Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 (12.4-Inch, 2022)

Fantastic value for money ; Extremely portable design ; Smooth performance for basic tasks ; Better battery life than the original

Low-resolution display ; Lack of keyboard backlight ; No fingerprint scanner on base configuration

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 isn’t a big upgrade on its predecessor, but its dinky dimensions, improved performance and longer battery life ensure this remains one of the best value Windows laptops currently available. Just be aware that its...

Compact and portable ; 12.4-inch touchscreen ; Effective 720p webcam

Weak battery life ; Average performance

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is a great choice for anyone who needs a reliable, compact and portable laptop to use day-to-day. Students, in particular, will get on well with it even if it's not quite powerful enough for some more demanding tasks.

Competitive performance from updated CPU ; Stylish, colorful design ; Quality build and comfortable keyboard ; Reasonably priced ; Swappable SSD and chassis parts for longevity

Less-than-1080p display with nonstandard resolution ; Updated (but still ho-hum) webcam

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 doesn't reinvent the original, but some minor upgrades and a new CPU put this affordable, stylish notebook back among your best budget options for 2022.

Light and slim ; Super-portable ; Pleasant design for a laptop that starts at £500-odd ; Uses a capable Intel Core i5 CPU

As usual ; Microsoft's RAM and storage upgrades are expensive ; Non-backlit ; Slightly squished keyboard ; Base spec is likely to come with obvious performance compromises

The Surface Laptop Go 2 is a cute and affordable alternative to the much more expensive Surface Laptop 4. It's just a shame we can't recommend the most tempting £529 base model to all that many folks.

high-quality case;good keyboard;decent display;low color deviations;fast WLAN;sufficient performance for everyday tasks

no maintenance options;no keyboard illumination;high-frequency fan;processor performance below its potential;only one year warranty

Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many...

Confident, elegant design ; Light and slim ; Top-spec model performs well

Battery Saver mode is a must for light all-day use ; Spec upgrades are pricey, entry-level models have issues ; Non-backlit, slightly cut down keyboard

A delightful ultra-portable laptop more powerful than its predecessor and much cheaper than the Surface Laptop 4, but avoid the base model if you plan on doing any serious work.

Beautifully made ; Lightweight and portable ; Lovely touchscreen

4GB of RAM in cheapest model ; No keyboard backlight

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is a great little machine at a highly tempting price. It’s powerful enough to be your main machine, small and light enough to carry around in a bag all day, has a great screen and it’s superbly well made.

Decent performance ; Great keyboard ; Solid battery life ; Thin and light

Prone to overheating ; Slow charging ; Still no backlit keys

As a compact, affordable device, compromises on the Surface Laptop Go 2 are inevitable. But the core laptop experience remains impressive, provided you don’t choose the entry-level model.

Premium-feeling design ; Excellent keyboard, touchpad and fingerprint reader ; Tall 3:2 aspect ratio display

Only 4GB and 8GB RAM options ; Only 128GB or 256GB storage options ; The entry-level model is a non-starter

Exceptionally high build quality ; Great value ; Strong display

Middling performance and battery life