color-accurate 3:2 screen
  • The job was done well enough.
  • The build quality and looks are top-notch.

CONS

  • Battery life isn’t good.
  • Lousy port selection
  • The keyboard didn’t have a backlight.

Performance

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 ships with an 11th-gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor and 4GB or 8GB of RAM, making it up to 23% faster than the previous version, although competitors are already using 12th-generation Intel chips. When tested with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the Laptop Go 2 is powerful enough for a small computer, and it runs much quieter and more relaxed than its predecessors.

Switching between the browser, text editor, and messaging apps is easy, but it’s a bit slower when editing large image files that need a lot of work. Like its predecessor, the battery life could be better. It only lasts about 6.5 hours of work, most done in browsers, editing text in simple ways, and using different chat apps. A video call in the browser uses up about 1% of the battery every minute. The battery life might be long enough to use it as a portable computer sometimes, but you should probably also bring a charger with you, just in case.

Battery

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 battery

The battery life of Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2  is the biggest reason why you might not want to buy this Laptop. Since the device is small and thin, we can see why this is a problem, but it’s still an important one. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get to the late afternoon of a workday without worrying about running out of battery. There’s just enough to last a full day, but it may not always be comfortable. Microsoft says that the battery will last for 13.5 hours, but in my experience, it only lasts for about 7 hours on average. One of the best things about the Surface Laptop Go 2 is how small it is, but if you want more power and the 14-inch model doesn’t cost too much more, you should get that one instead.

Sustainability

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 doesn’t say how long the battery is expected to last, but it should last more than 500 full charge cycles and keep at least 80% of its original capacity. It costs £203.94 to replace the battery, which Microsoft will do. The SSD can be taken out, and repair technicians have access to a number of spare parts and a service guide. Microsoft charges £339.06 to fix a Laptop Go 2 that is no longer under warranty. The base of the Laptop Go is made of 30% plastic that has already been used. Microsoft has plans for recycling old computers. It also puts out a sustainability report for the whole company and a list of how each product affects the environment.

Home Windows 11

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 battery

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2  runs Windows 11, which, like other Surface devices, doesn’t come with trial versions of anti-virus programs or other unwanted software that can cause problems, except for a trial version of Microsoft Office. It works very well on the machine which doesn’t have problems like not going to sleep or other problems that third-party Windows machines often have. Windows 11’s more modern look and interface work well with the small Laptop, and many of the software’s rougher edges have been smoothed out in the last year’s worth of updates.

Price

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 starts at £529 ($599/A$1,099) with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, £629 ($699/A$1,199) with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or £729 ($799/A$1,299) with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Surface Laptop 4 costs £899, the Surface Pro 8 costs £849, and the Surface Go 3 costs £349. Models from Dell with similar specs start at £500, the Framework Laptop starts at £899, and the M1 MacBook Air from Apple costs £999.

Verdict

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2  is better in practically every way. It is faster, cooler, quieter, easier to maintain, and cheaper. It’s not cheap, but it’s priced right. Its superb keyboard, trackpad, performance, and fast charging make it a well-made, compact laptop. The screen is nice but not bright or clear enough. The major issue is short battery life—the best last three times longer. Few tiny computers are as usable and well-made. It’s worth considering, although the £529 model’s 4GB of RAM isn’t enough for heavy use.

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