Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go has been updated with an Intel 11th Generation CPU

The cost of admission is $600.

The Surface Laptop Go, Microsoft's most tiny and cheap Surface Laptop, has been updated with a newer chip, as well as a "enhanced" webcam and thermals. The Surface Laptop Go 2 is powered by an 11th-generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor (up from a 10th-generation processor in the previous edition), and starts at $599.99 for a device with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Microsoft's initial Surface Laptop Go was announced in 2020 as a response to Chromebooks. It started at a lower price than the rest of the Surface Laptop family, and it had a smaller 12.4-inch touch display with Microsoft's distinctive 3:2 aspect ratio (resolution sits at 1536 x 1024). Little has changed for its successor, which measures 10.95 x 8.12 x 0.62 inches and weighs just less than 2.5 pounds. However, the Surface Laptop Go 2 has seen certain changes. Its beginning price has risen by $50, owing to Microsoft's decision to remove the base version, which came with only 64GB of storage. It's also available in a new green/gray "sage" hue, which joins the previously available blue, sandstone, and platinum. The rated battery life has increased from 13 hours to up to 13.5 hours, and the laptop now comes with Windows 11. Finally, Microsoft claims that the Surface Laptop Go 2 has more replaceable components, including the keyboard and trackpad, display, and battery, all of which must be replaced by a Microsoft-approved service provider. There are fewer concrete information regarding the other changes, which we'll presumably learn more about until we've had a chance to utilize the laptop. The Surface Laptop Go 2 has "quieter, better thermals that make it easier to focus," according to Microsoft's press release, as well as a "enhanced HD camera." However, the webcam's resolution remains 720p, the same as the previous model, implying that the improvements are more about image processing than raw resolution. Aside than that, this laptop is fairly similar to its predecessor. On select models, a fingerprint sensor is still embedded into the power button, the ports are the same (one USB-A, one USB-C, a headphone jack, and a unique Surface connection for charging), and dual microphones and Wi-Fi 6 are still available. A lighted keyboard isn't mentioned, which was a major flaw with the first Surface Laptop Go. Although all models of the laptop have the same Intel Core i5 processor, there are a variety of RAM and storage combinations to choose from. Prices start at $599.99 for a consumer model with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, rising to $699.99 for an 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model and $799.99 for an 8GB RAM and 256GB storage model. On the commercial side, these versions are $100 more expensive, and there's also a $1,099.99 16GB RAM/256GB storage variant available. Preorders are now open, and shipping will begin on June 7th. The initial Surface Laptop Go didn't impress us. That wasn't because it was a horrible laptop; rather, it couldn't compete with other devices in its price range. The Surface Laptop Go 2 may face a similar problem due to its higher starting price.