The details leaked yesterday, but today Microsoft made it official—pre-orders are now open for the $599 Surface Laptop Go 2.
If you liked the 2020 Surface Laptop Go, then you’ll be pleased to hear the second-generation model is more of the same with a performance, battery, and base storage upgrade.
The Go 2 uses an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 with Iris Xe Graphics, 4/8GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and a 128/256GB SSD depending on the model chosen. You may remember the first-gen base model shipped with a 64GB eMMC drive, which Microsoft has thankfully dropped as part of this update.
The screen remains a 12.4-inch PixelSense Display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, 1,536-by-1,024 resolution, and features 10-point multi-touch. Connectivity includes a USB-C port, USB-A port, 3.5mm headphone jack, Surface Connect port, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1. The webcam is still 720p, but Microsoft says it has been improved and complemented with dual Studio Mics. The keyboard keys apparently have 30% more travel than a MacBook Air, and the trackpad is a generous size considering how small this laptop is.
Battery life is claimed to be 13.5 hours, which considering we got over 11 hours on the first-gen model, could end up being accurate if you take into account the more efficient processor upgrade. The 39W power supply included with the laptop can achieve an 80% recharge in just over an hour.
As you’d expect, the Go 2 ships with Windows 11 Home installed, but you’ll also find the Microsoft 365 apps and the Xbox App preinstalled. Microsoft includes one-month trials for Microsoft 365 Family ($99.99/year) and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($14.99/month). The inclusion of Xbox Game Pass is unusual seeing as Microsoft now has a PC Game Pass available.
The top of the Go 2 casing is aluminum, while the base is an aluminum and polycarbonate composite resin containing glass fiber and 30% post-consumer recycled content.
As rumored, there are now four color choices, with a new Sage option joining Ice Blue, Platinum, and Sandstone. Microsoft also made it possible for the battery and SSD to be replaced by a professional (meaning Microsoft or a Microsoft Authorized Service Provider). Owners can replace the AB Cover (display), C-Cover (keyset and trackpad), feet, and Surflink cable themselves, with parts probably offered via iFixit.
The Surface Laptop Go 2 is available to pre-order today either direct from Microsoft or via Best Buy, with the base model starting at $599. Orders will ship on June 7, assuming there’s enough stock available to cope with demand. A business edition of the Go 2 is also being offered, with Microsoft providing a list of authorized resellers for commercial customers.
