The primary Floor Laptop computer Go I reviewed again in 2020 began at $550. The second model, from 2022, began at $600. In the meantime, the brand new Floor Laptop computer Go 3 from Microsoft jumps to an $800 beginning worth. That’s inflation for you, I assume.
But it surely’s additionally largely the identical system, sure, up to date with newer processors and a few higher-end configuration choices, however the physique, display screen, and keyboard stay the identical. The design, fabricated from aluminum and polycarbonate composite resin, stays one of many best-looking and best-feeling finances laptops I’ve tried, even when the brand new beginning worth places it on the very fringe of what you’d think about a finances laptop computer.
The truth is, the configuration we examined right here on the Gizmodo Labs was the $999 improve, with extra RAM and storage, and for a similar $999, you will get a (barely dated) M1 MacBook Air.
Of the 2 configurations accessible, I’d default to the dearer one, because it’s the one method to get 16GB of RAM, which is what you’re going to need for a easy Home windows 11 expertise. Each variations have a 256GB SSD.
See extra: Microsoft’s Floor Laptop computer Go 3 in Footage
My essential beefs with this in any other case very good little journey laptop computer are as follows:
- The 12.4-inch display screen has a low decision of 1,536×1,024 when even essentially the most finances of finances laptops can often slot in a full HD (1,920×1,080) display screen.
- The keyboard isn’t backlit, which must be a given at $800 and up, and the darkish grey on darkish inexperienced (Microsoft calls the colour sage) makes it straightforward to lose monitor of the keys in dim lighting situations.
- Ports are skimpy. You get a single USB-A, a single USB-C, a headphone jack and a slot for Microsoft’s proprietary magnetic energy plug.
- It features a lower-resolution 720 webcam, when virtually each new laptop computer has jumped to full HD webcams.
That mentioned, it’s nonetheless a well-built, comparatively highly effective laptop computer for the value, thanks particularly to a soar from older Eleventh-gen Intel chips to newer Twelfth-gen ones, though proper now solely the fancier, more-expensive Floor Laptop computer Studio 2 will get the newest Thirteenth-gen Intel chips.
Learn extra: Palms-on: Microsoft Floor Laptop computer Studio 2
Design-wise, this stays considered one of my favourite ultraportable laptops, and even with the value improve, it seems to be and appears like a dearer machine. The keyboard and display screen could also be a bit smaller than you’re used to, however I discovered the typing expertise to be glorious, with deep chunky keys that offer you a satisfying clack. The touchpad is serviceable, and albeit higher than some more-expensive Home windows laptops I’ve tried.
As we’ve solely had the Floor Lapton Go 3 for a couple of days, think about this our preliminary hands-on impressions. After totally benchmarking the system and additional hands-on testing, we’ll return with a full evaluation and shopping for advice.
