Our tools » Surface Specs Comparison Surface Battery Comparison Surface Display Comparison

Surface Go vs. Surface 3 detailed specs comparison

Surface Go is out now! if you want to know more how the new Surface Go compared to the Surface 3, here we have a detailed specs comparison for you.

BY Last updated June 22, 2020

Surface Go vs Surface 3

A new generation of 10-inch Microsoft Surface has arrived. It’s called Microsoft Surface Go, which looks and feels like a shrunk down version of its big brother, the new Surface Pro. Microsoft has confirmed that it has twice the speed of the Surface 3, including more advanced functionalities and more customizable accessories.

If you are using Surface 3, should you like to upgrade to Surface Go? In this article, we have done a comparison between the Surface Go and Surface 3 to find out whether it’s worth the upgrade or not.

1Surface Go vs Surface 3: Overall Specs Comparison

Surface Go picture

Surface Go

See at Amazon Compare
Surface 3 picture

Surface 3

See at Amazon Compare
Key Features
What's new
  • New design It’s now thinner (8.7mm), new tablet-friendly 3:2 aspect-ratio form factor, and new Microsoft Logo on the kickstand.
  • Full Windows 8.1 You can run all your desktop apps and upgradable to Windows 10.
  • Better display New bigger and better 10.8” Full HD Plus display with 10 points multitouch.
  • Inking supports It now supports a new Surface Pen with 256 pressure sensitivity, tail eraser, and remote Bluetooth activation.
  • New CPU Architecture It’s now using the new quad-core Intel® Atom™ x7 processor for outstanding performance and long battery life.
  • New kickstand Now in three angles.
  • New Micro-USB port It can be charged with any mobile phone charger.
  • More Better 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera, new Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), and optional 4G LTE.
What's missing
  • No magnet charging port replaced with the new Micro-USB port.
  • Slower Charging The new Micro-USB has a limited power delivery (13W) compared to its older propriety 24W charger.
AvailabilitySurface GoSurface 3
Released20182015
Release Info
  • Introduced: July 10, 2018
  • Pre-ordered: July 10, 2018
  • Released: August 2, 2018
  • Introduced: March 21, 2015
  • Pre-ordered: March 21, 2015
  • Released: May 5, 2015
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 3 Wi-Fi
  • $499 - 2 GB | 64 GB
  • $599 - 4 GB | 128 GB
Surface 3 4G LTE
  • $599 - 2 GB | 64 GB
  • $699 - 4 GB | 128 GB
Stores
See at Amazon
See at Amazon
DisplaySurface GoSurface 3
Size10 Inches10.8 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
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1280 (2.4M Pixels)
  • Density: 214 PPI
  • Aspect ratio: 3:2
  • Inking: supports Surface Pen
  • Touch: 10 points multi-touch
ExteriorSurface GoSurface 3
Size Comparison
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)
10.52” x 7.36” x 0.34” (267 mm x 187 mm x 8.7 mm)
Width: 10.52” (267 mm)
Height: 7.36” (187 mm)
Thickness: 0.34” (8.7 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)
  • Surface 3: 1.37 lbs (621 g)
  • Surface 3 with Keyboard: 1.95 lbs (884 g)
Colors
Platinum
Silver
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.
  • Surface Type Cover
    • Not included
  • Keyboard:
    • Activation: Moving (mechanical) keys
    • Layout: QWERTY, full row of function keys (F1-F12)
    • 4 directional keys; Windows and Media Controls Keys;
    • LED backlighting
  • Trackpad:
    • Precision glass trackpad.
    • Supports up to three-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
  • 1 x Full-size USB 3.0
  • 1 x microSD™ card reader
  • 1 x Micro USB charging port
  • 1 x Headset jack
  • 1 x Mini DisplayPort
  • 1 x Cover port
  • 1 x Nano SIM card slot (Surface 3 with LTE only)
Internal SpecsSurface GoSurface 3
Processor
  • 7th Gen Intel® Pentium® Gold Processor 4415Y
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.60 GHz, 2MB SmartCache, 6W
  • Intel® Atom™ x7-Z8700
    4 cores, 4 threads, 1.60 → 2.40 GHz, 2MB Cache, 2W
Integrated Graphics
  • 7th Gen Intel® Pentium® Gold Processor 4415Y
    Intel® HD Graphics 615
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 850 MHz
  • Intel® Atom™ x7-Z8700
    Intel® HD Graphics
    16 Execution Units, 20 → 600 MHz
Memory
4GB 8GB
1866 MHz LPDDR3 RAM
2GB 4GB
1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM.
Storage
  • 64GB
    eMMC
  • 128GB256GB
    SSD
  • 64GB128GB
    eMMC
ConnectivitySurface GoSurface 3
Wi-Fi
  • Wi-Fi 5: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible.
  • Wi-Fi 5: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible.
Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology
  • Bluetooth Wireless 4.0 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
Optional LTE
  • Nano SIM Tray
  • GPS
  • Assisted GPS
  • GLONASS
BatterySurface GoSurface 3
Size26.12 Wh27.5 Wh
Battery LifeUp to 9 hours of video playbackUp to 10 hours of video playback
Power Supply
  • 24W proprietary Surface Connect power supply
  • 13W Micro USB power supply
SoftwareSurface GoSurface 3
OS
  • For Consumer: Windows 10 in S-mode
  • For Commercial: Windows 10 Pro
  • Windows 8.1 Pro
  • Upgradable to Windows 10 Pro
Built-in AppsMicrosoft Office 365 30-days trial1-Year Microsoft Office 365 Personal
Camera & AudioSurface GoSurface 3
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
  • 3.5MP front-facing camera with 1080p HD video
  • 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD video
Audio
  • Single microphone
  • 2W Front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby® Audio™ Premium
  • Single microphone
  • Front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby® Audio enhanced sound
MiscSurface GoSurface 3
InkingSupports Surface Pen
4096 levels of pressure
Tilt sensing
Best in class latency
Paper feel
magnetic storage
Supports Surface Pen
256 levels of pressure
N-trig Active Pen technology
Sensors
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Magnetometer
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Proximity sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Magnetometer
  • Digital compass
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
  • Surface 3
  • Power supply
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Safety and warranty documents
Warranty
  • One-year limited hardware 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
  • Casing: Magnesium
  • Kickstand: 3 positions
  • Physical buttons: volumes, power

Popular Comparisons for Surface Go

Here are the most frequently requested comparisons for Surface Go:

Surface GoSurface Go 2VS
Surface Go
vs.
Surface Go 2
Surface GoSurface Pro 3VS
Surface Go
vs.
Surface Pro 3
Surface GoSurface RTVS
Surface Go
vs.
Surface RT
Surface GoSurface Pro 7VS
Surface Go
vs.
Surface Pro 7
Surface GoSurface Pro XVS
Surface Go
vs.
Surface Pro X
Surface GoSurface Pro 6VS
Surface Go
vs.
Surface Pro 6

Popular Comparisons for Surface 3

Here are the most frequently requested comparisons for Surface 3:

Surface 3Surface Pro 4VS
Surface 3
vs.
Surface Pro 4
Surface 3Surface Go 2VS
Surface 3
vs.
Surface Go 2
Surface 3Surface Pro 1VS
Surface 3
vs.
Surface Pro 1
Surface 3Surface BookVS
Surface 3
vs.
Surface Book
Surface 3Surface RTVS
Surface 3
vs.
Surface RT
Surface 3Surface Pro 3VS
Surface 3
vs.
Surface Pro 3

2Surface Go vs Surface 3: Processor Comparison

 Surface GoSurface 3
Intel PentiumIntel Atom x7
Processor7th Gen Intel® Pentium® Processor 4415YIntel® Cherry Trail Quad Core Atom x7-Z8700
Launch DateQ2'2017Q1'2015
Lithography14 nm
Base Frequency1.60 GHz1.60 GHz
Max Turbo FrequencyNot Supported2.40 GHz
(Burst Technology)
TDP6 watt< 4 watt
Level 1 Cache128 KB128 KB
Level 2 Cache512 KB512 KB
Level 3 Cache2 MB SmartCache2 MB
# of Cores24
# of Threads44
Bus Speed4 GT/s OPIN/A
Max Memory Support16 GB8 GB
Max Memory Bandwidth29.8 GB/s25.6 GB/s
GEEKBENCH
Single-Core Score1,836945
Multi-Core Score3,8233,138

3Surface Go vs Surface 3: Graphics Comparison

 Surface GoSurface 3
Intel PentiumIntel Atom x7
GraphicsIntel® HD Graphics 615Intel® HD Graphics
Base Frequency300 MHz200 MHz
Max Dynamic Frequency850 MHz600 MHz
Graphics Max Memory16 GB8 GB
Graphics 4K SupportYes, at 60HzYes, at 30Hz
Graphics DirectX1211.2
Graphics OpenGL4.4
# Display Supported3
Graphics Technologies
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Intel® Clear Video HD TechnologyIntel® Clear Video Technology
Intel® Wireless Display

More Surface Go Resources

Make sure to check out our tips and tricks for Microsoft Surface Go here:

Ultimate Tips and Tricks for Mastering Microsoft Surface Go
Recommended Read

Ultimate Tips and Tricks for Mastering Microsoft Surface Go

 

Microsoft Surface Go
See at Microsoft
See at Amazon

Best Accessories for Microsoft Surface

With the right set of accessories, you can boost your Surface's productivity to the next level. Here we have some of the best accessories you should get for your Surface devices.

Samsung (MB-ME256GA/AM) 256GB 100MB/s (U3) MicroSDXC EVO Select Memory Card with Full-Size Adapter
$79.41

Samsung EVO MicroSD

NEW Microsoft ARC Mouse – Sage
$79.99 $49.53

Surface Arc Mouse

Microsoft Official Surface Pen 4096 Pressure Sensitivity, Tail Eraser, Barrel Button, Compatible for Surface Pro 5, Pro 6, Surface Go/Book/Studio/Laptop, Bluetooth 4.0 - Platinum
$81.90 $63.96

Surface Pen (4,096 pressures + tilt)

VAVA USB C Hub, 8-in-1 USB C Adapter with 4K HDMI, 1Gbps RJ45 Ethernet Port, USB 3.0, SD/TF Card Reader, 100W PD Charging Port for MacBook/Pro/Air and Type C Windows Laptops
$54.99 $34.14

8-in-1 USB-C Adapter

Microsoft Surface Dock (Pd9-00003),Black
$199.99 $109.99

Microsoft Surface Dock

MAKETECH Ultra Slim Aluminum 4 Port Rotatable USB 3.0 Hub with Swiveling Connector for Mircosoft Surface, MacBook, Ultrabook and Laptop (Black)
$13.99

4 Ports Rotatable USB 3.0 Hub

Portable Dock for Surface Pro 5/6 USB Hub Docking Station with 1000M Ethernet Port, 4K HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0 Ports, SD/Micro SD Card Reader,LAN Adapter for The 5th/6th-gen Surface Pro 2017/2018
$29.99

Surfacekit USB Hub

Surface Pro Car Charger Surface Laptop Car Charger, 36W 12V 2.58A for Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Pro 4 Book Go Surface Laptop Surface Pro Pro 6 & Surface Laptop 2 with USB Port Include Travel Case
$25.99 $19.99

36W Surface Car Charger

Portable Charger RAVPower 20000mAh 60W PD 3.0 USB C Power Bank 2-Port Power Delivery Battery Pack High-Capacity External Battery Compatible with MacBook Pro iPad Pro iPhone 11 SE 2 Nintendo Switch
$49.99

RAVPower 20000mAh 60W PD Power Bank

BatPower ProE 2 ES7B 98Wh MS Surface Power Bank for Surface Pro X 7 6 5 4 3 2 RT Go Surface Book 2 1 External Battery Surface Laptop 3 2 1 Portable Charger, USB QC 3.0 Fast Charging Tablet Smartphone
$199.99 $129.99

90W Portable Surface Charger

Those are the top must-have accessories for Microsoft Surface devices so far. With Surface Pen, Surface Dock, Surface Precision Mouse, and microSD card will significantly increase your Surface performance, storage, and productivity.

Related Topics

COMMENTS

Let us know what you think!

We appreciate hearing your thoughts, questions, and ideas about “Surface Go vs. Surface 3 detailed specs comparison”.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.