Review: Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2’s security and portability

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go 2 is an attractive and compact notebook, but where it fits the market could be an issue.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go 2 is an attractive and compact notebook, but where it fits the market could be an issue.

At just 28cm wide and 20.5cm long, and weighing 1.1kg, this notebook nestles comfortably on your lap as you create documents, peruse spreadsheets and use consumer and business Windows applications such as Office 365. That’s what it’s built for.

In the US the laptop costs from $599. But in Australia, its price of $1199 for 128GB of storage and $1299 for 256GB strays into market territory occupied by decent laptops by Dell, Lenovo and HP.

The Laptop Go 2 therefore can’t make too many compromises to compete in the Australian market, and it needs some tricks of its own to shine.

A few things are ordinary, such as the 12.4-inch display being under 1080p resolution, although it’s bright and colourful. It’s decent if you aren’t a stickler for higher image quality.

Given many of us make Zoom, Webex and Teams video calls working at home, the Go 2’s front-facing camera remains at 720p resolution despite Microsoft claiming it is an improvement on the original 2020 Laptop Go.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 comes with an 11th generation Intel Core i5 processor with Iris Xe graphics.

The camera on my review unit came up as not compatible with Windows Hello, although the laptop does support fingerprint authentication with Hello. The entry level model does not support fingerprint authentication at all.

The audio quality was the low point. It’s tinny and disappointing, and quickly distorts as you ramp up the volume.

On the other hand, you get an 11th rather than 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor with Iris Xe graphics. Cinebench’s graphics score of 82.23 frames per second rates it as capable of mid-level gaming and not-too-complex video editing tasks. CPU performance at 558cb is pretty ordinary though.

The Novabench benchmark rates it a little below a mid-range gaming PC in performance.

The entry level model costing $1199 has a 128GB M. 2 NVMe solid state drive rather than the slower and smaller 64GB eMMC drive installed in the 2020 entry level Laptop Go.

The entry level model does not support fingerprint authentication.

So where does the Laptop Go 2 shine? It certainly looks great with its aluminium top and compact form factor, and choice of sage, ice blue, sandstone and platinum colours.

It is lightweight and small, with roughly the same width and length as a 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro. The full-sized chiclet keyboard is comfortable to use.

You can install regular Windows applications on the Laptop Go 2 which uses Windows 11 Home – the original Laptop Go used Windows 10 in S mode which only installs apps from the Microsoft store. That’s a significant improvement.

Connectivity hasn’t changed much. You still get one USB-C, one USB-A, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, as with Laptop Go version one, along with a Surface Connect port for charging.

Perhaps it shines due to its security. Microsoft says the Surface Laptop Go 2 is its first Intel-based secured-core PC, which offers additional hardware and software protection for workers handling sensitive data in organisations.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

“One of the core value propositions of a secured-core PC is to protect the hypervisor and operating system from firmware attacks,” says Microsoft.

Perhaps it also shines due to its serviceability. Microsoft says its feet, SSD, keyboard cover, top assembly and surflink connectors can all be replaced, as can the battery. But you need a skilled technician or Microsoft authorised service provider to effect repairs – users shouldn’t attempt repairs themselves.

Then there’s battery life. Microsoft says this laptop offers 13.5 hours of use on one charge. My review unit managed just under 11 hours playing 1080p video continuously at 50 per cent brightness. That’s reasonable without being stellar – about 50 minutes longer than the current Apple iPad Air which we tested in March.

Business types that need portability ahead of power and who want the extra hardware security and upgradability may be the best candidates for the Surface Laptop Go 2. It’s well made but it’s not that powerful or cheap.