Microsoft has released the Surface Laptop Go 3, an upgrade to its previous budget-friendly laptop model. While the Surface Laptop Go 3 is no longer the cheapest option on the market, it offers more powerful specs and improved performance, making it a more appealing choice. The base model starts at $799 and comes with Intel’s 12th-gen Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. For an additional $200, users can upgrade to 16GB of RAM, a first for the Laptop Go line.
Compared to the previous model, the Surface Laptop Go 3 offers noticeable improvements in speed and performance. The laptop felt snappier when launching applications, switching windows, and performing basic tasks. It easily handled multitasking with multiple browser tabs, Evernote, Slack, Spotify, and image editing apps without any slowdown. The speed bump can be attributed to the new Intel Core i5 CPU, which features 10 cores and provides a significant improvement over the previous quad-core CPU.
Despite its compact size, the Surface Laptop Go 3 offers a comfortable typing experience with its responsive and deep keys. The trackpad, while not as large as other notebooks, is still suitable for browsing and productivity work. The laptop’s build quality is also commendable, with an aluminum top lid and keyboard deck, giving it a premium feel. Weighing only 2.5 pounds, the Laptop Go 3 is lightweight and portable, making it easy to carry around.
However, the laptop’s 12.4-inch screen is a mixed bag. While it features Microsoft’s Pixelsense technology, which provides vibrant colors and outdoor visibility, it disappointingly has a sub-1080p resolution (1,536 x 1,024) to cut costs. This leads to slightly pixelated text and images when viewed up close. Despite this drawback, the 3:2 aspect ratio of the screen makes it well-suited for web browsing and productivity apps.
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In terms of connectivity, the Laptop Go 3 falls short with limited ports. It has only one USB Type A connection, a USB-C port, a headphone jack, and a Surface charge port. Additional USB connections would make the laptop more versatile, and a microSD card slot for media storage would be a welcomed addition.
Battery life on the Surface Laptop Go 3 lasts around 9 hours and 10 minutes, slightly below Microsoft’s estimated 15 hours. However, this is still comparable to other ultraportables on the market.
Overall, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is a compelling choice for those in the market for a compact and powerful mid-range laptop. It offers improved performance, a comfortable keyboard, and solid build quality. However, its sub-1080p screen and limited ports are noticeable drawbacks. With a starting price of $799, it competes with the M1 MacBook Air and the Surface Pro 9 in terms of price and features. Despite its shortcomings, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is still a solid option for anyone in need of a reliable and portable laptop.
