Surface Go 2 Review | Another affordable win for Microsoft?

Read the full review - https://www.techradar.com/reviews/microsoft-surface-go-2

The Surface Go 2 is Microsoft's new affordable Windows 10 tablet. While the company's Surface lineup of devices are usually high-end (and expensive) showcases for Windows 10, the original Surface Go showed that Microsoft could turn its hand at affordable devices as well, and that's a legacy the Surface Go 2 continues.

At $399/£399/AU$547, the entry-level model of the Surface Go 2 is aimed at people who liked the look of the Surface Pro 7, but couldn't afford (or justify) its high asking price.

This is the kind of price point that pitches it against budget laptops and Chromebooks. It's certainly an attractive price, but there are a few caveats. First, this configuration only comes with 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and an Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y dual-core processor.

That's pretty underpowered, and that 64GB of storage will feel incredibly tight after you've installed a few apps. You can get Surface Go 2 configurations with a bit more powerful spec (such as 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage), which certainly helps, but no Surface Go 2 configuration is ever going to break any records when it comes to performance. Also, once you start upping the specifications, the Surface Go 2 starts to become more expensive – and thus less competitive for people looking for a bargain.

Buy it if...
You want an affordable Windows 10 tablet
The Surface Go 2 is one of the best budget Windows 10 tablets around thanks to its low price and excellent build quality.

You’re a student
Thanks to the Surface Go 2’s price, portability and flexibility, it’s a fantastic choice for students.

You’re after a Windows 10 device for kids
The Surface Go 2 is a good choice for kids as well. Windows 10 S mode offers plenty of parental controls, and they can’t download apps from the internet, offering improved security.

Don't buy it if...
You want a budget laptop
While the Surface Go 2 is a brilliant budget Windows 10 tablet, if you want to use it as a laptop, it means you need to pay extra for the Type Cover. This raises the price above some brilliant budget laptops that you’d be better off buying.

You want a powerful device
The Surface Go 2, especially at its base configuration, is not a powerful device, which means you need to make sure you keep your expectations in check. If you’re after something powerful that can also play games, this isn’t it.

You want the cheapest tablet out there
If you’re after the absolute cheapest tablet out there, then there are much more affordable Android tablets that will do what you need for a lot less. You miss out on Windows 10, but Android has more apps available than the Microsoft Store.

Like TechRadar on Facebook: https://facebook.com/TechRadar
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/techradar
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techradar
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/techradar