Microsoft Surface 10.5" 10100Y Platinum 2021

A tiny Windows tablet with a big RAM upgrade and a CPU that belongs in 2015. Buy it for light work, not for speed.

The 8GB of RAM is the saving grace here. It keeps multitasking smooth enough for a handful of browser tabs and a document or two without constant reloading. The 128GB SSD is also a pleasant surprise for a device this small, and it's well above average for the category. But that Core i3-10100Y is a single-core chip that struggles with anything beyond basic tasks. The GPU is even worse, landing in the 13th percentile, so don't expect any gaming or heavy photo editing. The 10.5-inch 1920x1280 display is sharp enough, but it's middle of the pack for brightness and color. Battery life is a weak spot too, sitting in the 30th percentile, so plan on carrying a charger.

The Surface Go 3's real competition is the iPad Pro M5 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, and honestly, both of those absolutely demolish it in performance. The iPad Pro's M5 chip is in a different universe compared to this Core i3, and the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra has a display that makes the Surface's screen look washed out. But those tablets cost significantly more and don't run full Windows 11. The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is a closer match on price and also runs Windows, but it's heavier and less portable. If you need Windows in a tiny package, the Surface Go 3 is the pick. If you just want a fast tablet, get the iPad or Galaxy.

At $379 USD, this is a decent price for a Windows tablet with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, especially since new Surface Go 3 units typically cost more. But you're rolling the dice on refurbished condition. One buyer got a scratched display, another got a fatal boot error. The Amazon Renewed guarantee covers replacements, but that's still a hassle. If you catch a clean unit, it's a good value. If you don't, you'll wish you'd bought new.

The Surface Go 3 is Microsoft's tiny 2-in-1 that punches above its weight class for basic Windows tasks, but this refurbished unit is a gamble. The Core i3-10100Y and 8GB of RAM handle light productivity and streaming fine, but that CPU sits at the 1st percentile in our database, which is a polite way of saying it's one of the slowest processors we've ever tested. If you need a compact Windows tablet for notes, browsing, and Office work, this is a solid deal at $379 USD. If you expect anything resembling 'fast,' look elsewhere.

If you're looking for a tablet that feels snappy and responsive, skip this. The Core i3-10100Y is one of the slowest processors we've tested, and the GPU is nearly useless. Go get an iPad Pro M5 or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra instead. If you need Windows specifically but want more power, look at a refurbished Surface Pro with an i5 or better.

The Surface Go 3 is a niche device that works if you know exactly what you're getting: a compact Windows machine for light tasks. The 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD make it usable, and the $379 USD refurbished price is fair. But the CPU is painfully slow, the battery life is mediocre, and refurbished units have quality control issues. If you need Windows portability and can live with the performance ceiling, buy it. If you want a tablet that feels fast, this isn't it.