I love compact tablets. I’ve always had a preference for slabs that I can manipulate easily with the hand, as opposed to the unwieldier laptop-sized models out on the market. That’s why, back in 2018, I was enamored by Microsoft’s then-new Surface Go line.
I finally got myself a Surface Go in 2020, scooping up the new-and-improved second-generation model with thinner bezels and better performance metrics. What I didn’t know back then was that I’d still be a faithful Surface Go 2 user over six years later in 2026.
Here are three reasons why, despite now being an antiquated device by modern tech standards, I still swear by my Surface Go 2 all these years later. It’s not the most technologically advanced device in my arsenal, but it’s the one I seem to always come back to time and time again.
Compact tablets are the best tablets
Simply put, the Surface Go 2 is the perfect size. It’s 10.5-inch screen is large enough for entertainment and basic productivity purposes, and its casing is small enough to carry around everywhere with me. There’s something incredibly lovable about the Surface Go 2’s footprint, and it compels me to pick it up and use it as a tablet without its dedicated keyboard cover accessory all the time. Plus, when I do want a bigger canvas to work with, I can always dock the tablet via an external monitor, adding flexibility into the mix.
The newer 12-inch Surface Pro is the closest equivalent to the Surface Go line we have in Microsoft’s modern hardware portfolio, and while I do love that Surface model as well, its slightly larger size and increased weight are enough to feel like a downgrade when compared to my handy-dandy Surface Go 2. Ideally, I do wish we’d see either a modernized ARM-based Surface Go in the future, or, alternatively, a Go-sized Surface Pro model. For the time being, the 12-inch Surface Pro simply doesn’t scratch that compact tablet itch of mine quite enough.
It has all the ports I want
USB-C, Surface Connect, and more
Now, I know what you’re thinking: the Surface Go 2 isn’t exactly a powerhouse when it comes to port selection. There’s no HDMI, there’s no USB Type-A, and there’s no full-sized SD card reader to speak of. That being said, the Go 2 does have the essentials, including a USB-C port, a Surface Connect port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD card reader.
All in all, this is a pretty strong selection, especially when you consider that Surface Connect, the headphone jack, and microSD compatibility have all been sunset from Surface Pro models for quite some time now. I do wish the Go 2 featured a second USB-C port on its other side for some extra charging and peripheral connectivity prowess, but even a single Type-C port isn’t bad when supplemented by Surface Connect for topping up on battery.
It keeps getting better
Microsoft is continuing to optimize Windows 11
Being a full-blown PC, the Surface Go 2 has come a long way software wise. Originally shipping with Windows 10 in its gimped S mode edition, the tablet now runs unadulterated Windows 11 as of 2021. Despite being an older computer, it manages to achieve Windows 11 compatibility with such things as Secure Boot and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 on board.
The best part about the Go 2 running Windows 11 is that it’s an operating system actively being worked on by Microsoft. This, of course, means that new features and security enhancements are continually rolled out to the device, which is a nice plus. Additionally, with Microsoft’s K2 effort to improve Windows 11 performance underway, the 8GB variant of RAM Surface Go 2 model should perform better than ever in the very near future.
