Surface Go 2: Compact Light Laptop
Connect from wherever you need to work with this compact 2-in-1. This lightweight business laptop and tablet empowers employees to get the job done with the full power of Windows 10.
SEE IT IN ACTION
Surface Go 2
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Bigger, brighter
10.5-inch
PixelSense™ Display
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Up to 8th Gen Intel®
Core™ m3
Processor
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Starting at
1.2 lb
not including Type Cover
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Always-connected
4G LTE
with LTE Advanced1
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Tech specs
Dimensions |
9. |
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Storage2 |
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Display |
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Battery life3 |
Up to 10 hours of typical device usage |
Memory |
4GB or 8GB RAM |
Graphics |
Intel® UHD Graphics 615 |
Processor |
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Connections |
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Security |
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Cameras, video and audio |
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Software |
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Network |
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Sensors |
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Exterior |
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What’s in the box |
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Warranty5 |
1-year limited hardware warranty |
Weight4 |
Wi-Fi: 1. |
5 mm headphone jack
11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax compatible
2 lb (544 g)More from the Go you know
The latest generation of our lightest 2-in-1 to empower your employees. Surface Go 2 has faster multitasking, a larger and brighter screen in the same compact size, and eSIM to help get the job done, wherever employees need to work.
Up to 8th Gen Intel® Core™ m3 Processor
Larger, brighter 10.5-inch touchscreen display
Embedded SIM (eSIM) or physical SIM
Comes with Advanced Exchange
Enhanced dual far-field Studio Mics
All-day battery life
2 plus Fast Charging with Surface Dock8
Ready to get it done
Equip employees with a compact, lightweight device in hand, wherever they work. From engaging customers with a business tablet with Pen8 to checking email in the field on an easy-to-carry laptop, Surface Go 2 adapts to all the tasks your employees take on.
A lightweight business laptop
Check email, give presentations, and type meeting notes when you pair Surface Go 2 with Surface Go Signature Type Cover.8
A compact, Pen-enabled portable studio
Write and draw at a natural angle when you ink with Surface Pen.8
A tablet for working anywhere with 4G LTE
Tackle in-the-field tasks on this business tablet. Wi-Fi comes standard, while fast 4G LTE is optional.
Meet the needs of your business
Keep devices in the field secure with updates via Microsoft Endpoint Manager,8 restrict access to only the apps your customers or employees need, and find custom-designed accessories for every task.
Push updates anytime, anywhere
Custom accessories your business needs
Stay on task with the apps they need
eSIM enables IT to bulk provision cellular data plans and keep devices in the field secure with updates via Microsoft Endpoint Manager.
8
A rich catalog of accessories designed for Surface Go offers diverse solutions. Find ruggedized cases, vehicle mounts, and mobile POS systems.⁸
Kiosk Mode enables you to restrict access to only the apps and tools your customers and employees need most.
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A commitment to innovation, from one generation to the next
Starting at $449.99
Give employees the tools they need to connect, collaborate, and do their best work. Contact a Microsoft authorized reseller for pricing. Resellers will also help you deploy and manage Surface for your business.
WHERE TO BUY
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1. Touch and ink
Write naturally with Surface Pen,8 a fluid digital inking experience that feels like pen on paper.
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2.
Studio Mics and full HD cameras
Be heard and look your best in Microsoft Teams8 virtual meetings with enhanced dual far-field Studio Mics and full HD front- and rear-facing cameras.
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3. Innovative, built-in Kickstand
Open the Kickstand for a full laptop experience, lower it to the perfect angle for writing and drawing with Surface Pen,8 and fold it closed when you need a tablet.
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4. USB-C® port
Connect to displays, docking stations and more, and charge accessories.
Studio Mics and full HD camerasSurface for Business unlocks more value
Surface customers save time and money with streamlined deployment, modern device management, and built-in, cloud-powered security. Empower people, data, and systems with connected experiences from Surface and Microsoft 365.
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Surface is designed for remote work
Find remote work solutions for your employees wherever they work. Stay secure and get it all done with Surface devices.
Microsoft security and Surface
Stay secure and maintain control, from chip to cloud, with protection from Microsoft. Surface helps you mount proactive defenses with security built in.
Simple deployment and unified management
Improve IT efficiency and reduce overhead and support costs with devices that optimize Microsoft software in the environments your apps are deployed.
End of Surface for Business unlocks more value section
Surface Go 2 warranty and protection plans
Microsoft Protection Plans help you maximize your investment in Surface so you can hit the ground running and stay productive when issues arise.
SEE SURFACE WARRANTY OPTIONS
Which Windows? You decide
Whether you’re still invested in Windows 10 or are ready to introduce Windows 11 to your workforce, you have choices. Both options are available for Surface Go 2.
MEET WINDOWS 11
Designed for the modern workplace
The Surface for Business portfolio delivers experiences employees love with the choice and flexibility they need to work on their terms.
Surface Go 3: Faster than before
Serve your customers better on the frontline with Surface Go 3, now with more speed from an Intel® Core™ i3 Processor.
MEET SURFACE GO 3
COMPARE DEVICES
Compare tech specs for all Surface computers
See tech specs side-by-side.
Compare processors, graphics cards, screen size, resolution, weight, RAM, and more.
COMPARE SURFACE COMPUTERS
Surface accessories
Most Surface accessories are universal, compatible across generations. The investment you make in accessories is designed to last.
WHERE TO BUY
SEE MORE SURFACE ACCESSORIES
Accessories designed for Surface Go
Get a full laptop experience with Surface Go Signature Type Cover8 and Surface Mobile Mouse,8 and ink naturally with Surface Pen.8
IT Pro resources
Learn how to plan, deploy, and manage Microsoft Surface and Surface Hub devices.
Microsoft Protection Plans
Maximize your investment in Surface with Microsoft Protection Plans.
Explore Surface warranty details, extended coverage, and support options.
Sign up to keep pace with workplace innovation
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[1]
Service availability and performance subject to service provider’s network. Contact your service provider for details, compatibility, pricing, SIM card, and activation. See all specs and frequencies at Surface.com. -
[2]
System software and updates use significant storage space. Available storage is subject to change based on system software and updates and apps usage. 1 GB = 1 billion bytes. 1 TB = 1,000 GB. See Surface Storage for more details. -
[3]
Surface Go 2 battery life: Up to 10 hours of battery life based on typical Surface device usage. Testing conducted by Microsoft in February 2020 using preproduction software and preproduction configurations of Surface Go 2. Testing consisted of full battery discharge with a mixture of active use and modern standby. The active use portion consists of (1) a web browsing test accessing 8 popular websites over multiple open tabs, (2) a productivity test utilizing Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook, and (3) a portion of time with the device in use with idle applications. All settings were default except screen brightness was set to 150nits with Auto-Brightness disabled. Wi-Fi was connected to a network. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage and other factors.
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[4]
Weight not including Type Cover. -
[5]
Microsoft’s Limited Warranty is in addition to your consumer law rights. -
[6]
Requires license or subscription to activate and use.
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[7]
Activation required. If your device is managed by your organization’s IT department, contact your IT administrator for activation. After 30 days, you will be charged the applicable monthly or annual subscription fee. Credit card required. Cancel any time to stop future charges. See https://aka.ms/m365businesstrialinfo. -
[8]
Sold separately.
Testing conducted by Microsoft in February 2020 using preproduction software and preproduction configurations of Surface Go 2. Testing consisted of full battery discharge with a mixture of active use and modern standby. The active use portion consists of (1) a web browsing test accessing 8 popular websites over multiple open tabs, (2) a productivity test utilizing Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook, and (3) a portion of time with the device in use with idle applications. All settings were default except screen brightness was set to 150nits with Auto-Brightness disabled. Wi-Fi was connected to a network. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage and other factors.
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Microsoft Surface Go 3 review: A cheap Windows tablet, but not a great value
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Reviews
Mike Andronico/CNN
CNN
—
cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_314C1C9D-0F76-48D1-9B43-4D9E75FA4791@published” data-editable=”text” data-component-name=”paragraph”>The Surface Go 3 is the latest entry-level member of Microsoft’s PC lineup, packing a full Windows 11 experience into a small tablet that can also transform into a laptop. But while the Go 3 is the cheapest Surface with a starting price of $399, it’s not necessarily a great value.
This tablet has a nice screen, a decent webcam and solid battery life, but its affordable price tag comes at the expense of some occasionally sluggish performance. And if you choose to upgrade it with a better processor and the keyboard necessary to make the Go 3 usable as a laptop, you’re veering into the same price ballpark as a premium notebook.
So who is the Surface Go 3 actually for? We spent nearly a week working, chatting and playing on Microsoft’s tiny 2-in-1 to figure out just that.
Microsoft Surface Go 3
A super-portable Windows 2-in-1
Microsoft
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 packs a full Windows experience into a highly portable design, but its bogged down by subpar performance and pricey add-ons.
$399 at Microsoft
$399 at Amazon
Who it’s for: The Surface Go 3 is for someone who wants the portability of an iPad with the flexibility of a Windows 11 computer, and mostly needs something for web surfing and light work tasks.
What you need to know: The Go 3 is the smallest and cheapest member of the Surface family, with a lightweight tablet design that can transform into a mini laptop if you pick up a $129 Type Cover while also supporting the $99 Surface Pen for note-taking.
It’s also one of the first devices to ship with Windows 11, which delivers a cleaner visual style and some handy new features for better multitasking and navigation.
How it compares: Microsoft’s mini Surface works well enough for everyday tasks, but it can slow down under a heavy load and isn’t quite as fast as the cheaper $329 iPad or the similarly priced $499 iPad Mini. If you’re willing to pay a little extra or prefer Android, the $649 Galaxy Tab S7 also offers stronger performance. The Go 3 has a great optional keyboard, a good webcam and decent battery life, but Apple’s and Samsung’s tablets last significantly longer on a charge.
Mike Andronico/CNN
The Surface Go 3 doesn’t change much from previous generations in terms of design.
It’s still a basic-looking 10-inch-wide tablet, with a built-in kickstand you can use to prop it up at various angles and a magnetic connector at the bottom that allows it to easily snap onto Microsoft’s various Type Cover keyboards.
There’s nothing fancy about this affordable PC, but its aluminum design feels sturdy and solid, and we like how little space it takes up in our bag. The Go 3 is pretty light on ports, with just a USB-C connection for accessories and adapters, a Surface Connect port for charging and a microSD slot tucked behind the kickstand. But hey, at least it has a headphone jack! That’s not something you can say about the new iPad Mini.
As with most other Surface products, you’ll need to connect one of Microsoft’s Type Cover keyboards to use the Go 3 as a proper laptop.
The bad news is that they’re sold separately, starting at $99. The good news is that these keyboards are mostly great.
Mike Andronico/CNN
The Surface Go Type Cover’s keys are satisfyingly deep and snappy, and we were happy to crunch away at work on them for hours at a time. We did find the keys to be a little small and crowded for our liking compared to the bigger Type Covers for the Surface Pro range. And like on other detachable Surface devices, the Go 3 works better on a desk (or other hard surface) than on your lap, as its top-heavy design can make it wobble when you’re using it on the latter.
Our Surface Go 3 shipped with a $129 Type Cover, which has the same attractive Ice Blue color and soft Alcantara fabric that we loved on the Surface Laptop 4.
On top of adding a proper keyboard (and some extra style) to your Surface Go 3, these Type Covers also protect the device’s screen when they’re folded up, and we’d say they’re all but a necessity if you plan on picking this PC up. Fortunately, those upgrading from a previous Surface Go will be able to use their existing Type Cover.
Mike Andronico/CNN
The Surface Go 3 has a pretty nice-looking display with plenty of color and detail, but those chunky display bezels are starting to show their age — especially compared to the more immersive screen on the new Surface Pro 8.
Still, the tablet’s 10.5-inch, 1920 x 1280 display produced some strong colors, which was especially evident when we flipped through the vibrant blues, purples and yellows of Windows 11’s new desktop backgrounds.
In the trailer for Marvel’s “Shang-Chi,” the film’s special effects popped and skin tones looked accurate, though we wish everything were just a little bit brighter.
We also like that the Go 3 retains Microsoft’s usual 3:2 aspect ratio, which results in a screen that’s a little bit taller than what you’ll see on similar devices and allows you to, say, see more of a spreadsheet or webpage without scrolling. It’s also a Gorilla Glass 3 display, which means it’s designed to withstand scratches or basic drops — though we’d still recommend getting a Type Cover.
Mike Andronico/CNN
The Go 3’s screen was also reliable for drawing and note-taking once we whipped out our Surface Pen ($99; microsoft..jpg)
com). Our sloppy handwriting came through accurately on the tablet’s display, which made doodling in Paint and jotting down lists in Sticky Notes feel natural and responsive. We could even use our own handwriting to search for apps in the Start menu, which worked pretty reliably in our testing. And like on other Surface products, the Pen was easy to magnetically snap onto the side of the display once we were done sketching.
Thanks to some decent stereo speakers, the Go 3 is a reliable companion for binge-watching shows or casually listening to tunes. While it doesn’t get awfully loud, this 2-in-1 delivered satisfyingly crunchy sound when jamming to our favorite pop-punk tracks, and made dialogue easy to hear when watching movie clips.
We had no problem hearing a colleague during a work call, and while the Go 3’s microphones sounded a bit fuzzy in our voice recordings, they still allowed us to be heard clearly during a long meeting.
Mike Andronico/CNN
The Surface Go 3 mostly held up fine for our daily workflow, which consists of jumping between various Google Docs and other Chrome tabs while checking in on emails, Slack messages and Discord chats. However, the limits of our review unit’s modest Intel Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM showed themselves pretty quickly, and we wouldn’t recommend this machine for anyone who needs to do anything more than basic web surfing, video streaming and light work tasks like email and word processing.
Microsoft’s tiny 2-in-1 slowed down for us on multiple occasions, particularly when it came to multitasking. Slack started moving glacially slow while we installed a program in the background, taking seconds to simply switch between different chats.
There was also some occasional sluggishness when opening apps or swiping up to go into multitasking mode.
The majority of our work time with the Go 3 was fairly smooth, but there were just enough of these frustrating moments to give us pause. Microsoft’s detachable also trailed the cheaper $329 iPad by a notable margin on our benchmark tests, and fell way behind the scores we saw on the $499 iPad Mini and the $649 Galaxy Tab S7. On the Geekbench 5 test that measures overall performance, the Go 3’s benchmark scores were about half of what we got from the Galaxy Tab S7 — and nearly a third of what we saw from the latest iPad Mini.
What’s more concerning is that we tested an upgraded version of the Go 3, which starts with an even weaker Intel Pentium Gold 6500 processor and 4GB of RAM.
We’d only suggest getting this version if all you’re doing is browsing the web and checking email.
Microsoft
The Surface Go 3 is one of the first machines we’ve tested that ships with Windows 11, which brings a new look and features to Microsoft’s operating system. The biggest changes are in the aesthetics, with a centered taskbar, more colorful app icons and a set of beautiful new themes. These are joined by new backgrounds and widgets that make Windows look cleaner and — let’s just say it — more Mac-like overall.
There are also some useful new productivity tools, such as the ability to create multiple virtual desktops and enable focus modes to avoid distracting notifications (both of which also seem to be borrowed from Macs), as well as new options for snapping multiple apps together on-screen.
You can check out our Windows 11 review for the full breakdown, but the TL;DR is that it’s a nice-looking visual revamp with some useful features, and those coming from Windows 10 will likely get acclimated pretty fast.
It’s worth noting that the Surface Go 3 ships with Windows 11 in S Mode, which is a streamlined version of Windows that only runs Microsoft apps such as Edge, Teams and Word. It’s designed to deliver more efficient performance and tighter security. However, unless you’re getting a Go 3 for someone who’s just going to browse on Edge or check their email every now and then, we’d recommend turning this off as soon as possible. That’s exactly what we had to do in order to use our go-to apps such as Slack, Chrome and Steam. Just note that once you switch out of S Mode, there’s no going back.
Mike Andronico/CNN
cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_23FEB97C-91E9-1866-4A64-4DAB332E6039@published” data-editable=”text” data-component-name=”paragraph”>The Surface Go has some decent endurance for the road, lasting through six and a half hours of continuous 4K video playback on our battery life test. That’s good enough for a cross-country flight and will get you through a large chunk of the workday unplugged, but it’s not quite the best we’ve tested in this range.
Apple’s latest tablets both lasted significantly longer, with the iPad enduring a strong nine hours and 45 minutes and the new iPad Mini going for an even better 10 hours and 45 minutes. We also got a stronger eight hours out of last year’s Intel Core M3-powered Surface Go 2, so we’re a bit disappointed to see a downgrade here.
cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_8F18C17C-0A55-AF6B-F7E3-4DA54D8E9666@published” data-editable=”text” data-component-name=”paragraph”>The Surface Go 3’s webcam is very solid for the price — in the right lighting conditions, at least. The Go 3’s 1080p camera captured our skin tone accurately and picked up the finer details of our stubbly beard under natural light, though things quickly got dark and fuzzy when we moved to our dimmer living room. What’s more impressive is that this webcam supports Windows Hello for logging into the PC with just your face, a feature that worked consistently well. That’s one big advantage the Go 3 and other Windows PCs have over Apple’s devices, as Face ID unlocking is only available on the expensive iPad Pros that start at $799. Heck, even Macs don’t have it yet.
If you absolutely must take photos out in the wild with a tablet, just get an iPad.
The Go 3’s rear-facing 8-megapixel camera is pretty unimpressive, capturing shots that made our sunny Queens skyline look blown out and pixelated.
Mike Andronico/CNN
There’s plenty to like about the Surface Go 3, and if you want something as travel-friendly as an iPad but with the flexibility and app selection of a fully featured Windows PC, it just might be for you. However, there are a number of drawbacks — and compelling alternatives — to keep in mind before you take the plunge.
The Go 3’s performance can be frustratingly slow at times, especially when you consider that the latest iPads whiz by it for a similar price. This Surface feels great to use as a miniature 2-in-1 laptop when you’ve got a Type Cover connected and a Surface Pen handy, but both of those accessories cost extra.
The $399 starting price is enticing on paper, but when you factor in our model’s keyboard, pen and modest processor bump, you’re looking at a total cost of around $860.
This isn’t a Surface-exclusive problem, of course — the $329 iPad suddenly becomes a $587 purchase if you choose to add in an Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. But for not much more than the price of a tricked-out Surface Go 3, you can get a great $999 laptop like the Dell XPS 13 (our favorite Windows notebook), or even a $999 MacBook Air. Those seeking something cheap for basic work should also consider a Chromebook like the Galaxy Chromebook 2, which offers no-nonsense software and enough processing power for basic tasks.
With all of that in mind, the Surface Go 3 is best suited for folks who need a cheap, portable tablet for casual use or classwork — and specifically want Windows.
Having Windows 11 out of the box is a nice touch, and you’ll enjoy a level of flexibility that one-ups iOS and Chrome devices in some key ways. Just be ready to pay extra for that keyboard.
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers’ listed price at the time of publication.
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Surface Go Help & Learn
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Learn how to get the latest drivers and hardware firmware for your Surface, keeping it up to date.
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Surface won’t turn on or start
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Troubleshooting Instructions
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The Surface Go 3 brings the best of Windows 11 to life and is ideal for daily tasks, homework and gaming.
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Tablet Microsoft Surface Go 8Gb 128Gb
The Surface Go is the smallest device in Microsoft’s line of gadgets.
If the previous representatives of the Surface series occupied an intermediate position between laptops and tablets, then this one is, without any doubt, a thoroughbred tablet. Although with the possibility of attaching a branded keyboard case for convenient work with texts.
The
Surface Go is the first device in the line to support USB Type-C, making charging and data syncing much more convenient. It has a microSDXC card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There is support for the Surface Connect magnetic charging dock, which will allow you to charge the device, as well as transfer data at USB 3.0 speed. Add to this list a branded keyboard, stylus and mouse, which are specially designed by Microsoft for comfortable work with this device.
Surface Go 128 Gb uses the seventh generation of Pentium Gold 4415Y processors, as well as 8 GB of RAM and a high-speed 128 GB NVMe SSD, which distinguishes it from faceless competing models. The graphics card is Intel HD Graphics 615.
Microsoft’s new Surface Go tablet is perfect for all your daily tasks, delivering the lightness and compactness of a tablet with the speed and performance of a laptop.
Experience a stunning touchscreen that responds instantly and accurately to every finger touch. Get the most out of the latest Windows 10 Home operating system.
Handy and lightweight, the Surface Go fits easily into a regular bag. The weight of the tablet is only 522 grams, leaving the feeling of its complete absence. Even a child can lift Surface Go with one hand.
Surface Go is perfect for relaxing: watch movies in the comfort of your own home, chat with friends via video call or email, write, draw and more! A 10-inch screen with a resolution of 1800×1200 pixels will allow you to plunge into your favorite magazine or book, and the main memory of 64 or 128 gigabytes will ensure the safety of any number of files.
The latest Intel® processor based on Kaby Lake is highly energy efficient and provides up to 9 hours of battery life. Surface Go has built-in security, including verified Microsoft security, Windows Defender, parental controls, and worldwide support.
The 8MP HD rear camera lets you take stunning photos, capturing life’s important moments, while the 5MP front camera lets you take a picture with your friends. The Photos app lets you organize and structure all your pictures, while the Office suite gives you all the tools you need to manage your vast array of files.
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General characteristics |
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Brand |
Microsoft |
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Housing material |
aluminum |
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Operating system |
Windows 10 |
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Housing color |
Silver |
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Autonomy time |
9 a.m. |
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Features |
Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y processor; Windows Hello support |
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Equipment |
tablet, USB cable, AC adapter, manual |
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Dimension (WxHxD) |
292. |
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Weight |
522 g |
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Communication |
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LTE support |
No |
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Interfaces |
Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1 |
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Camera |
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Main camera |
yes, 8 megapixels |
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Front camera |
yes, 5 megapixels |
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Camera functions |
autofocus |
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Shield |
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Screen size |
10.1 inch |
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Image size |
1800×1200 |
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Screen type |
glossy, multi-touch |
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Touch screen |
capacitive |
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Pixels per inch (PPI) |
267 |
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Memory and processor |
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CPU frequency |
1. |
1 × 201.4 × 8.5 mm 