On September 21, 2023, Microsoft announced the third-generation Surface Laptop Go, a 12-inch Surface laptop with an affordable price tag. Unlike the Surface Laptop Studio 2 and its hefty list of changes inside and out, the Surface Laptop Go 3 got a modest upgrade, focusing solely on the processor, RAM, and storage.
If you own a previous-generation Surface Laptop Go and consider upgrading, here is how the latest model compares to its predecessors, the Surface Laptop Go 2 and the original Surface Laptop Go.
Here are the key changes summed up in a list:
- A newer processor: All Surface Laptop Go 3 configurations have Intel"s 12th Gen Core i5-1235U processor.
- More memory: You can pick between 8GB and 16GB RAM configurations. The laughable 4GB variant is finally gone.
- Storage: All Surface Laptop Go 3 configurations have 256GB solid-state drives (user-removable).
- Price: The base configuration now starts at $799, a $200 increase over the previous generation and its entry-level model with smaller RAM and storage. However, the price is identical to the similarly specced Surface Laptop Go 2 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD.
| Surface Laptop Go 3 | Surface Laptop Go 2 | Surface Laptop Go 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10.95" x 8.12" x 0.62" 2.49 lbs / 1.13 kg | 10.95" x 8.10" x 0.62" 2.48 lbs / 1.12 kg | |
| Colors | Platinum, Ice Blue, Sage, Sandstone | Platinum, Ice Blue, Sandstone | |
| Display | 12.4" 3:2 PixelSense Display | ||
| Processor | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 | 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics | |
| Memory | 8GB or 16GB LPDDR5 | 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4x | |
| Storage | 256GB SSD User-removable | 128GB or 256GB SSD User-removable | 64GB eMMC 128GB or 256GB SSD |
| Ports | 1x USB-C 1x USB-A 3.5mm audio jack Surface Connect | ||
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 | |
| Camera & Audio | 720p front-facing camera Dual far-field Studio Mics Dual speakers with Dolby Audio | ||
| Battery & Charging | 41Wh Li-ion 39W Power Supply | 39.7Wh Li-ion 39W Power Supply | |
| Price | $799+ | $599+ | $549+ |
The Surface Laptop Go 3 is now available for preorder in the Microsoft Store. Shipping starts on October 3, 2023.