Budget Laptop
The new Surface Laptop Go features the same great design as the Surface Laptop 3 but in a smaller chassis and at half the price.
For
- 12.45-inch display
- Premium aluminum chassis
- Multiple colors available
- Full-blown Intel Core i5 processor
Against
- Low-resolution display
- No Windows Hello facial recognition
- No backlit keyboard
Premium Laptop
Surface Laptop 3 features an all-aluminum chassis, large 13.5-inch or 15-inch display, Intel 10th Gen or AMD Ryzen processors for extra power, and great battery life.
For
- Larger 13.5 or 15-inch display
- Windows Hello facial recognition
- Backlit keyboard
- High-resolution display
Against
- AMD only in the 15-inch model
- No Thunderbolt 3
- Slightly thicker bezels
Surface Laptop Go vs Surface Laptop 3: tech specs
Comparing the specs side by side, Surface Laptop Go and Surface Laptop 3 are two very similar yet somewhat different devices.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Surface Laptop Go | Surface Laptop 3 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-1035G1 | Intel 10th Gen i5 or i7AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 custom CPU |
| RAM | 4GB, 8GB, 16GB | 8GB, 16GB 32GB |
| Storage | 64GB eMMC128GB or 256GB SSD | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD |
| Display | 12.45-inch 1536x1024 touchscreen | 13.5-inch 2256x1504 touchscreen15-inch 2496x1664 touchscreen |
| Graphics | Intel® UHD Graphics | Intel IrisAMD Vega 9AMD Vega 11 |
| Security | Windows Hello fingerprint | Windows Hello facial recognition |
| Pen Support | No | Yes |
| Ports | 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, Surface Connect | 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, Surface Connect |
| Dimensions | 278.18 mm x 205.67 mm x 15.69 mm (10.95" x 8.10" x 0.62") | 13.5-inch: 12.1" x 8.8" x .57" (308 mm x 223 mm x 14.5 mm)15-inch: 13.4" x 9.6" x .57" (339.5 mm x 244 mm x 14.69 mm) |
| OS | Windows 10 Home in S mode | Windows 10 Home |
| Colors | Platinum, Sandstone, Ice Blue | Platinum, Sandstone, Black, Cobalt Blue |
Beautiful designs all round
Both the Surface Laptop Go and Surface Laptop 3 deliver premium hardware design, but the Surface Laptop Go makes compromises in specific areas to keep costs low. The Surface Laptop 3 features an all-aluminum build, from top to bottom. But the Surface Laptop Go only features aluminum on the lid and keyboard deck. The underside of the laptop is made from polycarbonate plastic. It's a nice plastic, but still plastic.
Surface Laptop Go still feels incredibly premium, especially for the price. Both laptops feature very similar designs, and the Surface Laptop Go comes out ahead in the bezels department. Surface Laptop Go features the thinnest bezels on a Surface, much thinner than those on the Surface Laptop 3, but at the cost of Windows Hello facial recognition.
Power or portability?
An easy way to choose between Surface Laptop Go, and Surface Laptop 3 is whether you need more power or more portability. If you need more power, the Surface Laptop 3 is the one for you, as it features a much more powerful Intel Core i7 or AMR Ryzen 7 processor to boot. The Surface Laptop Go is limited to an Intel Core i5 processor, which is a low-end chip. There are no upgrade options, either.
Not only that, but the Surface Laptop 3 has a more powerful GPU if you opt for the 15-inch variant with an AMD processor, featuring either Vega 9 and Vega 11 graphics. Of course, this does mean sacrificing portability. If you're looking for the best laptop experience in the smallest package, and power isn't much of a concern to you, then the Surface Laptop Go is a much better choice.
If you prefer small and portable
A traditional laptop for less.
Featuring the same great design as the Surface Laptop 3 but in a smaller chassis and at half the price, the Laptop Go is a great choice for students in need of a stylish PC with a full-size keyboard and trackpad.
If you need more power and a larger display
The premium ultrabook.
Surface Laptop 3 features an all-aluminum chassis, large 13.5-inch or 15-inch display, Intel 10th Gen or AMD Ryzen processors for extra power, and great battery life.
