And like on other Surface products, the Pen was easy to magnetically snap onto the side of the display once we were done sketching. We could even use our own handwriting to search for apps in the Start menu, which worked pretty reliably in our testing. Our sloppy handwriting came through accurately on the tablet’s display, which made doodling in Paint and jotting down lists in Sticky Notes feel natural and responsive. The Go 3’s screen was also reliable for drawing and note-taking once we whipped out our Surface Pen ($99 ). Fortunately, those upgrading from a previous Surface Go will be able to use their existing Type Cover.Ī solid display with pen support - but ugh, those bezels
On top of adding a proper keyboard (and some extra style) to your Surface Go 3, these Type Covers also protect the device’s screen when they’re folded up, and we’d say they’re all but a necessity if you plan on picking this PC up. Our Surface Go 3 shipped with a $129 Type Cover, which has the same attractive Ice Blue color and soft Alcantara fabric that we loved on the Surface Laptop 4. And like on other detachable Surface devices, the Go 3 works better on a desk (or other hard surface) than on your lap, as its top-heavy design can make it wobble when you’re using it on the latter.
We did find the keys to be a little small and crowded for our liking compared to the bigger Type Covers for the Surface Pro range. The Surface Go Type Cover’s keys are satisfyingly deep and snappy, and we were happy to crunch away at work on them for hours at a time. The Go 3 has a great optional keyboard, a good webcam and decent battery life, but Apple’s and Samsung’s tablets last significantly longer on a charge.Ī basic design and a great keyboard - that you’ll have to pay extra for If you’re willing to pay a little extra or prefer Android, the $649 Galaxy Tab S7 also offers stronger performance. How it compares: Microsoft’s mini Surface works well enough for everyday tasks, but it can slow down under a heavy load and isn’t quite as fast as the cheaper $329 iPad or the similarly priced $499 iPad Mini. It’s also one of the first devices to ship with Windows 11, which delivers a cleaner visual style and some handy new features for better multitasking and navigation. What you need to know: The Go 3 is the smallest and cheapest member of the Surface family, with a lightweight tablet design that can transform into a mini laptop if you pick up a $129 Type Cover while also supporting the $99 Surface Pen for note-taking. Who it’s for: The Surface Go 3 is for someone who wants the portability of an iPad with the flexibility of a Windows 11 computer, and mostly needs something for web surfing and light work tasks.