Our video transcoding test proved difficult for the Go 2, which needed 48 minutes and 14 seconds to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution using the Handbrake app. The last few pages took a split longer to appear, and graphics and photos needed an extra few seconds to render. I ran into some minor delays while loading two dozen tabs in the new Microsoft Edge browser. Equipped with an outdated Intel Core m3-8100Y CPU and 8GB of RAM, the Surface Go 2 is fine for everyday tasks but it will buckle under the weight of a heavy workload. The Surface Go 2’s performance is a mixed bag. I’ll forgive the speakers for lacking any semblance of bass and throw on my Sennheiser headphones when I need some low-end kick. I was pretty pleased with the sound quality Vocals sounded crisp, there was a good amount of detail in the midrange and the treble was never piercing. They got loud enough to fill my small office without any distortion when I played Glass Animals’ “Dreamland” at 100% volume. The dual speakers on the Surface Go 2 are located on the top left and right sides of the display. Microsoft didn’t ship a Surface Pen with our Surface Go 2, but we’ve used the stylus in the past and found it to be responsive and sensitive to our movements.

It also supports tilt for shading and has a customizable button and tail eraser. The pen has 4,096 pressure points, making it one of the most sensitive pens. You can use the pen to annotate or sign documents, sketch drawings in Paint 3D, or jot down a few notes in class or during a meeting. If you’re an artist buying a tablet to create digital drawings or are a student who prefers to take notes by hand, then consider spending another $99 on the Surface Pen. The smooth, glass surface is a tad small (3.8 x 2.2 inches), but I had no problems navigating the web and using Windows 10 gestures, like pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scrolling.

Underneath the Type Cover’s keys is a responsive touchpad.

If you want to use the Surface Go 2 as a work device, I strongly recommend buying the keyboard, although we still dream of a day when Microsoft bundles the Signature Type Cover instead of making you pay an extra $129. I also love the plush Alcantara fabric covering the wrist rests, which is now available in a variety of new colors, including Black, Poppy Red, Ice Blue and Platinum.

Reviews microsoft surface go 2