Microsoft Surface Go 3 WiFi (4GB + 64GB) Review | 168 Data compared

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 stands out for its premium design, featuring a durable magnesium alloy chassis, a functional built-in kickstand, and a high-quality 10.5-inch PixelSense display with excellent brightness and color. It boasts a superior 1080p front-facing webcam suitable for video conferencing, yet it struggles with limited port selection (single USB-C) and requires the purchase of a separately sold keyboard cover, adding hidden costs. Performance is limited by weak base-model hardware (Pentium Gold, 4GB RAM) and subpar battery life, which often fails to last a full workday, making it better suited for light, portable tasks rather than heavy productivity.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is highlighted by TechRadar as a highly portable 2-in-1, but it is ultimately deemed a "budget nightmare" due to significant performance issues and limited battery life. While the device maintains a premium magnesium build, sharp display, and excellent 1080p webcam, it struggles with basic Windows 11 tasks and offers poor value compared to similar Chromebooks or iPads. Key drawbacks include subpar performance even with the Core i3 upgrade, battery life lasting only around 6.5 hours, and essential accessories like the Type Cover being sold separately.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 (2021) is a highly portable, fanless 2-in-1 tablet featuring a premium magnesium chassis and an excellent, bright 10.5-inch 1080p display, note RTINGS.com. Key strengths include an outstanding 1080p webcam for video conferencing and completely silent operation. However, the device suffers from limited performance with its underpowered Intel Pentium/Core i3 processors and a restricted port selection consisting of just a single USB-C port. Additionally, the screen exhibits backlight flickering at lower brightness levels. While the kickstand is versatile, the necessity to purchase the Type Cover separately increases the cost, and the battery life fails to last a full eight-hour workday, offering only marginal upgrades over its predecessor.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is characterized by Tech Advisor as a minor update, maintaining excellent build quality, a premium magnesium chassis, and a high-quality 10.5-inch display, but with outdated, chunky bezels. While performance improves with the Intel Core i3 processor for daily tasks, the device suffers from disappointing battery life, limited ports, and a high total cost when essential accessories are included. Ultimately, the review finds the 2-in-1 struggles against competitors due to its high price-to-performance ratio and modest improvements over the previous generation.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is lauded by ZDNET for its exceptional portability, premium build quality, 220ppi PixelSense touchscreen, and excellent 1080p webcam. As a 2-in-1, it excels in tight spaces with its robust kickstand. However, the review highlights a significant drawback in battery life, with real-world tests lasting only 3 hours and 15 minutes, failing to meet advertised expectations and falling behind its predecessor. Performance is also considered a bottleneck, with the entry-level 64GB eMMC storage deemed too slow for Windows 11, ultimately leading to a recommendation to consider alternatives unless maximum portability is the sole priority.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 offers premium, compact design with a high-quality 10.5-inch display, webcam, and excellent kickstand functionality. However, it suffers from poor battery life of only six hours, a weak entry-level processor that struggles with Windows 11, and a high cost of ownership due to separate accessory sales. Performance on both base and Core i3 models is described as sluggish for demanding tasks, making it suitable only for light, portable use. The review ultimately suggests the device presents a poor value proposition for most users.

The Verge's 2021 review characterizes the Microsoft Surface Go 3 as a "bummer" that is left behind by competitors, despite the appealing, ultra-portable 10.5-inch form factor. While retaining a premium magnesium build, an excellent kickstand, and a high-quality 1080p webcam, the device is hindered by thick, dated bezels and poor battery life, which lasts only 4.5 to 7.5 hours in real-world testing. Performance is a significant drawback, as even the upgraded Intel Core i3 model is considered sluggish under moderate use, and the base model is hampered by slow 64GB eMMC storage, according to the review. The overall value is criticized, especially when the necessary Type Cover is included, making it a poor choice compared to competitors like the iPad Air, despite the excellent 1920 x 1280 PixelSense display. Ultimately, the Surface Go 3 fails to meet the needs of students and field professionals due to these performance and longevity issues, making it hard to recommend at its price point.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is characterized as a premium, lightweight 2-in-1 tablet featuring a high-quality magnesium-alloy design, a vivid 10.5-inch PixelSense display, and a top-tier 1080p Windows Hello webcam. While praised for its portability and excellent stereo speakers, the device's performance is described as uninspired, with the Intel Core i3 model only offering adequate speed for basic tasks. Significant drawbacks include the omission of the required keyboard cover, which increases the total cost, and weak performance from the base Pentium/64GB eMMC model. Despite these issues, the unit offers good battery life, lasting over 11 hours in testing, making it a viable option for users requiring a compact Windows device. PCMag concludes that the Surface Go 3 is the best budget Windows tablet, yet it serves as an iterative update to the Go 2 rather than a major upgrade. Ultimately, the review suggests that for most users, competing iPad or Chromebook options may offer superior value and performance. PCMag

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is characterized as a premium-built, 10.5-inch Windows 11 tablet featuring a high-resolution display, a strong 1080p webcam, and a 11.5-hour battery life. It boasts excellent portability with its light design and built-in kickstand, offering a microSD card slot for easy storage expansion. However, the device is held back by limited performance, even with the Core i3 upgrade, often feeling laggy during daily tasks due to underpowered base-model components (Pentium/4GB RAM). Additionally, the high cost of necessary accessories like the Type Cover and the single USB-C port limit its overall value and connectivity. Ultimately, it serves well as a portable device for light duty, particularly for students or basic office tasks, but requires users to avoid the lowest-spec model to ensure a better experience.

The Notebookcheck review of the Microsoft Surface Go 3 (Core i3) highlights a premium-built, fanless tablet featuring an excellent 10.5-inch 3:2 display and high-quality 1080p cameras. While the Core i3-10100Y provides a zippier experience for light tasks compared to the Pentium model, it still struggles with heavy multitasking. Key drawbacks include disappointing, regressed battery life, thick display bezels, and a limited port selection, alongside a high price point that excludes necessary accessories.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3, labeled by Expert Reviews as a "gutless wonder," retains a premium 10.5-inch design but lacks meaningful performance upgrades over its predecessor. While praised for its excellent 5MP webcam and portability, the device struggles with lackluster performance, even on the Core i3 model, with the entry-level Pentium version offering slow eMMC storage. Due to weak battery life, added accessory costs for the Type Cover, and better alternatives available, the review suggests avoiding this model unless a compact Windows tablet is essential. Expert Reviews

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is highlighted as a premium, ultra-portable 2-in-1, featuring a lightweight 544g magnesium alloy chassis and an adjustable kickstand. Its 10.5-inch PixelSense display offers excellent brightness and resolution, making it suitable for light, on-the-go tasks. Performance, however, is a significant drawback, with the base Intel Pentium Gold model often deemed underpowered, and the higher-tier Core i3 model still struggling with heavy workloads. Furthermore, the high total cost, driven by necessary, separate purchases like the Type Cover, combined with poor battery life (often four to five hours), limits its appeal. Positively, the device runs full Windows 11 and includes a superior 1080p webcam, making it an excellent niche, portable tool for specific users. Ultimately, it is described as a well-built but underpowered device, best suited for light tasks rather than as a primary computer. Copy

The Tom's Guide review characterises the Microsoft Surface Go 3 as a minor, disappointing update that, despite maintaining a premium, portable design, takes a step backward in performance and battery life. While praised for its vibrant 10.5-inch display, 1080p webcam, and sturdy build, the tablet struggles with sluggishness, often leading the reviewer to recommend the older Surface Go 2 instead. Significant cons include battery life that lasts under 7 hours and the added expense of the mandatory Type Cover, leading to a conclusion that it is hard to recommend for most users. Copy