Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go line has all the time served as a center floor for college students and younger professionals who desire a high-quality laptop computer with out having to pay a excessive value. Of course, these affordably priced Go machines inevitably include some compromises.
Both of the older laptops within the line—the Surface Laptop Go (7/10, WIRED Review) and Surface Laptop Go 2 (8/10, WIRED Review)—had been criticized by us and others for his or her low-resolution screens, middling battery life, and lack of a backlit keyboard. But these issues are simple to miss once you’re additionally getting an opulent construct, stable efficiency, and a particularly transportable design in a bundle that prices as little as $700. It’s been simple to suggest these laptops previously few years regardless of their flaws.
The Surface Laptop 3, nevertheless, is a tricky promote—significantly as a result of the most cost effective configuration now begins at $800. Microsoft nixed the 4-GB RAM and 128-SSD choices, so you may solely have the selection between 8 GB or 16 GB of RAM with a 256-GB SSD for each. The latter will set you again $1,000. The firm additionally threw in a Twelfth-generation Intel chip with a Core i5 processor.
That’s it for upgrades, although. Typically, I’d nonetheless think about this an excellent, inexpensive laptop computer, however the lack of recent options, zero effort on Microsoft’s half to deal with the problems with its predecessors, and the elimination of cheaper choices feels completely legal.
Top-Tier Design
As with previous fashions, the Surface Laptop Go 3 retains its wonderful design. The high half is product of anodized aluminum, which is meant to be higher at resisting scratches and nicks than untreated aluminum. The backside half is a mixture of aluminum and polycarbonate resin. It appears to be like and feels extraordinarily lavish, particularly within the Sage shade that Microsoft despatched me. It’s additionally obtainable in Platinum, Ice Blue, and Sandstone, however storage configurations range relying on which shade you select.
Photograph: Microsoft
The third-generation Laptop Go additionally stays light-weight at simply 2.49 kilos and compact, measuring 10.95 inches extensive, 8.12 inches deep, and 0.62 inches thick. Like its predecessors, it is a great-size pocket book for college students carting a PC to class or employees who commute to the workplace, as a result of it will not weigh your bag down. It was sufficiently small to suit into my (*3*), permitting me to ditch the backpack and tote bag I usually change between.
The full-size keyboard lives as much as the hype too. Having reviewed Microsoft’s 2-in-1 units (just like the Surface Go 2 and Surface Pro 8), I’ve solely had expertise with the Type Cover’s mushy keys. But the Laptop Go 3 is tremendous satisfying to kind on, with wonderful key journey and springy suggestions. It’s been a pleasure to make use of for typing emails, Slack messages, and this evaluate.
There’s one obtrusive error: the shortage of a keyboard backlight. It’s comical {that a} keyboard marketed to college students and Gen-Z consumers is lacking such a vital function. I discovered it significantly annoying after I was looking for quantity and brightness controls at nighttime whereas streaming a TV present earlier than bedtime. I can solely think about how irritating it is perhaps for somebody to make use of this laptop computer to review or kind up essays of their dorm late at night time whereas their roommate is asleep, or to take notes in a darkish classroom when the professor is utilizing a projector.
