Microsoft Surface Go 3: Entry-level Surface resurfaces

Microsoft’s budget Surface Go lineup was never the last word in luxury or horsepower, but it usually offered a snapshot of the benefits of what the 2-in-1 form factor had to offer. Tiny, lightweight and remarkably well priced, the Surface Go is back again for another go in 2021.

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Announced during a special event on 22 September, the Surface Go 3 sits at the bottom of a list of four new Surface devices. Championing Windows 11, the Surface Go 3 is yet another low-cost tablet/laptop hybrid that mostly serves as a miniaturised version of the Surface Pro range.

If you were hoping for a change to the design, then you might be disappointed. The Surface Go 3 still incorporates a 10.5in FHD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS display, encased in a magnesium alloy frame with a rear kickstand that can be rotated up to 65 degrees. Microsoft’s keyboard Type Cover is yet again an optional extra, and this hasn’t been updated either.

Specs-wise, the Surface Go 3 comes in a variety of different flavours. There are three storage options to choose from, including 64GB of eMMC flash at the cheaper end, as well as 128GB or 256GB of SSD storage with a choice of either 4GB or 8GB of RAM. You’ll also get either a dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor or a slightly beefier quad-core Intel Core i3-10100Y. All models come with Intel UHD Graphics 615.

Microsoft claims that the Surface Go 3 can last up to 11 hours on a single charge, which is a slight increase from the previous model. The front-facing 5MP camera supports Windows Hello face unlocking, and the 8MP rear camera can record Full HD video. It comes in just one colour, platinum, and it uses the same dual-microphone arrangement as last year, with two 2W stereo speakers.

The Surface Go 3 will be the first of Microsoft’s new range of devices to launch in the UK. Coinciding with the Windows 11 release date, the Surface Go 3 will be available from 5 October, with prices starting at £369.