Tech specs

Availability
Released2018
Release Info
  • Introduced: July 10, 2018
  • Pre-ordered: July 10, 2018
  • Released: August 2, 2018
PricingSurface Go for Consumer
  • $399 - 4 GB | 64 GB | W10 S-mode
  • $549 - 8 GB | 128 GB | W10 S-mode
Surface go for Commercial
  • $449 - 4 GB | 64 GB | W10 Pro
  • $599 - 8 GB | 128 GB | W10 Pro
Surface Go Price
New Microsoft Surface Go 2 - 10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 4GB Memory - 64GB - Wifi - Platinum (Latest Model)
New Microsoft Surface Go 2 - 10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 4GB Memory - 64GB - Wifi - Platinum (Latest Model)
By Microsoft
$270.00
Microsoft Surface Go 2-10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - WiFi - Platinum (Latest Model) (Renewed)
Microsoft Surface Go 2-10.5" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium - 8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - WiFi - Platinum (Latest Model) (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$258.80
Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 8GB RAM, 128GB) (Renewed)
Microsoft Surface Go (Intel Pentium Gold, 8GB RAM, 128GB) (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$169.00
Microsoft Surface Go 3-10.5" Touchscreen - Intel Core i3-8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - Device Only - Platinum (Latest Model) (Renewed)
Microsoft Surface Go 3-10.5" Touchscreen - Intel Core i3-8GB Memory - 128GB SSD - Device Only - Platinum (Latest Model) (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$388.80
$417.00 7% OFF
Microsoft Surface Go 2 10.5 inches Touch-Screen Intel Pentium 4GB RAM, 64gb STV-00001 (Renewed)
Microsoft Surface Go 2 10.5 inches Touch-Screen Intel Pentium 4GB RAM, 64gb STV-00001 (Renewed)
By Microsoft
$167.00
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 (2023) - 12.4" Touchscreen, Thin & Lightweight, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD SSD, with Windows 11, Sandstone Color Copilot
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 (2023) - 12.4" Touchscreen, Thin & Lightweight, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD SSD, with Windows 11, Sandstone Color Copilot
By Microsoft
$699.99
$799.99 13% OFF
DisplaySurface Go
Size10 Inches
Info
  • Resolution: 1800 x 1200 (2.1M Pixels)
  • Density: 217 PPI
  • PixelSense™ Display
  • Contrast ratio: 1500:1
  • Aspect ratio: 3:2
  • Inking: designed together with Surface Pen
  • Touch: 10 points multi-touch
  • Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
ExteriorSurface Go
Dimensions9.6” x 6.9” x 0.33” (245 mm x 175  mm x 8.3 mm)
Width: 9.6” (245 mm)
Height: 6.9” (175 mm)
Thickness: 0.33” (8.3 mm)
Weight
  • Surface Go: 1.15 lbs (522 g)
  • Surface Go with LTE: 1.17 lbs. (532 g)
  • Surface Go Keyboard: 0.55 lbs (249 g)
Colors
Platinum
Keyboard and Trackpad
  • Surface Type Cover
    • Not included
  • Keyboard:
    • Full-size mechanical backlit keyset with 1 mm of key travel.
  • Trackpad:
    • Precision glass trackpad.
    • Trackpad size: 101 mm x 56 mm
    • Supports a five-finger multitouch gesture.
Ports
  • 1 x USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1
    Supports Power Delivery and DisplayPort.
  • 1 x Surface Connect™
    Supports charging and docking station.
  • 1 x Headset jack
  • 1 x microSD™ card reader
  • 1 x Type Cover port
Internal SpecsSurface Go
Processor
  • 7th Gen Intel® Pentium® Gold 4415Y
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.60 GHz, 2MB SmartCache, 6W
Integrated Graphics
  • 7th Gen Intel® Pentium® Gold 4415Y
    Intel® HD Graphics 615
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 850 MHz
Memory
4GB 8GB
1866 MHz LPDDR3 RAM
Storage
  • 64GB
    eMMC
  • 128GB 256GB
    SSD
ConnectivitySurface Go
Wi-Fi
  • Wi-Fi 5: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible.
Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology
Optional LTE
  • Nano SIM Tray
  • 4G LTE Advanced (22 Bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66)
  • GPS/GLONASS: Standalone and Assiste
  • GNSS, accuracy up to 3 meters
BatterySurface Go
Size26.12 Wh
Battery LifeUp to 9 hours of video playback
Power Supply
  • 24W proprietary Surface Connect power supply
SoftwareSurface Go
OS
  • For Consumer: Windows 10 in S-mode
  • For Commercial: Windows 10 Pro
Built-in AppsMicrosoft Office 365 30-days trial
Camera & AudioSurface Go
Camera
  • Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing)
  • 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p Skype HD video
  • 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p full HD video
Audio
  • Single microphone
  • 2W Front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby® Audio™ Premium
MiscSurface Go
InkingSupports Surface Pen
4096 levels of pressure
Tilt sensing
Best in class latency
Paper feel
magnetic storage
Sensors
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Magnetometer
Security
  • HW TPM 2.0 chip for enterprise security
  • Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in
In the box
  • Surface Go
  • Power supply
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Safety and warranty documents
Warranty
  • One-year limited hardware warranty
More
  • Mechanical features: Signature unibody magnesium design with hidden perimeter venting
  • Kickstand with a full-friction multiposition hinge to 165 degrees
  • Magnetic attach for keyboard fold stability
  • Physical buttons: volumes, power

What’s new

The thin and lightweight design of Microsoft Surface Go and its affordable price, make it the most compelling Surface device to most consumers. It features a 10-inch PixelSense display with a higher resolution of 1800 x 1200 with a pixel density of 217 PPI.

The device shared many great features with its big brother, The new Surface Pro, including the new 165° full friction kickstand, Windows Hello support, Surface Connect port, LTE option, and rounded edge design. It has a USB-C 3.1 port that supports data transfers, display out, and alternate charging solutions.

New Intel Pentium Gold processor

Microsoft Surface Go runs on a 7th-generation Intel Pentium Gold processor which is a significant jump up from the Intel Cherry Trail Atom processor in the Surface 3.

Processor7th Gen Intel® Pentium® Processor 4415Y
Intel Pentium
Launch DateQ2'2017
Base Frequency1.60 GHz
Max Turbo FrequencyNot Supported
TDP6 watt
Level 1 Cache128 KB
Level 2 Cache512 KB
Level 3 Cache2 MB SmartCache
# of Cores2
# of Threads4
Bus Speed4 GT/s OPI
Max Memory Support16 GB
Max Memory Bandwidth29.8 GB/s
GEEKBENCH 4
Single-Core Score1,836
Multi-Core Score3,823
GraphicsIntel® HD Graphics 615
Intel Pentium
Base Frequency300 MHz
Max Dynamic Frequency850 MHz
Graphics Max Memory16 GB
Graphics 4K SupportYes, at 60Hz
Graphics DirectX12
Graphics OpenGL4.4
# Display Supported3
Graphics Technologies
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology Intel® Clear Video Technology

Faster eMMC and SSD

To offer the most affordable $399 price, Surface Go has to cut some costs by utilizing a 64GB eMMC storage for its entry-level model. From our testing using the CrystalDiskMark utility, it has a sequential read speed of up to 292.76 MB/s and a write speed of up to 144.75 MB/s. It is two times faster than the eMMC storage used in Surface 3.

Surface Go 1 - CrystalDiskMark
Surface Go eMMC benchmark using CrystalDiskMark (Photo by Evan Forrest / SurfaceTip)

For power users, Surface Go offers a faster solid-state drive (SSD) for configurations with 128GB and 256 GB. It has a much faster sequential read speed of up to 1,200 MB/s.

Tips and Tricks

Our curated list of Surface Go tips and tricks will help you to get the most out of your device. Learn how to optimize battery life, improve performance, increase productivity, and troubleshoot like a pro with our ultimate guide.

FAQs

Before making a purchase decision, it’s essential to have a good understanding of the device you’re interested in. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive Microsoft Surface Go FAQ to answer all of your questions.

Our FAQ covers all aspects of the Surface Go, including its display, battery life, performance, software, and design.

1When was Surface Go released?

Microsoft Surface Go was:

  • Announced and preordered on July 10, 2018.
  • Available on August 2, 2018.
2How much does a Surface Go cost?

There are two configurations of Surface Go for consumers (Windows 10 Home in S-Mode):

  • $399 for 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB eMMC
  • $549 for 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB SSD

And there are two configurations of Surface Go for business (Windows 10 Pro):

  • $449 for 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB eMMC
  • $599 for 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB SSD
3Does Surface Go have a camera?
Yes, there are two cameras on Surface Go:

  1. 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p HD video.
  2. 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD video.
4Does Surface Go include a pen?
No, Surface Go doesn’t include a Surface Pen out of the box. You will need to purchase separately or use old Surface Pens from previous models. The latest Surface Pen costs about $100 which supports 4,096 levels of pressure and tilts support.
5Does Surface Go come with a keyboard?
No, you will need to purchase the keyboard (Surface Go Type Cover) separately. It costs about $100 for the black type cover and $130 for burgundy, platinum, and cobalt blue.
6Is the Surface Go worth it?
It’s totally worth it. At 399$, you can get all the features of Microsoft Surface Pro in a smaller package. It is really difficult to find a 2-in-1 laptop with a premium design and Windows Hello support at this price point on the market right now.
7How long will Microsoft support the original Surface Go?

According to Surface lifecycle documentation, Microsoft Surface Go 1 will reach the end of its driver and firmware updates on August 2, 2022. The company promises to support all Surface devices starting from its release date for at least four years.

DeviceRelease DateEnd of Servicing Date
Surface GoAugust 2, 2018August 2, 2022

After the end of servicing date, the original Surface Go devices will continue to receive Windows OS feature and security updates as long as it meets minimum hardware requirements for any future Windows OS. Currently, Windows 10 is the latest supported operating system for the first-gen Surface Go.

8Does Microsoft Surface Go support Dolby Atmos spatial audio?

All generations of Surface Go don’t officially support Dolby Atmos for internal speakers. However, its audio driver lets you apply “Dolby Atmos for Headphones” for its internal speakers. It works well with immersive 3D sound effects for playing music, games, and movies.

You can learn more about how to activate the feature with our step-by-step guide here:

1What size is Surface Go’s display?
Surface Go has a 10-inch PixelSense™ Display.
2What is the resolution of Surface Go?
Surface Go has a resolution of 1800 x 1200 and a pixel density of 216ppi (pixels per Inch). It’s as crisp and smooth as the PixelSense display you’ll find on the Surface Pro models.

For more information check:

3Does Surface Go need a screen protector?
Even though Microsoft Surface Go’s screen is made of Corning Gorilla Glass 3, it is still prone to scratches. You’d better pick one up for your Surface Go to protect it from scratches.
4Does a screen protector reduce the responsiveness of Surface Go?
Yes it does, it is much or less noticeable depending on what type and thickness of screen protector you put on it. For the best option, you should look for a slim tempered glass screen protector, as it’s smooth to the touch and reduce responsiveness issue. For more information check:
1Can Microsoft Surface Go run Photoshop?
Yes, Surface Go equipped with 7th Gen Intel® Pentium® Gold Processor 4415Y dual-core clocked at 1.60 GHz combined with Intel® HD Graphics 615, is powerful enough to handle most tasks available on Photoshop. There are many positive reviews on YouTube and here are some of them:

  1. Surface Go Artists review Photoshop CC on Youtube
  2. Artist Review: Microsoft Surface Go (or No-Go?) on Youtube
  3. Microsoft Surface Go Productivity Test – How DOES IT RUN Chrome, Photoshop, & Premiere? 8GB Model on Youtube
2Can the Surface Go run games?
3Can you code or program on Surface Go?
For writing code, Microsoft Surface Go is powerful enough to handle most code editors such as VS Code, Atom, or Notepad++. Combined with its great tactile keys, it’s the perfect mobile development machine you want to have.

However, if you’re looking to compile more complex codes on Visual Studio or Android Studio, you should stay away from the 64GB eMMC and you might need a more capable device including Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, or Surface Book instead.

4Can you play Fortnite on Surface Go?
Surface Go can run Fortnite at an average framerate of 25 fps with the lowest settings and a scaled resolution of 600 x 400. Take a look at this video on YouTube:

  1. Fortnite (Battle Royale) on the 2018 Surface Go 8gb
  2. Best Fortnite Settings On The Surface GO
5Is Surface Go 64-bit?
Yes, Microsoft Surface Go uses the 7th Gen Intel® Pentium® Gold Processor 4415Y which supports 64-bit instruction and it does come with a 64-bit version of Windows 10.
6Is Surface Go good for drawing?
Overall, drawing is really smooth on most apps such as Windows Ink, Sketchable, Bamboo Ink, OneNote, and more. It supports the latest Surface Pen with 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt support.
7Is Surface Go good for students?
Yes, it is. With Surface Go, you can take advantage of all kinds of note-taking including typing, drawing, and touch. On top of that, you can also record the lecture and take a picture with an 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera. You will never get stuck on taking note of all kinds of information you want.
8Will Surface Go run Office?
Yes, Surface Go comes with a Microsoft Office 365 Home 30-day trial. Office apps will run smoothly on Microsoft Surface Go.
9Will Surface Dock work with Surface Go?
Yes, Microsoft Surface Go has a Surface Connect port that supports Surface Dock and works smoothly just like what you can expect on Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, and Surface Book.
1How long does the Surface Go last?
Microsoft Surface Go lasts 9 hours of battery life for local video playback tested by Microsoft.
2What is the battery capacity of Microsoft Surface Go?
Microsoft Surface Go has a battery capacity of 26.12 Wh (3,411 mAh, 7.66V). For more information check:
3How do I charge my Surface Go?

You can charge your Surface Go in two ways:

  1. Use the OEM charger that comes with your Surface Go – Plug the charger into the power source and plug the Surface Connect connector into the charging port on the right side of Surface Go. It’s a magnet and reversible connector and it’s an official and recommended charging by Microsoft.
  2. Use a USB charger – The USB-C port on Surface Go supports Power Delivery 3.0 which allows you to charge the device via a USB charger.
4Can I charge Surface Go with USB-C?

Yes, you can. The USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 port on Microsoft Surface Go does support smart charging along with data transfer and video out capability. It supports USB Power Delivery revision 3.0 which supports 4 different power rules (5v, 9v, 15v, and 20v) with the ability to supply power up to over 45W.

For more information check:

1Does Surface Go run Windows 10?

Yes, it does. Surface Go shipped with Windows 10 pre-installed.

2Can you download apps on Surface Go?
Yes, you can. If your Surface Go uses Windows 10 S Mode, you can only download apps from Microsoft Store. You will need to leave the S-Mode in order to run the traditional .exe programs.
3Does Surface Go run full Windows?

Yes, Surface Go comes with full Windows 10. However, there are two versions of Windows 10 that are available on Surface Go:

  • Surface Go for consumers: comes with Windows 10 Home in S Mode.
  • Surface Go for business: comes with Windows 10 Pro.
4What is Windows 10 in S Mode?
Windows 10 in S mode is a specific mode of Windows 10 that offers a familiar, productive Windows experience that’s streamlined for security and performance. By exclusively using apps from the Microsoft Store and browsing safely with Microsoft Edge, Windows 10 in S mode keeps you running fast and more secure day in and day out.
5How to turn off S-Mode on Surface Go?

Here is how to turn off the S-Mode on Microsoft Surface Go:

  1. On your PC running Windows 10 in S mode, open Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
  2. In the Switch to Windows 10 Home or Switch to Windows 10 Pro section, select Go to the Store. (If you also see an “Upgrade your edition of Windows” section, be careful not to click the “Go to the Store” link that appears there.)
  3. On the Switch out of S mode (or similar) page that appears in the Microsoft Store, select the Get button. After you see a confirmation message on the page, you’ll be able to install apps from outside of the Microsoft Store.

Turning off S-Mode on Surface Go is a one-way method. You can’t turn it back on unless you do a recovery from a recovery drive.

6How do I reset my Surface Go?

To reset your Surface Go, plug in your Surface Go so you don’t run out of power during the refresh.

  1. Open Settings > Update & Security.
  2. Select Recovery.
  3. Under “Reset this PC“, select Get started.
  4. Choose either Keep my files or Remove everything.
  5. If you choose to Remove everything, you can choose to clean only the drive where Windows is installed and all drives.
  6. Next, you will have the option to just remove my files and remove files and clean the drive. The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if you are recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you are keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files.
  7. Select Reset.
    Surface Go will restart and the Surface logo will appear during the reset process (this can take several minutes).
7Is Microsoft Office free on Surface Go?
Yes and no, it depends on which version of Microsoft Office you want to use:

  1. Office Mobile is free on Surface Go. Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile with “core editing” functions are free on any 10.1-inch or smaller tablet. The display size of Surface Go is exactly 10 inches, so you can download and use Office Mobile apps for free.
  2. Microsoft Office 365 Home 30-day trial. Microsoft Surface Go comes with a pre-installed Office 365 Home 30-day trial, so you need to purchase a subscription to continue using the full Office suite during the trial period.
8Does Surface Go need antivirus?
In most cases, you don’t need a third-party antivirus. Surface Go with Windows 10 pre-installed has a Windows Defender for virus and threat protection out of the box. It’s free and receives updates regularly via Windows Update.

Videos

Surface Family

Surface Duo
Surface
Surface Pro
Surface Pro X
Surface Laptop
Surface Laptop Go
Surface Laptop SE
Surface Laptop Studio
Surface Book
Surface Studio
Unreleased Surface

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