The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is a 10.5 inch Windows tablet with a kickstand and a detachable keyboard. It looks nearly identical to its predecessor, the Microsoft Surface Go 2 (2020), and it feels just as well built, sporting a sturdy magnesium chassis. It has a sharp display that gets bright enough for use in most settings; however, its small size makes it hard to multitask, and the backlight flickers unless you set the brightness to maximum, which may cause eye strain for some people. The type cover keyboard provides a good typing experience, and the touchpad tracks well, but like the Surface Go 2, it's an accessory that you have to purchase separately. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle simple tasks like web browsing and video playback, so it isn't ideal for demanding workloads like gaming or video editing. Unfortunately, the battery provides less than eight hours of light productivity, and its port selection is terrible as it only has a single USB-C port for wired peripherals, so you'll likely need a dock or dongles.
Our Microsoft Surface Go 3 has an Intel Core i3-10100Y CPU, integrated Intel UHD Graphics 615, 8GB of memory, and 128GB of storage. You can get a model with an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y, but it's slower than the Core i3-10100Y, so unless your workload is extremely light, it's best to get the Core i3 model for the smoothest experience. There's a Pentium Gold model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage; however, it won't perform as well because 4GB of memory may cause slowdowns or stutters, and the eMMC storage is significantly slower than the 128GB SSD, causing the computer to boot up and launch apps more slowly. You can get a model with LTE support for on-the-go connectivity, but only on a Core i3 model with 8GB of RAM.
Our Verdict
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is decent for school use. It's a very portable device as it's compact and lightweight, and its battery lasts a little over seven hours of light productivity, so depending on your school schedule, you might be able to get through the day on a full charge. The display is sharp and colorful, but it doesn't provide much screen real estate for multitasking. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, though, and the touchpad tracks well. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can handle simple tasks like web browsing and text formatting, but they aren't ideal for demanding workloads like graphic design or 3D animation.
- Compact and lightweight.
- Feels well-built.
- Display gets bright enough for use in most settings.
- Outstanding webcam video quality for video calls.
- Keyboard feels good to type on.
- Small screen isn't ideal for multitasking.
- Low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding workloads.
- Only one USB port.
- Small touchpad.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is bad for gaming. It's only available with a low-power CPU and integrated graphics, which aren't powerful enough to run demanding titles. It also has a 60Hz display with a slow response time and no VRR support to reduce screen tearing.
- Doesn't get hot under load and silent due to its fanless design.
- Low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding workloads.
- 60Hz display with no VRR support.
- Only one USB port.
- GPU throttles under load.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is good for media consumption. It's a very compact device that's easy to carry around, and since it's a tablet, you can detach the type cover keyboard to make it even lighter. The display is sharp, bright, and colorful, and the speakers sound decent but not very loud. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than 4 hours of video playback, so you'll have to carry the power adapter with you.
- Compact and lightweight.
- Display gets bright enough for use in most settings.
- Can be used as a tablet.
- Decent-sounding speakers.
- Battery lasts less than four hours of video playback.
- Blacks look gray in dim settings.
- Low speaker volume.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is bad as a workstation. It has a low-power CPU with integrated graphics, which are only capable of handling simple tasks like web browsing and video playback, not demanding workloads like video editing or 3D rendering. Also, its GPU throttles under load. Its port selection is terrible as it only has a single USB-C port, so you'll likely need a dock if you want to connect multiple peripherals.
- Doesn't get hot under load and silent due to its fanless design.
- Low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding workloads.
- Only one USB port.
- GPU throttles under load.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is mediocre for business use. It's a compact device that's easy to carry around, but its battery doesn't last long enough for a typical eight-hour workday, and its small display means you don't get much space for multitasking. That said, the keyboard feels good to type on, the touchpad is small but responsive, and the webcam's video quality is outstanding. Its Intel CPU can handle simple tasks like text formatting and web browsing, but it struggles in demanding workloads that involve a lot of number crunching. Unfortunately, the port selection is terrible as it has a single USB-C port, so you'll likely need a dock or dongles if you want to connect multiple peripherals or an external display.
- Compact and lightweight.
- Feels well-built.
- Display gets bright enough for use in most settings.
- Outstanding webcam video quality for video calls.
- Keyboard feels good to type on.
- Small screen isn't ideal for multitasking.
- Battery doesn't last through a typical 8-hour workday.
- Low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding workloads.
- Only one USB port.
- Small touchpad.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 01, 2023: Added mention of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022) as an alternative with longer battery life in the Battery section.
- Updated Feb 14, 2022: We've uploaded a new hinge photo because the previous one wasn't showing the hinge's full range.
- Updated Feb 09, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Feb 04, 2022: Early access published.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Microsoft Surface Go 3 with an Intel Core i3-10100Y CPU, integrated Intel UHD Graphics 615, 8GB of memory, and 128GB of storage. The CPU, memory, and storage are configurable; you can see the available options in the table below.
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Our display and performance results are only valid for the configuration we tested. If you come across a different configuration option not listed above, or you have a similar Microsoft Surface Go 3 that doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update it. Some tests, like black uniformity and color accuracy, may vary between individual units.
You can see our unit's label here.
Popular Laptop Comparisons
Compared to other 2-in-1 laptops in its price range, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 stands out for its build, as well as the quality of its display and webcam. However, its Intel CPU is underpowered, as you can easily find a similarly-priced Windows laptop with a much more powerful processor. There are also better Chromebooks in this price range if you don't need a full operating system like Windows, and they generally run smoother because Chrome OS is a much lighter operating system.
For other options, check out our recommendations for the best laptops under $300, the best laptops under $400, and the best laptops under $500.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 (2021) and the HP Pavilion x360 11 (2021) are both 2-in-1 convertible Windows laptops. However, the Microsoft is a tablet with a kickstand and detachable keyboard, while the HP is more of a traditional laptop with a 360-degree hinge. The Microsoft provides a better user experience overall because it has a sharper and brighter display, a more comfortable keyboard, and a more responsive touchpad. The Microsoft also has a better webcam for video calls and a Windows Hello IR camera to log in quickly via facial recognition. On the other hand, the HP has a much wider port selection, and its battery lasts longer.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 (2021) and the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021) are 2-in-1 convertible laptops. However, the Microsoft has a 10.5 inch screen and runs Windows, while the Lenovo has a 13.3 inch screen and runs Chrome OS. If you intend to use the device mainly for media consumption, the Lenovo is better because it has an OLED panel with better picture quality. The Lenovo also has a much longer battery life, lasting three hours longer than the Microsoft for productivity and video playback. On the other hand, if you plan on doing some work, the Microsoft has a better keyboard and touchpad.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 (2021) is a newer version of the Microsoft Surface Go 2 (2020). They're nearly identical in most aspects; however, the Go 3 is available in a new matte black finish and with more powerful CPUs. The only other notable differences are that the Go 3 has shorter battery life, and its backlight flickers when you set the brightness below 100%, which can cause eye strain for some people.
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 (2021) and the HP ENVY x360 13 (2020) are both 2-in-1 convertible Windows laptops. However, the ENVY x360 has a traditional clamshell design with a 360-degree hinge, while the Surface Go 3 is more of a tablet with a kickstand and detachable keyboard. The ENVY x360 provides a better user experience because it has a larger display, a more comfortable keyboard, and a wider port selection. It's also available with much more powerful Intel and AMD CPUs that can handle heavier workloads, and its battery lasts longer. However, the Surface Go 3 has a much better webcam for video calls, and its compact size makes it more portable.
Test Results
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