Connect with us

Laptop & PC

💻 Surface Laptop Go 2 review: Perfectly basic ✨

Published

5 months ago

on

Simplicity often gets a bad rap 😌, but there is undeniable value in a device that delivers exactly what you need without burdening you with expensive, unnecessary extras 🚫💎. While the new Surface Laptop Go 2 might not have the flash of the Surface Studio or the flexibility of the Surface Pro 8, it nails the essentials at a very accessible price point 🏷️. With a refreshed processor 🧠, upgraded storage 💾, quieter fans 🤫, and a starting price of just $600 💵, the value proposition here is stronger than ever.

🏗️ Design

Microsoft hasn’t changed much regarding the design, and frankly, I don’t mind—it remains basic in the best possible way. You still get that signature minimalist Surface aesthetic in a lightweight, 2.5-pound chassis 🪶. The lid and keyboard deck are crafted from aluminum 🔩, while a plastic bottom is utilized to keep costs down. The 12.4-inch PixelSense display 🖥️ is framed by slim bezels, and although the keycaps and touchpad are slightly smaller than those on larger Surface models, they never felt cramped during testing. However, the decision to omit keyboard backlighting feels a bit too frugal ⌨️🚫; in 2022, illuminated keys should be standard, regardless of the price tag.

In keeping with other Surfaces, the new Surface Laptop Go 2 features a minimalist design with an aluminum lid and deck, and a plastic bottom.

I must admit that the connectivity options feel somewhat sparse 🔌. You are limited to a single USB-A port, one USB-C port, a headphone jack 🎧, and the magnetic Surface Connect slot 🧲. Ideally, a laptop should offer at least three USB inputs. Furthermore, unlike its premium siblings, the Laptop Go 2’s power brick lacks the bonus USB-A charging port, which is usually a convenient feature for topping up accessories. On the bright side, the device supports USB-C power delivery, so you can easily swap the proprietary charger for a third-party adapter if you prefer ⚡.

It is also worth noting that while our higher-end review unit included a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button ☝️, this feature is absent on the base model. While I understand the need to manage costs, biometric security is a feature that really should be standard across all configurations 🔐.

📺 Display, webcam and sound

While the Surface Laptop Go 2’s 12.4-inch PixelSense display doesn’t have a full HD resolution, it’s still pretty sharp for its size.

Regarding the display, Microsoft retained the same 1,536 x 1,024 touchscreen found on the previous model. While it isn’t technically full HD, the colors are vibrant 🌈. Microsoft claims a brightness of 330 nits, but our review unit impressed us by hitting 375 nits ☀️. Kudos to Microsoft for under-promising and over-delivering there. Would a higher resolution be nice? Certainly. But on a compact 12.4-inch screen, everything looks crisp enough that you likely won’t notice the lower pixel density from a normal viewing distance 🧐.

Microsoft claims the speakers on the Laptop Go 2 are 24 percent louder, and that assessment feels accurate 🔊. You won’t find visible speaker grilles as the sound emits from beneath the keyboard. The audio is surprisingly clear 🎵, though the soundstage is somewhat shallow, lacking the detail in the highs and lows I typically look for. However, for a $600 machine, the audio performance is entirely satisfactory.

While some configs of the Surface Laptop Go 2 have a built-in fingerprint sensor, you won’t get one on the base $600 model.

The webcam remains 720p 📸, but a new sensor significantly improves contrast and color saturation. I still maintain that 1080p should be the minimum standard, but unless you are planning to livestream on Twitch—which isn’t really what this laptop is for—this camera is more than capable for daily video calls 📹.

🚀 Performance

The most significant upgrades to the Surface Laptop Go 2 are under the hood. The shift to an 11th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU provides enough power to ensure general productivity feels instant and snappy ⚡. While it isn’t cutting-edge silicon, it holds its own. Compared to a larger machine like the HP Spectre x360 with an i5-11390H, the Laptop Go 2 trailed by only about 10 percent in general performance benchmarks like PCMark 10 and Geekbench 5 📊. Naturally, the lack of discrete graphics limits its performance in more demanding workloads.

💻Laptop

PCMark 10

Geekbench 5 (single core/multi-core)

3DMark Night Raid

Surface Laptop Go 2

4,213

1,349/3,764

11,173

HP Spectre x360 16

4,785

1,518/4,200

16,927

Surface Pro 8

4,542

1289/5,217

16,092

Surface Laptop Studio

5,397

1,445/5,430

26,566

Unfortunately, the base model is still saddled with just 4GB of RAM 🧠. This is quite skimpy for modern standards, which is likely why Microsoft sent us the 8GB model for review. If you are considering this laptop, I highly recommend spending the extra $100 for that RAM upgrade 💸. The good news is that the base storage has been improved; the Laptop Go 2 now comes with a 128GB SSD standard 💾, replacing the slow 64GB eMMC drive of the past. This means you get faster storage and twice as much of it, even at the entry level.

Ostensibly in an effort to keep its price down, Microsoft did not add backlighting to the Surface Laptop Go 2’s keyboard.

In real-world usage, the Surface Laptop Go 2 had no trouble juggling multiple browser tabs and office applications—which is exactly what you want from a device in this class 👨‍💻. Thanks to the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, you can even manage some light video editing or casual gaming, though pushing it much further than that isn’t recommended 🎮.

🔋 Battery life and thermals

The Surface Laptop Go 2 has somewhat limited connectivity including one USB-A port, one USB-C port, a headphone jack and a magnetic Surface Connect Port.

Battery life is a strong suit for the Laptop Go 2, lasting an impressive 14 hours and 43 minutes on our video rundown test 🔋⏳. That actually beats out more expensive siblings like the Surface Pro 8 (13:06) and the Surface Laptop Studio (12:24). If longevity is your absolute priority, the 15-inch Surface Laptop 4 still holds the edge with a time of 15:25, but the Go 2 is very competitive.

Laptop

Battery life

Surface Laptop Go 2

14:43

Surface Laptop 4 (15-inch)

15:25

Surface Pro 8

13:06

Surface Laptop Studio

12:24

I also appreciate the effort Microsoft put into dampening fan noise, reducing it by as much as 10 decibels at maximum speed 🤫. During normal use, the machine is whisper-quiet, often running completely silent during web browsing 🔇. It rarely gets loud unless you are heavy multi-tasking. In many ways, this chassis feels like a candidate for a fanless design, though Windows machines don’t yet have the same thermal efficiency as Apple’s M1 chips 🍎. That said, it is worth remembering that an equivalent MacBook Air costs $200 more than this Surface.

🎁 Wrap-up

For 2022, Microsoft added a new sage green color option for the Surface Laptop Go 2 🌿.

That price difference is important context when comparing Microsoft’s most travel-friendly notebook against pricier rivals ✈️. As someone who primarily uses a desktop at home, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is a fantastic travel companion 🧳. I would much rather carry this than the heavier Intel MacBook Pro 13 assigned to me for work. It may not be the most powerful machine, and the screen resolution is lower, but it offers more than enough performance for working on the go. It is an excellent choice for students 🎓 or anyone seeking a well-designed, no-frills notebook that is easy to carry 🎒. It lacks luxuries like an IR webcam or stylus support, but that is acceptable here. Even if you spring for the upgraded model (which I highly recommend), the Surface Laptop Go 2 remains portable, affordable, and stylish, nailing the basics perfectly ✨.

Source

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Laptop & PC

MSI launches MEG Vision X2 AI+ desktop featuring a built-in holographic AI pet 🛸🐾

Published

1 week ago

on

June 3, 2026

By

MSI’s MEG Vision X2 AI+ gaming PC features a built-in holographic AI companion and a front-case display, moving beyond simple software and dedicated AI buttons.



Forget dedicated AI buttons—MSI just built a holographic AI companion 🤖 directly into your next gaming PC 🎮.

MSI’s newest gaming desktop, the MEG Vision X2 AI+ 🖥️, takes the current industry trend of adding AI to everything and makes it literal. Instead of just relying on software features or a dedicated keyboard button ⌨️, MSI has built a secondary display directly into the front of the PC case to house a virtual assistant 💁‍♂️.

The company calls this cylindrical screen the AI Holostage ⚪. It serves as a physical home for LuckyClaw, an AI companion that runs locally on the machine. According to MSI, you can use natural voice 🗣️ or text commands 💬 to ask LuckyClaw to adjust your system’s performance profiles ⚡, change monitor settings 🖥️, or swap out your RGB lighting colors 🌈.

If you aren’t interested in using MSI’s default mascot, the software also supports custom third-party avatars 🎭. It is basically a voice-activated settings menu with a face 👤. MSI says the software will get updates over time to add more features 🔄.

#MEG Vision X2 AI+

MSI MEG Vision X2 AI+ ✨

If you look past the built-in screen, the MEG Vision X2 AI+ is simply a very high-end gaming PC 🔝. It can be configured with Intel’s Core Ultra processors 🧠 and up to an Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics card 👾. The system can reach up to 3400 TOPS of total AI performance 🚀.

To keep the hardware cool, the desktop includes a 360mm liquid cooler ❄️💧. The interior design relies on MSI’s Project Zero motherboard standard, which moves all the power connectors to the back of the board. This hides the cable clutter and keeps the inside of the case looking neat 🧹 behind the glass panel 🧊.

The rest of the specifications include modern standards like PCIe 5.0 storage 💾, DDR5 memory, Wi-Fi 7 📶, 5G Ethernet, and Thunderbolt 5 support ⚡.

MSI has not announced a release date 📅 or pricing details yet 💸.

In related news, MSI has recently launched a 425Hz 1440p gaming monitor 🖥️ that costs less than $330 💵.



Continue Reading

Laptop & PC

✨ Lenovo updates Legion Blade 7000K desktop with an i7-13650HX, RTX 5060 & 24GB of RAM

Published

1 week ago

on

June 3, 2026

By

Lenovo's Legion Blade 7000K pairs an i7-13650HX with an RTX 5060 and 24GB RAM for 9,999 yuan. A high-performance "Frankenstein" gaming desktop.



✍️ Lenovo is rewriting the pre-built playbook with its new Legion Blade 7000K, a high-performance 🧟‍♂️ “Frankenstein” desktop that pairs a laptop-grade i7 processor with the 🎮 RTX 5060 and a bizarre 🧠 24GB of RAM.

Lenovo has added a new configuration to its Legion Blade 7000K desktop PC lineup, combining an Intel Core i7-13650HX processor with an Nvidia RTX 5060 graphics card. ⚙️ The system is currently available with a promotional launch price of 💰 9,999 yuan ($1,478), and will eventually shift to a standard retail price of 🏷️ 10,499 yuan ($1,552).

🖥️ Lenovo Legion Blade 7000K desktop

#Legion Blade 7000K

📋 Lenovo Legion Blade 7000K Specifications

🧐 The most interesting part of this build is the choice of processor. The Core i7-13650HX is actually a mobile chip designed for high-end laptops, though it is built on repurposed desktop silicon. 🔬 Lenovo has opted to use it here inside a standard desktop tower. It features a 🚀 14-core, 20-thread configuration, which is split into six performance cores and eight efficiency cores.

The chip also includes a 24MB Smart Cache and reaches a peak turbo frequency of ⚡ 4.90 GHz. It operates at a 55W base power but can draw up to 🔌 157W when pushed to its maximum turbo consumption. Lenovo paired this processor with Nvidia’s RTX 5060, a graphics card that handles standard 1080p and 1440p gaming, as well as basic video encoding and 🤖 AI tasks.

For memory, the system comes with 🐏 24GB of DDR5 RAM running at 5600MHz. That is an unusual amount for a pre-built PC, since they usually ship with either 16GB or 32GB. 🧩 It gives you a bit more room for multitasking than a standard 16GB setup without making the computer as expensive as a 32GB model. For storage, it includes a standard 🗄️ 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

Lenovo Legion Blade 7000K desktop

🏗️ The case design is functional and sticks to the established look of the Legion brand. The chassis comes in a Titanium Crystal Gray finish and relies on a mesh front panel for intake ventilation. Behind this mesh, Lenovo included a textured airflow shroud, which the company refers to as its 🌑 Night Sky design, to help direct air over the internal components. 🌬️

Like most modern gaming desktops, the Blade 7000K includes customizable lighting. 🌈 The front panel features an ARGB Legion logo, and the internal cooling fans are equipped with 💡 12-LED RGB rings. It also features a standard 💎 tempered glass side panel that allows users to see the internal hardware, while the primary I/O ports are situated on the top edge of the case.

🗞️ In related news, Lenovo recently unveiled the Lecoo Air 14, Intel’s first laptop based on the Project Firefly initiative, and also introduced the 2026 ThinkPad X13 powered by the 📈 Ryzen AI 7 445 with up to 32GB of LPDDR5x memory.



Continue Reading

Laptop & PC

CHUWI CoreBook Air Launches as a Copilot+ PC with Intel Lunar Lake, 2.8K Display and 15-Hour Battery 🚀🔋✨

Published

1 week ago

on

June 3, 2026

By

CHUWI launches the CoreBook Air, an ultra-light Copilot+ PC featuring Intel Lunar Lake power and a 2.8K 120Hz display, starting at an early-bird price of $749.



Is this the ultimate budget MacBook killer? 💻 CHUWI has officially launched the CoreBook Air—a next-generation Copilot+ PC that packs Intel’s revolutionary Lunar Lake power ⚡ and a stunning 2.8K 120Hz display 🖥️ into an ultra-light 1.2kg frame 🪶, all for an unbeatable early-bird price of $749. 💰

#CHUWI CoreBook Air

 

CHUWI has officially introduced the new CoreBook Air, a next-generation Copilot+ PC designed to deliver powerful AI capabilities 🤖, long battery life 🔋, and premium portability. According to CHUWI CEO Jesea Yang 🗣️, the CoreBook Air combines Lunar Lake performance and Copilot+ AI capabilities in an ultra-light 1.2kg design, helping bring advanced AI PCs to a wider audience at a more accessible price point. The company aims to make advanced AI-powered computing more accessible to students 🎓, professionals 💼, creators 🎨, and remote workers. 🏠

 

#CHUWI CoreBook Air

 

Premium Design Built for Portability ✨

The CHUWI CoreBook Air features a slim and lightweight design that weighs just 1.2kg, making it easy to carry throughout the day. 🎒 The laptop uses a premium CNC-crafted aluminum chassis that provides a durable and professional appearance while maintaining portability. Its compact form factor makes it suitable for students attending classes, content creators working on the move, business professionals, and remote workers who need a dependable travel companion. ✈️

 

#CHUWI CoreBook Air

 

Sharp 2.8K Display with Smooth Visuals 📺

The laptop comes equipped with a 14-inch IPS display featuring a 2.8K resolution of 2880 × 1800 pixels. 🌈 It also supports a 120Hz refresh rate and covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut. This combination delivers sharper text, detailed visuals, smoother scrolling, and an improved video viewing experience. 🎬 The high-resolution panel is also designed to provide comfortable viewing during long work sessions. 👁️

 

 

Intel Lunar Lake Performance with Advanced AI 🧠

At the heart of the CoreBook Air is the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor based on Intel’s Lunar Lake (Series 2) architecture. ⚙️ The chip features 8 CPU cores and 8 threads, with boost frequencies reaching up to 4.5GHz. Users can expect strong computing performance, improved power efficiency, broad software compatibility, enhanced security, and advanced AI processing capabilities. 🚀

 

Graphics duties are handled by the integrated Intel Arc 130V GPU, which CHUWI claims can deliver up to twice the graphics performance of older Intel Iris Xe solutions. 🎮 The GPU supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, casual gaming, content creation tasks, multimedia streaming, and GPU-accelerated applications. 🎞️

 

#CHUWI CoreBook Air

 

Copilot+ Features and AI Acceleration 🪄

One of the biggest highlights of the is its AI performance. The system delivers up to 97 TOPS of total AI computing power and includes an Intel AI Boost NPU capable of up to 40 NPU TOPS. ⚡ This dedicated AI hardware enables faster on-device AI processing, reduced dependence on cloud services, improved privacy, and quicker AI responses. 🛡️

 

Running Windows 11 Pro out of the box, the laptop supports Microsoft Copilot+ PC experiences such as Click to Do, Cocreator, and Live Captions. ⌨️ A dedicated AI key also provides instant access to Microsoft Copilot. 🤖

 

 

Memory, Storage, Battery, and Connectivity 🔋

The CoreBook Air includes 16GB LPDDR5X memory running at 8533 MT/s using a memory-on-package design for faster multitasking, lower latency, and better efficiency. ⚡ Storage is handled by a 512GB PCIe SSD, while users can upgrade storage later through PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD support. 💾

 

A 55Wh battery powers the laptop and is rated for up to 15 hours of local video playback. ⏳ Charging is handled by a 65W USB-C Power Delivery adapter, capable of charging the battery to around 63% in approximately one hour. 🔌

 

For connectivity, the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6E for faster wireless speeds, lower latency, and improved stability. 📶 Port selection includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports with up to 40Gbps bandwidth, Power Delivery support, external display connectivity, and eGPU compatibility. Users also get three USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0 output, and a 3.5mm audio jack. 🎧

 

Pricing and Availability 🏷️

 

The is available for pre-order now. 🛒 The laptop carries an official retail price of $799, but early buyers can take advantage of a limited-time Super Early-Bird discount of $50, reducing the launch price to $749. 📉 The promotional offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis while launch stock lasts. ⏰

 

CHUWI CoreBook Air – Specs Sheet
Category Specifications
Model CHUWI CoreBook Air
Operating System Windows 11 Pro
Copilot+ PC Certification Yes
Build Material Premium CNC-Crafted Aluminum Chassis
Weight Approx. 1.2 kg
Dimensions 312.9 × 222.5 × 16.8 mm
Display
Category Specifications
Display Size 14-inch
Panel Type IPS
Resolution 2880 × 1800 (2.8K)
Aspect Ratio 16:10
Refresh Rate 120Hz
Color Gamut 100% sRGB
Display Features Sharper text rendering, smoother scrolling, improved video playback, comfortable long-duration viewing
Performance
Category Specifications
Processor Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
Architecture Intel Lunar Lake (Series 2)
CPU Cores 8 Cores
Threads 8 Threads
Maximum Turbo Frequency Up to 4.5GHz
Graphics Intel Arc 130V GPU
Graphics Features Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing, Casual Gaming, Content Creation, Multimedia Streaming, GPU-Accelerated Applications
AI Processor Intel AI Boost NPU
NPU Performance Up to 40 TOPS
Total AI Performance Up to 97 TOPS (CPU + GPU + NPU)
Memory & Storage
Category Specifications
RAM 16GB LPDDR5X
Memory Speed 8533 MT/s
Memory Type Memory-on-Package
Storage 512GB PCIe SSD
Storage Expansion User Upgradeable
Expansion Support PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD Upgrades
Battery & Charging
Category Specifications
Battery Capacity 55Wh
Video Playback Up to 15 Hours Local Video Playback
Charger 65W USB-C Power Delivery Adapter
Fast Charging Supported
Charging Speed Up to 63% Charge in Approximately 1 Hour
AI Features
Category Specifications
AI Platform Copilot+ PC
AI Key Dedicated Microsoft Copilot Key
AI Workloads Local AI Processing, AI Productivity, Creative AI Workflows, LLM Inference
Supported Features Click to Do, Cocreator, Live Captions
Privacy Benefits Enhanced Local AI Processing with Reduced Cloud Dependency
Ports & Connectivity
Category Specifications
Thunderbolt Ports 2× Thunderbolt 4
Thunderbolt Features 40Gbps Data Transfer, Power Delivery Charging, Video Output, eGPU Support
USB Ports 1× USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10Gbps)
1× USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5Gbps)
1× USB 2.0 Type-A (480Mbps)
HDMI 1× HDMI 2.0 (Up to 4K @ 60Hz)
Audio Port 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone Jack
Wireless Connectivity
Category Specifications
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.3
Camera & Multimedia
Category Specifications
Webcam 2MP Camera
Privacy Feature Physical Privacy Shutter

 



Continue Reading

Trending