The Surface line of products has made Microsoft a formidable name in portable computing. The lineup was earlier divided among four products – Surface Pro, Surface Book, Surface Laptop, and Surface Studio. The Surface Go is the latest addition to this lineup. It aims to make the Surface line of products accessible to a new demographic. To cater to this demographic, it carries a price tag of US $399 (approx Rs. 27,500 at current exchange rate). The price is for the device itself and does not include the cost of Type Covers, Surface Pen, or the (newly-launched as well) Mobile Mouse. Is the device worth its price tag?
| Specifications | Microsoft Surface Go |
| Price | US $399/549 (approx Rs 27,500/Rs 37,800 at current exchange rate); Type Cover sold separately |
| Processor | Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y |
| RAM | 4GB/8GB |
| Display | PixelSense, 10-inch 1800x1200p resolution, 3:2 aspect ratio, Gorilla Glass 3 protection |
| Internal Storage | 64GB/128GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 in S mode |
| Front Camera | 5-megapixel |
| Rear Camera | 8-megapixel |
| Dimensions (l x b x h) | 245mm x 175mm x 8.30mm |
| Weight | 522g (without Type Cover) |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Ethernet | No |
| SD Card Slot | Yes |
| USB Ports | 1, USB Type-C |
| Thunderbolt ports | N/A |
| 3.5mm headphone jack | Yes |
| Microphone | 1 |
| Colour | Silver |
| Security | Windows Hello facial recognition |
What’s new about the Microsoft Surface Go?
The Microsoft Surface Go is a 2-in-1 hybrid (just like the Surface Pro). However, its form factor is slightly smaller in comparison. The only processor on offer with the Surface Go is the Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y. This processor has an integrated Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU. It will be sold in two variants – 4GB/64GB and 8GB/128GB.
Speaking of the display, the Surface Go’s screen measures 10 inches across, has 1800x1200p resolution, 3:2 aspect ratio, 10-point multi-touch support, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus. Packing Windows 10, the device has Windows Hello face authentication security feature. Connectivity features on the device include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/AC, Bluetooth 4.1, a USB Type-C port, a Surface Connect port, and a Surface Type Cover port.
The Microsoft Surface Go is compatible with other Surface accessories like the Surface Dial. It has a single microphone for voice calls and audio recording. A 2W Dolby Audio Premium stereo speaker system can be found on this slate. In terms of physical buttons, the Surface Go has only Power and Volume buttons.
The device (without Type Cover) measures 245mm x 175mm x 8.30mm and it weighs 522g. Its battery has been rated to last up to 9 hours on video playback. The items in the box include the device, charger, a quick start guide, and safety/warranty documents.
Is the Microsoft Surface Go worth consideration?
It may not seem like it in first glance but the Surface Go’s bang-for-buck quotient makes it worth consideration. It is not a Surface Pro and that’s fine for users who will use it to surf web, work on documents, and consume media from online sources. To see its value proposition, it needs to be looked at as an ultrabook replacement instead of a business laptop replacement.
One thing against the Microsoft Surface Go is Type Covers will be offered as add-on accessories alongside Surface Pen and Surface Dial. This will drive up the price of the 2-in-1 hybrid and will somewhat defeat the purpose of pricing it so low in the Surface product lineup. As far as its processor goes, it is par for the course for this device which is meant for on-the-go users. At least it is not offered with the Core M processor (the Surface Pro comes with it).
The Microsoft Surface Go will go on sale on August 2 in select markets (India not included in the list). However, it will likely come to India in future (fingers crossed for a 2018 launch). For a price-sensitive market like India, the Surface Go is the most suitable product in the Surface lineup. Microsoft should launch the device in India as soon as possible to reap big rewards. This device can meet the needs of majority users in India and that’s what makes it worth consideration.
Microsoft Surface Go – Synopsis
- Prices start from US $399 (approx Rs 27,500 at current exchange rate)
- Only processor on offer will be the Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y with integrated Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU
- Type Cover to be sold separately from the device
- Two variants to be sold – 4GB/64GB and 8GB/128GB
- Has a 10-inch PixelSense display with 1800x1200p resolution, 3:2 aspect ratio, 10-point multi-touch support, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
- Runs on Windows 10 in S mode
- Has a 5-megepaixel front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus
- Battery rated to last for up to 9 hours of video playback
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a//g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.1 among connectivity options on the device
- Ports on the device include a USB Type-C, Type Cover connect port, Surface Connect port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD card reader
- Has a single microphone and 2W Dolby Audio Premium stereo speaker system
- Windows Hello facial recognition safety feature offered
- Can be operated with Surface Dial accessory
- Only colour on offer is Silver with magnesium casing
