Choosing the right laptop for students can be incredibly overwhelming: there are a lot of options, most of them are very cheap, and almost all run Windows. Microsoft has made the choice a little bit easier, however, by introducing the lightweight Surface Go 2 and then offering some big discounts.
- The best student laptops, ranked
The Surface Go 2 follows the Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, and Surface Book as the pinnacle of what a Windows laptop can be, which is a big part of Microsoft's motivation for getting into the hardware business after years of just writing the software and tools.
- Read our Microsoft Surface Go 2 review
The main selling point of the Surface Go 2 is hinted at by the name: it's a very thin and lightweight laptop that's much more in-line with the size and dimensions of a larger tablet. The 10-inch touchscreen is small by laptop standards but makes the device incredibly portable and versatile. Perfect for when you're on the go.
- The best tablets for most people, ranked
As you would expect with a tiny ultraportable laptop, the specs are good but nothing major: Intel Pentium (upgradeable to M3) is paired with 4GB RAM (expandable to 8GB on higher-end versions), and a 64GB SSD (expandable up to 128GB). For most student-y tasks, these are definitely more than enough.
Battery life is around five hours in our testing, which isn't the best but will also cover a few lectures and some studying in the library without too much problem.
We're big fans of what Microsoft is doing with Surface and the Go 2 is the epitome of a portable 2-in-1 device that covers just the right bases while keeping the price low. One important thing to remember is that Microsoft sells the Type Cover separately, so fact that cost (usually around $100/£125) into your thinking.
The best Microsoft Surface Go 2 deals (US)
Microsoft Surface Go 2 | Intel Pentium or M3 | Up to 8GB RAM | Up to 128GB SSD | From $399.99 at Microsoft
Microsoft is currently running some good deals on the Surface Go 2 through its website, including $65 off the highest-end model. If you're in the market for a great 2-in-1 for students, it's well worth checking out these deals.
The best Microsoft Surface Go 2 deals (UK)
Microsoft Surface Go 2 | Intel Pentium | 4GB / 64GB | Type Cover + Mouse included | £559 £499 from Very.co.uk
If you're in the UK, the deal is even better: Very.co.uk is throwing in a Type Cover and Surface Mouse for just under £500, making this one of the best-value ultraportable 2-in-1s going. Perfect for the start of the new school and university term.
Picking out the right student laptop can be a very difficult (and important) decision, especially as everything moves online during the pandemic. Microsoft's Surface Go 2 is a solid bet, offering a good combination of lightweight design and enough power to run Office apps, watch lectures, and surf the web.
- And these are the best gaming laptops to buy
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Max Slater-Robins has written for T3 now on and off for over half a decade, with him fitting in serious study at university in between. Max is a tech expert and as such you'll find his words throughout T3.com, appearing in everything from reviews and features, to news and deals. Max is specifically a veteran when it comes round to deal hunting, with him seeing out multiple Black Friday campaigns to date.
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