Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 12.4" 1ZO - 00001 Platinum 2020

A gorgeous, ultra-light laptop ruined by a shockingly bad base configuration. Buy the upgraded model or don't buy one at all.

The Core i5-1035G1 is a perfectly capable chip for everyday tasks, but it's absolutely starved for resources here. With only 4GB of RAM, Windows 10 in S mode is doing triage just to keep a few browser tabs open. The eMMC storage is the real killer, though. It's not just small, it's slow. Opening apps or booting up feels like waiting for a dial-up connection. In our database, the storage and RAM sit at the 5th and 2nd percentile respectively, which is one of the worst showings we've ever logged. The CPU itself is a letdown at the 19th percentile, but honestly, you'll never push it hard enough to notice because the memory and drive will choke first.

The Surface Laptop Go's main rival is the base model Apple MacBook Air M5, which is in a completely different universe performance-wise but costs more. A more direct budget fight is with something like a Lenovo IdeaPad or an HP Pavilion Aero, which will give you a proper SSD and 8GB of RAM for a similar price. The ASUS ExpertBook is another solid alternative that doesn't skimp on the fundamentals. Compared to any of those, this Surface feels like a designer handbag with nothing inside.

This is a terrible value. The price range we're seeing is wild, from $451 to an absurd $16,999, but even at the low end, you're paying for a pretty chassis with guts that belong in a 2012 netbook. For the same money, you can get a used ThinkPad or a new Chromebook with vastly better specs. The only way this makes sense is if you find it heavily discounted and plan to use it as a single-tab web machine for writing.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go is a beautiful little machine that Microsoft completely kneecapped with its base configuration. The design, keyboard, and portability are best-in-class for a budget ultraportable. But the 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage in this model are a cruel joke. It feels like buying a sports car with a speed limiter set to 35 mph. If you can find the 8GB/128GB SSD version, it's a different conversation entirely. This one? It's a trap.

If you're looking for a primary laptop for school, work, or anything beyond basic web browsing and typing, this isn't it. Go get a used Lenovo ThinkPad or a new mid-range Chromebook instead. You'll get a machine that actually works without wanting to throw it out a window.

Don't buy this configuration. The Surface Laptop Go's hardware is fundamentally good, but this specific model is a non-starter. The 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage make it frustrating to use out of the box, and it will only get worse. If you're set on the Laptop Go, hunt down the 8GB/128GB SSD version. Otherwise, walk away and get a Chromebook or a used business laptop that will run circles around this thing.