We were surprised to see Surface Go 2 correct so many flaws of its predecessor and become one of the best Microsoft Surface devices. More interestingly, though, it poses an interesting challenge to the Surface Pro 7. Yes, sometimes the value-driven entry-level model can radiate warmth that its Pro-level sibling can’t touch, as I have. wrote my Microsoft Surface Go 2 review.
That’s what inspired this Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7 face-to-face, which tests how Microsoft’s detachable ones pit against each other in a 1-on-1 fight, to help you find the model that suits you. And if you want a good deal, Best Buy has the Surface Pro 7 for $ 260 off (previously it was $ 360, but it’s still a steal) – in a package that includes the Type Cover.
Editor’s note: Microsoft unveiled a bumper crop of new Windows 11Surface devices out of the box at its September 2021 Surface event, including the Surface Go 3 and the Surface Pro 8. Consult our entirety Microsoft Surface event recap for all the details.
Those who can wait for the Surface Pro 8 should be happy to find that Microsoft is still considering design changes. So updating Tiger Lake to Surface Pro doesn’t need to look like Microsoft Surface Pro 7+, which seeks to increase endurance and upgrade processors. We haven’t seen anything on a Surface Go 3 yet.
Oh, and if your pockets are a little deeper, check out our Surface Book 3 review for more on Microsoft’s most expensive hybrid.
Those looking for a regular laptop should check out our recently published 13-inch Surface Laptop 4 review, or our Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (15-inch, AMD) review if you’re interested in a larger laptop. Additionally, Microsoft has just expanded the Surface family, with the affordable Surface Laptop Go and the 2020 Surface Pro X.
So if the lower price of the Surface Go 2 makes you think it’s just the less powerful little brother of the Surface Pro 7, you might be surprised at how the Go can dunk on the Pro, especially on battery life.
Of course, as you’ll see in our specs section, the Surface Pro 7 uses more powerful processors, so it’s not a total wash. But if you want that extra power and can wait a bit, check out our Surface Pro 8 preview to see where we think the flagship tablet is going next. Here’s everything you need to know about how the Surface Go 2 and Surface Pro 7 stack up against each other.
- Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: specs
- Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7: price and value
- Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: design
- Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Ports
- Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Display
- Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7: keyboard and stylus
- Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: performance
- Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: cameras
- Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7: battery life
- Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Software
- Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: verdict
Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: specs
| Microsoft Surface Go 2 | Microsoft Surface Pro 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $ 399 | $ 749 |
| Filter | 11 inches (2388 x 1668) | 12.3 inches (2736 x 1824) |
| Battery life | 11:39 | 6:06 |
| Processor | Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y | 8th Generation Intel Core m3 | 10th Generation Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 |
| Storage room | eMMC 64 GB | 128 GB SSD | 128 GB to 1 TB SSD |
| Keyboard | Type Cover supported | Type Cover supported |
| Style | Supported Surface Pen | Supported Surface Pen |
| Dimensions | 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches | 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs | 1.6 lbs |
Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7: price and value
The price / value ratios of the Surface Go 2 and Surface Pro 7 are relatively similar. The Surface Pro 7 ($ 749) may cost almost twice as much as the Surface Go 2 ($ 399), but it starts with both a faster Core i3 processor and faster (and larger) storage (64GB). eMMC versus 128 GB SSD).
The Core m3 Surface Go 2 ($ 629) and Core i5 Surface Pro 7 ($ 1,199) we tested are both faster and more expensive than entry-level models. But both are the models we would consider if we bought them for ourselves.
Unfortunately, neither the Surface Go 2 nor the Surface Pro 7 includes their Type Cover keyboard or Surface Pen.
Winner: To attach
Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: design
The 10.5-inch Surface Go 2 looks like a scaled-down version of the 12.3-inch Surface Go 2. Both feature a strong and sturdy kickstand, and both offer the same solid magnesium chassis.
Microsoft’s recent decision to shave the bezels off the Surface Go 2 makes it much better suited to the current Surface lineup. The Surface Pro 7 has similar bezels that aren’t big or slim.
This holds true when you compare their weights, with the Surface Go 2 weighing 1.2 pounds versus 1.7 pounds for the Surface Pro 7. Both are 0.3 inches thick.
Winner: To attach
Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Ports
The Surface Pro 7 really sets itself apart when it comes to ports.
Both give you a Surface Connector port for power, but while the Surface Go 2 gives you a USB-C port, headphone jack, and a microSD reader, the Surface Pro 7 includes all of that plus the precious USB-A port. , so you don’t have to rely on adapters for older accessories.
Winner: Surface Pro 7, through a port
Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Display
The Surface Go 2’s 10.5-inch PixelSense display measures 1920 x 1280 pixels, which equates to a pixel density of 220 pixels per inch. It’s no surprise that the Surface Pro 7’s 12.3-inch PixelSense panel is sharper, at 2736 x 1824 pixels, for a density of 267 pixels per inch.
However, the Surface Go 2 surprised us here by standing up to comparisons to the Pro’s display – and beating it. The Surface Go 2 produces 107% of the sRGB spectrum, beating the 97% score of the Surface Pro 7. The Surface Go 2 also gets brighter, averaging 408 nits, slightly beating the 395 nits panel in the Surface Pro 7. .
Winner: To attach
Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7: keyboard and stylus
Fortunately, Microsoft makes similar quality Type Cover keyboards for the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Go 2. Its Surface Pen will work on both devices.
Type Cover keyboards can have a slight learning curve. When I tested the Surface Go 2’s Type Cover, I noticed that when the keyboard wasn’t flat on the table – its magnets practically default to putting you on a tilt – the feeling of tapping my fingers against a keyboard that moved down was a bit strange. It does not differ from model to model.
Winner: To attach
Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: performance
What happens when you bring a spoon to a knife fight? This is the case here, where the 10th Gen Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors of Surface Pro 7 outperform the 8th Gen Pentium Gold and Core m3 chips of Surface Go 2. There is a reason why the Surface Pro 7 is for pros.
We tested relatively advanced versions of the Surface Pro 7 (Core i5-1035G4 processor, 8GB RAM) and the Surface Go 2 (Core m3-8100Y and 8GB RAM). While the former is the mid-range option, the latter shows the limitations of the Surface Go 2.
The top-of-the-line Surface Go 2 only scored a 6,815 on the Geekbench 4.3 general performance benchmark, which is only a fraction of the Surface Pro 7’s 17,225.
The Surface Pro 7’s 256 GB SSD smoked the Surface GB 2’s 128 GB SSD in our storage speed test, copying 4.97 GB of files at a speed of 267 Mbps. The Surface Go 2 disk was copied at a speed of 180 Mbps.
We again saw impressive speed from the Surface Pro 7 when it came to gaming, as its Intel Iris Plus graphics enabled a playable speed of 36 fps on the Dirt 3 game (graphics at medium and resolution at 1080p) . The Surface Go 2’s integrated Intel UHD 615 graphics card hit a rate of 16.37 fps, which is not very playable.
Winner: Surface Pro 7
Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: cameras
After spending more than 5 years reviewing laptops, the Surface line has become a welcome surprise, offering some really decent cameras – which you rarely get in laptops and tablets.
Both tablets come with the same 5.0 MP front camera and 8.0 MP rear-facing autofocus camera. Both record Full HD 1080p video.
Winner: To attach
Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7: battery life
You might think business users would need the most battery life, but don’t expect the Surface Pro 7 to last any longer.
The Surface Go 2 lasted much longer on a single charge than its more expensive sibling, posting a time of 10 hours and 16 minutes on our custom web browsing test. That’s over 2 hours longer than the 7:52 hrs on the Surface Pro 7.
Winner: Surface Go 2
Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Software
Windows 10 is Windows 10, except when it ships in S mode. Yes, while Surface Go 2 and Surface Pro 7 run the same OS, the former runs Windows 10 in S mode out of the box. This means that you will have to deactivate this mode – which does not cost anything – in order to install third-party applications.
As much as I mean S in S mode means shouldn’t exist, it could be a valuable option for those giving a laptop to someone particularly young or older who isn’t as tech savvy.
Winner: To attach
Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: verdict
| Surface Go 2 | Surface Pro 7 | |
| Design and ports (10 points) | ten | ten |
| Ports (5 points) | 4 | 5 |
| Display (15 points) | 13 | 13 |
| Keyboard and stylus (5 points) | 5 | 5 |
| Performance (20 points) | 9 | 20 |
| Cameras (10 points) | ten | ten |
| Battery life (20 points) | 20 | 13 |
| Software (5 points) | 5 | 5 |
| Value (10 points) | 5 | 5 |
| Overall (100 points) | 71 | 76 |
This Face-to-Face Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7 presents a few surprises, showing how you get more battery life for less spending, and how you don’t sacrifice screen quality (or webcam excellence, either. ).
Of course, the Surface Pro 7 is still the best tablet (or 2-in-1, with the Type Cover) for power users, thanks to its faster processors. We really wish it had more battery life, a challenge marked in the sand for the upcoming Surface Pro 8.
When it comes to helping people decide which Surface is best for them, I’ll start by assessing their productivity needs. Less demanding users should go for the $ 629 Surface Go 2 for its endurance, while those creating content and pushing their systems to extremes should get the Surface Pro 7.
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