When Was the Surface Go 3 Released?
The original Surface Go launched in 2018, and Surface Go 2 in 2020. It took nearly two years for Microsoft to offer a new Surface Go, but instead of a 2022 release this time around, the Go 3 became available on October 5, 2021. You can order the Surface Go 3 on Microsoft’s website. Microsoft confirmed the new Surface Go at the September 22, 2021, Surface event, along with the Surface Pro 8 and other products.
Surface Go 3 Price
There are three configurations to pick from right now. These first two come with the Intel Pentium 6500Y processor, while the third is an Intel Core i3:
$399.99 / 4 GB RAM / 64 GB SSD$549.99 / 8 GB RAM / 128 GB SSD$629.99 / 8 GB RAM / 128 GB SSD
Those are Wi-Fi devices. LTE models will be available in the future (date not yet known).
Surface Go 3 Features
The Surface Go 3 is Microsoft’s third version of this tablet computer. They didn’t hit all the changes we expected or wanted, but there are a number of things to be excited about, like a faster processor and better battery. Previous Surface Go devices shipped with Windows 10. The Surface Go 3 comes with Windows 11 preinstalled. In many ways, this is a significant change from previous versions of Windows, at least in terms of visual changes. It’s one of the first devices to arrive preconfigured with Windows 11. The Go 3 is said to have an 11-hour battery life under typical conditions. The previous Surface Go’s is 10 hours, so while it’s not a massive improvement, you should expect to squeeze a bit more out of this one. If an extra hour of battery doesn’t impress you, maybe the processor will. According to Microsoft, this tablet is about 60 percent faster than previous models. You can thank the 10th generation Intel processor for that; for comparison, the Go 2 is equipped with an 8th-gen processor. Something that was mirrored by others early on in the rumor stages, and that we agree with, is that Microsoft needs to include a Type Cover with the Surface Go at no extra charge. Previously, and still now with the Go 3, when you order a new computer, you get the option to choose which Type Cover you want, but it’s not included in the base price. We would have loved some better cameras, since both the original and the Go 2 use a 5MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear-facing camera. But the Go 3 also comes with a 5MP front camera and a 1080p rear camera. Although this is considered a budget device, it seemed high time for at least a slight upgrade.
Surface Go 3 Specs and Hardware
The maximum memory this Surface Go can be configured with is the same as Go 2, 8 GB. This is also true for storage: both the previous version and the Go 3 can have up to 128 GB of storage. One early rumor claimed that Microsoft might move away from Intel chips used in the previous Surface Go versions, and opt instead for AMD’s Ryzen chip in an upcoming Surface Go. We know now that it comes with an Intel processor. Using AMD might have resulted in lower prices and better battery life—see our AMD Ryzen vs. Intel article for more.
