26 PCWorld JANUARY 2022REVIEWS MICROSOFT SURFACE GO 3
to $629.99, which is the price of our review
unit. We wouldn’t recommend the $399.99
base model (with a Pentium Gold 6500Y,
4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage) because
the 4GB of memory isn’t sufficient for
running multiple apps. The other
configurations, including a midrange version
(Pentium Gold 6500Y/8GB RAM/128GB
SSD: $549.99) and a premium offering (Intel
Core i3/8GB RAM/128GB SSD: $629.99),
round out the offerings.
The Surface Go 3 is unique because there
aren’t many small, inexpensive Windows
tablets vying for your wallet. Otherwise, the
Go 3 is priced similarly to Microsoft’s budget
clamshell laptop, the Surface Laptop Go
(fave.co/3sbM4Yk), which also has a
$549.99 discounted version that includes a
Core i5-1035G1 with 8GB of memory and a
128GB SSD. The Laptop Go’s screen is a
definite step down, however.
Unlike the prior Surface
Go 2, the current version of
the Surface Go 3 consumer
version doesn’t ship with
cellular options. It’s a
somewhat odd omission,
though our Go 2 review
(fave.co/2Z2lrIY) indicated
that its cellular reception was
spotty. Microsoft reserved
the LTE option for what it
calls the Surface Go 3 for
Business (fave.co/3pYKDKl),which ships in both a $499.99 (Core i3/4GB
RAM/64GB SSD) and a $679.99 (Core
i3/8GB RAM/128GB SSD) configuration,
each with an LTE SIM tray that the consumer
version lacks. The Business configuration also
allows you to chose either Windows 10 Pro or
Windows 11 Pro, an odd choice given the
optional 4GB RAM configuration.
Unlike the Surface Pro 8 (fave.
co/31UYlG9), the Surface Go’s Type Cover
has not been redesigned to accommodate
the Surface Slim Pen 2 (fave.co/3FesjD6).
And yes, you still have to buy the keyboard
separately. The Type Cover’s prices range
from $59.99 to $129.99, depending on
color and available discounts. For inking,
there’s the older $99.99 Surface Pen.
Unfortunately, there’s no pen loop to secure
the pen with the Go 3, though the side of
the tablet is magnetized to help keep theThe rear of the Microsoft Surface Go 3, showing the rear camera,
volume rocker, and power switch.