Surface Laptop Go 2 review: Perfectly basic

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.

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 .

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