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

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

That'southward what inspired this Surface Go 2 vs Surface Pro 7 face-off, which tests how Microsoft'southward detachables stand up upwardly against each other in a 1-on-one fight, to help you observe which model is right for yous.

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

Check out our Microsoft Surface Pro vii review
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Those who aren't in a rush to accept the Surface Pro 8 should be excited to find out that Microsoft is still considering blueprint changes. 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. We haven't seen anything about a Surface Go 3 yet.

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

Those looking for a regular laptop should cheque out our 13-inch Surface Laptop four review, or our Microsoft Surface Laptop iv (fifteen-inch, AMD) review if you're interested in a larger laptop. Further, Microsoft merely expanded the Surface family, with the affordable Surface Laptop Go and the Surface Pro X 2020.

Then, if the Surface Go two'due south lower toll has y'all thinking information technology'due south just the Surface Pro vii'south less powerful baby blood brother, yous might be surprised about how the Become tin dunk on the Pro — specially on bombardment life.

Of form, every bit you'll see in our specs section, the Surface Pro 7 rocks more than powerful processors, then it'due south non a total wash. But if you lot want that extra power and tin wait a bit, check out our Surface Pro viii review to see where we recollect the flagship tablet goes next.

Here's everything you need to know about how the Surface Go 2 and Surface Pro 7 stack up.

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Specs

	Microsoft Surface Go 2	Microsoft Surface Pro vii
Starting price	$399	$749
Screen	11 inches (2388 x 1668)	12.3 inches (2736 x 1824)
Battery life	11:39	vi:06
Processor	Intel Pentium Gilt 4425Y \| 8th Gen Intel Core m3	10th-gen Intel Core i3, Cadre i5, Core i7
Storage	64GB eMMC \| 128GB SSD	128GB to 1TB SSD
Keyboard	Type Encompass supported	Blazon Cover supported
Stylus	Surface Pen supported	Surface Pen supported
Dimensions	9.vii 10 6.ix x 0.3 inches	11.v 10 7.nine ten 0.3 inches
Weight	1.ii pounds	one.6 pounds

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

The cost to value ratios for the Surface Get two and Surface Pro 7 are relatively similar. The Surface Pro 7 ($749) may cost almost twice as much every bit the Surface Go ii ($399), just information technology starts with both a faster Core i3 processor and faster (and more than capacious) storage (64GB eMMC vs 128GB SSD).

The Core m3 Surface Go 2 ($629) and Core i5 Surface Pro vii ($one,199) we tested are both faster and more expensive than the entry-level models. Just both are the models we'd consider if we bought them for ourselves.

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

Winner: Tie

Surface Become ii vs. Surface Pro 7: Pattern

The ten.v-inch Surface Become 2 looks like a shrunken-down version of the 12.3-inch Surface Go two. Both characteristic a strong and sturdy kickstand, and both offer the same strong magnesium chassis.

Microsoft's decision to shave the Surface Go 2'due south bezels down makes it fit into the current Surface lineup a lot better. The Surface Pro vii has similar bezels that are neither mesomorphic nor svelte.

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

That checks out when yous compare their weights, with the Surface Go two weighing 1.2 pounds to the Surface Pro seven's i.vii pounds. Both measure 0.3 inches thick.

Winner: Tie

Surface Become 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Ports

The Surface Pro vii truly differentiates itself when information technology comes to ports.

Both requite 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, past a port

Surface Get ii vs. Surface Pro 7: Brandish

The Surface Go 2's x.5-inch PixelSense display measures 1920 x 1280 pixels, which works out to a pixel density of 220 pixels per inch. It's no surprise to encounter that the Surface Pro 7's 12.iii-inch PixelSense panel is sharper, at 2736 ten 1824 pixels, for a density of 267 pixels per inch.

However, the Surface Go 2 surprised us past standing up to comparisons with the Pro'southward screen — and beating it. The Surface Get ii 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 average of 408 nits, slightly edging out the 395-nit panel in the Surface Pro 7.

Winner: Tie

Surface Get 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Keyboard and Stylus

Fortunately, Microsoft builds the aforementioned quality Type Encompass keyboards for both the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Go 2. Its Surface Pen stylus piece of work across both devices.

The Type Encompass keyboards may have a slight learning curve. When I tested out the Surface Become 2'south Type Comprehend, I noticed that when the keyboard wasn't flat to the table — its magnets practically default yous to an incline — the sensation of tapping my fingers confronting a keyboard that moved down was a footling odd. This does non differ across either model.

Winner: Necktie

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Performance

What happens when you lot bring a spork to a knife fight? That's the case here, where the Surface Pro 7's tenth-gen Intel Core i3, Cadre i5 and Core i7 CPUs outclass the Surface Go 2's Pentium Golden and eighth Gen Core m3 fries. There's a reason why the Surface Pro 7 is for Pros.

We tested relatively upwards-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 quondam is the mid-range option, the latter shows the limits of the Surface Go 2.

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

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

We again saw impressive speed from the Surface Pro 7 when it comes to gaming, every bit its Intel Iris Plus graphics enabled a playable 36 frames per 2nd speed on the Clay 3 game (graphics at Medium and resolution at 1080p). The Surface Get 2's integrated Intel UHD 615 Graphics chugged to a rate of xvi.37 frames per second, which is not 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 actually decent cameras — which yous rarely ever get in laptops and tablets.

Both tablets feature the same 5.0MP front-facing camera and 8.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera. Both record 1080p total HD video.

Winner: Necktie

Surface Go 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Battery life

You might think that pro users would need the well-nigh bombardment life, simply don't look the Surface Pro seven to terminal longer.

The Surface Go 2 lasted a lot longer on a single charge than its more expensive sibling, posting a fourth dimension of x hours and 16 minutes on our custom web surfing exam. That's more ii hours longer than the 7:52 from the Surface Pro 7.

Winner: Surface Go two

Surface Get 2 vs. Surface Pro vii: Software

Windows 10 is Windows 10, except when it ships in Southward Mode. Yes, while both the Surface Go 2 and Surface Pro 7 run the aforementioned operating system, the erstwhile runs Windows 10 in South Mode out of the box. That means you'll take to opt out of this mode — which costs cipher — in order to install third-political party apps.

As much equally I want to say the South in S Fashion stands for Shouldn't Exist, it might be a valuable selection for those giving a laptop to someone especially younger or older that isn't as tech literate.

Winner: Tie

Surface Get 2 vs. Surface Pro 7: Verdict

	Surface Go ii	Surface Pro 7
Design and ports (x points)	10	10
Ports (five points)	four	5
Brandish (15 points)	13	13
Keyboard and Stylus (5 points)	5	5
Performance (xx points)	9	20
Cameras (10 points)	x	10
Battery life (twenty points)	20	13
Software (five points)	5	5
Value (10 points)	5	5
Overall (100 points)	71	76

This Surface Go ii vs Surface Pro 7 face-off features some surprises, showing how you get more battery life past spending less and how you're not sacrificing screen quality (or webcam excellence) either. Of course, the Surface Pro vii is however the amend tablet (or 2-in-1, with the Type Cover) for ability users, thanks to its faster processors.

When it comes to helping people decide which Surface is right for them, I'm going to starting time by gauging their productivity needs. Less demanding users should go for the $629 Surface Go 2 for its endurance, while those creating content and pushing their systems to the extreme should become the Surface Pro 7.