Microsoft’s Surface Go 2 Might Have Just Passed FCC

Back in February, we first reported that Microsoft is planning to launch new Surface hardware this Spring. The new devices include the next-generation Surface Go, as well as the Surface Book 3.

And it seems like the launch of the new Surface products may be just around the corner. Microsoft’s Surface Go 2 may have just passed the FCC, as first spotted by the folks at Windows Latest.

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The FCC listing for the device does not reveal much, nor does it confirm the existence of the Surface Go 2. Still, it reveals some important details that suggest the device could indeed be the new Surface Go 2. You see, recently leaked benchmarks for the Surface Go 2 had the same model and codename “EV2”, so it’s highly likely that this is indeed the Surface Go 2.

As we previously reported, Microsoft’s Surface Go 2 will continue to have a Pentium Gold processor from Intel, at least for the base model. The company also plans to launch a variant with an Intel Core m3 processor, but that may just be for business customers. There is no talk of an ARM variant, unfortunately.

Microsoft is expected to hold a Surface event sometime later this month or in May, so the Surface Go 2 (along with the Surface Book 3) might be official sooner than you think.

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Conversation 15 comments

  • jaredthegeek

    Premium Member
    13 April, 2020 - 5:52 pm

    <p>I have a go and I like it. Its better than a Chrome book but that's a low bar. Does more than an iPad but I want the iPad apps.</p>

  • cseafous

    Premium Member
    13 April, 2020 - 6:05 pm

    <p>I wouldn't mind a Surface Go X: Smaller version of the Surface Pro X with an ARM chip, Thunderbolt, and LTE. I don't know if it would be wide enough for the new pen cradle in its keyboard though.</p>

  • SvenJ

    13 April, 2020 - 8:01 pm

    <p>Windows 10 Pro? That's a bit surprising, unless it is targeted at businesses, or possibly education. My 'high end' Go has Home on it.</p>

  • anoldamigauser

    Premium Member
    13 April, 2020 - 10:00 pm

    <p>The Microsoft Store is out of stock across the board for the Surface Go, so I think it is safe to say that a replacement is coming soon. With the advent of cursor support on the iPad, I think this is going to be a hard sell for Microsoft. The price is going to be similar, the use cases will be similar, but the number and quality of iPad apps puts it over the top, unless you need to run a niche Win32 application.</p>

    • SvenJ

      14 April, 2020 - 3:17 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#538215"><em>In reply to AnOldAmigaUser:</em></a><em> </em>You still can't run OFFICE on an iPad. The mobile Office apps are really good, and you certainly could use web apps, though they still aren't OFFICE. Then there is Publisher, Visio, Project, Access. Not sure those are niche apps. That's just the MS ones. Granted, not everyone needs those, but then they probably were fine with an iPad even before mouse 'support'.</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • MikeCerm

    13 April, 2020 - 11:03 pm

    <p>Launching another iteration of this same design with an Intel chip is such a wasted opportunity. The giant bezels are lame, but necessary to maintain a usable keyboard unless they increase the screen size. But the real issue is, of course, the performance and battery life. Honestly, the performance of the first one was fine if the device could have delivered 10 hours of real-world battery life, but it couldn't hit 5 hours, which makes a device like this absolutely useless for students and travelers — the kind of people who want a device this portable.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      14 April, 2020 - 7:41 am

      Well.

      What was the alternative? A version with … ARM? That would just fail. This at least stands a chance.

      • digiguy

        Premium Member
        14 April, 2020 - 7:54 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#538260">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>Paul, I respectfully disagree with you on this… For a device like the surface go, battery life is more important than compatibility with some (powerful) 64bit only apps, especially if the ARM chip is good enough… I don't think the go stands much chance as an on the go device with its poor battery life…</p>

        • doubledeej

          14 April, 2020 - 8:29 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#538269">In reply to digiguy:</a></em></blockquote><p>An ARM variant would be completely useless to me. Much of the software I use daily wouldn’t run on it.</p>

          • digiguy

            Premium Member
            14 April, 2020 - 9:15 am

            <blockquote><em><a href="#538274">In reply to doubledeej:</a></em></blockquote><p>to each his own, personally I have 32bit versions of virtually everything I use…</p>

      • RobertJasiek

        14 April, 2020 - 8:12 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#538260">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>An x64 Windows CPU is fine but the crucial parameter is battery life to be achieved by</p><ul><li>larger battery</li><li>omit stand for larger battery</li><li>optimise all hardware for low power consumption</li><li>choose a suitable old CPU e.g. some 7th generation U set to low TDP</li><li>choose a suitable new CPU, maybe 10th generation Y</li><li>offer different CPUs but no super slow Atom or the like; there are enough better models nowadays</li></ul><p>Other manufacturers have shown that long battery life is possible in small mobile devices if only they are designed for long battery life instead of lowest component prices.</p>

  • reefer2

    14 April, 2020 - 7:41 am

    <p>Windows 10 Pro on a device like Go is a little surprising and makes me belive that Microsoft are positioning it towards bussiness, at least the top tier versions.</p>

    • RobertJasiek

      14 April, 2020 - 7:55 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#538261">In reply to reefer2:</a></em></blockquote><p>I always want at least W10 Pro. The more fundamental question is why MS dintinguishes Home at all instead of just having Pro. The distinction only creates problems. However, since Home and Pro exist, each device ought to be offered with each Windows version in regular sales and discounts.</p><p>Thus far we only have rumours and they paint a lame update with just options for a faster CPU. Let's hope for real improvements.</p><p>I need very much longer battery life and at most 2% reflectance. I have further wishes mostly affecting the battery but without these two aspects I cannot convince myself to replace my iPad despite its terribly limited OS.</p><p><br></p>

      • Shehzad Joss Yousaf

        14 April, 2020 - 9:36 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#538270">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p>Despite it's limited power, I find myself using the Surface Go for many day to day activities, it's so convenient to carry around, browse and make notes on. The number one thing that would make the biggest difference to me, is battery life. I wouldn't mind a slightly thicker design (appreciate it would affect the weight and balance) and that would be a trade off I'd be willing to make if they could get it to 6+hrs.</p>

  • Rcooper81

    14 April, 2020 - 11:14 pm

    <p>I'd like to be able to switch my Surface Go back into S-mode, to get some real use testing on whether it extends the battery life or not.</p><p><br></p>

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