Storage in the Surface Laptop Go is an interesting compromise. Even though Renoir processors are speedy, it seems that the company favored single-threaded performance with "good enough" graphics over Renoir's higher core-count/threading advantage and Radeon integrated GPU. Senior Director of Product Management Jochen Siegl noted that the team focused on an Intel processor because the Core i5-1035G1 "has the right performance" for the product. In a pre-review meeting with the Surface team, we asked if a Ryzen-based version might be in the works. It seems like AMD might have been a good option for a budget notebook like this, but Microsoft disagreed.
The base clock might be a pokey 1GHz, but as long as cooling holds out, it turbos up much faster at 3.6GHz max boost. The Surface Laptop Go has an Ice Lake-based Core i5-1035G1, which Intel fabss on its 10nm process with four cores, eight hardware threads via Hyper Threading, and 6 MB of 元 cache. This actually undercuts the Pixelbook Go's $649 price tag while potentially delivering slightly better performance. Surface Laptop Go Internal Configurationsįirst thing's first: the Surface Laptop Go starts at a very attractive $549 price point. Starts At $549 w/ 4 GB RAM/64 GB eMMC, $899 As Tested Windows 10 Home with S Mode (can be disabled) Intel 802.11AX Wi-Fi 6 module with Bluetooth 5.0ġx USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C 10 Gbit/sec, Power DeliveryĬhicklet-style keyboard with 1.3mm key travelġ0.95" x 8.10" x 0.62" (278.2 x 205.67 x 15.69 millimeters) Stereo Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Audio Intel Core i5-1035G1 (4 Core, 8 Threads, 6 MB cache, 1.0 GHz base, 3.6 GHz Max Turbo)ġ2.3" Touch-enabled display (1536x1024, 148 ppi, 3:2 aspect ratio) Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Review Unit Configuration Let's meet the new Microsoft Surface Laptop Go. Sprinkle in a dash of Windows 10, season with enough connectivity to taste, and bake until golden sandstone brown, platinum, or ice blue. The recipe is fairly simple: Intel's 10th Generation Core i5 processors, enough RAM and storage to get the job done, wrapped in a lightweight anodized aluminum enclosure.
What if there was a premium middle ground with good performance at an attractive price? That's right where Microsoft has aimed its Surface Laptop Go.įirst and foremost, the new Surface Laptop Go is a Windows PC with a variety of performance and price points that should fit many midrange laptop consumer's budgets. Those machines have some gorgeous hardware with nice-enough specs, but can't run Windows apps. An interesting subgenre of premium ultra-portable PCs is the upscale Chromebook, like Google's Pixelbook Go or Samsung's Galaxy Chromebook. Lots of HotHardware readers love to learn about, look at, and experience high-end portable PCs with their sturdy build quality, luxurious materials, and high-end specs, but not everyone has the budget to buy one for themselves.