Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 (2023)

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 (2023)

Manufacturer	Microsoft
Product family	Surface
Release date	October 2023 (2023-10)
Introductory price	USD 799 to 1099
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 11 Home
CPU	Intel Core i5-1235U
Memory	8 or 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM
Storage	256 GB removable SSD
Display	Screen size: 12.4 inch Panel type: PixelSense Coating: Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 Resolution: 1536 x 1024 PPI: 148 Aspect ratio: 3:2 Contrast ratio: 1000:1 sRGB: Yes Enhanced: Yes Touch: 10-point multi-touch
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Sound	Omnisonic® Speakers with Dolby® Audio™ Premium
Camera	Front: 720p HD with auto-adjusting lighting
Touchpad	Large precision touchpad
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.1 1 x USB-C 3.2 (data, DisplayPort, charging) 1 x USB-A 3.1 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack 1 x Surface Connect port
Power	39W Power Supply
Battery	Up to 15 hours of typical device usage
Chassis	Color: Ice Blue, Sage, Sandstone, Platinum Materials: Anodized aluminum top; Aluminum and polycarbonate composite resin system with glass fiber and 30% post-consumer recycled content base
Number pad	No
Fingerprint reader	Yes (Fingerprint Power Button)
Facial recognition	No
Predecessor	Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Website	Microsoft

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The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 (2023) is a compact and lightweight laptop designed for everyday use, featuring a 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1235U processor and Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics. It is available in multiple configurations and colors, catering to a range of user preferences and needs.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The Surface Laptop Go 3 is equipped with the 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1235U processor. This processor features:

• 10 cores (2 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 12 threads
• 12 MB cache
• Max frequency of 4.4 GHz for P-cores and 3.3 GHz for E-cores

The i5-1235U is designed to provide a balance between performance and power efficiency, making it suitable for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and media consumption.

Reviewers have noted that the i5-1235U in the Surface Laptop Go 3 performs adequately for its intended use case. It handles multitasking and light productivity tasks well, but it is not designed for heavy computational workloads or gaming. The performance is consistent with other devices using the same processor, with no significant throttling observed during extended use.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23:
  • i5-1235U: ~1400 pts (single-core), ~6000 pts (multi-core)

Graphics

The Surface Laptop Go 3 comes with integrated Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics. This GPU is designed to handle everyday graphics tasks and light gaming. It supports:

• Up to 1.25 GHz graphics frequency
• DirectX 12.1
• OpenGL 4.6

The Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics provides sufficient performance for tasks such as video playback, photo editing, and casual gaming. However, it is not suitable for demanding gaming or professional graphics work.

Reviewers have found the graphics performance to be adequate for the laptop's target audience. It can handle streaming video, light photo editing, and casual games at lower settings. The integrated graphics perform on par with other devices using the same GPU.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Time Spy:
  • Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics: ~1200 pts

Memory

The Surface Laptop Go 3 is available with two memory configurations:

• 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM
• 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM

The LPDDR5 RAM provides faster data transfer rates and improved power efficiency compared to previous generations. The memory is soldered onto the motherboard, making it non-upgradable.

Reviewers have noted that the 8 GB configuration is sufficient for basic multitasking and everyday use, while the 16 GB configuration provides a smoother experience for more demanding tasks and better future-proofing.

Benchmarks:

• AIDA64 Memory Copy: ~45000 MB/s

Storage

The Surface Laptop Go 3 comes with a 256 GB removable SSD. The SSD is designed to provide fast read and write speeds, improving overall system responsiveness and boot times.

Reviewers have found the storage performance to be satisfactory for everyday use. The SSD provides quick boot times and fast file transfers, but the 256 GB capacity may be limiting for users with large media libraries or extensive software installations.

Benchmarks:

• CrystalDiskMark 8:
  • SEQ1M Q8T1 (Sequential 1MB blocks): ~3000 MB/s (read), ~2000 MB/s (write)

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The Surface Laptop Go 3 features a full-size keyboard with a large, precision touchpad. The keyboard includes a full row of function keys (F1 – F12), a Windows key, and dedicated buttons for media controls and screen brightness.

Reviewers have praised the keyboard for its comfortable typing experience, with good key travel and feedback. The layout is well-designed, making it easy to use for extended typing sessions.

Touchpad

The laptop includes a large, precision touchpad that allows for easy navigation, scrolling, and selection.

Reviewers have found the touchpad to be responsive and accurate, providing a smooth user experience. The size is adequate for most tasks, and the surface is comfortable to use.

Webcam

The Surface Laptop Go 3 is equipped with a 720p HD front-facing camera that auto-adjusts to lighting conditions and captures true-to-life skin tones.

Reviewers have noted that the webcam provides decent image quality for video calls, with good color accuracy and adequate sharpness. However, it is not as high-resolution as some competing devices.

Microphone

The laptop features dual far-field Studio Mics with Voice Clarity, designed to enhance audio quality during video calls.

Reviewers have found the microphone quality to be good, with clear audio capture and effective noise reduction. This makes it suitable for video conferencing and voice calls.

Output Devices

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Display

The Surface Laptop Go 3 comes with a 12.4” PixelSense™ Display featuring:

• Resolution: 1536 x 1024 (148 PPI)
• Aspect ratio: 3:2
• Contrast ratio: 1000:1
• Color profile: sRGB and Enhanced
• Individually color-calibrated display
• 10-point multi-touch
• Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 for durability

Reviewers have praised the display for its vibrant colors and sharpness. The 3:2 aspect ratio is particularly appreciated for productivity tasks, providing more vertical space for reading and editing documents. The touch functionality is responsive and accurate.

Audio

The Surface Laptop Go 3 is equipped with Omnisonic® Speakers with Dolby® Audio™ Premium, providing high-quality sound for music and video playback.

Reviewers have found the audio quality to be good, with clear and balanced sound. The speakers are capable of producing sufficient volume for most use cases, although they lack deep bass.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The Surface Laptop Go 3 supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connectivity.

Reviewers have noted that the Wi-Fi performance is strong, with stable connections and fast data transfer rates. This makes it suitable for streaming, online gaming, and other bandwidth-intensive tasks.

Bluetooth

The laptop comes with Bluetooth 5.1, providing reliable wireless connectivity for peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and headphones.

USB

The Surface Laptop Go 3 includes the following USB ports:

• 1 x USB-C 3.2 (data, DisplayPort, charging)
• 1 x USB-A 3.1
• 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack
• 1 x Surface Connect port

Reviewers appreciate the inclusion of both USB-A and USB-C ports, providing versatility for connecting various devices. The Surface Connect port allows for easy docking and charging.

Case

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The Surface Laptop Go 3 features a premium design with an anodized aluminum top and a base made from an aluminum and polycarbonate composite resin system with glass fiber and 30% post-consumer recycled content. It is available in four colors: Ice Blue, Sage, Sandstone, and Platinum.

Reviewers have praised the build quality and aesthetics of the laptop. The materials used give it a premium feel, and the color options provide a personalized touch. The laptop is lightweight and portable, making it easy to carry around.

Maintenance

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The Surface Laptop Go 3 does not contain user-serviceable parts. The hard drive is only removable by an authorized technician following Microsoft-provided instructions.

Cooling System

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The Surface Laptop Go 3 is designed for efficient cooling, although specific details about the cooling system are not provided by the manufacturer.

Reviewers have noted that the laptop remains cool during typical usage, with no significant heat buildup. The fan noise is minimal, even under load, making it a quiet device for everyday use.

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The Surface Laptop Go 3 comes with a 39W Power Supply, designed for efficient charging and power management.

Battery Life

Microsoft claims that the Surface Laptop Go 3 can achieve up to 15 hours of typical device usage. The laptop also supports Fast Charging, which can significantly reduce downtime.

Reviewers have found the battery life to be close to the manufacturer's claims, with the laptop lasting around 12-14 hours during typical usage scenarios such as web browsing and document editing. The Fast Charging feature is also effective, allowing the battery to charge quickly.

Benchmarks:

• WiFi Browsing (150 nits): ~13 hours
• Video Playback: ~14 hours

Biometrics

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The Surface Laptop Go 3 supports Windows Hello sign-in with a Fingerprint Power Button, providing secure and convenient access.

Reviewers have found the fingerprint reader to be fast and reliable, making it easy to unlock the device and authenticate applications.

Software

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The Surface Laptop Go 3 ships with Windows 11 Home and comes preloaded with Microsoft 365 Apps, a Microsoft 365 Family 30-day trial, and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 30-day trial.

Preinstalled Software

Microsoft 365 Apps

The laptop comes with preloaded Microsoft 365 Apps, providing access to essential productivity tools such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Microsoft 365 Family 30-day trial

A 30-day trial of Microsoft 365 Family is included, allowing users to experience the full suite of Microsoft 365 services.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 30-day trial

The laptop also includes a 30-day trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, providing access to a wide range of games and services.

Accessories & Warranty

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The Surface Laptop Go 3 comes with a 39W Power Supply and paperwork.

Microsoft offers a one-year limited hardware warranty for the Surface Laptop Go 3.

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The Surface Laptop Go 3 is well-received for its compact design, solid build quality, and adequate performance for everyday tasks. It is praised for its vibrant display, comfortable keyboard, and good battery life. However, it is not suitable for heavy computational workloads or demanding gaming.

Problems Summary

• Non-upgradable RAM
• Limited storage capacity (256 GB)
• 720p webcam resolution
• No SD card reader
• Limited port selection

Links

i5-1235U, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD: TechRadar

i5-1235U, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD: The Verge