Microsoft Surface Go: This affordable little Windows 10 S tablet is a PC when you need it
Don’t be turned off by Windows 10 S and the Pentium chip inside it. We were pleasantly surprised by how well the Surface Go works, save for the keyboard.
Microsoft’s 10-inch, $399 Surface Go tablet is a departure from the company’s Surface tradition, which put forth expensive, ambitious designs to break trail for the rest of the PC industry. Now, the Surface Go’s decidedly mainstream price should appeal to businesspeople on the go as well as consumers considering an
Apple ipad or Android tablet.
Caveats like its operating system— Windows 10 in S Mode—and its low-end processor may give you pause. And the optional but cramped Type Cover somewhat
offsets the Surface Go’s convenience. But our Surface Go review will walk you through the Surface Go hardware, the Type Cover, and the new Mobile Mouse—then tell you how it all works in practice, both as a pure tablet and as a productivity device. Finally, we’ll talk about the Surface Go’s performance, and how it compares to PCS and other tablets both under Windows 10 in S Mode and Windows 10 Home.
BASIC SPECS
Display: 10-inch (1800x1200) IPS technology, 217 PPI, 3:2 ratio, 10-point touch
Processor: Intel 1.6GHZ Pentium 4415Y ( go.pcworld.com/p445) (Kaby Lake)
Graphics: Intel HD 615 (integrated)
Memory: 4GB/8GB (8GB as tested)
Storage: 64GB EMMC/128GB SSD (128GB as tested). A commercial model with 256GB SSD is planned.
Ports: 1 USB-C, 1 Surface Connector, microsd, headphone jack
Wireless: 802.11 a/b/ g/n/ac Wi-fi, LTE later in 2018
Cameras: 5MP front (Windows Hello-capable), 8MP rear (with autofocus)
Battery: 27Wh
Operating system: Windows 10 Home in S
Mode (Windows 10 Pro for commercial model)
Dimensions: 9.6x6.9x0.33 inches
Weights: 1.14 pounds (tablet), 1.68 pounds (tablet plus keyboard), 1.98 pounds (tablet, keyboard and charger), as measured
Optional Accessories: Type Cover keyboard: $99 (black) or $129 (burgundy, cobalt, platinum); Surface Mobile Mouse: $39; Surface Pen: $99
Price: 4GB RAM/64GB storage: $399 ( go.pcworld.com/go4g); 8GB RAM/128GB: $549 ( go.pcworld.com/nwsg, via the Microsoft Store). Costco offers its own bundle ( go.pcworld.com/ccbd) with 4GB of RAM, 128GB SSD, and a Type Cover for $550.
OUT OF THE BOX
Out of the box, the Surface Go feels light and sturdy, if a tiny bit chunky. Microsoft’s hardware gurus crafted the Surface Go out of