I’m still using my 6 year old Surface 3 (the Go’s precursor) as a second PC, which TBH gets more use than the first. It’s got 128GB and 4GB of RAM. It’s perfect to chuck in a bag when I go somewhere. It owes me nothing any longer. It works a treat and I can’t find an excuse to upgrade it until it breaks. If it lasts until the Go 4 comes out maybe I’ll give it a decent retirement. I’m writing this on my 8 year old iPad mini 2. I like to get the most out of my purchases.
I want a tablet for note taking (with a pen) that can also be used as a laptop, when I want to do something like PowerPoint presentations. So, I think the Surface Go is ideal for me. I don't need high specs, as it just needs to handle a note-taking app and the standard office stuff. I don't want a surface pro or 2-in-1, because they're to big and bulky. The go is perfect in this aspect, as it's quite small and light.
After about 6month of usage, this is what i can say about the Go 3. Pros: -it is very mobile -handy for students thanks to microsoft edge pdf writing ability (you can write on pdf scripts instead of using paper) -it is technically a fullfledged laptop so you can install actual programs like visual studio etc. -Battery life about 6h so you can use it without needing charging throughout the day -Inbuild camera is quite usefull Cons: -Pen support of various Microsoft software like word etc. is very bad compared to an actual ipad from apple, so if you dont need an actual heavy weigth program like coding software etc. you cant get through apps, its better to use a tablet -Its hard to near impossible to draw straight lines unless you insert an actual line, so drawing a triangle or in general using this for math related stuff is rather bad, on that note writing is also quite janky -not sure if its the edge browser or the go 3, however opening a pdf and zooming way in to have more precise control of what you are writing or drawing causes consistent crashes over time, of the browser, but also the cpu cant handle it sometimes -it does a very bad job saving pdfs you drew or wrote in using the pen, again this is edges problem, i noticed often how my pdfs when loading them the next day after saving and closing them, lost some of the stuff i drew or wrote in them, which was a very rude awakening especially if you wrote down a formula and then a variable is missing in it and u dont see it right away, this btw happened in word aswell, but much more rarely -microsoft does not want you to actually use it as a laptop that can download programs from the internet, so you can initially only download apps fromt the store, which are mostly not free and they are really bad, if you dont deactivate the windows11s mode forfeiting rights, you are better off just buying either a laptop or a tablet -its obviously not the fastest in processing -the pen and keyboard are extras you have to buy for nearly another 200$ on top of the surface go 3 which is ridiculous -you cant properly use it as a tablet to write on, if you rest your arm on it while writing like on a piece of paper, it really does not like that, which makes it rather hard to write on in, imagine you try to write with your pen on your monitor and see if that would work out for you
@@treasurethetime2463 Im still using it, as its too expensive to upgrade, the issue with viewing and writing in pdfs on edge is still the same, it will eventually crash if you edit a pdf too often in one session or write stuff in full zoom. I havent really tried out any pfd viewer programs, so cant say if this is the go's fault or edge's.
Just got a surface go 3 8GB/128GB i3 yesterday to supplement my work laptop. I think most reviews are too critical of this product... My main use is for taking digital notes with the surface pen (syncing OneNote instead of paper notes that I don't organize and forget about), plus email, browsing, and some MS word when I'm on the road between meetings. I was hesitant about its performance based on what I'd seen online but so far so good. It is faster than expected and has no issues running multiple windows/apps. Battery life doesn't seem excellent but what can you expect from a small tablet running windows 11 OS. So far it seems like a great blend of tablet & computer when I need it to be -- which an iPad just couldn't deliver on.
I have a surface go 1. It's my favorite device. It's a cheap windows PC and the design is perfect. The stand is so amazing and I love that the tablet is matte and not glossy or with a weird grip pattern. I plan on getting the GO 3. It's really an excellent device.
@@benjamindover4337 I'm not sure, but I doubt it. If you decide to get one you have to take it out of S mode and buy a keyboard and mouse. I also got a handheld keyboard so I can use it like a nintendo switch.
By default Windows comes with "balance" in the power option for saving battery. You can change it to "High Performance". This will give you significant boost in cpu. You should also set windows to use all 4 cores as the default is 1. Type msconfig. Select the Boot tab and then Advanced options. Check the box next to Number of processors and select the number of cores you want to use. Select OK and then Apply.
Personally, I would buy this to read, edit some work, and take notes when I'm out and about and don't really want to go home, and also for travelling. I don't work with video or photo editing, and mostly work using Office. I like that on Edge, I can still use Google Docs, and that is a big plus for me. I'm not too concerned with battery life because it is running a full operating system. It certainly isn't a deal-breaker for me.
I bought one on the premise of wanting a hand held full computer which the SG3 is. Not the fastest but definitely the cutest and still very capable. A keeper. (Edit: I got the i3 8 128 version)
@@themadatheist1976 That's a good question. I'm not a gamer but I'll be creating a Steam account so I can try to run some of the latest, less demanding titles. Will post my comments here. 👍
8:04 The surface Pen 2 isn't for the surface go lineup. The official supported Pen is still the surface pen. That the reason, why it doesn't hold with magnets... Sometimes it's still smart to read the manual :)
Coming from an iPad 2, the Go 3 is amazing. Even against the newest iPads, the Go is FAR more durable and much, much better if you're primarily using pen input to drive your user experience. And Windows 11 is definitely more suited for a pen-drive experience, and is more differentiated than using an apple pencil on an iPad (vs finger input).
Really liked the production quality of this video, and the personality. Couple of corrections... (1) the 60% faster claim from MS is in regards to the Pentium Gold versions. So you can buy the lower-end models this time and have a better experience than with the Go 2, and the i3 version isn't as drastically faster than the m3 Go 2. Also means recommending the Go 2 on discount may make sense if you're buying the highest model, but could be a big mistake if you're buying one of the two lower-end models. (2) The middle model with Pentium Gold DOES has SSD (as well as double the memory and storage of the low end model). Only the lowest Gold model has EMC.
Currently using a Surface Pro 7 for at-home use and was looking for a cheaper but reliable computer for school and work. I actually think I might go with this one or the GO 2. Thanks for the review, it really helped me out!
This is perfect for my school work and browsing! It’s so good for the price cuz I know tablet and laptop in 1 are pricey. And the hinge is awesome! I will get one soon! And forgot to mention this review was freakin helpful thanks!
The Go 3 is just minor update unfortunately. However, the 60% improvements that Microsoft claimed is for the Pentium Gold version, so it should had more differences on the entry level model. The Core m3 to i3 has just minor performance boost.
I have two surface GO (private and professional, both the256 GB version), so I am a convinced user. They really work well. What I miss the most is a 500 GB version or even more. Adding an SD card does not fix it, as connection is lost regularly.
The Go would be so good if Microsoft gave it the Surface Pro 8 treatment. I bet you they’ll do a complete redesign for the Go 4. I hope we see two USB C Thunderbolt 4 ports and an upgradable M.2 SSD 2230 on the back. We’ll probably get a new Keyboard with Pen 2 slot but they need to bundle it in with the device. I would like to see better performance maybe with a quad core i3 or dual core i5 with some sort of XE support.
Microsoft's corporate customers will buy their Surface in bulk, as long as Microsoft doesn't change much. Corporate IT Departments doesn't like change. That is where Microsoft make the bulk of their money, not from RUclips watching consumers.
My biggest advice for the Go 3 is learn how to use Windows 11 as a tablet OS. Which it's surprisingly competent at. Most things are easier than tapping a button. Want to full screen an app? Grab the title bar and slide it to the top of the screen. Three fingers up brings up take view, three fingers down brings you to your desktop. On 22H2 you can also slide up from the taskbar to open the start menu
I have the Surface GO, and love its SIM slot. Why was this slot dropped? Every GO should have a MicroSD slot for up to 2TB and at least one SIM slot. I need and demand a SIM slot
Great review. I'm considering going for a Go 3 to use when studying and this review really helped. Anyone know if you can take notes on the Go 3 using the pen and then convert to text? Thanks.
You can do that in Word and anywhere, where you would type with the keyboard. The downside is, that it's converted one by one and gets very fiddly with typos. I think you need to enable input writing in settings or something like that. I'm using linux on my surface go 3 and can't look the settings up^^
I'm watching this on my 6 year old Galaxy tab S2 8", it's a great value tablet now, it was the king of 8" Android tablets in it's days. Will keep it until it breaks. Although the charging port is broken, it somehow manages to work. As far as Laptops go, I have 2014 MacBook Air which still works. But that didn't stop me from trying other devices: Couple of years ago, I got SP6 i3 version, no issues so far. Few months back, I got Tab s6 lite, it runs smoothly. I use tablet devices regularly, for second screen, or when I am in bed, watching RUclips. My tip is get them around holiday seasons, with heavy discount and trade-ins.
I'm looking for something like this mainly for beginner level drawing painting and sketching using the pen, needed both a tablet and computer for a budget. Is this a good buy for what I need? Mainly be using it for photoshop and similar apps
I’ve ordered the 128/8GB version for £499. Always used Mac and really need to use Windows for my job. Didn’t want to go the whole hog on a Microsoft laptop - thought I’d give this a go. As I own a Duo 2, it seemed a sensible selection.
I was looking to use the Go 3 as a unit to work with Bosch or Leica laser tape measuring software. The 10 " form factor is "just right the right size". The Pro 8 has a 12" screen which might be okay for some and it has the specs I wish the Go 3 had > an i5 processor / 8gb ram and 256 gb storage. If Microsoft could do that for us consruction guys, we'd be grateful!
I know that a Chromebook works for a different purpose/format. But if you had to choose between Surface Go 3 & HP X2 11, which one would you go for in terms of performance?
Actually is very nice performance already. If opinion, i would choose three model hahaha 1st - IPad Pro 11inch 2020 Version (Lifestyle) 2nd - Samsung S7+ (Working Purpose) 3nd - Surface Table (Do what ever I want hahaha because is Window System)
I receive many Surface ads and I am curious as to how good the devices are. The review provides insight as to what Microsoft is doing. Shame they overrated the battery. Please do a review on Windows 11. Is the media center better? Is it cool and fun to interact with?
I checked and the i3-10100Y version of this has the same performance as my old Surface Pro 2 with a Core i5 from 8-9 years ago. However, using a third of the power, and having double the RAM (although it need more as well with todays OS and apps.) I expect to pay considerably less for the same performance this many years later. The launch price of the SP2 was 900 bucks, but today I can find the i3 version of the Surface Go for 60% of the price of what I paid for my SP2, so I guess it's a similar experience for decently less money. However, I'm not sure about the user experience on a tablet in Win11. Win8 was actually very nice on the early Surfaces (even if it was horrible on desktops and laptops), but I'm not sure if I want a tablet for Win11. But as a secondary device next to my desktop, sure I would consider it. Right now I have a normal laptop for Windows-apps, and an iPad for drawing in OneNote, as well as a desktop at home for heavy duty work. This would be an optimal device for replacing both my aging laptop and iPad in a single device, for relatively little money!
I’m looking one for minor occasions like installing third party apps into iOS devices, xcloud gaming, studies… you know, nothing heavy. Could I go for the Surface Go 2 or is better to go for the Go 3? Did xcloud runs equally in both of them? At this moment I no longer have windows devices, I opted to go just for an iPhone and a iPad for studies, entertainment, video editing (I’m one of the first LumaFusion users and it’s been great since the beginning), etc. But in some minor occasions I do need a windows device. Edit: I’m open to others more affordable windows devices, I’m all ears (eyes) for you guys.
this is way too expensive for what is essentially going to be something you use once in a while. just get a used thinkpad and swap in an ssd if it doesn’t have one already.
I think it might be best looking for a normal Laptop, especially since you can get one with a Tenth Gen. Core I5 for only $100 more than the Surface Go 3. My Dad bought a Dell Laptop for around $400-$500 and it's more powerful than the top specced Surface Go 3
This seems like a form factor that is ideal for a mobile Snapdragon chip. If Windows for ARM was as viable as what Appple did for M1, the Go 3 would have an awesome platform to pull it off. My guess is that won't happen.
Im currently thinking about getting a 4G version of the Surface Go 3 (as a device to use when our home internet is being flaky, or just outright fails)
This might be an old video, but the best use for this thing is as an additional monitor through wireless screen casting and doubling as an easily transportable document viewer for work/school/church business.
The base model now has the faster m3 CPU from the Surface Go 2 but for $399, so Surface Go 3 is actually a big step up in performance for dollar. People complaining about lack of performance are missing the point of a 10 inch tablet. The iPad has eMMC storage and no type cover included and yet you never hear any tech reviewers complaining about it, so why do they complain about the Surface Go?
So I'm looking into possibly downgrading from the surface pro x to this. Only because I'm not trying to overspend on something when i could use something that's cheaper that will still meet my needs. My only concern with the surface go 3 and it's something i might not even use that much Is just the drawing applications. I don't need anything crazy i just would need something that's just like drawing with paper and pencil. Do you think it'll work for me?
I have a Surface Go 2 and I admit that the Surface Go (no matter the gen) is not for everyone, in my particular case, I have a gaming PC for heavy lifting and I use my Surface as a portable 2nd PC, for simple stuff and work is just perfect, the little Intel Pentium Gold CPU in it is more powerful than I expected, but as I said, I don't use it for gaming or anything that requires real processing power, however, it completely replaced the Android tablet I used to use for media consumption, and as of now I use it more frequently than I use my gaming PC, due to how portable it is.
@@SimonBauer7 In my particular case, when I use it for work it's not used only for emails and simple browsing, a good part of my workflow does revolve around the browser and I can assure you it is not light browsing, the fact that it was good enough to allow me to work so effortlessly impressed me quite a bit, now, I do think that if you need a full laptop to fulfill all your needs in 1 device, the Surface Go is not the way to go, because when you compare it to a full laptop it is a bad deal, however, if you compare it to iPads and Android tablets in the same price bracket, it becomes an interesting deal, since it has decent power and support for full desktop apps/software while at the same time it is way more portable than a full laptop.
Honestly, if money weren't a question, I'd stick with my Go 2 then get the Surface Laptop Studio as my main 😂 The Go 3 doesn't seem to be a huge step up from the highest spec-ed Go 2.
Really sad that Apple with its ultra powerful low wattage chips hold the iPads back with iPadOS otherwise something like this would be laughable against the base iPad which is cheaper and much more powerful. I’d still rather go with an iPad over this even if I could only have one device because I can see the experience being poor with how laggy it looks.
So what you are saying is that your work does not require a computer or access to 35 million programs (compare to 1.9 million smartphone apps), correct? No one (except gamers) buy computers for the lastest chip sets, they buy computers for their hardware and software. This is why individuals/businesses keep their computing devices for 5-7 years AND iPads, MacBooks, & iMac's market shares have not increase since the m1 chip was introduced over a year ago. You are welcome for the free education...
I bought a Surface Pro 4 last year, used from Ebay, but it had the widespread "flicker" problem wherein the panel is faulty and the screen flickers after an unreasonably short time (about 2 hours, or 4 to 5 hours if I cool it with a fan or portable AC). Otherwise, I love it, but obviously I have to get a replacement, as I got for reading PDFs, streaming video, and mounting Blu-ray discs images, i.e., reading and media consumption for long duration. I believe the Go 3 may do all these things, but do so at a lesser resolution (the 1,920 x 1,280 screen instead of the Pro's 2736 x 1824) a smaller size (10 inch vs 12 inch), and lower pixel density (220 vs 267). I could get a used Surface Pro 7 for the same price, or less, as a new Surface Go 3, but Amazon offers an installment payment on the Go, which is very tempting. What do you think I should do?
Question for anyone who knows: if this was plugged in, could it handle a full day of work? Multiple internet tabs open, multiple apps such as word, excel etc. I am mostly concerned that it would overheat with a full 8 hour work day. Any insight?
I don’t think ms office will be that intensive, also given how slim it is it shouldn’t overheat. Seems like it may lag if you have too many tabs open though.
With the besels etc, is it not worthy you making a comparison with the galaxy book 12? I mean the 2018 book which has an i5 and I'd detachable and has same form factor. Doesn't that the book 12 do better given its got a bigger chip?
Want to pickup the i3 version for GameCube and below emulation and minor work and graphics when I don't want to pull out my gaming laptop. Might get a cheaper type cover and compatible pen that uses a AAAA battery since I have those cells on hand. Getting this tablet will allow me to easily swap the SD card between that and my laptop. I could also do retro PC gaming a little bit.
I am thinking about buying this device ... to use as a flexible study tool on the go, I am travelling a lot and charging stuff on a car battery vía usb entrance ... is that posible for this device? Or for the Surface go 2?
So which one should i buy 😭😭 this make me confuse between the videos and the comments.. i need a mid range tablet for my flexibility, i have an ipad 6 ipad is good for global interface but the cons some app on my country is still focusing for iphone so the quality sucks
I know this is kind of an old video but chance that you do check your comments. What do you think about this? Would you choose the surface go as a mobile productivity option for like word processing things of that nature versus getting one of these new mini PCs and putting on a small, monitor with it? I was gonna go with the surface in a wireless mechanical keyboard, but then I start seeing these inexpensive mini PCs with decent specs and thought maybe I get one of those with a $65 monitor and wireless keyboard and that seems like a better option. what do you think?
If i need a computer for note taking, writing papers, and general studying/browsing, is this going to be enough with the base model? will it be slow/laggy?
Well it runs Windows. So you’ll get the fully featured Office… There’s two versions, a UWP version optimised for pen input (the one with less features, and a smaller ribbon to maximise screen space for your document), and a Win32 version which is much preferable frankly (except for OneNote).
I need a laptop/chromebook type thing for college I'm struggling to write fast enough in college and struggling to read my scrufft writing do you have any laptops in mind? Have a budget of about 360£ ish
Unless you need windows, use usb c accessories or desktop level apps, ipad 9 + logitech combo touch and you'll get much better value and performance imo
I own the Surface Go1 and my biggest complaint is that Microsoft software as not wrap the Go1 properly. For example, if you try to download OneNote to it and just use it as a note-taker it works very slow and is frustrating to use. Today, I only use it with the Edge browser. Microsoft installed a very powerful OS on the Go1 but it is too powerful for the specs and this is the most frustrating point. The good point of the surface, it is super light, connects with everything, and is super secure, and no one wants to steal it even if you forget it in an airport while you go to the WC. Personally, I will buy the surface Go3 because it is a good, small, and light unit to carry on the go.
You cannot upgrade the RAM in the 4GB version, right? It's bit too low for Windows. You open a live stream with the chat turned on, and there's lagging everywhere.
dude. i have the go 2 but i'm like this is just a temporary laptop as a 'broke' student (i can't bought the surface pro). so one day i will sell my Go 2. but if i sell my go 2 like in 4years, nobody will bought it. do i buy the go 3 and sell the go 2 just to have a 'new gen' laptop ? you did not talk about the handwriting. the compatibility with app (on the windows store) are bad. Only OneNote is great. And like you said, the responding of the device is not great (it feel old) i just want a little better surface... so i don't know if i resell mine for the go 3 :( well your video help for my chose thank ;)
I've heard bad reviews. Mostly stemming from it's performance. Now I don't necessarily need high performance or gaming needs. I just need a smaller tablet operating on a Desktop OS. Does this fit the bill as a basic college student computer or is it just plain bad?
Surface go 3 base model with 4gb ram 64 storage for 400 or surface go 2 with 8gb ram and 128 storage for 400. I'm assuming I should go for the surface go 2 since it's on sale and has the better configuration. Same price
I see u gaming wirelessly. That Xbox controller constantly disconnecting 4 u? Just got the surface pro 8 with the free Xbox game pass and controller. Nice gesture but unlplayble because the Bluetooth constantly disconnects
Fair review - if Microsoft included the type cover then it would be worth it, it's a shame they never will. I love my Go 2 and run my small business on it. Performance is fine for my use - email, Office, web browsing, notes, reading, virtual meetings and signing documents. Hooking it up to my 2k monitor is also fine with minimal choppiness. Only significant downside for me is the battery life and I've thought about moving to an ipad because of this, but Windows is better for my use.
@@RK-um9tu my typical use is about 5-6 hours screen on time, but a bit less if I use LTE. Fine for my use because I’m not on it all day and am usually near a charger.
@@Thetechchap Only the very cheapest model uses eMMC. And the business versions have up to 256GB of storage as an option, though the consumer version tops out at 128GB.
I think 7 and half hour battery life is not what we call terrible, also performance is in par with my 2 year old dell business laptop so i can live with that!
between Microsoft Surface Go 3 (Window OS), Samsung S7 Fe (Android OS) and Nubia Red Magic Tablet (Android OS), which is better for work and entertainment? and perhaps a lil gaming....
I love my iPad but dont like that it can only run "moble" versions of many apps (i.e. Office). I've been looking for a small laptop/computer that can run the full version of Excel so i can use it as an on the go companion to my dinosaur work computer (old and super bulky)
Hey can you help me looking for a gsm device thats like the surface to replace my 3d and 2d cad I dont want a device that I need a hotspot to use I want a stand alone kind of like the surface go 3
Hey Chaps! What laptop/tablet are you using right now??
Please give do an educated review of surface duo 2 . Not like mkbhd but an educated one please .
Surface laptop 3 + galaxy tab s7
M1 iPad Pro 12.9/ matebook x pro
iPad Air 4
IPad Pro 12.9” (2018) with Magic Keyboard. Best setup I´ve ever had for both work and entertainment…
I’m still using my 6 year old Surface 3 (the Go’s precursor) as a second PC, which TBH gets more use than the first. It’s got 128GB and 4GB of RAM. It’s perfect to chuck in a bag when I go somewhere. It owes me nothing any longer. It works a treat and I can’t find an excuse to upgrade it until it breaks. If it lasts until the Go 4 comes out maybe I’ll give it a decent retirement. I’m writing this on my 8 year old iPad mini 2. I like to get the most out of my purchases.
Slapped 11 on mine and I’m enjoying it
Same here.. the edge browser seems to be efficient on surface 3 and able to use 2 apps at a time lol
Lucky you, my surface pro 4 is about to die as the battery is bloating up suddenly, git it for 5 or 6 years now, now looking for a replacement
@@noahsevilla7704 my pro 4 is bloated too
@@justseifert that f sucks
I want a tablet for note taking (with a pen) that can also be used as a laptop, when I want to do something like PowerPoint presentations. So, I think the Surface Go is ideal for me. I don't need high specs, as it just needs to handle a note-taking app and the standard office stuff.
I don't want a surface pro or 2-in-1, because they're to big and bulky. The go is perfect in this aspect, as it's quite small and light.
What about RUclips videos editing? I like to edit my travel videos before posting it
After about 6month of usage, this is what i can say about the Go 3.
Pros:
-it is very mobile
-handy for students thanks to microsoft edge pdf writing ability (you can write on pdf scripts instead of using paper)
-it is technically a fullfledged laptop so you can install actual programs like visual studio etc.
-Battery life about 6h so you can use it without needing charging throughout the day
-Inbuild camera is quite usefull
Cons:
-Pen support of various Microsoft software like word etc. is very bad compared to an actual ipad from apple, so if you dont need an actual heavy weigth program like coding software etc. you cant get through apps, its better to use a tablet
-Its hard to near impossible to draw straight lines unless you insert an actual line, so drawing a triangle or in general using this for math related stuff is rather bad, on that note writing is also quite janky
-not sure if its the edge browser or the go 3, however opening a pdf and zooming way in to have more precise control of what you are writing or drawing causes consistent crashes over time, of the browser, but also the cpu cant handle it sometimes
-it does a very bad job saving pdfs you drew or wrote in using the pen, again this is edges problem, i noticed often how my pdfs when loading them the next day after saving and closing them, lost some of the stuff i drew or wrote in them, which was a very rude awakening especially if you wrote down a formula and then a variable is missing in it and u dont see it right away, this btw happened in word aswell, but much more rarely
-microsoft does not want you to actually use it as a laptop that can download programs from the internet, so you can initially only download apps fromt the store, which are mostly not free and they are really bad, if you dont deactivate the windows11s mode forfeiting rights, you are better off just buying either a laptop or a tablet
-its obviously not the fastest in processing
-the pen and keyboard are extras you have to buy for nearly another 200$ on top of the surface go 3 which is ridiculous
-you cant properly use it as a tablet to write on, if you rest your arm on it while writing like on a piece of paper, it really does not like that, which makes it rather hard to write on in, imagine you try to write with your pen on your monitor and see if that would work out for you
Thanks for review
Most informative comment on a device I came across.
I work in sales and am primary concerned with PDFs. That's really where the rubber meets the road.
@@treasurethetime2463 Im still using it, as its too expensive to upgrade, the issue with viewing and writing in pdfs on edge is still the same, it will eventually crash if you edit a pdf too often in one session or write stuff in full zoom. I havent really tried out any pfd viewer programs, so cant say if this is the go's fault or edge's.
Just got a surface go 3 8GB/128GB i3 yesterday to supplement my work laptop. I think most reviews are too critical of this product... My main use is for taking digital notes with the surface pen (syncing OneNote instead of paper notes that I don't organize and forget about), plus email, browsing, and some MS word when I'm on the road between meetings. I was hesitant about its performance based on what I'd seen online but so far so good. It is faster than expected and has no issues running multiple windows/apps. Battery life doesn't seem excellent but what can you expect from a small tablet running windows 11 OS. So far it seems like a great blend of tablet & computer when I need it to be -- which an iPad just couldn't deliver on.
Does it lag and stutter like this video shows?
@@soberanisfam1323 It does sometimes. Especially when you use office software like word, outlook
@@yannislau1187 can it be charged via standard power banks like phones use?
How long the battery lasts?
It has micro SD card slot which other Surface models do not. Pretty convenient and affordable to beef up storage
I have the surface 4, and it does have a micro SD slot that supports upto a 1tb card. Currently I have a 400gb, til the tb cards come down In price
I have a surface go 1. It's my favorite device. It's a cheap windows PC and the design is perfect. The stand is so amazing and I love that the tablet is matte and not glossy or with a weird grip pattern. I plan on getting the GO 3. It's really an excellent device.
Can it be charged by a standard power bank, like phones can use?
@@benjamindover4337 I'm not sure, but I doubt it. If you decide to get one you have to take it out of S mode and buy a keyboard and mouse. I also got a handheld keyboard so I can use it like a nintendo switch.
By default Windows comes with "balance" in the power option for saving battery. You can change it to "High Performance". This will give you significant boost in cpu. You should also set windows to use all 4 cores as the default is 1.
Type msconfig. Select the Boot tab and then Advanced options. Check the box next to Number of processors and select the number of cores you want to use. Select OK and then Apply.
Does this have effect on other programs if you are using this option however?
Personally, I would buy this to read, edit some work, and take notes when I'm out and about and don't really want to go home, and also for travelling. I don't work with video or photo editing, and mostly work using Office. I like that on Edge, I can still use Google Docs, and that is a big plus for me. I'm not too concerned with battery life because it is running a full operating system. It certainly isn't a deal-breaker for me.
I bought one on the premise of wanting a hand held full computer which the SG3 is. Not the fastest but definitely the cutest and still very capable. A keeper.
(Edit: I got the i3 8 128 version)
Have you try any console emulation, looking to see how well it handles GameCube games?
@@themadatheist1976 That's a good question. I'm not a gamer but I'll be creating a Steam account so I can try to run some of the latest, less demanding titles. Will post my comments here. 👍
@@miramarensis just saw some vids with the base version Go 2 with 4GB, handles GC games well so the mid and top Go 3s should be great.
8:04 The surface Pen 2 isn't for the surface go lineup. The official supported Pen is still the surface pen. That the reason, why it doesn't hold with magnets... Sometimes it's still smart to read the manual :)
Coming from an iPad 2, the Go 3 is amazing. Even against the newest iPads, the Go is FAR more durable and much, much better if you're primarily using pen input to drive your user experience. And Windows 11 is definitely more suited for a pen-drive experience, and is more differentiated than using an apple pencil on an iPad (vs finger input).
iPad Pro destroys this
@@oo0024 Windows OS> MacOS
@@oo0024 well, it is like 4 times to price, so you would hope it does :)
@@oo0024 This is better compared to an ipad mini or 10th gen, compare the ipad pro to the surface pro 9
Really liked the production quality of this video, and the personality. Couple of corrections... (1) the 60% faster claim from MS is in regards to the Pentium Gold versions. So you can buy the lower-end models this time and have a better experience than with the Go 2, and the i3 version isn't as drastically faster than the m3 Go 2. Also means recommending the Go 2 on discount may make sense if you're buying the highest model, but could be a big mistake if you're buying one of the two lower-end models. (2) The middle model with Pentium Gold DOES has SSD (as well as double the memory and storage of the low end model). Only the lowest Gold model has EMC.
I would like to ask for your opinion on Surface Go 2 8GBRAM Pentium Gold vs Surface Go 3 8GBRAM Intel M3 LTE? Thank you in advance.
Currently using a Surface Pro 7 for at-home use and was looking for a cheaper but reliable computer for school and work. I actually think I might go with this one or the GO 2. Thanks for the review, it really helped me out!
Surface pro 7 is a furnace. I have about 30 of them I am decommissioning for over heating issues and component failure
@@SeattleGenXDude cause you're a bad owner
@@Bdeblayt I was thinking of getting it why?
@@sonyvalencia?
To be honest Tom, I thoroughly chuckled at that "go away" joke 🤣🤣
This is perfect for my school work and browsing! It’s so good for the price cuz I know tablet and laptop in 1 are pricey. And the hinge is awesome! I will get one soon! And forgot to mention this review was freakin helpful thanks!
The Go 3 is just minor update unfortunately. However, the 60% improvements that Microsoft claimed is for the Pentium Gold version, so it should had more differences on the entry level model. The Core m3 to i3 has just minor performance boost.
sure, both have hd 615, both 2 cores 4 threads, same 14nm+, same tdp ... Just a minor boost clock increase. Was hopping for 10101g1 but then
Always terrible battery life on Microsoft devices.
I have two surface GO (private and professional, both the256 GB version), so I am a convinced user. They really work well. What I miss the most is a 500 GB version or even more. Adding an SD card does not fix it, as connection is lost regularly.
The Go would be so good if Microsoft gave it the Surface Pro 8 treatment. I bet you they’ll do a complete redesign for the Go 4. I hope we see two USB C Thunderbolt 4 ports and an upgradable M.2 SSD 2230 on the back. We’ll probably get a new Keyboard with Pen 2 slot but they need to bundle it in with the device. I would like to see better performance maybe with a quad core i3 or dual core i5 with some sort of XE support.
I think Microsoft seriously needs to re-think it's pricing AND specs..cuz I'm no way buying this ( NO OFFENCE ) e-waste at this price.
As if MS cares...lol
Microsoft's corporate customers will buy their Surface in bulk, as long as Microsoft doesn't change much. Corporate IT Departments doesn't like change. That is where Microsoft make the bulk of their money, not from RUclips watching consumers.
Go and try to find another well built windows 11 tablet. You won't find another product
E waste , I was searching this word , thanks
My biggest advice for the Go 3 is learn how to use Windows 11 as a tablet OS. Which it's surprisingly competent at.
Most things are easier than tapping a button. Want to full screen an app? Grab the title bar and slide it to the top of the screen.
Three fingers up brings up take view, three fingers down brings you to your desktop.
On 22H2 you can also slide up from the taskbar to open the start menu
Really great review! Hope people start considering this over certain tablets.
You put a lot efforts in the work Tom, the new studio looks amazing! Thank you for caring about your audience. Best wishes! ✌
Dude, this is the absolute best review I have ever seen. I'm getting one of these for school and now I know everything! Thank you!
I have the Surface GO, and love its SIM slot. Why was this slot dropped? Every GO should have a MicroSD slot for up to 2TB and at least one SIM slot. I need and demand a SIM slot
Great review. I'm considering going for a Go 3 to use when studying and this review really helped. Anyone know if you can take notes on the Go 3 using the pen and then convert to text? Thanks.
You can do that in Word and anywhere, where you would type with the keyboard. The downside is, that it's converted one by one and gets very fiddly with typos. I think you need to enable input writing in settings or something like that. I'm using linux on my surface go 3 and can't look the settings up^^
I'm watching this on my 6 year old Galaxy tab S2 8", it's a great value tablet now, it was the king of 8" Android tablets in it's days. Will keep it until it breaks. Although the charging port is broken, it somehow manages to work. As far as Laptops go, I have 2014 MacBook Air which still works.
But that didn't stop me from trying other devices:
Couple of years ago, I got SP6 i3 version, no issues so far. Few months back, I got Tab s6 lite, it runs smoothly. I use tablet devices regularly, for second screen, or when I am in bed, watching RUclips.
My tip is get them around holiday seasons, with heavy discount and trade-ins.
I was really hoping this had a good increase in performance over the go 2 or at least to eliminate the lag, guess is back to waiting for me
Nice mention and thoughts regarding performance. Many reviews lack that.
9:47 wait, only 250 mb/s write? that cant be true!!!
If thats true microsoft should go burry themself...
Yeah I tested twice. Very strange
250 MBps is basically eMMC speeds, which is slower than a SATA SSD from 2010......
Emmc
How mutch nits is the go 2, some say 480, some say 430, others say 400, i want to know how mutch brighter the go 2 is compared to the go 3
I'm looking for something like this mainly for beginner level drawing painting and sketching using the pen, needed both a tablet and computer for a budget. Is this a good buy for what I need? Mainly be using it for photoshop and similar apps
Which is better (either in productivity or price) the Go 2 or the Go 3???
If you must buy an surface go, then go with the go 2. If size is not an factor, then look for older surface books or other options.
@@rithondhar8171 tyvm!!!
I’ve ordered the 128/8GB version for £499. Always used Mac and really need to use Windows for my job. Didn’t want to go the whole hog on a Microsoft laptop - thought I’d give this a go. As I own a Duo 2, it seemed a sensible selection.
give this a "go" hehehe
How is it!?
Surface go 3 or duet ?
I was looking to use the Go 3 as a unit to work with Bosch or Leica laser tape measuring software. The 10 " form factor is "just right the right size". The Pro 8 has a 12" screen which might be okay for some and it has the specs I wish the Go 3 had > an i5 processor / 8gb ram and 256 gb storage. If Microsoft could do that for us consruction guys, we'd be grateful!
I'm using a Go for everything away from my desk. I do recommend being sure which version someone picks up has the 8gb RAM
Thanks for the heads-up Tom, good review.
I personally own both Go 2 and Go 3, and as much as I love the Go 2 core m3, I recommend to upgrade to the Go3 i3, as performance are even better.
I know that a Chromebook works for a different purpose/format.
But if you had to choose between Surface Go 3 & HP X2 11, which one would you go for in terms of performance?
Any difference in battery life?
how is the battery life compare Go2 vs Go3 ?
Actually is very nice performance already. If opinion, i would choose three model hahaha
1st - IPad Pro 11inch 2020 Version (Lifestyle)
2nd - Samsung S7+ (Working Purpose)
3nd - Surface Table (Do what ever I want hahaha because is Window System)
I receive many Surface ads and I am curious as to how good the devices are. The review provides insight as to what Microsoft is doing. Shame they overrated the battery. Please do a review on Windows 11. Is the media center better? Is it cool and fun to interact with?
Do you reckon you could persuade Huawei to do an international release of the Huawei matebook e. Or convince Microsoft to stick an OLED on their pro.
I checked and the i3-10100Y version of this has the same performance as my old Surface Pro 2 with a Core i5 from 8-9 years ago. However, using a third of the power, and having double the RAM (although it need more as well with todays OS and apps.) I expect to pay considerably less for the same performance this many years later. The launch price of the SP2 was 900 bucks, but today I can find the i3 version of the Surface Go for 60% of the price of what I paid for my SP2, so I guess it's a similar experience for decently less money. However, I'm not sure about the user experience on a tablet in Win11. Win8 was actually very nice on the early Surfaces (even if it was horrible on desktops and laptops), but I'm not sure if I want a tablet for Win11. But as a secondary device next to my desktop, sure I would consider it. Right now I have a normal laptop for Windows-apps, and an iPad for drawing in OneNote, as well as a desktop at home for heavy duty work. This would be an optimal device for replacing both my aging laptop and iPad in a single device, for relatively little money!
I’m looking one for minor occasions like installing third party apps into iOS devices, xcloud gaming, studies… you know, nothing heavy. Could I go for the Surface Go 2 or is better to go for the Go 3? Did xcloud runs equally in both of them? At this moment I no longer have windows devices, I opted to go just for an iPhone and a iPad for studies, entertainment, video editing (I’m one of the first LumaFusion users and it’s been great since the beginning), etc. But in some minor occasions I do need a windows device.
Edit:
I’m open to others more affordable windows devices, I’m all ears (eyes) for you guys.
this is way too expensive for what is essentially going to be something you use once in a while. just get a used thinkpad and swap in an ssd if it doesn’t have one already.
Surface Go2 is my vote. Get m3 version
I think it might be best looking for a normal Laptop, especially since you can get one with a Tenth Gen. Core I5 for only $100 more than the Surface Go 3. My Dad bought a Dell Laptop for around $400-$500 and it's more powerful than the top specced Surface Go 3
This seems like a form factor that is ideal for a mobile Snapdragon chip. If Windows for ARM was as viable as what Appple did for M1, the Go 3 would have an awesome platform to pull it off. My guess is that won't happen.
windows for arm still being pushed on their new tablets with win 11 now... seems they are planning to expand it
There are rumors that the Surface Go 4, which will hopefully be out in the fall of 2023, will be available also with Qualcomm processors.
Im currently thinking about getting a 4G version of the Surface Go 3 (as a device to use when our home internet is being flaky, or just outright fails)
Could I use this for running Microsoft 365, internet browsing, basic games from the Microsoft store, listening to music, and streaming?
I have the Surface Go 3, 8gb ram, 128 GB ssd. Love it. Can't wait for the go 4 😂
Hi, how do you find the battery life? eg web browsing, youtube, office apps etc... can it last more than 7 hours?
This might be an old video, but the best use for this thing is as an additional monitor through wireless screen casting and doubling as an easily transportable document viewer for work/school/church business.
The base model now has the faster m3 CPU from the Surface Go 2 but for $399, so Surface Go 3 is actually a big step up in performance for dollar.
People complaining about lack of performance are missing the point of a 10 inch tablet.
The iPad has eMMC storage and no type cover included and yet you never hear any tech reviewers complaining about it, so why do they complain about the Surface Go?
because its not using windows, but dedicated OS
So I'm looking into possibly downgrading from the surface pro x to this. Only because I'm not trying to overspend on something when i could use something that's cheaper that will still meet my needs. My only concern with the surface go 3 and it's something i might not even use that much Is just the drawing applications. I don't need anything crazy i just would need something that's just like drawing with paper and pencil. Do you think it'll work for me?
I have a Surface Go 2 and I admit that the Surface Go (no matter the gen) is not for everyone, in my particular case, I have a gaming PC for heavy lifting and I use my Surface as a portable 2nd PC, for simple stuff and work is just perfect, the little Intel Pentium Gold CPU in it is more powerful than I expected, but as I said, I don't use it for gaming or anything that requires real processing power, however, it completely replaced the Android tablet I used to use for media consumption, and as of now I use it more frequently than I use my gaming PC, due to how portable it is.
yea it is ment for office/email and basic browsing but it is a bit too expensive for what it offers in terms of experience
@@SimonBauer7 In my particular case, when I use it for work it's not used only for emails and simple browsing, a good part of my workflow does revolve around the browser and I can assure you it is not light browsing, the fact that it was good enough to allow me to work so effortlessly impressed me quite a bit, now, I do think that if you need a full laptop to fulfill all your needs in 1 device, the Surface Go is not the way to go, because when you compare it to a full laptop it is a bad deal, however, if you compare it to iPads and Android tablets in the same price bracket, it becomes an interesting deal, since it has decent power and support for full desktop apps/software while at the same time it is way more portable than a full laptop.
what is the battery capacity? how tong does it last? what is the adapter voltage and current???
Sorry if this was already asked, but do all Surface Go 2 in 1’s have a SIM card tray and are LTE compatible?
I know this is a bit off topic, but what chair is that, that you are sitting in at the table for most of your video ?
Honestly, if money weren't a question, I'd stick with my Go 2 then get the Surface Laptop Studio as my main 😂 The Go 3 doesn't seem to be a huge step up from the highest spec-ed Go 2.
Good reviews Tom - You deserve more subscribers 🤟🤟
Thanks for the review. I've been considering getting one of these Surface Go 3 laptops and your review just helped me make my decision a lot easier.
you purchase or not ?
Really sad that Apple with its ultra powerful low wattage chips hold the iPads back with iPadOS otherwise something like this would be laughable against the base iPad which is cheaper and much more powerful. I’d still rather go with an iPad over this even if I could only have one device because I can see the experience being poor with how laggy it looks.
So what you are saying is that your work does not require a computer or access to 35 million programs (compare to 1.9 million smartphone apps), correct? No one (except gamers) buy computers for the lastest chip sets, they buy computers for their hardware and software.
This is why individuals/businesses keep their computing devices for 5-7 years AND iPads, MacBooks, & iMac's market shares have not increase since the m1 chip was introduced over a year ago. You are welcome for the free education...
@@RK-um9tu I think you are the one who has to go back to skool.....
For me personally I think all of the surface gos have been poor in terms of battery life, which affects the main point of them - portability
The 10" size is why you buy this. We can always get something larger. It's the portable PC that is the appeal of this .
I bought a Surface Pro 4 last year, used from Ebay, but it had the widespread "flicker" problem wherein the panel is faulty and the screen flickers after an unreasonably short time (about 2 hours, or 4 to 5 hours if I cool it with a fan or portable AC). Otherwise, I love it, but obviously I have to get a replacement, as I got for reading PDFs, streaming video, and mounting Blu-ray discs images, i.e., reading and media consumption for long duration. I believe the Go 3 may do all these things, but do so at a lesser resolution (the 1,920 x 1,280 screen instead of the Pro's 2736 x 1824) a smaller size (10 inch vs 12 inch), and lower pixel density (220 vs 267). I could get a used Surface Pro 7 for the same price, or less, as a new Surface Go 3, but Amazon offers an installment payment on the Go, which is very tempting. What do you think I should do?
Question for anyone who knows: if this was plugged in, could it handle a full day of work? Multiple internet tabs open, multiple apps such as word, excel etc. I am mostly concerned that it would overheat with a full 8 hour work day. Any insight?
I don’t think ms office will be that intensive, also given how slim it is it shouldn’t overheat. Seems like it may lag if you have too many tabs open though.
With the besels etc, is it not worthy you making a comparison with the galaxy book 12? I mean the 2018 book which has an i5 and I'd detachable and has same form factor. Doesn't that the book 12 do better given its got a bigger chip?
Thanks G for this video. I was thinking of grabbing this over the iPad 9. Should I?
I’ve had the first Surface Go for a long time. Thinking it’s time to upgrade to the Go 3, but I don’t know. Will it be that much of an upgrade?
Want to pickup the i3 version for GameCube and below emulation and minor work and graphics when I don't want to pull out my gaming laptop. Might get a cheaper type cover and compatible pen that uses a AAAA battery since I have those cells on hand.
Getting this tablet will allow me to easily swap the SD card between that and my laptop. I could also do retro PC gaming a little bit.
Just bought this and a dell 2 in 1 for school
Can't wait to see how amazing they work
I am thinking about buying this device ... to use as a flexible study tool on the go, I am travelling a lot and charging stuff on a car battery vía usb entrance ... is that posible for this device? Or for the Surface go 2?
What’s the Purple Surface you showed at 2:49 can’t find that?
So which one should i buy 😭😭 this make me confuse between the videos and the comments.. i need a mid range tablet for my flexibility, i have an ipad 6 ipad is good for global interface but the cons some app on my country is still focusing for iphone so the quality sucks
I know this is kind of an old video but chance that you do check your comments. What do you think about this? Would you choose the surface go as a mobile productivity option for like word processing things of that nature versus getting one of these new mini PCs and putting on a small, monitor with it? I was gonna go with the surface in a wireless mechanical keyboard, but then I start seeing these inexpensive mini PCs with decent specs and thought maybe I get one of those with a $65 monitor and wireless keyboard and that seems like a better option. what do you think?
If i need a computer for note taking, writing papers, and general studying/browsing, is this going to be enough with the base model? will it be slow/laggy?
Is it good enough to use for my university assessments and Netflix? And refresh and smoothness is good right? Won’t lag?
Best review ever. Exactly what I needed to know
I'm just looking for maximum portability to use powerpoint. So my main concern is does the office suite have the same full feature as the laptop one?
Well it runs Windows. So you’ll get the fully featured Office… There’s two versions, a UWP version optimised for pen input (the one with less features, and a smaller ribbon to maximise screen space for your document), and a Win32 version which is much preferable frankly (except for OneNote).
Start video, immediately think of Sheldon Coopers' Fun With Tabs! :D Thanks for the review.
I need a laptop/chromebook type thing for college I'm struggling to write fast enough in college and struggling to read my scrufft writing do you have any laptops in mind? Have a budget of about 360£ ish
Unless you need windows, use usb c accessories or desktop level apps, ipad 9 + logitech combo touch and you'll get much better value and performance imo
I own the Surface Go1 and my biggest complaint is that Microsoft software as not wrap the Go1 properly. For example, if you try to download OneNote to it and just use it as a note-taker it works very slow and is frustrating to use. Today, I only use it with the Edge browser. Microsoft installed a very powerful OS on the Go1 but it is too powerful for the specs and this is the most frustrating point. The good point of the surface, it is super light, connects with everything, and is super secure, and no one wants to steal it even if you forget it in an airport while you go to the WC. Personally, I will buy the surface Go3 because it is a good, small, and light unit to carry on the go.
You cannot upgrade the RAM in the 4GB version, right? It's bit too low for Windows. You open a live stream with the chat turned on, and there's lagging everywhere.
dude. i have the go 2 but i'm like this is just a temporary laptop as a 'broke' student (i can't bought the surface pro).
so one day i will sell my Go 2. but if i sell my go 2 like in 4years, nobody will bought it.
do i buy the go 3 and sell the go 2 just to have a 'new gen' laptop ?
you did not talk about the handwriting. the compatibility with app (on the windows store) are bad. Only OneNote is great.
And like you said, the responding of the device is not great (it feel old)
i just want a little better surface... so i don't know if i resell mine for the go 3 :(
well your video help for my chose thank ;)
I've heard bad reviews. Mostly stemming from it's performance. Now I don't necessarily need high performance or gaming needs. I just need a smaller tablet operating on a Desktop OS. Does this fit the bill as a basic college student computer or is it just plain bad?
Can you hook this up to a separate windows 11 computer and use it as like a second screen?
Surface go 3 base model with 4gb ram 64 storage for 400 or surface go 2 with 8gb ram and 128 storage for 400. I'm assuming I should go for the surface go 2 since it's on sale and has the better configuration. Same price
I see u gaming wirelessly. That Xbox controller constantly disconnecting 4 u? Just got the surface pro 8 with the free Xbox game pass and controller. Nice gesture but unlplayble because the Bluetooth constantly disconnects
I can't seem to understand wich of go3 versions offers the best battery life (considering 8gb ram)... Pentium gold or I3?
I like the review I ordered one because I do not like carrying my laptop around when I go out
Fair review - if Microsoft included the type cover then it would be worth it, it's a shame they never will. I love my Go 2 and run my small business on it. Performance is fine for my use - email, Office, web browsing, notes, reading, virtual meetings and signing documents. Hooking it up to my 2k monitor is also fine with minimal choppiness. Only significant downside for me is the battery life and I've thought about moving to an ipad because of this, but Windows is better for my use.
Wow, a rational post with specific examples from someone who actually uses the product.
May I ask what is your battery life?
Agreed - that would make it a much easier recommendation. And avoiding eMMC storage on cheaper models too
@@RK-um9tu my typical use is about 5-6 hours screen on time, but a bit less if I use LTE. Fine for my use because I’m not on it all day and am usually near a charger.
If Microsoft included the keyboards you would have a dozen different skus with different keyboard colours and configurations. It'll never work.
@@Thetechchap Only the very cheapest model uses eMMC. And the business versions have up to 256GB of storage as an option, though the consumer version tops out at 128GB.
I think 7 and half hour battery life is not what we call terrible, also performance is in par with my 2 year old dell business laptop so i can live with that!
between Microsoft Surface Go 3 (Window OS), Samsung S7 Fe (Android OS) and Nubia Red Magic Tablet (Android OS), which is better for work and entertainment? and perhaps a lil gaming....
Nice video.
Thank you 👍👍👍👍
Do you have a Surface Pro 8 vs Surface Pro X video? Hard to find one.
Hi, I like your work station chair, may I know the brand of the chair, thanks so much
I've got a go2, and was considering whether to buy a go 3, but after watch your video, well, it seems that I should keep the go2...
I love my iPad but dont like that it can only run "moble" versions of many apps (i.e. Office). I've been looking for a small laptop/computer that can run the full version of Excel so i can use it as an on the go companion to my dinosaur work computer (old and super bulky)
Hey can you help me looking for a gsm device thats like the surface to replace my 3d and 2d cad I dont want a device that I need a hotspot to use I want a stand alone kind of like the surface go 3
What keyboard do you recommend ? Thank you very much
00:42 I See what u did there ! Good one XD!!
What a coincidence.... The laptop I ordered from PC Specialist arrived today and now I watch this video which happens to have a PC Specialist ad :')
Is the slow performance because of Windows 11? If so I wonder if it'd run better with win10 installed.
8GB has it running Win 11 fine.
Are you going to review the Surface Pro 8/laptop studio? Pretty sure they are the ones people are actually interested in...