Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 retains its light and attractive design, now boasting improved processor power, expanded RAM, additional storage, and a convenient fingerprint reader. However, the nearly $200 price increase may leave consumers questioning the value of these incremental upgrades. Our comprehensive review will provide a final assessment.
- Lightweight and compact
- Promises up to 15 hours of battery life
- Enhanced base storage and memory options
- Includes a fingerprint reader for added security
- Considerably more expensive
- Lacks any noticeable design alterations
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 Preview: Quick Overview
- Slim and lightweight for on-the-go use.
- Promises all-day battery life.
- Weighs 2.49 lbs, slightly heavier than the previous model.
- Compact dimensions: just over 0.5 inches thick, 11 inches wide, and 8 inches deep.
- Up to 15 hours of battery life with typical usage, an improvement of 2 hours.
- Features a full-sized keyboard, a 12.4-inch touch screen, and a spacious trackpad.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 Preview: Pricing and Availability
- Price: $799 in the US, around £649 (UK pricing pending).
- Available for pre-order, shipping begins on October 3.
- Initial availability in the US, with global availability details pending.
- A $200 price increase compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2, which had lower base memory and storage.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 Preview: Specs
- Similar dimensions and weight to the Surface Laptop Go 2.
- Upgraded with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U CPU running at 2.5GHz.
- RAM doubled compared to the previous model, configurable up to 16GB.
- Larger base storage drive of 256GB.
- Maintains WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 support.
- The camera remains at 720p resolution, unlike competitors upgrading to 1080p.
- These enhancements make the Surface Laptop Go 3 a compelling choice for home and office use.
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- Price: Estimated $799 / £649.
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U Processor.
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics.
- 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM.
- 12.4-inch PixelSense touch display (1536 x 1024).
- 256GB removable SSD storage.
- Ports include USB A, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone, and Surface Connect.
- Supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
- Camera resolution remains at 720p.
- Weight: 2.49 lbs (1.13 kg).
- Dimensions: 15.7 x 207 x 278 mm (H x W x D).
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 Preview: Design
- Still stylish, but showing age
- Solid build
- Spacious and satisfying keyboard
- Adequate trackpad
The Surface Laptop Go’s design, while still attractive, is beginning to feel dated compared to newer competitors like the MacBook Air M2. However, it maintains a solid build, smooth finish, and a comfortable, spacious keyboard with satisfying key travel. The trackpad is also of sufficient size. Surprisingly, Microsoft made minimal design updates, leaving it akin to the Surface Laptop Go 2. The 12.9-inch screen, while not exceptionally high-res, offers a pleasant viewing experience.
A USB-A port alongside the solitary USB-C port seemed outdated, and a second USB-C port would have been appreciated. On the positive side, it retains a 3.5mm headphone jack and Microsoft’s proprietary Surface Connect charge port. Color options include Platinum, Ice Blue, Sage, and Sandstone. Despite its lack of innovation, the laptop’s practicality and dependability are evident.
Performance
- Improved Intel Core i5 chip
- Enhanced 8GB RAM
- Base storage upgraded to 256GB
Microsoft opted for an Intel Core i5 processor running at 2.5GHz, a substantial improvement from the 11th Gen Intel CPU. Coupled with 8GB of RAM, this suggests better performance, although concrete benchmarks are pending. While the shift to 256GB of base storage is welcome, the decreasing cost of storage could have justified a larger drive. My brief experience with the laptop didn’t reveal performance issues, but further testing is needed.
Battery Life
- Promised 15-hour battery life
- Actual performance remains untested
Microsoft claims a 15-hour battery life for typical usage, but the interpretation of “typical” usage varies. Until comprehensive testing, the accuracy of this claim remains uncertain.
Early Verdict
The Surface Laptop Go 3 maintains its lightweight and appealing design while receiving necessary boosts in processor power, RAM, and storage. Notably, the base model now includes a fingerprint reader. However, the nearly $200 price increase for these incremental upgrades raises questions. Our final assessment awaits our comprehensive review.
