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Microsoft's first stab at a small, portable Windows-based tablet, the original Surface Go revealed some of the limitations of the small form factor. While [we like that initial effort](https://www.wired.com/review/review-microsoft-surface-go/), the battery life was mediocre, performance lagged, and software limitations had us searching for workaround.
The new Surface Go2 addresses most, though not all, of these issues and comes away with a device that is more expensive, but in many ways more capable that any other tablet I've used.There are still things I dislike—most of them related to Windows 10 rather than the device—but so long as you don't need massive processing power for editing photos or video, the Surface Go 2 is a compelling alternative to the traditional laptop.
It's the first device I've used that I would consider laptop-replacement worthy.
### Take Two
The second iteration of The Surface Go looks more like the 11-inch iPad Pro than its predecessor, mostly due to the smaller screen bezel. The screen size is unchanged, but Microsoft has managed to pack a slightly larger display into that 10.5-inch frame, which means the bezels are smaller.
This looks the Go 2 a more modern look than the original, but it contributes to the iPad-ness of the Surface Go 2's outward appearance.
The model I tested featured the slight faster Intel Core M3 chip, with 8-gigabytes of RAM and a 128-gigabyte hard drive. That brings the base price to $629. Throw in the Type Cover and your total will be $760. That's a bit more than a good cheap laptop, but less than the 11-inch iPad Pro with keyboard, which goes for $1,049.
The thinner bezels make the Surface Go look a bit sleeker, but the real improvements are tucked away under the glass, namely the much improved battery life. Battery life in the first version rarely went beyond six hours. The Surface Go 2 has managed to go all day under my normal workload, writing in a text editor, browsing the web, communicating over apps like Slack and Zoom, and playing some music in the background. That's all with the Type Cover too.
I ran our standard battery drain test, dimming to 80 percent and looping a video which kept it running for just under nine hours. That's an impressive step up from the older model which loved a wall socket in a way few devices do these days. Suffice to say that for the use case where the Surface Go excels—watching video, browsing the web, and working with documents—you can now count on a full workday out of the battery. I was also able to charge it via USB-C using some battery packs I've been testing, albeit quite slowly. This mirrors our experience with the first model.
The sides of the Surface Go 2 are where you'll find a USB-C port, power button, volume rocker, headphone jack (yay!), and sim card slot. There's also a nice scallop at the base of the kickstand, which makes it easy to pry open. Behind the kickstand you'll find the MicroSD card slot.
It's also worth noting in these video conferencing times that the 5-megapixel front facing camera on the Surface Go 2 is much better than most laptops. That said, the color cast often shifted dramatically as I moved, oscillating between a fairly normal white balance to an overly-green, washed-out look reminiscent of an Instagram filter.
### Accessories
The hybrid tablet-laptops of the world exist on a spectrum that runs from pure tablets like the iPad, to pure laptops. The Surface Go 2, which it is capable of some tablet-like behavior, is firmly entrenched toward the laptop end of the spectrum. This makes the Type Cover keyboard a virtual necessity.
Alas, it and the pen are still sold separately. The Type Cover will set you back $129, and if you plan to do anything more than browse the web and watch movies is a must-have. The backlit keyboard is a little on the small side, but I adapted pretty quickly and after a couple of days I was able to type just as fast as I can on the Lenovo I use most of the time.
My only complaint about the Type Cover is that in the raised mode, where it's attached at a slight angle, I tended to accidentally hit the screen quite frequently. This is one place having larger hands can be a disadvantage. Luckily, ergonomically this mode isn't significantly different than keeping the Type Cover flat. There's also a Pen and a Surface Mouse available, though Microsoft did not provide either with my sample unit.
### Windows S-mode Lives On
Unlike iPads and Android tablets the Surface Go ships with a "real" operating system—Windows 10. This remains both the best, and most disappointing thing about the Surface Go 2.
It nice because in theory all the power of Windows—and the ability to run any desktop application—are baked in. Unfortunately, as with the previous Surface Go, Windows ships in what Microsoft calls S-mode. Windows in S-mode attempts to impose some of the restrictions of app stores to Windows. For example, out of the box you can only install software from the Microsoft Store, which might cut it if you mainly use popular application like MS Office and the like.
For most of us though, the first thing you'll want to do is head to the Microsoft Store, turn off S-mode, and enable Windows Home. Two things to consider before you do this though. First, you cannot go back. Once S-Mode is off, it's off forever. Why? No clue, but that's how it works.
Second, recent changes in Windows 10 mean you can no longer use Windows without an online account. There are ways around this in Windows Pro, but not Home. This is one odd place that Windows itself acts more like a tablet OS than a "real" operating system. Frankly an online account for Windows opens yet another attack vector in your life and isn't something anyone needs. But it's there and you may as well accept it.
Once I upgrade to Home mode, I was able to install Firefox, Vivaldi, and all the other desktop software I use on a daily basis. Sorry Edge team, I can tell you've worked really hard to build a good browser, but for most of us, it's too little, too late. I have years worth of browsing history, bookmarks, tabs, addresses and all the rest my data already stored in other browsers and synced between my devices. Edge can import some of that data, but since it doesn't run anywhere but Windows (technically, it also runs on Linux. Didn't see that coming did you?) I can't sync my data.
The other place Windows shows its desktop-ness is in the time it takes to come out of sleep mode. You will not find that iPad, instant-on, quick start up here.
### The Best of Both Worlds
The Surface Go 2 will be the perfect laptop-tablet hybrid for some users. If the iPad falls squarely at the tablet end of the spectrum, the Surface Go 2 falls just off the center, leaning slightly toward the laptop end of the spectrum.
One is not necessarily better than the other, they are different tools for different jobs. The iPad is a better tablet thanks to its touch-optimized UI and app ecosystem, it is however a much worse laptop.
The Surface Go on the other hand is much more useful as a laptop, capable of everyday tasks. It's also a decent tablet for watching Netflix or reading books. If you want a tiny, lightweight laptop that can double as a tablet, the Surface Go to is one of the best options available right now.
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