Both options come with up to 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM, along with 64GB of eMMC and 128GB of SSD storage options. There’s an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor variant too. It is powered by up to 10th-Gen Intel Core i3 processor with Intel UHD Graphics 615. For this, the device gets support for a Type Cover, which also has a kickstand variant.Īs for the technical specifications, the Surface Go 3 is claimed to be 60% faster than its predecessor. The device supports three modes: laptop, tablet, and stand, depending upon the type of usage you have. We can't wait to see the Surface Go 3.The Surface Go 3 looks similar to Surface Go 2 and is meant to ensure portability. If you live in Zoom calls these days, or plan to record video of you talking, you'll present yourself in clearer and more natural light with it.īut by getting adding a faster processor and getting an hour longer battery life, the iPad has taken the win here. The Surface Go 2's sharper cameras, particularly the webcam, are a key differentiator to explain why some should definitely be picking it over the iPad. Those who are a bit more value driven, and prioritize a tablet above a laptop, well, the iPad is a great slate for them. Those who want a tablet for the ultimate amount of productivity - for it to be their secondary laptop, maybe - should consider the Surface Go 2. The Surface Go 2 and iPad were so good at certain things, and so similar at others, that this was more or less a toss-up. There you have it, the new iPad breaks the tie we got from last year's model. This does not differ across either model. When I tested out the Surface Go 2's Type Cover, I noticed that when they keyboard wasn't flat to the table - its magnets practically default you to an incline - the sensation of tapping my fingers against a keyboard that moved down was a little odd. The Type Cover keyboards may have a slight learning curve. However, the Surface Go 2 wins a point for a better way to dock the Surface Pen, which snaps to the side, with magnets.
iPad: Keyboard and StylusĪnnoyingly, neither the iPad nor the Surface Go 2 include the keyboard nor stylus that Apple and Microsoft make by default.
The iPad gets brighter, with a 484-nit panel that outshines the 408-nit Surface Go 2. That works out to the iPad featuring a 264 pixels-per-inch density, beating the 220 ppi Surface Go 2.Īccording to our colorimeter, both tablets emit offer similar color output, with the iPad netting 97% of the sRGB gamut and the Surface Go 2 producing a slightly higher 107%. The Surface Go 2’s 10.5-inch PixelSense display measures 1920 x 1280 pixels, and while that's nice, the 10.2-inch iPad's got it beat on resolution, with its 2160 x 1620-pixel panel. iPad owners need to buy a case, or lean their slate against a stack of books, to make a makeshift easel. The 1.2-pound Surface Go doesn't weigh much more for it, when compared to the 1.1-pound iPad. The testament to Microsoft's success here is shown in how they use that space, fitting a 10.5-inch panel in when Apple only ekes in 10.2 inches of screen estate.Īnother point in Microsoft's favor is seen in the Surface Go's built-in kickstand. The Surface Go 2 measures 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches, which gives it a pretty similar footprint to the 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.3-inch iPad. The Apple Pencil costs $99 while the Smart Keyboard for iPad costs $159.
That means to get the Surface Go 2 we recommend, you're spending $300 more than you would for the iPad - meaning you could buy two iPads for only $29 more than the Surface Go 2.Īnnoyingly, neither the Surface Go 2 nor the iPad include their first party keyboard or stylus. Microsoft's Surface Go Type Covers range from $99 to $129, while its Surface Pen is currently priced between $78 and $99. We tested the Core m3 Surface Go 2 and found its performance to be good enough, but not great to the point where we'd want to sacrifice any speed.