Surface Pro 5 vs Surface Go 2: Which is right for you?
Here's what you need to know what's different between Surface Pro 5 and Surface Go 2 specs including CPU, RAM, storage, battery, display, and more.
The 2017 Surface Pro 5 comes with the 7th Generation Intel Kaby Lake dual-core Intel Core m3-7Y30 processor, which has a maximum speed boost of up to dual-core Intel Core i7-7660U with a speed of up to 4.00 GHz. The 2020 Surface Go 2, on the other hand, has the 8th Gen Intel Amber Lake dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y processor, which has a maximum speed boost of up to dual-core Intel Core M3-8100Y with a speed of up to 3.40 GHz.
Suppose you're considering buying a laptop and are unsure about the differences between the Surface Pro 5 and the Surface Go 2. In that case, we have a detailed comparison of both devices for you to review. You can check it out here.
Specs Comparisons
Compare With Please enter device name or part of it | Compare With Please enter device name or part of it | |
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Availability | Surface Pro 5 | Surface Go 2 |
Released | 2017 | 2020 |
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Pricing | Starting at 799$ | Surface Go 2 for Consumer
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Surface Pro 5 Price | ||
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Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Tablet PC, 12.3" Touchscreen (2736 X 1824), Core i5-7300U, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Camera, Windows 10 Pro (Renewed) By Microsoft $299.90 | |
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Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Tablet,12.3 inch (2736 x 1824), Intel Core i5-7300U 2.6 GHz, 8 GB RAM 256GB SSD, CAM, Win 10 Pro (Renewed) By Microsoft $288.28 | |
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Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Intel Core M3 12.3in 4GB RAM 128GB SSD Windows 10 Home (Renewed) By Microsoft $236.41 $288.99 18% OFF | |
Surface Go 2 Price | ||
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Microsoft Surface Go 2 - 10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 4GB Memory - 64GB - Wifi - Platinum By Microsoft $311.99 | |
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Microsoft Surface Stz-00001 Go 2 10.5-Inch Tablet, WiFi, 4Gb Ram, 64Gb Emmc, Windows 10 Pro, Silver By Microsoft $299.00 | |
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Microsoft Surface Go 2-10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - WiFi - Platinum (Latest Model) (Renewed) By Microsoft $279.00 |
Display | Surface Pro 5 | Surface Go 2 |
Size | 12.3 Inches | 10.5 Inches |
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Exterior | Surface Pro 5 | Surface Go 2 |
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Dimensions | 11.50” x 7.9” x 0.33” (292 mm x 201 mm x 8.5 mm) Width: 11.50” (292 mm) Height: 7.9” (201 mm) Thickness: 0.33” (8.5 mm) | 9.65” x 6.9” x 0.33” (245 mm x 175 mm x 8.3 mm) Width: 9.65” (245 mm) Height: 6.9” (175 mm) Thickness: 0.33” (8.3 mm) |
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Colors | Platinum | |
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Internal Specs | Surface Pro 5 | Surface Go 2 |
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Memory | 4GB 8GB 16GB 1866 MHz LPDDR3 RAM | 4GB 8GB 1866 MHz LPDDR3 RAM |
Storage | 128 GB 256 GB 512 GB 1 TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
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Connectivity | Surface Pro 5 | Surface Go 2 |
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Optional LTE
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Battery | Surface Pro 5 | Surface Go 2 |
Size | 45 Wh | 26.81 Wh |
Battery Life | Up to 13.5 hours of video playback |
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Software | Surface Pro 5 | Surface Go 2 |
OS | Windows 10 Pro (Creators Update) |
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Built-in Apps | Microsoft Office 365 30-days trial |
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Camera & Audio | Surface Pro 5 | Surface Go 2 |
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Misc | Surface Pro 5 | Surface Go 2 |
Inking | Supports Surface Pen 4096 levels of pressure Tilt sensing Best in class latency Paper feel 0.1mm precision magnetic storage | Supports Surface Pen 4096 levels of pressure Tilt sensing Best in class latency Paper feel magnetic storage |
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Performance
In terms of performance, the Surface Pro 5 is more powerful than the Surface Go 2 due to its design and better thermal system. The Surface Pro 5 features a 7th-generation Intel Core processor, which offers faster performance than the 8th-generation Intel Pentium Gold CPU found in the Surface Go 2. Additionally, the Surface Pro 5 has a higher maximum RAM capacity of 16GB than the Surface Go 2's maximum RAM capacity of 8 GB.
![Surface Pro 5 SSD](https://surfacetip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/surface-pro-5-cpu-1024x576.jpg)
Surface Pro 5 Processor Options
However, the Surface Go 2 can still handle most basic tasks well. It's worth noting that the Surface Go 2 is cheaper and designed more for on-the-go productivity and portability. At the same time, the Surface Pro 5 is a more powerful device intended for heavier workloads.
![Surface Go 2 Processors](https://surfacetip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/surface-go-2-cpu-1024x576.jpg)
Surface Go 2 Processor Options
Portability
Regarding portability, the Surface Go 2 is more portable than the Surface Pro 5 due to its smaller size and lighter weight. The Surface Go 2 has a 10.5-inch display and weighs just 1.2 pounds, while the Surface Pro 5 has a 12.3-inch display and weighs 1.69 pounds without the keyboard. So, the Surface Go is more accessible to carry and more comfortable to use as a tablet.
However, the larger screen of the Surface Pro may be more convenient for specific tasks, such as editing documents or watching videos. Ultimately, the choice between the Surface Pro 5 and Surface Go 2 depends on your needs and preferences.
Ports
The Surface Pro 5 has more port options than the Surface Go 2. The Surface Pro 5 has a full-size USB-A port, a mini DisplayPort, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. It also includes a proprietary Surface Connect port that you can use to connect to the Surface Dock for additional ports.
![Surface Pro 5 Port Right](https://surfacetip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/surface-pro-5-ports-1-1024x576.jpg)
Surface Pro 5 Ports (Right)
![Surface Pro 5 Port Left](https://surfacetip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/surface-pro-5-ports-2-1024x576.jpg)
Surface Pro 5 Ports (Left)
On the other hand, the Surface Go 2 has only one USB-C port, a headphone jack, a microSDXC card slot, and a Surface Connect port for charging and docking. While lacking a full-size USB port and a mini DisplayPort, the USB-C port offers an all-in-one solution for charging, video output, and data transfer.
![Surface Go 2 Ports](https://surfacetip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/surface-go-2-ports-1024x576.jpg)
Surface Go 2 Ports
Choosing between the Surface Pro 5 and Surface Go 2 regarding ports depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you require a variety of ports for your daily use, the Surface Pro 5 may be the better option. However, if you prioritize portability and are willing to use a USB-C hub, the Surface Go 2 can still offer a great computing experience.
Our Verdict
The Surface Go line-up is excellent for portability and working on the go. However, its low-powered processors hold it back in terms of performance, especially compared to the Surface Pro 5. Surface Go 2 is an excellent choice as a secondary computer. The Surface Pro 5 is great on its own, and you can have it as your primary computer despite being less portable. It has all the performance you need for daily activities.
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