Microsoft has apparently decided to make the Surface Go line of tiny tablets a purely business device, announcing the Surface Go 4 for Business but without a consumer option. What’s new? The lack of Arm options and a new Intel processor.
Intel Microsoft didn’t reveal a starting price for the Surface Go 4 for Business, which it will sell via corporate channels. Businesses will also have the option of adding a massive Surface instead, as Microsoft announced the Surface Hub 3 as well, for conferences rooms. Again, no price was disclosed.
Microsoft updated three of its Surface laptops with new components at its fall event on Thursday, adding the Surface Laptop Studio 2, the Surface Laptop Go 3, and the Surface Go 4 for Business to fill various niches in its lineup.
The biggest change to the Surface Go 4 is the new Intel N200 processor. Because of its relatively low price, we assume that the Surface Go sells rather well. The problem is that the Surface Go 3, which our Surface Go 3 review felt was adequate, began with a $399 price tag for a model with 4GB of RAM. That eliminated it from our recommendations, and pushed the price up to the $629 tier with 8GB of RAM.
Now, Microsoft has at least done away with the 4GB option, still leaving the 10.5-inch tablet (1920×1280) virtually unchanged from the earlier Surface Go 3. The dimensions (9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches and 1.2 pounds) remain the same, with the same USB-C, microSD, and ports complementing the Surface Connect port and 3.5mm jack.
The Go 4 was rumored to continue the trend of repairable Surfaces, with a replaceable battery, display, kickstand, and motherboard. We’re happy to see that’s true. But the fudamental problem remains: This is a basic Windows tablet that requires the purchase of an additional keyboard and possibly a pen to make it truly useful.
You can preorder the Surface Go 4 for Business using Microsoft’s referral page.
Surface Go 4 for Business specs:
- Processor: Intel N200
- Display: 10.5-inch PixelSense (1920×1280, 220 PPI)
- Memory: 8GB LPDDR3
- Storage: UFS 64/128/256GB
- Graphics: UHD Graphics 615
- Ports: USB-C (5Gbps), Surface Connect, microSDXC, Surface Connect, Surface Type Cover
- Security: Windows Hello depth camera
- Camera: User-facing: 5.0MPixel (1080p video); rear-facing: 8.0MP (1080p video)
- Battery: 26.8Wh (design), 26.0Wh (full)
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0
- Operating system: Windows 11 Home in S Mode
- Dimensions: 9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33in. (8.3mm)
- Weight: 1.2 pounds (without keyboard)
- Color: Platinum
- Prices: Undisclosed
- Optional accessories: Surface Go Type Cover ($84.99-$129.99 MSRP), Surface Pen ($99.99), Microsoft Classroom Pen, Microsoft Business Pen
Author: Mark Hachman, Senior Editor, PCWorld
Mark has written for PCWorld for the last decade, with 30 years of experience covering technology. He has authored over 3,500 articles for PCWorld alone, covering PC microprocessors, peripherals, and Microsoft Windows, among other topics. Mark has written for publications including PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science and Electronic Buyers' News, where he shared a Jesse H. Neal Award for breaking news. He recently handed over a collection of several dozen Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs because his office simply has no more room.