Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 First Look: Colors, Component Tweaks, Price Hikes

pcmag.com:

Microsoft's Sept. 21 event in New York was all about the AI, but it also included news about an updated Redmond hardware favorite, the Surface Laptop Go 3. The most affordable clamshell laptop in the Surface lineup, this is also the smallest, lightest, and most portable "true" laptop from Microsoft. (Technically, the Surface Go 3 and Surface Go 4 for Business are smaller and cheaper, but they are detachable 2-in-1s, which is to say, tablets first.)

In today's announcement, we learned that the new Surface Laptop Go 3 is getting beefed up with more memory in its base model, longer rated battery life, and four spiffy color choices. But it's also getting a higher starting price; Microsoft is sticking with Intel 12th Gen processors; and the new model gets an unusual new storage implementation in its lowest-end flavor. All that gives us plenty to talk about despite the familiar design. Let's get down to it.

Surface-addled? You're not alone. Microsoft's model names have gotten a little convoluted over the years as the Surface line has grown and evolved, so let's clarify. The model we are talking about here isn't the classic Surface Pro detachable 2-in-1 tablet, nor is it the straight-up, bigger-screened Surface Laptop. Nor is it a new version of the Surface Go detachable tablet, though we saw one of those today, too. 

Instead, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is the third iteration of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go, a compact, budget-friendly version of the larger Surface Laptop. It's a favorite for college students and budget shoppers, thanks to its affordable price, lightweight design, and surprisingly decent performance.

The design will look familiar to anyone who has used the previous Surface Laptop Go models, because it looks