- Surface Laptop Go 2 is announced and ready for preorder.
- The laptop includes a new Intel 11th-Gen Core i5 CPU, a better camera, and new sage color.
- It’ll be available on June 7, starting at $600.
Microsoft has unveiled its new Surface Laptop Go 2, which features a more powerful Intel 11th Gen processor, an improved webcam, and Windows 11.
After two years of the original release of the budget laptop designed to compete with Chromebooks, Microsoft is refreshing the device with newer hardware and a higher $600 starting price tag.
Although the starting price is around $50 higher than the older model, the hardware has bumped up to justify the price increase. For example, the Surface Laptop Go 2 base model now features a newer Intel 11th Gen Core i5-1135G7 processor and 128GB of storage, instead of 64GB like in the older model. However, the base model still comes with 4GB of memory, which is not ideal since nowadays, it’s recommended to have at least 8GB of system memory.
If you are willing to pay more, the 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage increases the price to $700, or $800 for the 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Surface Laptop Go 2 tech specs
| Surface Laptop Go 2 | |
|---|---|
| Display | Screen: 12.4-inch PixelSense Display Resolution: 1536 x 1024 (148 PPI) Aspect ratio: 3:2 Touch: 10 point multi-touch Maximum brightness: 330 nits |
| Processor | Quad-Core 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4x 8GB LPDDR4x |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Storage | 128GB 256GB |
| Ports | 1x USB-A 1x USB-C 3.5mm audio jack Surface Connect port |
| Audio | Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Audio Premium Dual far-field Studio Mics |
| Networking | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Camera | 720p HD f2.0 camera |
| Security | Firmware TPM Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello sign-in One-Touch sign in with Fingerprint Power Button (excluding i5/4/128) |
| Battery | Up to 13.5 hours of typical device usage |
| Power | 39W Power Supply |
| Dimessions | 10.95” x 8.12” x 0.62” (278.2mm x 206.2mm x 15.7mm) |
| Weight | 2.48 lbs. (1,127g) |
| Color | Platinum, Ice Blue, Sandstone, Sage |
| OS | Windows 11 Home (consumer) Windows 11 Pro or 10 Pro (business) |
The battery life has also been bumped to 13.5 hours from the original 13 hours per charge. The thermals have been improved to make the device quieter, and there is a better HD camera, which continues to be a 720p resolution as the first generation of the laptop.
The Surface Laptop Go 2 comes in various colors, including ice blue, sandstone, platinum, and new sage color that carries green and gray notes with a hint of blue.
Microsoft points out that the Laptop Go 2 is more repairable friendly since it features more replaceable components, including the keyboard, trackpad, display, and battery. This is in addition to the replaceable SSD. However, these parts are meant to be replaced by an authorized professional.
Overall, the laptop is quite similar to its predecessor. It features the same USB-A and C ports, headphone jack, Surface port charger, dual-microphone array, Wi-Fi 6 networking, and Windows Hello support with a fingerprint sensor built into the power button (only available in some models).
All the available configurations feature the same Core i5 processor from Intel, and the price difference will depend on the memory and storage selection.
Since this is a device designed to compete with Chromebooks, Microsoft has to cut corners to keep the price low. However, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is still a pricy device that doesn’t address every complaint of the first generation. While it’s not a bad laptop, you may still be able to find better hardware configurations for the same price.
The Surface Laptop will be available on June 7, but you can preorder it now in select markets. The laptop has three configurations for consumers, including the 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $600, the 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $700, and the 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $800.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].