Skip to main content

The new Surface Go 3 flexes its Windows 11 tablet improvements

This story is part of our complete Microsoft Events coverage

During Microsoft’s Surface event today, the company is finally pulled the wraps off of its much-rumored, next-gen Surface products. This includes the Surface Go 3, an update to the lightweight 2-in-1 meant to compete with lower-cost tablets like the $329 iPad.

The exterior is nearly identical to the Surface Go 2. The Surface Go 3 retains the same 10.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with a 1080p display. The 5-megapixel front and 8-megapixel rear cameras are carried over as well, making it a solid choice for students and families.

Surface Go 3 with type cover and mouse.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Surface Go 3 also keeps all of the same ports, including a USB-C and Surface Connect, which helps maintain compatibility with existing Surface docks.

Recommended Videos

Internally, the Surface Go 3 received minor updates, but even these modest specs should handle Windows 11 well enough. You get a choice between a dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor or a quad-core 10th-gen Core i3-1011Y. Microsoft says upgrading to the Core i3 model makes it “60% faster.”

Storage options of 64GB eMMC and 128GB SSD remain, but Microsoft has also added a larger 256GB SSD storage option. You also have an option between either 4GB or 8GB of RAM.

Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and LTE Advanced using the same Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 LTE modem as the Surface Go 2. Being a Surface device naturally means it has support for the Surface Pen and the Surface Type Cover. There’s also “enhanced hardware security,” which includes a TPM 2.0 chip for enterprise customers. All of this makes it more compatible with Windows 11 than some modern, high-end gaming rigs.

Surface Go 3 product shot with Surface Pen.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The primary upside to the Surface Go 3 is how much better it will be running Windows 11 instead of Windows 10. Windows 11 implements new design changes that make it easier to use touch input. This includes being able to easily manipulate windows using your fingers, as well as redesigned controls such as volume and brightness that are also touch-friendly. Instead of tablet mode, the UI changes slightly to enable bigger buttons and icons. Changes like these make Windows 11 a more natural fit for the Surface line.

Like the Surface Go 2, the Surface Go 3 will run Windows 11 Home in S mode. This means apps can only be downloaded from the revamped Microsoft Store. That may not be such a bad thing considering that makes devices simpler, safer, and easier to manage in education settings. Combine that with the eventual addition of Android apps via the Amazon App Store, and you may have a potent little tablet that provides a compelling alternative to the iPad.

The Wi-Fi-only version of the Surface Go 3 starts at $400, and it’s available for pre-order starting today.

David Matthews
Former Digital Trends Contributor
David is a freelance journalist based just outside of Washington D.C. specializing in consumer technology and gaming. He has…
Microsoft is cracking down on unsupported Windows 11 installs
A Dell laptop with Windows 10 sitting on a desk.

A support document showing users how to install Windows 11 on unsupported PCs was deleted sometime in the past two months. Its disappearance, noticed by Neowin, echoes Microsoft's recent "year of the Windows 11 PC refresh" rhetoric, encouraging (or forcing) users to buy new PCs that meet Windows 11 hardware requirements.

When Windows 11 launched in 2021, Microsoft announced that it was adding TPM 2.0 as a hardware requirement -- a move that was met with plenty of resistance. To soften the blow, Microsoft also published a support document detailing how users could edit their registry key values to bypass the TPM 2.0 check.

Read more
Microsoft just added a secret file sharing feature to Windows 11
Drag Tray feature on Windows Insiders build.

Another secret feature has been spotted in one of the latest Windows 11 Insider preview builds. Discovered by X user phantomofearth and reported by Tom's Hardware, it appears that Microsoft is trying out a 'Drag Tray' for sharing files. When you pick up a file and drag it toward the top of the screen, a tray will drop down with different sharing options.

The feature was found in Build 22635.4805 but it's not included in Microsoft's release notes, which means there's no saying if or when it will make it to the general release of Windows 11. Anything that makes sharing files easier is a welcome feature, however, so fingers crossed that Microsoft gets it working well and decides to push it to everyone.

Read more
Microsoft’s Copilot app has a new icon, and it’s causing problems
Copilot on a laptop on a desk.

Bad news if you have a PC with a low resolution since Microsoft's new Copilot app icon is almost impossible to decipher on them, according to Windows Central. Microsoft's new logo now includes a bit of text embedded in the icon, which, depending on the resolution of your screen, might be impossible to read.

The poor design has not gone unnoticed online. Users can barely read the icon on their screens when they pin it to the Taskbar, and the lower pixel density makes it even harder to read the icon's text. If you have a Surface Laptop Go, which has a very low resolution display, there is a good chance you had no idea it said "M365." When you first saw it, you may have confused it with text such as MJEG, M366, or M355.

Read more