Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7: Which Microsoft tablet is best?

It came as a surprise to us when the Surface Go 2 stock-still so many of its predecessor's flaws and became one of Microsoft's best Surface devices. This poses an interesting challenge to the Surface Pro 7. That's right, sometimes the value-driven entry-level model can dish out rut that its Pro-level sibling can't bear on, as I wrote in my Microsoft Surface Go ii review.

That'south what inspired this Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro seven face-off, which tests how Microsoft's detachables stand against each other in a 1-on-1 fight, to aid yous find which model is right for you.

Editor's Note: Microsoft unveiled a bumper crop of new Windows 11 -ready Surface devices at its September 2021 Surface event, including the Surface Go 3 and the Surface Pro 8 . Cheque out our full Microsoft Surface event epitomize for all the details.

Check out our Microsoft Surface Pro vii review
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Those who aren't in a blitz to take the Surface Pro eight should be excited to find out that Microsoft is still considering pattern changes. And so, the Tiger Lake update to the Surface Pro doesn't need to look like the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+, which appears to boost endurance and upgrades the CPUs. Nosotros haven't seen annihilation about a Surface Get 3 withal.

Oh, and if your pockets are a little deeper, check out our Surface Book 3 review to acquire about Microsoft'southward near expensive hybrid.

Those looking for a regular laptop should check out our 13-inch Surface Laptop four review, or our Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (15-inch, AMD) review if you're interested in a larger laptop. Farther, Microsoft but expanded the Surface family unit, with the affordable Surface Laptop Go and the Surface Pro X 2020.

And then, if the Surface Go 2's lower price has y'all thinking information technology's just the Surface Pro seven's less powerful babe brother, y'all might be surprised about how the Go can dunk on the Pro — especially on battery life.

Of course, as you lot'll see in our specs department, the Surface Pro vii rocks more powerful processors, so it'south not a total wash. But if yous want that actress ability and can await a bit, check out our Surface Pro 8 review to see where we think the flagship tablet goes next.

Here'southward everything y'all need to know almost how the Surface Go 2 and Surface Pro vii stack up.

Surface Get 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Specs

	Microsoft Surface Go 2	Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Starting toll	$399	$749
Screen	11 inches (2388 x 1668)	12.3 inches (2736 x 1824)
Battery life	11:39	6:06
Processor	Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y \| eighth Gen Intel Core m3	10th-gen Intel Cadre i3, Core i5, Cadre i7
Storage	64GB eMMC \| 128GB SSD	128GB to 1TB SSD
Keyboard	Type Embrace supported	Type Cover supported
Stylus	Surface Pen supported	Surface Pen supported
Dimensions	9.7 x 6.nine x 0.three inches	eleven.5 x 7.ix ten 0.3 inches
Weight	ane.2 pounds	one.6 pounds

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Cost and value

The price to value ratios for the Surface Go 2 and Surface Pro seven are relatively like. The Surface Pro vii ($749) may cost near twice as much as the Surface Go two ($399), just it starts with both a faster Core i3 processor and faster (and more capacious) storage (64GB eMMC vs 128GB SSD).

The Core m3 Surface Go two ($629) and Cadre i5 Surface Pro vii ($1,199) we tested are both faster and more expensive than the entry-level models. Merely both are the models we'd consider if we bought them for ourselves.

Annoyingly, neither the Surface Go 2 nor Surface Pro 7 include their Type Cover keyboard or Surface Pen.

Winner: Tie

Surface Go ii vs. Surface Pro 7: Blueprint

The 10.5-inch Surface Go two looks like a shrunken-downwardly version of the 12.3-inch Surface Become 2. Both feature a strong and sturdy kickstand, and both offer the same potent magnesium chassis.

Microsoft's decision to shave the Surface Get 2'due south bezels down makes information technology fit into the current Surface lineup a lot better. The Surface Pro 7 has like bezels that are neither chunky nor graceful.

Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7 — (Paradigm credit: Future)

That checks out when you compare their weights, with the Surface Become 2 weighing 1.2 pounds to the Surface Pro 7'southward one.7 pounds. Both measure 0.iii inches thick.

Winner: Tie

Surface Go two vs. Surface Pro 7: Ports

The Surface Pro 7 truly differentiates itself when it comes to ports.

Both give you a Surface Connector port for power, but while the Surface Go 2 gives yous a USB-C port, the headphone jack and a microSD reader, the Surface Pro 7 includes all of that plus the valuable USB-A port, so you don't need to rely on adapters for older accessories.

Winner: Surface Pro 7, by a port

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro vii: Display

The Surface Get 2's x.v-inch PixelSense display measures 1920 10 1280 pixels, which works out to a pixel density of 220 pixels per inch. It's no surprise to see that the Surface Pro 7's 12.3-inch PixelSense panel is sharper, at 2736 x 1824 pixels, for a density of 267 pixels per inch.

However, the Surface Go 2 surprised united states past standing upward to comparisons with the Pro's screen — and beating it. The Surface Become 2 produces 107% of the sRGB spectrum, exceeding the 97% score from the Surface Pro 7. The Surface Go 2 also gets brighter, maxing out at an boilerplate of 408 nits, slightly edging out the 395-nit panel in the Surface Pro seven.

Winner: Tie

Surface Go ii vs. Surface Pro 7: Keyboard and Stylus

Fortunately, Microsoft builds the aforementioned quality Type Encompass keyboards for both the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Become two. Its Surface Pen stylus work across both devices.

The Blazon Cover keyboards may take a slight learning bend. When I tested out the Surface Go 2'southward Type Cover, I noticed that when the keyboard wasn't flat to the tabular array — its magnets practically default yous to an incline — the sensation of tapping my fingers confronting a keyboard that moved down was a picayune odd. This does not differ across either model.

Winner: Tie

Surface Go ii vs. Surface Pro 7: Performance

What happens when you bring a spork to a knife fight? That's the case here, where the Surface Pro 7'south 10th-gen Intel Core i3, Cadre i5 and Cadre i7 CPUs outclass the Surface Go ii's Pentium Golden and 8th Gen Cadre m3 fries. In that location's a reason why the Surface Pro 7 is for Pros.

We tested relatively up-spec'd versions of the Surface Pro 7 (Core i5-1035G4 CPU, 8GB of RAM) and the Surface Get 2 (Core m3-8100Y and 8GB of RAM). While the former is the mid-range option, the latter shows the limits of the Surface Become 2.

The high-end Surface Go 2 only managed a 6,815 on the Geekbench 4.3 general operation benchmark, which is a mere fraction of the 17,225 from the Surface Pro vii.

The Surface Pro seven'southward 256GB SSD smoked the Surface Become ii's 128GB SSD on our storage speed examination, copying 4.97GB of files at a rate of 267 MBps. The Surface Become 2's drive copied at a rate of 180 MBps.

We over again saw impressive speed from the Surface Pro 7 when it comes to gaming, equally its Intel Iris Plus graphics enabled a playable 36 frames per second speed on the Dirt iii game (graphics at Medium and resolution at 1080p). The Surface Get two's integrated Intel UHD 615 Graphics chugged to a charge per unit of xvi.37 frames per 2d, which is non very playable.

Winner: Surface Pro 7

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Cameras

Having spent 5-plus years reviewing laptops, the Surface line has become a welcome surprise, boasting really decent cameras — which yous rarely ever become in laptops and tablets.

Both tablets feature the same v.0MP forepart-facing camera and 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera. Both tape 1080p full HD video.

Winner: Tie

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro vii: Battery life

Y'all might recollect that pro users would need the most bombardment life, but don't expect the Surface Pro 7 to last longer.

The Surface Go two lasted a lot longer on a single charge than its more expensive sibling, posting a time of 10 hours and 16 minutes on our custom web surfing test. That'due south more than 2 hours longer than the seven:52 from the Surface Pro vii.

Winner: Surface Become ii

Surface Become two vs. Surface Pro vii: Software

Windows x is Windows 10, except when information technology ships in Due south Fashion. Aye, while both the Surface Get two and Surface Pro seven run the same operating system, the former runs Windows 10 in Southward Way out of the box. That ways you'll accept to opt out of this mode — which costs zip — in order to install 3rd-political party apps.

As much every bit I want to say the Southward in S Way stands for Shouldn't Exist, it might be a valuable pick for those giving a laptop to someone especially younger or older that isn't as tech literate.

Winner: Tie

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro seven: Verdict

	Surface Get 2	Surface Pro vii
Design and ports (10 points)	10	x
Ports (5 points)	four	5
Display (15 points)	xiii	13
Keyboard and Stylus (5 points)	5	v
Performance (20 points)	9	20
Cameras (10 points)	10	10
Battery life (20 points)	20	13
Software (5 points)	5	5
Value (ten points)	5	5
Overall (100 points)	71	76

This Surface Get 2 vs Surface Pro vii face-off features some surprises, showing how you get more than battery life by spending less and how y'all're non sacrificing screen quality (or webcam excellence) either. Of course, the Surface Pro 7 is still the ameliorate tablet (or 2-in-1, with the Type Embrace) for power users, thanks to its faster processors.

When information technology comes to helping people make up one's mind which Surface is correct for them, I'thousand going to start by gauging their productivity needs. Less demanding users should go for the $629 Surface Get 2 for its endurance, while those creating content and pushing their systems to the extreme should go the Surface Pro 7.