Why You Can Trust CNET Microsoft Surface Go 3 gets a new engine for Windows 11, starts at $400
The most portable Surface is still tuned for work and school basics.
- More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
Microsoft announced Wednesday the Surface Go 3, an update to the company's smallest detachable two-in-one. Although it's a minor update rather than a total overhaul, the refresh will give it a performance boost for Windows 11, which arrives in October. The Go 3 was one of several new devices Microsoft debuted at its virtual Surface event including the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Duo 2.
Other than jumping from Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Home in S mode, Microsoft upgraded the processor options to include dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y or quad-core 10th-gen Intel Core i3-10100Y processors. The rest of the device stays the same.
- 4GB or 8GB of memory
- 64GB eMMC or 128GB SSD for storage
- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 615
- 802.11ax wireless (Wi-Fi 6) with optional LTE
- 10.5-inch, 1,920x1,280-pixel multitouch PixelSense display
- USB-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, Surface Connect port, microSD card slot
- 5-megapixel front-facing camera; 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus
The new Surface Go 3 could give Apple's latest iPad a little competition in the education market. Like the iPad, though, the Go 3 doesn't include a keyboard cover or pen to use with the tablet PC, although both are supported. Microsoft and Apple have lost ground in schools to Google Chromebooks during the pandemic, though. And models such as the Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3, Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 and HP Chromebook x2 11 are typically packaged with the keyboard and sometimes a pen as well.
The Surface Go 3 with Wi-Fi starts at $400 (£369, AU$629) and is available for preorder today and ships Oct. 5. LTE models will be available in the coming months.