Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3

The primary Floor Laptop computer Go I reviewed again in 2020 began at $550. The second model, from 2022, began at $600. In the meantime, the brand new Surface Laptop Go 3 from Microsoft jumps to an $800 beginning value. That’s inflation for you, I assume.

But it surely’s additionally largely the identical system, sure, up to date with newer processors and a few higher-end configuration choices, however the physique, display, and keyboard stay the identical. The design, made from aluminum and polycarbonate composite resin, stays one of many best-looking and best-feeling funds laptops I’ve tried, even when the brand new beginning value places it on the very fringe of what you’d think about a funds laptop computer.

Actually, the configuration we examined right here on the Gizmodo Labs was the $999 improve, with extra RAM and storage, and for a similar $999, you may get a (barely dated) M1 MacBook Air.

Of the 2 configurations accessible, I’d default to the dearer one, because it’s the one option to get 16GB of RAM, which is what you’re going to need for a clean Home windows 11 expertise. Each variations have a 256GB SSD.

See extra: Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go 3 in Pictures

My predominant beefs with this in any other case very good little journey laptop computer are as follows:

• The 12.4-inch display has a low decision of 1,536×1,024 when even essentially the most funds of funds laptops can normally slot in a full HD (1,920×1,080) display.
• The keyboard isn’t backlit, which ought to be a given at $800 and up, and the darkish grey on darkish inexperienced (Microsoft calls the colour sage) makes it simple to lose observe of the keys in dim lighting circumstances.
• Ports are skimpy. You get a single USB-A, a single USB-C, a headphone jack and a slot for Microsoft’s proprietary magnetic energy plug.
• It features a lower-resolution 720 webcam, when virtually each new laptop computer has jumped to full HD webcams.

That stated, it’s nonetheless a well-built, comparatively highly effective laptop computer for the value, thanks particularly to a leap from older Eleventh-gen Intel chips to newer Twelfth-gen ones, though proper now solely the fancier, more-expensive Surface Laptop Studio 2 will get the most recent Thirteenth-gen Intel chips.

Learn extra: Hands-on: Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

Design-wise, this stays certainly one of my favourite ultraportable laptops, and even with the value improve, it appears to be like and looks like a dearer machine. The keyboard and display could also be a bit smaller than you’re used to, however I discovered the typing expertise to be wonderful, with deep chunky keys that provide you with a satisfying clack. The touchpad is serviceable, and admittedly higher than some more-expensive Home windows laptops I’ve tried.

As we’ve solely had the Surface Laptop Go 3 for just a few days, think about this our preliminary hands-on impressions. After totally benchmarking the system and additional hands-on testing, we’ll return with a full evaluate and shopping for advice.