A tablet with detachable keyboard was the original product in the Surface line, but it wasn’t until 2018 that Microsoft’s 2-in-1s became truly affordable.
That’s when the first Surface Go arrived, making it one of the cheapest devices to run a full version of Windows. This continued through two subsequent iterations, although the Surface Go 3 was one of the less exciting products Microsoft launched last year. Aside from a CPU upgrade, running Windows 11 out of the box was the only other noticeable change.
It looks like the company is also skipping a year, with no announcements at the October event. Here’s everything you need to know about the Surface Go 4 at this early stage.
When will the Surface Go 4 be released?
There hasn’t been a new Surface Go since 2021, but it seems likely we’ll see a new model at some point this year. Here’s when previous generations of Surface Go were released:
- Surface Go 3 – October 2021
- Surface Go 2 – May 2020
- Surface Go – August 2018
Microsoft seems to wait around 1.5-2 years between generations. If there are only minor updates, the company may choose to release the Go 4 in its more low-key Spring slot. This usually happens in April or May, but Microsoft can wait
Unless canceled, a delay beyond this year seems unlikely. However, Windows Central’s Zac Bowden said in a January 2023 video that recent layoffs at Microsoft could have an effect on Surface’s upcoming release schedule.
How much will the Surface Go 4 cost?
We have no idea what price Microsoft expects to sell the Surface Go 4. However, it has remained relatively consistent with Surface Go prices so far:
- Surface Go 3 – from £369 / US$399.99
- Surface Go 2 – from £399 / US$399.99
- Surface Go – from £379 / US$399.99
If Microsoft decides to make big changes to the Surface Go 4, it could get a lot more expensive. This may include the supposed switch to a Qualcomm chip, although Intel models are also available.
Remember that the essential Type Cover will likely continue to be sold separately. The latest version will usually set you back at least an extra £99.99 / US$99.99, or more if you prefer an Alcantara finish.
What are the Surface Go 4 specs and new features?
The Surface Go 4 is not expected before next year. There aren’t many concrete rumors right now, but we still have a pretty good idea of what to expect.
One change we’re almost certain to see is under the hood. The Go 3 arrived just months before Intel unveiled its 12th generation mobile processors at CES. Before any rumors, it seemed likely that the Go 4 is said to be powered by Alder Lake, although it could be 13th Gen Raptor Lake at the time of the device’s release.
But will Microsoft switch to an ARM-based Qualcomm chip instead? In a recent video, Windows Central’s Zac Bowden describes it as “fairly likely”, but “not 100% confirmed yet”, going on to say that it’s something Microsoft is considering internally.
Surface’s strong news track record gives us no reason to doubt what he’s saying.
As a more affordable device, the Go 4 is unlikely to use the high-end Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 (or the upcoming 8cx Gen 4), but a specific chipset isn’t known at this point. Bowden co-host Daniel Rubino thinks he could use the older Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2, which would be considered a budget option at this point.
However, Bowden says “there will likely still be Intel SKUs” on high-end models and for business users. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll come from the latest Raptor Lake range, as the Surface Go doesn’t always use Intel’s latest silicon.
Switching to ARM should help improve battery life, bettering Microsoft’s claims of up to 11 hours on a single charge. However, the battery drained much faster in our review tests, so hopefully the 28Wh capacity is increased as well.
The Surface Go 2 increased the display from 10 inches to 10.5 inches without changing the overall footprint of the device, but that’s the only design change we’ve seen. Thinner bezels might allow Microsoft to fit an 11-inch display here, but it may be reluctant to make a budget device look as good as the premium Surface Pro. Indeed, Zac Bowden says “I wouldn’t expect any real design changes”.
That’s why it’s also unlikely that we’ll see the Go 4 switch to a high refresh rate display if we see a price increase. Either way, the 1920×1080 PixelSense display (LCD) probably won’t change – it’s very detailed for most people buying the Surface Go.
Professional versions of the Surface Go 3 optionally support 4G LTE. This will likely remain the same for the Go 4, despite the Surface Pro 9 have made the switch to 5G on certain models.
One of our main frustrations with the Go 3 was its lack of ports. There’s only one USB-C, a microSD, and Surface Connect for charging. It would be nice to see at least one more USB-C port (potentially with Thunderbolt 4 support), alongside USB-A and maybe a 3.5mm headphone jack. This may increase the thickness of the device, but it would be an interesting compromise.
We’ll be updating this page one more time on the Surface Go 4. In the meantime, you might be interested in similar articles on the Surface Pro 9 and Surface 5 Laptop.
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