Last year's Surface Pro X was an experimental new direction for the Surface line, swapping Intel for an Arm-based CPU in a very thin, very light tablet-based two-in-one. The Surface Laptop Go can be preordered now and will be available in three finishes, ice blue, sandstone and platinum, from Oct. As it is, it may end up being a popular holiday choice instead. If the Surface Laptop Go had arrived before the mostly remote school year started, I could see it being a sought-after back-to-school item.

The Surface Laptop 3, Microsoft's flagship clamshell, is one of my favorite all-around Windows laptops, and it starts at under $1,000. That Surface Go got a bigger screen earlier in 2020, but also requires a sold-separately keyboard and starts with a pokey Intel Pentium processor. The Surface Pro is the premium tablet-style two-in-one, but Microsoft also sells the Surface Go 2, which starts at $399 (£399, AU$629). The idea of a less-expensive Surface system isn't new. Yes, even expensive laptops rarely have higher-resolution cameras, but with everyone living and working in video conferences now, a top-notch webcam is a must-have. I guess you can't really expect better, but the Surface Laptop Go only has a 720p webcam. There's also a Windows Hello fingerprint reader on the higher-end models. Microsoft describes it as a 'large precision trackpad and a full-size keyboard with 1.3mm key travel.' Both USB-A and USB-C ports are included, although power still comes from Microsoft's proprietary Surface connector.

Based on photos and video provided by Microsoft, the Surface Laptop Go looks like it has a decent keyboard and touchpad for something in this price range.

Surface laptop go 12.4 review