Trying to fix something that isn't broken is one of the most common pitfalls when it comes to sequels. So long as you don't look too closely or watch a lot of video content on it, most will probably fare fine with it. It's serviceable, but a little on the dim side. Less generous compliments can be paid to the screen on the machine. Likewise, the speakers pack a surprising amount of depth and punch given the limitations in play.

Despite the squared-off form factor, typing on the Surface Laptop Go 2 doesn't feel particularly cramped. For better or worse, it's almost entirely focused on the fundamentals.

With a 720p webcam (that's unexceptional, though an improvement on the original Surface Laptop Go), non-backlit keys and a fingerprint sensor (that's only found in higher-spec models), the Surface Laptop Go 2 doesn't have much in the way of premium perks or features. Even by the standards of laptops playing with portability, that's not a lot and it may limit what you can and can't get away with using the Surface Laptop Go 2 for. So, really, we're talking about a modern laptop with just three ports. Importantly, one of these is the Microsoft Surface Connect port and used almost for charging. Like the original Surface Laptop Go, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is built around a 12.4-inch PixelSense display, a frill-free frame that's nice to look at and a total of four ports perched on the edges. All things considered, this is a pretty lightweight laptop yet sturdy enough that you can shove it inside a bag on short notice. However, the difference in grams is so slight that most won't feel burdened by it. Weight-wise, the new Surface Laptop Go 2 is slightly heavier than its predecessor. Meanwhile, the bottom half of the machine is made of a more plasticky material. The top half of the machine is an aluminium slab.

Put the two devices side-by-side, and most will strain to tell the difference. This earns it a lot of leeway when it comes to the sometimes-literal corners that Microsoft have chosen to cut here. It's not quite as affordable as the Surface Go tablet, but it's a close second for affordability. It's hard to talk about the Surface Laptop Go 2 without acknowledging just how much DNA it shares with its predecessor.Īkin to its immediate ancestor, the Laptop Go 2 sits towards the very bottom of the Surface lineup.

Surface go vs surface laptop 4