Microsoft Surface Earbuds Review: Productivity For A Price

Microsoft Surface Earbuds

Micorsoft Surface Earbuds

"As a productivity tool, Surface Earbuds offer solid value."

  • Integration with Microsoft 365

  • IPX4 waterproof

  • Eight hours of audio playback

  • Aesthetically unique design

  • No noise cancellation

  • Value depends on the brand

Microsoft has taken a chance with its new Surface Earbuds. One of the largest technology companies in the world could try to survive in a new area by beating its competitors in its own game. Or it could double on its own brand and rely on creating a truly unique experience.

You can probably guess which direction Microsoft is headed.

The $ 200 Surface Earbuds are here and come at a lot cheaper than the price at which they were originally launched in late 2019 – $ 250.Microsoft marketed and integrated them as a pair of real wireless earbuds made almost exclusively for professional use the new buds as creatively as possible in its own software. The company accidentally raised an important question: Can the surface earbuds be the ultimate productivity buds and thrive as everyday wearables?

Out of the box

The packaging for the Microsoft Surface Earbuds is classically minimalist: a white box with a single image of the buds even on the top. The glossy white charging case with the Microsoft logo is located under the lid. The buds rest inside with a USB-C charging cable, two additional pairs of earplugs, and product documents.

Microsoft Surface EarbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The surface earphones are set up in one of two ways – simple or super simple. If you've ever paired wireless earphones with your smartphone, this process is no different. However, if you pair the Surface Earbuds with a Surface PC, Microsoft has a Swift Pair feature to make the connection much easier. This feature is similar to the quick connect features of Google Pixel Buds 2 and Apple AirPods, and is a trend we'd love to see more of in the future.

Microsoft has its own Surface Audio app with useful but not essential video tutorials. Without firmware updates and a supplied equalizer, you could completely do without the app and not miss much.

Surface earbuds support connections to multiple devices, so switching between your phone and computer is not a problem. As for the connections themselves, I did not notice any significant dropouts during the review period. This included cases where I left my phone in the house and ventured into my humble garden.

design

Part of me is inexplicably fascinated by the aesthetics of the surface earbuds. Another part of me wants to bring the whole design back to the drawing board. Of course there is a lot to unpack here.

Microsoft Surface EarbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The description of the buds we gave at the company's Surface Hardware event in October 2019 remains accurate – from the outside, they resemble measuring earrings. Granted, I've never been a fan of this actual earring style. But when I go back to earbud design, I find that kind of groundbreaking look very appealing.

There is a soft silicone earplug on the other side of the touch-sensitive outer pane. I swapped the original tips for the smaller version to give the buds a safer feel in my ears. According to Microsoft, the Surface Earbuds have four anchor points to ensure the most effective fit possible.

Ironically, my design complaint is about fit. These are heavy buds; At 7.3 grams each, they're stronger than most of the competition, including those from Apple and Google, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Buds + and Amazon Echo Buds, and they extend slightly outside the ear. Both are relatively small and forgivable topics. What is annoying is that buds offered as workhorses simply don't have the secure fit to take on this role – especially when the wearer is training.

I've tried running with these buds twice, and both times I got into a swamp because I had to constantly readjust them during my run. I have not ruled out having bulky ear canals, although I have not encountered these problems in any of the buds that I have recently checked. Regardless, it's one of those bugs that gets worse every time, and it leaves a sour taste in terms of usability.

To be fair, press materials for the Surface Earbuds refrained from mentioning sports compatibility and made it clear that they were simply not intended for this type of activity. However, if you are considering spending $ 200 on earphones, this is an important distinction. You will not run with them or participate in high-intensity workouts.

properties

The standard functions of the Surface Earbuds are competitive, but not unique: IPX4 water resistance, eight hours of battery life with three additional charging processes and touch controls for completing tasks such as changing music, making calls and interacting with intelligent assistants, including Microsoft's own Cortana. Aside from an auto pause when pulling out a bud, which is oddly MIA, the Surface Earbuds have numerous features that help them measure themselves against the industry giants.

Microsoft Surface EarbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Honestly, if that were all the Surface Earbuds had to offer, I would recommend looking elsewhere. There are other options that perform these functions as well, and in some cases better, to reduce the burden on the old bank account. Fortunately, it’s the capabilities of Surface Earbuds when used with Microsoft 365 that put them in a separate class.

If you run an iOS device with the Surface Earbuds, you can listen to, delete and reply to emails on the go thanks to the "Play my emails" function in the Outlook mobile app. Are you looking for something that is a bit more innovative? Using the earphones with PowerPoint on a PC offers the possibility to activate live subtitles and subtitles, both of which can be translated into one of more than 60 different languages.

Granted, this may be a niche advantage rather than a common feature – at the moment I have to assume that most everyday Surface Earbuds owners don't have to translate their presentations into different languages. It is still a good option if the reason ever shows up.

Most of all, I think Microsoft's dictation feature is the most appropriate. In programs like PowerPoint, Outlook, and Microsoft Word, you can use your voice to dictate content while Microsoft is writing it down for you. It is not a perfect tool as you might expect. Based on my experience, I have corrected some grammatical errors here and there. This function is already available from Microsoft without the buds themselves being needed. However, I found that the two built-in microphones on each earphone recorded my speech more effectively, and I was able to write this section of the review almost entirely with dictations.

As far as I know, the Microsoft Word app does not currently support dictation, so this is not a mobile-friendly function. However, this could change in the future and leave the door open to improve an already fascinating function. In terms of productivity, this could really be a game changer with a few tweaks.

Audio quality

Call quality is the most important component of the audio quality of Surface Earbuds, if you follow Microsoft's mantra to get things done. According to my tests, the microphones mentioned above do an excellent job in each bud by both picking up your voice and playing down background noise.

Microsoft Surface EarbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

For music playback and other content, the Surface Earbuds are equipped with 13.6 mm drivers (relatively large for earphones), which can be operated in a frequency range from 20 to 20,000 Hz. They support SBC and aptX audio codecs and offer what Microsoft has called the "Surface Omnisonic Sound Profile" to improve the sound.

The resulting sound quality is … good. The sizeable drivers handle the low end well, and the music in general is wonderfully clear. Overall, Microsoft has achieved a performance that is almost identical to the mainstream functions: a sound that does not surpass its competitors, but sounds objectively good enough to sit at the table. The problem is that Microsoft grabbed one of the most expensive chairs in the house. The fact that Microsoft lowered the retail price for the Surface Earbuds between the autumn release and the spring release is a sense of self-awareness. However, this is a band aid rather than a long-term solution.

The surface earbuds lose brownie points because they have no active noise cancellation, let alone effective passive noise isolation. It goes without saying that I have not yet commuted with these, but a morning walk through a busy street made a lot of noise penetrate my listening experience. Sure, you can turn up the volume to drown things out. At normal listening levels, however, you'll hear the outside world in addition to your podcasts and playlists.

Our opinion

When used as a work environment tool in conjunction with Microsoft's own devices and software, the Surface Earbuds offer solid value and an experience that no other pair of buds can currently offer. They are simply not the most flexible real wireless option for the money, and it is not realistic to expect it.

Are there any better alternatives?

They are hard to beat in terms of productivity. But when things like audio quality, battery life or usability come into play, the locks open. The $ 179 Google Pixel Buds 2, $ 129 Amazon Echo Buds, and $ 150 Samsung Galaxy Buds + offer better values ​​for what they offer. The Sony WF-1000XM3 currently only costs $ 30 more than the Surface Earbuds and is our preferred wireless earbud overall.

How long will they last?

It helps to be Microsoft here. Without considering the Surface Earbuds' one-year limited hardware warranty, these buds were born with Microsoft's reputation for making well-built devices. Expect the surface earphones to last a long time if they are well cared for.

Should you buy them

Yes, but only if you're looking for earbuds that can really act as a productivity tool, and for a good one. Otherwise, you will find buds for a better value that better suits your needs.

Editor's recommendations




Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 Review: Less Is More

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2

"The Surface Headphones 2 offer all-day comfort and intuitive controls to stand out from the crowd."

  • Inexpensive

  • good sound

  • Excellent control

  • Good noise cancellation

  • Disappointing battery life

  • Distortion at higher volumes

Microsoft's original Surface headphones were surprisingly good since the company had never made noise canceling headphones before. They brought solid noise cancellation, respectable sound quality and were very comfortable. In addition, the intuitive controls were top notch.

However, they were slowed down by poor battery life, a lack of high quality Bluetooth codecs, and no real way to optimize settings like the EQ. They were expensive too. At $ 350, they went head-to-toe with Sony's incredibly good WH-1000XM3. Microsoft had little hope of winning this fight.

Microsoft's second attempt, the Surface Headphones 2, is less like a new version than a confirmation that too much was charged for the first Surface Headphones. With a price tag of $ 250 and some small improvements, the Surface Headphones 2 are looking for a niche.

Now at a cheaper price

It may seem strange to start a headphone review by talking about money, but in this case it is justified. The biggest change Microsoft made to the Surface Headphones 2 is the price. At $ 250, they're $ 100 less than the original Surface headphones. It makes a big difference. Not only are they cheaper, they are also cheaper because they also contain some extras.

design

If you place the Microsoft Surface Headphones and the Surface Headphones 2 side by side, you will hardly notice any differences … unless you choose the matt black option, which connects the previous light gray.

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The new model has an identical design with the same minimalist aesthetics. The seamless headband, the one-sided swivel arms for the ear cup and the subtle Windows logo are copies of the first generation. Fortunately, these are also the particularly comfortable ear cushions and the characteristic knob controls for volume and active noise suppression.

The large touchpads on each ear cup are easy to use and react very quickly to knocking.

At $ 250, they're $ 100 less than the original Surface headphones, and that makes a big difference.

A small change is the ability to freely rotate each ear cup 180 degrees so that you can wear the Surface Headphones 2 more comfortably around your neck when you're not using them. You can also perform DJ-style one-ear monitoring when using the analog cable.

In short, Microsoft made the wise decision to keep all of the physical traits that helped the first generation stand out.

Comfort still stands out the most. I wore these headphones for a full 9-to-5 working day when I got myself into this rating, and apart from sweaty ears (an inevitable consequence of closed headphones), I never felt a hint of discomfort. It is remarkable.

Still, I don't think they'll be the best companion in the gym. Stationary bikes, ellipticals, and free weights shouldn't be a problem, but bumpy activities like running or skipping rope can cause the headphones to move slightly. In this case, greater comfort goes hand in hand with a loose fit, making the Surface Headphones 2 more suitable for long sessions at the desk than for long trips in the city.

Cortana and language support

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

A hands-free voice assistant is a great convenience – one of the things I like most about products like AirPods Pro from Apple, Pixel Buds 2 from Google and Echo Buds from Amazon. And although Cortana hasn't won as many hearts and minds as Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa, it was a cool feature of the first-generation Surface headphones to be able to talk to her without pressing a button.

Unfortunately, Cortana has almost given up the second-generation Surface cans. You can still access your voice commands. To do this, however, you need Microsoft apps such as Outlook Mobile. Once it's set up (a complicated process), you can call Cortana hands-free, for example to read your email. Only certain types of email accounts are supported. You can only use this if you are in the United States.

I suspect most people – unless they're hardcore Office 365 fans – will ignore this feature and simply use the device's built-in wizard, which you can run by long-pressing the touchpad on one of the ear cups.

In its briefing with journalists, Microsoft promoted the fact that both the Surface Headphones 2 and the new Surface Buds can perform subtitles and translations in real time in Microsoft apps such as PowerPoint. It's definitely a solid tool, but I can't see too many business people standing in front of a boardroom with meeting attendees with full-sized headphones. The Surface Earbuds are a different story.

Battery life

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The original Surface headphones suffered from poor battery life. With just 15 hours (or 18 hours if you turned off Cortana's voice activation feature) between charges, they fell significantly behind noise-canceling headphones at the same price – many of which can last twice as long. We are used to spending 25 to 30 hours or more on premium noise canceling headphones.

Microsoft has made some profits in this department, but frankly not as much as I would like. The battery life is said to be 20 hours when the ANC is turned on, which is better, but still a long way from cheap ANC headphones like these Taotronics.

After five minutes of quick charging, you get an additional hour of play, which is also not exactly convincing. With the WH-1000XM3 from Sony you get five hours after 10 minutes of charging.

Audio quality

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Like their predecessors, the Surface Headphones 2 deliver a strong sound. Microsoft calls it Omnisonic sound, but you can calculate that down to marketing language. In practice, these headphones deliver a rich, full sound that can be extensively optimized using the new Surface Audio app for iOS and Android (which you can also use with the first generation Surface Headphones).

Rock, jazz, classical and pop presets have expanded these genres, which presets don't always do right.

With the factory settings, you hear a very flat response that audio purists look for in their speakers and headphones. Highs, lows and mids are all well balanced, and the bass response is just so clear that your favorite songs have a real presence. These cans don't offer the precision, clarity, and depth of the soundstage you get with high-end headphones, but given their new, cheaper price, they're no longer a deal-breaker.

If you jump into the EQ settings of the app, you can move this bass from benign to bombastic in one fell swoop. Can you find a combination of settings that you like? You can save them with your own labels – a huge improvement over the first pass. I found that the rock, jazz, classical and pop presets built into the app actually improved these genres, which isn't always right with presets.

Although the overall sound quality remains unchanged from the first version, Microsoft has added support for the aptX Bluetooth codec, which is said to improve sound quality when used with devices that support it. However, my iPhone 11 doesn't support this, so I couldn't test it.

With moderate traffic noise and peaceful interiors, the calls were clear and the noise was reduced to a minimum.

As good as their sound is, I've found a significant disadvantage. If you set the volume to 9, 10 or 11, distortion can creep in. I first noticed them on Death Cab For Cuties To the Ground's snare drum beats. A quick review of other tracks like my favorite low-end bass shaker Boom Boom Pow by the Black Eyed Peas confirmed that bass drums can do the same thing.

Everything north of Volume 8 is almost painfully loud and I can't imagine that you want to expose yourself to these levels for a very long time. However, it is surprising that Microsoft did not tune the Surface Headphones 2 to the distortion.

Call quality

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 offer excellent call quality. With moderate traffic noise and peaceful interiors, the calls were clear and the noise was reduced to a minimum.

The only minor problem was the ANC function. You can usually choose between 13 noise reduction levels and two pass-through modes with the left ear cup wheel: normal pass-through and ambient gain.

Passthrough is ideal for calls because it allows you to hear your own voice naturally. However, during a call – and sometimes at other times – pass-through mode will switch back to the lowest ANC setting, usually accompanied by an audible click.

I contacted Microsoft to see if the Surface team knew why this was happening, but I had no response at the time of publication.

Noise canceling quality

I have to say that after using many different ANC headphones, I like the Microsoft noise cancellation system the most. That doesn't mean that the Surface Headphones 2 at ANC are better than the Sony WH-1000XM3 or the Bose Noise Canceling 700 – they are not. However, their dial-controlled intensity is impressive and intuitive.

It hasn't changed since the first generation cans, but it's still worth pointing out. It's a far better way to adjust the amount of outside noise you want to let in than using app-based presets. This is usually done this way.

The ANC itself is not bad either. There is a very small hiss when you are not playing music and it does not provide complete silence, but it does reduce slightly loud roaring noises like bathroom fans or vacuum cleaners to an acceptably quiet level.

Our opinion

The Microsoft Surface Headphones were surpassed by their competitors at $ 350. With a price tag of $ 250 and a slight increase in battery life, the Surface Headphones deserve 2 serious considerations.

Is there a better alternative?

You can usually find Jabra's Elite 85H for around $ 250. With a better battery life, slightly better sound quality and water resistance, they are an excellent alternative to the Surface Headphones 2.

However, they don't have Surface's excellent dial-based controls, which makes the most accessed functions much easier and more user-friendly.

How long will they last?

Microsoft grants a one-year warranty on the Surface Headphones 2, which is common for headphones. Their build quality looks better than average and I think that with reasonable care they should last for many years.

Should you buy them

Yes. The price of the Surface Headphone 2 is the biggest improvement and does what was once an overpriced product at a very good price. They have a shorter battery life than the competition, but with great sound, comfort and ANC, as well as some of the best controls on all headphones, they have definitely found their niche.

Editor's recommendations




Microsoft Surface Go 2 Review: The Awkward Teenager

Microsoft Surface Go 2 review 05

"The Surface Go 2 still doesn't live up to its infinite potential."

  • Nice, bright screen

  • Light but robust

  • Runs a full version of Windows 10

  • Intel Core m3 offers solid performance

  • Too expensive

  • Using tablets is still difficult

  • The battery life is missing

The Surface Go 2 is the clumsy teenager in the Surface family.

The Surface Pro is grown up, confident and goal-oriented. The upcoming Surface Duo and Surface Neo are the children of the family, full of promises that have yet to be proven. But the Go 2 surface? It pushes in between. It's smart and has an idea of ​​what to do, but it doesn't seem to be sure.

Starting at $ 400, the iPad is the most direct competitor at $ 329. However, you will have to pay an additional $ 70 for the Type Cover keyboard connector. My updated Surface Go 2 test device with Type Cover costs $ 700.

Has Microsoft optimized the formula so far that Go 2 finds its place?

Design and display

Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

The Go 2 is the latest in a long line of Microsoft attempts to make a small Surface device. The Surface Go was first launched in 2018, but preceded the original Surface, which started in Windows RT in 2012.

The size of the screen is the most notable change in the formula. It now measures diagonally at 10.5 inches, grown by 10 inches. It's only 5% more screen, but on smaller devices every half inch counts.

The screen itself is beautiful, especially for a device for $ 399.

Microsoft did this by adding only 0.05 pounds to the weight of the device, which is important. The Go 2's portability differs from the Surface Pro and allows it to compete with the iPad. The ability to hold and operate the device in one hand is crucial.

To avoid enlargement, the Surface Go 2 has slightly smaller side panels than its predecessor. I like this change, although I want more. I am spoiled by the current number of tablets and laptops, which do much more to improve the screen-to-body ratio. The lower panel of course allows the Type Cover keyboard to sit at its angle.

From the port's perspective, nothing has changed. Like the original, the Surface Go 2 has a USB-C port, a Surface Connect dock, a headphone jack and a microSD card slot. You can charge using either the USB-C port or the Surface Connect dock. This is useful if you want to charge when connecting USB accessories.

Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

The screen itself is beautiful, especially for a device for $ 399. A laptop for this price is probably not even 1080p and is likely to be dark and saturated. Not the Surface Go 2. The 1,920 x 1,280 panel is lively, bright and sharp. There are laptops and tablets with more accurate colors or higher contrast, but none at this price.

That is, of course, with the exception of the 10.2-inch iPad for $ 329. The 2,160 x 1,620 display has a higher pixel density and is also a bit brighter. But let's be honest – the real advantage of the iPad over the Surface Go 2 is not the build quality or the display. It's in the software department.

Software problems galore

Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

The Surface Go 2 is delivered with "Windows 10 in S mode". This is the tablet's first software problem. Not many Windows devices sell a lot with this unfortunate version of Windows 10, which prevents you from installing EXE files from the Internet.

Do you think it doesn't concern you? I quickly reached the limits of S mode when I called out about zoom after our morning hustle and bustle. The Surface Go 2 comes with a 1080p, 5 megapixel webcam that is perfect for video conferencing. However, I found that S mode was preventing me from downloading the app and instead referred me to the Microsoft Store.

Fine. I click on the store and of course find that zoom is nowhere to be found. It is such situation ties that make S mode a problematic idea.

And yes, just get out of S mode. A restart is not even necessary. But "S mode" is not a phrase most tech-savvy people know, and they certainly don't know why they should turn it on or off. The warning Microsoft is giving about performance and battery life is enough to keep most people from switching to normal Windows 10.

Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

Except for S mode, the status of Windows 10 tablet mode has not improved in the past five years. It's still not a touch-friendly software experience. Most of the gestures are not intuitive. It works, but it is rough.

Obviously, Microsoft has no interest in improving tablet mode as it is actively working on its replacement Windows 10X. The company recently announced that the touch-friendly interface for single-screen devices will be available before the more experimental two-screen devices.

The Surface Go 2 is in a strange transition from Windows 10 to Windows 10X.

A computer is only as good as the software it runs. The Surface Go 2 is unfortunately stuck in the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 10X.

Keyboard and touchpad

Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

The Surface Go 2 was introduced in the middle of the change of the iPad. Apple's tablets now offer full cursor and mouse support and a fancy Magic Keyboard attachment. This makes the iPad Pro feel more like a serious laptop replacement.

In terms of price, however, the real competition for the Surface Go 2 is the $ 329 iPad from 2019. If this iPad could use the Magic keyboard, the Surface Go 2 would be in trouble. However, this doesn't mean that the $ 329 iPad doesn't have the old smart keyboard, which lacks a touchpad. Alternatively, you can try a third-party keyboard case, such as the Logitech Combo Touch.

Because of its small size, typing feels a little uncomfortable when touched.

The Surface Go 2 has a solid keyboard, but is not perfect. For example, typing with the touch feels a little uncomfortable. The layout of the QWERTY line is a little too far to the left, making it difficult to reach the "R" key without lifting the rest of my fingers. This is exactly where the T button should be.

I had the same problem with the original Surface Go, although I was able to re-familiarize myself within a few hours. The solution? I hover my fingers over the buttons instead of resting them on a standard layout.

The touchpad isn't huge, but it does respond. Other Windows 10 laptops at this price usually have textured plastic touchpads that are nowhere near as smooth as the Type Cover.

Although the Surface Go 2 doesn't come with the Type Cover, Microsoft currently only charges $ 70 for the attachment. Apple charges $ 160 for its Smart Keyboard and Magic Keyboard from $ 250.

The Surface Go 2 is also compatible with the $ 100 Surface Pen, although Microsoft hasn't bundled it with our review sample. I was satisfied with the Surface Pen in the past and I assume that this will also be the case with the Surface Go 2. For some, this may be a primary reason to buy the device because the Surface Go 2 is the cheapest compatible device with the Surface Pen.

performance

Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

The Surface Go 2 is available in two versions. Both have dual-core processors, but the big news is the more expensive variant, which is powered by an Intel Core m3-8100Y. This is a premiere for the Surface Go, which in the past only offered Intel Pentium Gold chips.

It's a big change for the better. The Surface Go 2 is almost 50% faster than its predecessor in benchmarks. Apps load faster, multitasking is smoother, and finding the performance cap is much more difficult. It is not impossible, but now beyond what many people want to do with this device.

The best part? The Surface Go 2 is fanless, stays quiet and surprisingly cool with a variety of workloads.

However, the Core m3 model costs $ 630. It also comes with 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD. That's not a terrible price for the specs, but you can buy an Intel Core i5 or a new AMD Ryzen 7 chip for the same price. Just don't expect it to be as slim and slim as the Go 2.

The Surface Go 2 is fanless and therefore remains completely noiseless and cool.

The new MacBook Air is a good reference. It was recently updated with a 10th generation Core i3 processor that only contains two cores and four threads. The air benchmarks are 15% faster in the single-core area and 20% in the multi-core area than in the Surface Go 2. This is not a big gap, and the launch of the Air is much more expensive at $ 1,000 .

It's a pity that the Intel Core m3 is not a standard. The basic Surface Go 2 comes with the Pentium 4425Y, a small step up from the Pentium 4415Y in the original Surface Go. I haven't tested it yet, but expect performance similar to the original Go with some issues.

This is the version most people are likely to buy, and that's a problem. It offers less headroom for multitasking, especially if you want to connect an external monitor. If you match memory and storage, the Intel Core m3 option is only $ 80 more expensive, but offers a significant increase in performance.

Battery life

Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

There are situations when the Surface Go 2 is a fantastic companion. It is the perfect size to use recipes and videos in the kitchen or to travel as a work and media device. However, these tasks require long battery life, and the original Surface Go lacked endurance. It only took about five hours on a single charge.

The Surface Go 2 is even worse thanks to the faster Core m3 chip and the 27 watt-hour battery. With light use, it took about four hours and thirteen minutes. With my standard mix of multitasking, streaming music, web apps and office, it was less than four hours. I even tried my normal routine in Microsoft's new Edge browser, but that didn't help.

My local video playback test was the only bright spot. It took an impressive eleven hours and fifteen minutes, and even exceeded Microsoft's own ten hours. Unfortunately, if you do something more essential, that number will drop significantly.

Budget laptops often don't offer much more battery life, but the iPad is a longer-lasting device that offers seven to eight hours in many situations.

More expensive Surface devices also do better. While consuming more power, they make up for it with much larger batteries.

Our opinion

The Surface Go 2 is a device that I want to love. In many ways, it's the 2-in-1 I've always wanted. With the right software running, a more comfortable keyboard, thinner bezels, and better battery life, I can consider using both a tablet and a laptop to ensure the life of a single device.

This dream device is a completely different device than today's Surface Go 2. The next iteration may be the one that reaches the next level, but the Surface Go 2 doesn't make the cut.

Are there alternatives?

Among the tablets, the iPad is the best alternative for $ 329. It's lighter, has a better screen, and destroys the Surface Go in its software experience.

Good alternatives for laptops are the $ 650 Pixelbook Go, which offers a better laptop experience, and the $ 650 Acer Swift 3 with Ryzen, which offers a lot more power.

How long it will take?

The Surface Go 2 may feel chunkier earlier than other laptops and 2-in-1 devices you can buy in 2020. The installations were already a year or two ago. Microsoft grants a standard one-year warranty on its Surface products.

Should you buy it

No. It's a solid device for people who want Surface functionality at low UVP, but most people will be better off with the Surface Pro, an iPad, or a Chromebook.

Editor's recommendations




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