What you need to know
- The Surface Go 3 has been announced and is available for pre-order ahead of its October 5 release.
- The Wi-Fi version of the device will start at $399, with LTE models coming in December for the U.S. and Canada and early 2022 for other markets.
- The leaked Surface Go 3 processor specs have turned out to be accurate.
Microsoft's latest line of Surface products has been officially revealed, following a short burst of leaks prematurely revealing items such as the Surface Duo 2's existence and the Surface Go 3's processor details. As it turns out, the latter have been confirmed by Microsoft's formal announcement of the third installment in its Surface tablet line.
The Surface Go 3 features the Intel Pentium GOLD 6500Y and Intel Core i3-10100Y processors that were namedropped in association with the device over on Geekbench not too long ago, with 4GB or 8GB of RAM attached respectively. Storage-wise, you can go as low as 64GB of eMMC memory, while Commerical Channels will get up to 256GB SSDs. Here's the complete spec list:
| Category | Surface Go 3 |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 Home in S mode (consumer)Windows 11 Pro (commercial)Windows 10 Pro (commercial) |
| Processor | Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y10th Gen Intel Core i3-10100Y |
| RAM | 4GB, 8GB |
| Graphics | Intel UHD 615 |
| Storage | 64GB eMMC128GB SSD256GB SSD (commercial) |
| Display | 10.5 inches1920x1280220 PPI3:2 aspect ratioTouch |
| Ports | USB-CSurface Connect3.5mm audiomicroSD card readerNano SIM (LTE models) |
| Audio | Dual 2W stereo speakersDual far-field studio mics |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6Bluetooth 5Snapdragon X16 LTEeSIM supportNano SIM support |
| Camera | Front-facing 5MP (1080p)Rear-facing 8MP (1080p)IR camera |
| Keyboard | Type CoverNot included |
| Touchpad | Precision |
| Pen | MPP compatibleNot included |
| Security | IR cameraFirmware TPM (consumer)Hardware TPM 2.0 (commercial) |
| Battery | Up to 11 hours |
| Dimensions | 9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches(245mm x 175mm x 8.3mm) |
| Weight | Wi-Fi: 1.2 pounds (544g)LTE: 1.22 pounds (533g) |
| Color | Platinum |
As can be seen on the table, consumers will receive Windows 11 Home S. It's fitting given that Windows 11 is having its own launch on October 5, the same day the Surface Go 3 releases to the public. Again, the device will start at $399 but can get more expensive depending on what internals you opt for.
Surface Go 3
| Specs | Price |
|---|---|
| Intel Pentium, 4GB RAM, 64GB, WiFi | $399.99 |
| Intel Pentium, 8GB RAM, 128GB, WiFi | $549 |
| 10th Gen Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB, WiFi | $629.99 |
| Intel Pentium, 4GB RAM, 64GB, LTE | $499.99 |
| 10th Gen Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB, LTE | $729.99 |
LTE models will come in December 2021 for the U.S. and Canada, with other markets having to wait until early 2022.
Third time's the charm
If you want entry to the Surface family of devices for one of the lowest possible prices, the Surface Go 3 tablet is an option to consider. For now, it's a Wi-Fi device, though LTE options are on the way.
