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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and the Surface Laptop Go 3, consider that the Go 3 offers double the storage and a slightly improved processor, which means better performance for tasks that require more resources like engineering software or multitasking. Both have the same display size, but the Go 3 achieves slightly better screen color accuracy. Each model has a similar build quality, battery life, as well as size and weight, making them both highly portable. If having more built-in storage and a small boost in processing power is important for your workflow, then the Surface Laptop Go 3 may be the more suitable option. However, if budget constraints are a primary concern, the Surface Laptop Go 2 still provides good performance and portability for everyday tasks. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
- The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9
6.8
12.4in
SIZE
12.4in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
401.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 have similar screen quality.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Go 3 offer displays with sufficient resolution and brightness for typical tasks like web browsing and video streaming, making them suitable for general use. For engineering and design, they provide adequate color coverage that meets the needs for most design tasks but might not satisfy professionals seeking the highest color fidelity for critical work. However, their screens have limited refresh rates and are not tailored for the demands of 3D applications or high-end gaming, which require fast refresh rates to render smooth motion.
Cost
$565
$789
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a price of $565 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $789.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.2
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
401.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are similarly rated for general use because they share key features such as 8 GB of RAM, high-quality IPS screens with the same size and resolution, and comparable portability owing to nearly identical size and weight. However, the Surface Laptop Go 3 has a more recent CPU model, which may offer slight improvements in performance, and comes with more storage, but both have essentially the same battery life and screen quality, making them both fair choices for general tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.1
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Laptop Go 3 are both fair for gaming and 3D because they share the same integrated GPU, which is adequate but not optimal for demanding games and 3D applications, and both have a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is standard but not ideal for high-frame-rate gaming. While the Surface Laptop Go 3 has a slightly newer CPU which can somewhat improve performance, both devices have similar screen quality, with the Laptop Go 2 having a marginally brighter screen, indicating only minor differences between the two models.
Engineering and Design
6.5
6.8
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Go 3 are deemed fair for engineering and design largely due to their similar specifications, which include decent processors (Intel i5 series), adequate RAM, and integrated GPUs sufficient for light engineering tasks but not optimal for heavy 3D work. Both have good screen quality with IPS panels; however, their relatively lower brightness and color space coverage might be a hindrance for high-fidelity design work, despite their portability and good build quality which might appeal to professionals on-the-go.
Content Creation
7.1
7.3
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.0
7.1
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Excellent
Excellent
12.4in
SIZE
12.4in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$565 | $789 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.48 lbs | 2.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i5-1235U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 12.4" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1536 x 1024 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 401 nits | 337 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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