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Microsoft Surface Go 2 Review: Compact Convertible gets a bigger screen

More pixels and shorter battery runtime. Microsoft equips its compact convertible with a slightly larger screen and more pixels, but keeps the regular x86 processor compared to the Surface Pro X. But is the Surface Go 2 still competitive, and does the new screen affect the battery runtime?
Convertible / 2-in-1 Touchscreen Windows

Microsoft updated its compact convertible and now uses a slightly faster processor as well as a bigger screen in the familiar chassis. In addition to the bigger screen (from 10 to 10.5 inches), the resolution got a slight bump as well. We review the convertible in combination with the keyboard, which is a protective cover at the same time.

We have reviewed the first Surface Go back in 2018 and the overall concept is a bit outdated by now. This is also noticeable when you look for rivals, because there are hardly any modern convertibles with screen sizes between 10-11 inches and detachable keyboards; the whole segment was pretty much taken by ARM tablets. We will therefore also compare the Surface Go 2 with consumer tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 or the Apple iPad Air. Their operating systems are not as versatile, but these borders become blurrier and many user groups can certainly use them for productive tasks as well.

Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y (Surface Go 2 Series)
Processor
Intel Core m3-8100Y 2 x 1.1 - 3.4 GHz, Amber Lake-Y
Graphics adapter
Intel UHD Graphics 615
Memory
8 GB 
, LPDDR3-1866, Dual-Channel, on-Board
Display
10.50 inch 3:2, 1920 x 1280 pixel 220 PPI, 10-Point Capacitive, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, native pen support, NV105WAM-N31, IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, glossy: yes, detachable screen, 60 Hz
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-Y + iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Toshiba KBG30ZPZ128G, 128 GB 
, 77 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 1 DisplayPort, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: 3.5mm, Card Reader: microSD, NFC, Sensors: Light sensor, acceleration sensor, gyroscope
Networking
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.0, Snapdragon X16 LTE, LTE
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.3 x 245 x 175 ( = 0.33 x 9.65 x 6.89 in)
Battery
27 Wh Lithium-Ion, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 9.5 h
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Primary Camera: 8 MPix
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 24W PSU, 12 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
790 g ( = 27.87 oz / 1.74 pounds), Power Supply: 154 g ( = 5.43 oz / 0.34 pounds)
Price
800 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Possible competitors in comparison

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
85.4 %
12/2020
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
m3-8100Y, UHD Graphics 615		790 g8.3 mm10.50"1920x1280
70.1 %
11/2019
Chuwi UBook Pro
m3-8100Y, UHD Graphics 615		780 g9 mm12.30"1920x1280
88.4 %
11/2019
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
i5-1035G4, Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU)		1.1 kg8.5 mm12.30"2736x1824
90.1 %
10/2020
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
SD 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650		500 g6.3 mm11.00"2560x1600
90.7 %
11/2020
Apple iPad Air 4 2020
A14, A14 Bionic GPU		458 g6.1 mm10.90"2360x1640
83.3 %
10/2018
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Pentium 4415Y, UHD Graphics 615		523 g8.3 mm10.00"1800x1200

Case - Surface Go 2 uses familiar chassis

Microsoft did not change the chassis of the Surface Go 2, but the device looks more modern thanks to the larger screen and slimmer bezels. The quality of the magnesium chassis is still very good and you cannot notice the comparatively low price compared to the Surface Pro 7. The plastic kickstand is the only weakness; it does its job but is only made of a very thin material and there is some play in the hinges. Still, the functionality itself is not compromised.

The integrated kickstand allows multiple display angles.
The integrated kickstand allows multiple display angles.

The optional Surface Type Cover (in this case in red) is also a protective cover for the screen and increases the overall weight of the convertible to 790 grams. It is therefore easy to put the Surface Go 2 in almost all bags.

Size Comparison

❌
292.2 mm / 11.5 inch 207.9 mm / 8.19 inch 9 mm / 0.3543 inch 780 g1.72 lbs292 mm / 11.5 inch 201 mm / 7.91 inch 8.5 mm / 0.3346 inch 1.1 kg2.35 lbs253.8 mm / 9.99 inch 165.3 mm / 6.51 inch 6.3 mm / 0.248 inch 500 g1.102 lbs247.6 mm / 9.75 inch 178.5 mm / 7.03 inch 6.1 mm / 0.2402 inch 458 g1.01 lbs245 mm / 9.65 inch 175 mm / 6.89 inch 8.3 mm / 0.3268 inch 790 g1.742 lbs245 mm / 9.65 inch 175 mm / 6.89 inch 8.3 mm / 0.3268 inch 523 g1.153 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity - Surface Connect and USB-C

Microsoft still uses the proprietary Surface Connect port, which can be used to charge the device and attach dedicated accessories. The position of the connector is not ideal though. The cable is either hanging in the air (see picture) or it will be bent in the other direction. However, it is also possible to charge the convertible via USB-C, which is probably more practical. The USB-C port also supports DisplayPort Alt mode, and it was no problem to drive an external 4K screen.

Left side: Nano-SIM slot (only LTE model)
Left side: Nano-SIM slot (only LTE model)
Top: Volume rocker, power button
Top: Volume rocker, power button
Right side: Surface Connect, USB-C (3.1 Gen.1), Headset, microSD reader (under the kickstand)
Right side: Surface Connect, USB-C (3.1 Gen.1), Headset, microSD reader (under the kickstand)
Bottom: Connector for Surface Type Cover
Bottom: Connector for Surface Type Cover

SDCardreader

The card reader is well hidden.
The card reader is well hidden.

The microSD reader is well hidden underneath the kickstand. It takes the full card, so you can also use it for permanent storage expansion, which is a good thing considering the limited storage capacity of the Surface Go 2. We determined transfer rates between 80-90 MB/s in combination with our reference card from Toshiba (Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II), which is similar to the previous model.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II)
78.6 MB/s
Average of class Convertible
  (17.7 - 209, n=35, last 2 years)
78.2 MB/s -1%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II)
73 MB/s -7%
Chuwi UBook Pro
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II)
70.6 MB/s -10%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
67.8 MB/s -14%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Average of class Convertible
  (22.6 - 263, n=34, last 2 years)
99 MB/s +15%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II)
86.3 MB/s
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II)
85.1 MB/s -1%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
84.9 MB/s -2%
Chuwi UBook Pro
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 64 GB UHS-II)
81.4 MB/s -6%

Communication - Wi-Fi 6 and LTE

Microsoft does not save money in terms of Wi-Fi connectivity and uses the Intel AX200 module, which supports the modern 802.11ax standard. Our standardized test with the router Netgear Nighthawk RAX120 determines very good transfer rates of almost 1.5 Gbps when it receives data, but the send performance of the small convertible lacks a bit in comparison at ~800 Mbps. The Surface Go 2 can also be equipped with an LTE modem; we had no problems with a SIM-card from T-Mobile during our review.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
  (447 - 1645, n=127)
1104 MBit/s +41%
Average of class Convertible
  (last 2 years)
1003 MBit/s +28%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
781 (691min - 918max) MBit/s
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
679 (653min - 709max) MBit/s -13%
Apple iPad Air 4 2020
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
645 (569min - 750max) MBit/s -17%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4
476 MBit/s -39%
Chuwi UBook Pro
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
344 MBit/s -56%
iperf3 receive AX12
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
1498 (1260min - 1694max) MBit/s
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
  (523 - 1684, n=128)
1191 MBit/s -20%
Average of class Convertible
  (last 2 years)
1178 MBit/s -21%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
836 (624min - 890max) MBit/s -44%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4
581 MBit/s -61%
Apple iPad Air 4 2020
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
541 (500min - 571max) MBit/s -64%
Chuwi UBook Pro
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
360 MBit/s -76%
6917918919911091119112911391149115911691Tooltip
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1498 (1260-1694)
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø780 (691-918)

Webcam

ColorChecker
5.9 ∆E
10.2 ∆E
7.9 ∆E
10 ∆E
9.1 ∆E
9.9 ∆E
7.7 ∆E
7.8 ∆E
11 ∆E
9 ∆E
9.2 ∆E
7.8 ∆E
4.5 ∆E
7 ∆E
13.9 ∆E
4 ∆E
12.6 ∆E
13.9 ∆E
2.5 ∆E
6.6 ∆E
8 ∆E
7.4 ∆E
4.9 ∆E
3.7 ∆E
ColorChecker Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y: 8.1 ∆E min: 2.53 - max: 13.95 ∆E

Input Devices

The optional Surface Type Cover is a good keyboard option for the Surface Go 2. It is also not too expensive at ~100 Euros. You can use two positions thanks to magnets, either completely flat or at a small angle. Due to the overall size, the individual keys are pretty small and the key travel is short, but the key stroke itself is very firm and precise. It is a good solution for occasional typing.

You also get a white background illumination, which makes working in dim environments much easier. The smooth trackpad also worked well during our review period.

Input Devices
Input Devices
White illumination
White illumination

Display - Surface Go with 3:2 Panel

Subpixel array
Subpixel array
Minor backlight bleeding
Minor backlight bleeding

The display has grown from 10 to 10.5 inches and the resolution is also a bit higher. 1920 x 1280 pixels (3:2 aspect ratio) create a very sharp picture on the small screen. The overall subjective picture impression is excellent. We measure a brightness of around 400 cd/m², so it is slightly dimmer than the predecessor. The black value is decent for an IPS screen, which results in a very good contrast ratio of ~1500:1.

We can once again detect PWM flickering at 961.5 HZ when the brightness is at 94 % or lower. The frequency is pretty high and should not cause any problems for most users. If you are sensitive to PWM flickering, however, we recommend you test the display first. There is some visible backlight bleeding at the top of the screen.

414
cd/m²		401
cd/m²		390
cd/m²
424
cd/m²		404
cd/m²		406
cd/m²
411
cd/m²		374
cd/m²		398
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
NV105WAM-N31 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 424 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 402.4 cd/m² Minimum: 6.8 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 403 cd/m²
Contrast: 1443:1 (Black: 0.28 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 0.7 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 0.7
ΔE Greyscale 1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
99.7% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
64.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
70.1% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
68.7% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.15
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
NV105WAM-N31, IPS, 1920x1280, 10.50		Chuwi UBook Pro
BOE TV123WAM-ND0, IPS, 1920x1280, 12.30		Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
LTPS, 2560x1600, 11.00		Apple iPad Air 4 2020
IPS, 2360x1640, 10.90		Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Sharp SHP14A6, IPS, 1800x1200, 10.00		Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
LG Philips LP123WQ112604, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.30
Display
-7%
-3%
-5%
Display P3 Coverage
68.7
63.3
-8%
66.5
-3%
66
-4%
sRGB Coverage
100
94
-6%
97.5
-2%
93.8
-6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
70.1
65.1
-7%
67.5
-4%
66.9
-5%
Response Times
-1%
2024%
-19%
-8%
710%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
37.2 ?(18.4, 18.8)
30.8 ?(14.8, 16)
17%
45.6 ?(22, 23.6)
-23%
46.8 ?(23.6, 23.2)
-26%
44 ?(22, 22)
-18%
34.8 ?(16.8, 18)
6%
Response Time Black / White *
22.8 ?(10.4, 12.4)
26.8 ?(15.6, 11.2)
-18%
20.8 ?(6.8, 14)
9%
25.6 ?(12.4, 13.2)
-12%
25.6 ?(11.6, 14)
-12%
26.4 ?(13.2, 13.2)
-16%
PWM Frequency
962 ?(94)
59520 ?(21)
6087%
1020 ?(99)
6%
21550 ?(24)
2140%
Screen
-180%
-85%
-31%
-30%
-179%
Brightness middle
404
867.6
115%
554
37%
509
26%
456
13%
480.4
19%
Brightness
402
818
103%
535
33%
486
21%
426
6%
485
21%
Brightness Distribution
88
83
-6%
91
3%
93
6%
88
0%
91
3%
Black Level *
0.28
0.78
-179%
0.33
-18%
0.39
-39%
0.31
-11%
0.48
-71%
Contrast
1443
1112
-23%
1679
16%
1305
-10%
1471
2%
1001
-31%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
0.7
4.64
-563%
2.1
-200%
1.3
-86%
1.3
-86%
5
-614%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
1.2
9.22
-668%
7.1
-492%
2.8
-133%
3
-150%
7.72
-543%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
0.7
2.31
-230%
1.1
-57%
2.44
-249%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1
6.1
-510%
1.6
-60%
2.2
-120%
1.4
-40%
5.9
-490%
Gamma
2.15 102%
2.22 99%
2.32 95%
2.21 100%
2.24 98%
2.38 92%
CCT
6485 100%
7346 88%
6623 98%
6833 95%
6687 97%
7805 83%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
64.5
59
-9%
99.3
54%
62.3
-3%
60.3
-7%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
99.7
93.7
-6%
96.8
-3%
93.2
-7%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-63% / -125%
970% / 490%
-25% / -29%
-14% / -21%
175% / 9%

* ... smaller is better

The display calibration is already excellent out of the box. All values in our analysis with the X-Rite i1 Pro 2 spectrophotometer and the professional CalMAN software are within the designated range and there is no color cast.

CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN Grayscale calibrated
CalMAN Grayscale calibrated
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps calibrated
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps calibrated
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated

sRGB is covered completely, so the panel is very well suited for picture/video editing in this color space. We have tried to calibrate the panel, but there are only marginal improvements.

Display Response Times

ℹ
Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
   ↔    Response Time Black to White
22.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 10.4 ms rise
↘ 12.4 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 45 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms).
   ↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
37.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18.4 ms rise
↘ 18.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 48 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

ℹ
To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 962 Hz ≤ 94 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 962 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 94 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 962 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoors you will see reflections on the glossy screen, but the brightness is sufficient if you can avoid reflections from direct light sources. There is no problem with the viewing angle stability of the IPS screen.

In the sun
In the sun
In the sun
In the sun
Viewing angle stability
Viewing angle stability

Performance - Surface Go 2 with slow dual-core CPU


Processor - Core m3-8100Y

Microsoft offers the Surface Go 2 with a Pentium Gold 4425Y or the more powerful Core m3 CPU, which is also used for our review unit. The Core m3-8100Y is a very efficient chip and can be cooled passively. But it is also just a dual-core (4 threads) with a maximum clock of 3.4 GHz. The processor was already launched back in 2018 and we are on a very low performance level in general.

The processor can consume up to 10W when the system is cold, which results in 2x 2.7 GHz. It drops to 2x 2.1 GHz when the device gets warmer and stays on this level. We can observe a maximum clock of 3.1-3.2 GHz in the single-core tests.

The performance is better compared to the old model, but the Core m3 is still very slow compared to current mobile CPUs (also see Surface Pro 7). The performance is sufficient for simple tasks right now, but there is not much headroom for the upcoming years. Geekbench also shows that the two ARM tablets (iPad Air & Galaxy Tab S7) are more powerful.

050100150200250300350400450500550600650Tooltip
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y Intel Core m3-8100Y, Intel Core m3-8100Y: Ø218 (213.96-247.22)
Chuwi UBook Pro Intel Core m3-8100Y, Intel Core m3-8100Y: Ø156.9 (155.96-159.09)
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4 Intel Core i5-1035G4, Intel Core i5-1035G4: Ø518 (495.42-684.65)
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003 Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y, Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y: Ø162.9 (162.13-163.67)
Cinebench R20: CPU (Single Core) | CPU (Multi Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Single 64Bit | CPU Multi 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 -mmt1 | 7z b 4
Geekbench 5.5: Single-Core | Multi-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core)
Average of class Convertible
  (116.8 - 755, n=65, last 2 years)
610 Points +105%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Intel Core i5-1035G4
441 Points +48%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
298 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (232 - 298, n=3)
258 Points -13%
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core)
Average of class Convertible
  (242 - 6954, n=66, last 2 years)
3561 Points +576%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Intel Core i5-1035G4
1410 Points +168%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
527 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (382 - 527, n=3)
441 Points -16%
Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (68.6 - 287, n=65, last 2 years)
232 Points +92%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Intel Core i5-1035G4
172 Points +42%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
121 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (91 - 121, n=4)
101.3 Points -16%
Chuwi UBook Pro
Intel Core m3-8100Y
91 Points -25%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
65 Points -46%
Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (110.1 - 2889, n=67, last 2 years)
1583 Points +541%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Intel Core i5-1035G4
644 Points +161%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
247 (213.96min - 218.42max) Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (157 - 247, n=4)
190.8 Points -23%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
164 Points -34%
Chuwi UBook Pro
Intel Core m3-8100Y
157 Points -36%
Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (1893 - 2519, n=2)
2206 Seconds * -17%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
1893 Seconds *
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Intel Core i5-1035G4
900 Seconds * +52%
Average of class Convertible
  (193 - 3620, n=61, last 2 years)
441 Seconds * +77%
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1
Average of class Convertible
  (2046 - 6417, n=63, last 2 years)
5177 MIPS +58%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
3282 MIPS
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (2683 - 3282, n=2)
2983 MIPS -9%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Intel Core i5-1035G4
1307 MIPS -60%
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4
Average of class Convertible
  (7703 - 72400, n=63, last 2 years)
39855 MIPS +428%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Intel Core i5-1035G4
11030 MIPS +46%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
7554 MIPS
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (4937 - 7554, n=2)
6246 MIPS -17%
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core
Average of class Convertible
  (319 - 1981, n=67, last 2 years)
1618 Points +83%
Apple iPad Air 4 2020
Apple A14 Bionic
1593 Points +81%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
963 Points +9%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
882 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (809 - 882, n=2)
846 Points -4%
Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core
Average of class Convertible
  (663 - 14016, n=67, last 2 years)
8263 Points +412%
Apple iPad Air 4 2020
Apple A14 Bionic
4334 Points +168%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ (Plus)
3201 Points +98%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
1615 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (1178 - 1615, n=2)
1397 Points -13%
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset
Average of class Convertible
  (0.61 - 20.1, n=65, last 2 years)
10.5 fps +436%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Intel Core i5-1035G4
5.095 fps +160%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
1.96 fps
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (1.42 - 1.96, n=2)
1.69 fps -14%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
1.09 fps -44%
LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (85.4 - 128, n=2)
106.7 s * -25%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
85.4 s *
Average of class Convertible
  (42 - 223, n=63, last 2 years)
53.9 s * +37%
R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y
  (0.942 - 1.204, n=2)
1.073 sec * -14%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel Core m3-8100Y
0.942 sec *
Average of class Convertible
  (0.4102 - 1.967, n=63, last 2 years)
0.538 sec * +43%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
247 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
35.8 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
121 Points
Help

System Performance

The PCIe SSD with a storage capacity of 128 GB (77 GB available) is not the fastest drive, but it is completely sufficient for everyday tasks and plays a big a role in the good subjective performance impression. User inputs are quickly executed, and the compact convertible has no problems with simple workloads (YouTube, writing mails, web browsing). 

The Surface Go 2 is shipped with Windows 10 S-Mode by default, which means you can only install apps from the Microsoft Store. However, you can just upgrade to the regular Windows 10 Home for free.

PCMark 10 | PCMark 8
PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Convertible
  (1486 - 7963, n=60, last 2 years)
5726 Points +99%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i5-1035G4, Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZPZ256G
4163 Points +45%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ128G
2876 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y, Intel UHD Graphics 615
  (2341 - 2876, n=4)
2539 Points -12%
Chuwi UBook Pro
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Netac SSD 256GB
2341 Points -19%
Essentials
Average of class Convertible
  (3975 - 12059, n=60, last 2 years)
10591 Points +56%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i5-1035G4, Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZPZ256G
8847 Points +30%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ128G
6806 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y, Intel UHD Graphics 615
  (5749 - 6806, n=4)
6045 Points -11%
Chuwi UBook Pro
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Netac SSD 256GB
5749 Points -16%
Productivity
Average of class Convertible
  (2764 - 10800, n=60, last 2 years)
7522 Points +51%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i5-1035G4, Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZPZ256G
6678 Points +34%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ128G
4972 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y, Intel UHD Graphics 615
  (4480 - 4972, n=4)
4750 Points -4%
Chuwi UBook Pro
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Netac SSD 256GB
4480 Points -10%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Convertible
  (811 - 12360, n=60, last 2 years)
6534 Points +242%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i5-1035G4, Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZPZ256G
3315 Points +74%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ128G
1909 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y, Intel UHD Graphics 615
  (1352 - 1909, n=4)
1551 Points -19%
Chuwi UBook Pro
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Netac SSD 256GB
1352 Points -29%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Convertible
  (4404 - 5830, n=3, last 2 years)
4890 Points +57%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i5-1035G4, Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZPZ256G
3537 Points +14%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ128G
3110 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y, Intel UHD Graphics 615
  (2209 - 3110, n=4)
2515 Points -19%
Chuwi UBook Pro
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Netac SSD 256GB
2209 Points -29%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
UHD Graphics 615, Pentium 4415Y, 64 GB eMMC Flash
741 Points -76%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), i5-1035G4, Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZPZ256G
4639 Points +15%
Average of class Convertible
  (2921 - 6089, n=3, last 2 years)
4045 Points 0%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ128G
4044 Points
Average Intel Core m3-8100Y, Intel UHD Graphics 615
  (3700 - 4044, n=4)
3891 Points -4%
Chuwi UBook Pro
UHD Graphics 615, m3-8100Y, Netac SSD 256GB
3700 Points -9%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3110 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3721 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4044 points
PCMark 10 Score
2876 points
Help
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
AS SSD
DiskSpd
hddimg
Toshiba KBG30ZPZ128G
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 1776 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 853 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 307.2 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 270.8 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1209 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 801 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 51.1 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 100.6 MB/s

DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8

No graph data

DPC Latency

LatencyMon Overview
LatencyMon Overview
LatencyMon Drivers
LatencyMon Drivers

GPU Performance - UHD Graphics 615

The integrated GPU ha the designation Intel UHD Graphics 615 and we already know it for a couple of years. Just like the processor, the performance is one again much lower compared to modern iGPUs, but high-resolution video playback is no problem thanks to the powerful integrated video decoder. The performance is not reduced on battery power.

The Surface Go 2 is hardly suited for any gaming. Simple titles from the Windows Store will run well, but more demanding games are often unplayable even at the lowest settings.

3DMark 11 | 3DMark
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Convertible
  (471 - 40768, n=65, last 2 years)
7870 Points +471%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), Intel Core i5-1035G4
3228 Points +134%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Core m3-8100Y
1378 Points
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
1257 Points -9%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 615
  (821 - 1378, n=10)
1175 Points -15%
Chuwi UBook Pro
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Core m3-8100Y
821 Points -40%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (2965 - 154219, n=50, last 2 years)
32507 Points +395%
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
6602 Points +1%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Core m3-8100Y
6564 Points
Average Intel UHD Graphics 615
  (4521 - 7568, n=10)
6316 Points -4%
Chuwi UBook Pro
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Core m3-8100Y
4521 Points -31%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (365 - 29684, n=65, last 2 years)
5902 Points +582%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Core m3-8100Y
866 Points
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
819 Points -5%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 615
  (563 - 976, n=11)
816 Points -6%
Chuwi UBook Pro
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Core m3-8100Y
563 Points -35%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (94 - 11749, n=64, last 2 years)
2028 Points +683%
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), Intel Core i5-1035G4
619 Points +139%
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
Intel UHD Graphics 615, Intel Core m3-8100Y
259 Points
Average Intel UHD Graphics 615
  (205 - 289, n=6)
245 Points -5%
3DMark 11 Performance
1504 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
39138 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
4759 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
764 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
293 points
Help
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 41.6 23.6
The Witcher 3 (2015) 9.5
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 52 25.9 12.1 11.3
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 10.2 8.22 7.69
Far Cry 5 (2018) 6

Emissions - Silent companion

System Noise

The Surface Go 2 does not have a fan, so it is always a silent companion. We did not notice any other electronic noises, either.

Temperature

The convertible does not get too warm, even under maximum load. We measure up to 45 °C in the middle upper section of the top and up to 42 °C at the bottom. These values are not critical, and the device also stays much cooler in everyday scenarios.

The processor starts at 2.7 GHz and the iGPU at 850 MHz during the stress test, but the performance is massively reduced after a couple of seconds: The processor only runs at little more than 600 MHz and the graphics card at around 500 MHz.

CPU data stress test
CPU data stress test
Max. Load
 40.6 °C
105 F		45.4 °C
114 F		43.5 °C
110 F		 
 39 °C
102 F		42.8 °C
109 F		40.8 °C
105 F		 
 31.8 °C
89 F		33.9 °C
93 F		33.5 °C
92 F		 
Maximum: 45.4 °C = 114 F
Average: 39 °C = 102 F
41.4 °C
107 F		42.6 °C
109 F		41.1 °C
106 F
35.1 °C
95 F		35.8 °C
96 F		32.5 °C
91 F
32.7 °C
91 F		34.2 °C
94 F		31.5 °C
89 F
Maximum: 42.6 °C = 109 F
Average: 36.3 °C = 97 F
Power Supply (max.)  35.3 °C = 96 F | Room Temperature 20.5 °C = 69 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 39 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45.4 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.6 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.5 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (33.9 °C / 93 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (-5.8 °C / -10.4 F).
Surface temperatures stress test (top)
Surface temperatures stress test (top)
Surface temperatures stress test (bottom)
Surface temperatures stress test (bottom)

Speakers

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2037.834.22527.129.43130.829.74030.528.65027.929.46324.127.98023.225.410022.627.912522.431.316023.238.320023.343.125024.147.431521.75140020.554.85002057.263019.457.38001958.2100018.858.8125018.163.6160016.661.8200016.160.1250015.755.7315015.554.3400015.355.6500015.250.4630015.347.7800015.241.61000015.140.1125001541.31600014.833.8SPL29.469.9N1.323.7median 18.1median 51Delta2.88.340.942.738.739.338.736.639.437.235.93536.235.635.336.334.242.132.245.131.849.530.651.430.253.330.158.729.460.828.960.628.667.42867.727.666.927.566.52766.62766.627.267.126.96926.970.226.563.826.760.226.655.626.555.826.443.926.346.639.578.43.642.4median 27.5median 60.61.47.9hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseMicrosoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100YMicrosoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (69.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | reduced highs - on average 5.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (29.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 85% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 11% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 85% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 12% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 72% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 20% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 72% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 22% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery Runtime

The 27Wh battery in the Surface Go 2 lasts for about 7 hours in our Wi-Fi test at 150 cd/m², which is about 40 minutes less compared to the predecessor. If we repeat the test with the maximum display brightness, the runtime drops to little more than 5 hours. The video test (150 cd/m²) runs for ~9 hours and the complete charging time is ~2.5 hours.

Charging time
Charging time
Compact power adapter (24W)
Compact power adapter (24W)
Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 83)
6h 47min
WiFi Websurfing max. Brightness (Edge 83)
5h 15min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
9h 02min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 55min
Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y
m3-8100Y, UHD Graphics 615, 27 Wh		Chuwi UBook Pro
m3-8100Y, UHD Graphics 615, 38 Wh		Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Core i5-1035G4
i5-1035G4, Iris Plus Graphics G4 (Ice Lake 48 EU), 45 Wh		Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
SD 865+ (Plus), Adreno 650,  Wh		Apple iPad Air 4 2020
A14, A14 Bionic GPU, 28.6 Wh		Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003
Pentium 4415Y, UHD Graphics 615, 28 Wh		Average of class Convertible
 
Battery Runtime
-19%
24%
85%
111%
13%
29%
H.264
542
885
63%
671
24%
384
-29%
769 ?(562 - 999, n=13, last 2 years)
42%
WiFi v1.3
407
329
-19%
597
47%
811
99%
702
72%
448
10%
564 ?(329 - 876, n=63, last 2 years)
39%
Load
115
116
1%
221
92%
388
237%
180
57%
121.7 ?(53 - 219, n=47, last 2 years)
6%
Reader / Idle
1336
1963
2039
771
1112 ?(528 - 1667, n=28, last 2 years)

Pros

+ sturdy chassis
+ display with accurate colors
+ Wi-Fi 6 & microSD
+ silent operation
+ optional LTE

Cons

- low performance & throttling under load
- PWM flickering
- mediocre battery runtime
- only 1x USB-C

Verdict - Surface Go 2 appears a bit outdated

In review: Microsoft Surface Go 2. Test model courtesy of Cyberport.
In review: Microsoft Surface Go 2. Test model courtesy of Cyberport.

The Surface Go 2 appears a bit outdated after the review. This segment has mostly been taken over by consumer tablets (iOS & Android) or even more affordable Chromebooks, while Windows convertibles have grown in size. The Surface Go 2 is still a very versatile device thanks to the full-fledged Windows version, which makes it an interesting device for some user groups. The optional LTE modem can be very useful as well.

The update to the second generation includes a slightly larger screen, which offers very good subjective picture quality with a good factory calibration. However, the PWM flickering might be an issue for sensitive users. The passively cooled Intel dual-core processor is a bit faster compared to the predecessor and is currently still sufficient for simple tasks, but the device is hardly future-proof and the comparison with modern ARM tablets also shows the age of the Intel Core m3.

The Surface Go 2 is still a compact companion and very versatile thanks to the full-fledged Windows version. The screen is very good and we also like the optional keyboard.

The Surface Go 2 will definitely attract some customers, but many casual users should consider an ARM tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 or Apple iPad Air, because they are serious alternatives with more performance and longer battery runtimes.

Microsoft Surface Go 2, m3-8100Y - 12/28/2020 v7
Andreas Osthoff

Chassis
83 / 98 → 84%
Keyboard
80%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
57 / 75 → 76%
Weight
78 / 20-75 → 100%
Battery
76%
Display
89%
Games Performance
29 / 78 → 37%
Application Performance
73 / 85 → 86%
Temperature
90%
Noise
100%
Audio
52 / 91 → 58%
Camera
46 / 85 → 55%
Average
73%
85%
Convertible - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Microsoft Surface Go 2 Review: Compact Convertible gets a bigger screen
Andreas Osthoff, 2020-12-29 (Update: 2020-12-29)