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
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
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.
-
I can't believe I only just watched this Oscar-winning Netflix movie
This one blew me away big-time
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
You’ve seen the rebrand, now here’s the first new Jaguar EV
The Type 00 concept previews Jaguar’s all-new electric line-up. We speak to the creatives behind it
By Phil McNamara Published
-
Quick! This stunning Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth speaker is $200 off, but it'll be gone tomorrow!
The Beolit 20 is one third off right now
By Sam Cross Published
-
This 77-inch LG OLED TV is suddenly even cheaper than its Black Friday price – but only for a few hours
Save an extra $300 on the already heavily-discounted LG OLED C3, but you need to be quick
By Rik Henderson Published
-
This monster 77-inch Samsung OLED TV is less than half price for Cyber Monday – that's crazy!
You can get $1,700 off the Samsung Class S84D OLED at Best Buy right now
By Rik Henderson Published
-
I love this mini retro games console and this big deal makes it the ideal Christmas present
The NeoGeo Mini is a superb buy with £15 off – comes with 40 games and its own screen
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Is there a DJI Neo drone deal on Black Friday? Here's what I found
The brand's top-selling dinky drone might not be any cheaper for Black Friday, but there are a ton of exciting DJI offers to choose from
By Matt Kollat Published
-
Samsung's latest iPad rival just dropped to its lowest-ever price in great Black Friday deal
You’re running out of time to save money on a new tablet
By Yasmine Crossland Published
-
Samsung's 5-star style TV has fallen to a record-low price – it's my dream TV
The Frame doubles up as a piece of artwork when you aren't using it
By Yasmine Crossland Last updated
-
This hidden Atari retro games console deal is the best I've seen – and it's from an unlikely source
The Atari GameStation Pro includes more than 200 classic games
By Rik Henderson Published