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    Surface Laptop Go 3 (8GB)
    A 12.4-inch laptop tested with Windows 11 Home, an Intel Core i5 1235U 2.5GHz processor, 8GB of memory, integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, a touchscreen, and 256GB solid-state drive.
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    Description
    A 12.4-inch laptop tested with Windows 11 Home, an Intel Core i5 1235U 2.5GHz processor, 8GB of memory, integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, a touchscreen, and 256GB solid-state drive.

    CR Expert Take

    How did it perform in our owner surveys and expert lab testing?

    What goes into the Overall Score?

    Ratings

    OWNER SURVEYS

    Predicted Reliability
     /  5
    Owner Satisfaction
     /  5

    EXPERT LAB TESTS

    Portability
     /  5
    Performance
     /  5
    Display
     /  5
    Ergonomics
     /  5
    Versatility
     /  5
    Battery Life - web (hr.)
     /  5
    Battery Life - video (hr.)
     /  5
    Weight (lbs.)
     /  5
    OS
     /  5
    Touch screen
     /  5

    Detailed Test Results

    Performance: Overall this laptop's performance was good, below that of many other models but still powerful enough for tasks such as email, word processing, web browsing, and streaming movies. Compared to other tested laptops, its speed was adequate for common tasks such as web browsing, video conferencing, and application startup. Performance was okay but on the slow side when composing documents, working on data spreadsheets, and running other productivity tasks, and it was slow for manipulating images, editing videos, and calculating simulations.

    Portability: This laptop is a very good choice for traveling. Battery life lasted 12.75 hours in a light load of web browsing tests, and 10.75 hours in a heavier load of 4K video playback tests. Results were notably longer than many similar laptops, under a workload of mixed use. At 2.5 lbs, weight was typical for a laptop of this size category.

    Ergonomics: The keyboard was not full-sized, and might be uncomfortable for larger hands. Its high contrast letters were easy to read, and the backlighting can be useful in dark rooms. The power button was well labeled and conveniently located. The touchpad was uncomfortably small, providing less space for gestures than most others tested. The touchscreen is smooth enough for fast swipes, and fingerprints clean off easily. Testers liked the sturdy build of the chassis.

    Display: The display quality was very good overall. Colors were near-accurate, and mostly realistic and natural looking. The display has a wide viewing angle, especially important if more than one person needs to see the screen at a time, say, for a video or presentation.

    Useful features and attributes on this model include: Laptop has a touchscreen. The fingerprint reader lets you log into your computer without typing in a password. This laptop supports DisplayPort over USB-C for connecting to an HDTV or monitor.

    Downsides: There is no memory-card reader, so you'll need to buy an external reader or connect your digital camera directly to this laptop to transfer photos.

    About

    The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 (8GB) is a 12.4-inch laptop with a screen resolution of 1536 x 1024. The display has a refresh rate of 60 and a max bit depth of 8. It has 8GB of memory and 256GB solid-state drive. It has an Intel Core i5 1235U 2.5GHz processor and integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics. It was tested with Windows 11 Home installed.

    It has a touch screen, 1 full-size USB-A, 1 USB-C ports built-in on the laptop. Video outputs include: supporting DisplayPort over USB-C. It also supports WiFi 6 (802.11ax), which provides faster and more dependable High Efficiency Wireless, but you'll need a compatible router to see the faster speeds. It has Bluetooth 5.1 built-in. It has a 0.9MP webcam for video conferencing.

    The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 (8GB) measures 11 inches wide by 8.1 inches deep by 0.6 inches high, and it weighs 2.5 lbs. It's backed by a 12-month warranty with 12 months of free tech support over telephone.

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