Microsoft Surface Go 4 review – Premium Build Quality and Slow Performance
On one side, the Microsoft Surface Go 4 sounds more than decent on paper. It’s a tablet-like PC that could be transformed into a 2-in-1 machine if you purchase the (expensive) Surface Go Type Cover which also includes a touchpad. For security, you can rely on a dTPM 2.0 chip and a Web camera with facial recognition. There is also a rear snapper with 8MP resolution. The 2W speakers are also enhanced with Dolby Audio Premium. This device sports a 3.5 mm headphone jack which is a nice addition. The 10.5″ 1920 x 1280 PixelSense display is pretty good in terms of color coverage and it comes with a 3:2 aspect ratio.
On the other hand, there’s always a thorn in the rose. All devices are tied with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. It may be too low for today’s users but if you don’t open 10 Chrome tabs at one, you should be fine. You get 64, 128, or 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. This type of dated NAND flash is more suitable for up to mid-range smartphones, not for such a premium-looking machine. The only CPU option is the Alder Lake-based Intel Processor N200 with just four CPU cores and no Hyper-Threading.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/microsoft-surface-go-4/
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
Microsoft Surface Go 4 - Specs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 256GB SSD
- M.2 Slot
- UFS 2.2 storage
- RAM
- up to 8GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home
- Battery
- 29Wh
- Body material
- Magnesium alloy
- Dimensions
- 245 x 175 x 8.3 mm (9.65" x 6.89" x 0.33")
- Weight
- 0.52 kg (1.1 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 1x USB Type-C
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), Power Delivery (PD), Sleep and Charge
- Card reader
- microSD (microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC)
- Ethernet LAN
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth
- 5.1
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- Web camera
- 1080p Full HD front-facing camera + 8 MP 1080p Full HD rear-facing camera
- Backlit keyboard
- Microphone
- Dual far-field Studio Mics with Voice Clarity
- Speakers
- 2W Stereo Speakers with Dolby Atmos
- Security Lock slot
All Microsoft Surface Go 4 configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=106119
What’s in the box?
The super compact box contains the device itself, a Quick Start Guide, and a 24W charger with a Surface Connect port.
Design and construction
Aside from the MS logo on the back and the Pogo pin connector on the bottom, the Surface Go 4 looks like a normal tablet, if there is no keyboard attached to the main body.
The build looks and feels premium. The screen is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 layer while the chassis is made of magnesium. The Platinum matte finish picks up almost zero fingerprints during work.
Weighing only 521 grams, it’s very light, especially for a Windows 11 device. At 8.3mm thick, it’s about average. The built-in kickstand is ideal for landscape use, whether watching movies or browsing the Web. However, the stand is thin and its bottom edge feels sharp, so it could potentially scratch your desk if you’re not careful. Furthermore, the stand and the bottom of the Surface Go offer almost no grip, causing the device to slide easily on a desk. In our testing, we found the lack of grip to be a significant issue. After we positioned the device on a mousepad everything was fine.
The back houses an 8MP camera and the stand itself. A 13MP camera with IR functionality for Windows Hello is located on the front. The thick bezels, while not aesthetically pleasing, help prevent accidental touches when using the device in tablet mode.
Ports
There are no ports on the left. On the right, you get an Audio Combo jack, a USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 1) port with DisplayPort and charging capabilities, and a Surface Connect port.
The Power and the Volume Up and Down keys are at the top side. The connector for a pogo-pin keyboard is on the bottom side.
Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles
| Microsoft Surface Go 4 | NV105WAM-N31 (BOE088B) |
| Diagonal | 10.5 inches (26.7 cm) |
| Panel Type | IPS Touch |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1280 pixels |
| Max Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2 |
| Pixel Density | 220 PPI |
| ‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 40 cm |
Viewing Angles
Viewing angles are good. We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.
Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.
Color Coverage
The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.
Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of Microsoft Surface Go 4 can show:
Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content
Microsoft Surface Go 4: the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this monitor can display.
In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the monitor at 93% of the sRGB color gamut and 74% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) Microsoft Surface Go 4 covers 93% of the sRGB gamut
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 337 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 330 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 5%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6550K.
The contrast ratio is 1430:1.
Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation
The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 180 nits (Windows slider = 75%) — a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.
DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.
Color Accuracy
Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the Microsoft Surface Go 4. We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.
Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.
For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.
Before our calibration of the Microsoft Surface Go 4, the Average color accuracy was 2.3 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Office profile, it lowered to 1.2 dE (Fig. 3).
(Fig. 2) Microsoft Surface Go 4 in its factory condition
(Fig. 3) Microsoft Surface Go 4 with our display profile
Comparison in the sRGB color space.
Here’s an illustration of what the Design and Office profile aims to deliver:
Left: No Profile | Drag the slider to see the difference | Right: Design & Gaming Profile
Visibility in dark scenes
Have you ever watched a movie with dark scenes where you could barely see anything? This often happens because many display panels struggle to differentiate the darkest nuances, making them appear the same.
The next figure illustrates how well the display reproduces these dark nuances. The left side of the image shows the display with stock settings, and the right side shows it with our Gaming and movies profile activated.
On the horizontal axis are the grayscale levels, and on the vertical axis – the corresponding display brightness.
You can also check how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display and the surrounding light conditions.
Response time (Gaming capabilities)
We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa.
We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 25.2 ms. Short pixel response time is a prerequisite for a smooth picture in dynamic scenes.
After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude.
Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)
Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.
In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.
The light from the backlight of the Microsoft Surface Go 4 display pulsates, but with limited amplitude across the entire brightness range. We find the display relatively comfortable for vision in this regard.
Health Impact: Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile eliminates harmful PWM when the laptop uses.
If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.
Health Impact: Screen Reflectance
Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.
The reflectance of the Microsoft Surface Go 4’s screen is 109 GU.
High Gloss: >70 GU
Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
Low Gloss: <30 GU
Get our profiles
Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for Microsoft Surface Go 4 configurations with NV105WAM-N31 (BOE088B), 1920 x 1280, IPS Touch panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].
Read more about the profiles HERE.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Design and Office
The Design and Office profile makes display colors as close to real as possible.Ideal not only for professionals but also for everyday users, it meets sRGB standards (D65 white point, sRGB gamma) with minimal DeltaE for precise color reproduction on your panel.
Gaming and Movies
Have you ever watched a movie where, during dark scenes, you can barely see anything? Many displays fail to distinguish dark tones properly. Our Gaming and Movies profile enhances low-light performance, like HDR tech, using a gamma curve tailored to human perception — ideal for gamers seeking faster reactions and clearer visuals.
Health-Guard
Our Health-Guard profile protects your eyes by eliminating PWM flickering, reducing strain and fatigue, and minimizing harmful Blue light exposure that can disrupt sleep and health. It uses software dimming and a gamma curve tailored to human perception for comfort and safety during screen use.
Get All The Profiles With 33% Discount!
Sound
When subjectively listening to an audio file through its built-in speakers, the sound quality offered by the Microsoft Surface Go 4 is quite good, despite some disadvantages typical of small-sized devices, such as low volume and suppressed low frequencies.
Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage
All benchmarks and tests were conducted with the “Best performance” preset activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu.
CPU options
The Intel Processor N200 is the only CPU for this Microsoft series.
Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.
Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)
Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
GPU options
The Intel UHD Graphics Xe 750 (32EU) is for graphics tasks.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
Gaming tests
| Counter-Strike 2 | HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Medium (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Very High (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 23 FPS | 14 FPS | – |
| Gears 5 | Full HD, Low (Check settings) | Full HD, Medium (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 9 FPS | – | – | – |
Storage performance
Our device features 64GB UFS 2.2 storage (TOSHIBA THGAF8G9T43BAIRB). As you can see, its read and write speeds are rather low.
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Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life
Max CPU load
In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering.
Average core frequency; CPU temp.; Package Power
| Intel Processor N200 (6W TDP) | 0:02 – 0:10 sec | 0:15 – 0:30 sec | 10:00 – 15:00 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Surface Pro 11 | 3.12 GHz @ 103°C @ 14W | 2.36 GHz @ 83°C @ 11W | 2.15 GHz @ 79°C @ 9W |
The Processor N200 sustains 3.12 GHz in short loads and above 2.10 GHz in long stress. Not half bad considering the 1.0 GHz official base frequency of this chip. Still, the 103°C CPU temperature in the first column is concerning.
Comfort during full load
In “Best performance” mode the device is dead silent. The chassis doesn’t feel hot even when using the machine for 3D rendering.
Battery
Now, we conduct the battery tests with screen brightness adjusted to 180 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. The 29Wh battery lasts for around 7 hours and 14 minutes of video playback. That’s an adequate result considering the limited capacity. Оur test was conducted with the “Recommended” preset activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu.
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Verdict
It’s obvious that the Microsoft Surface Go 4 ain’t perfect. On the one hand, it has a solid premium build and an IR Web camera. The machine is light which is great news for people who are constantly on the go and need a device with Windows OS. On the other hand, one of the main cons of this gadget is its overall performance. The Intel Processor N200 has just four cores, when you add the non-upgradable 8GB of soldered RAM and the slow UFS storage to the mix, things aren’t looking that bright. After a full OS update, only 7GB of free storage remained, which is quite limited. We recommend the 128GB version for casual use and the 256GB model for those intending to use it as a primary PC.
The 10.5″ IPS screen (NV105WAM-N31 (BOE088B)) is good. It’s a PWM-free unit with 93% sRGB coverage and 337 nits of max brightness. If you apply our “Design and Office” profile, the color accuracy will be improved from a 2.3 result to an average dE score of 1.2 which is a nice improvement.
If you aren’t a power user and need a solid portable machine, the Microsoft Surface Go 4 may be the right choice for you since it has a vibrant display, acceptable battery life, and good security features.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/microsoft-surface-go-4/
Pros
- Dead silent during any kind of load
- Solid magnesium build
- Light (521 grams)
- PWM-free (BOE088B)
- 93% sRGB coverage + accurate colors with our “Design and Gaming” profile (BOE088B)
- 337 nits of max brightness (BOE088B)
- 3:2 aspect ratio + wide viewing angles (BOE088B)
- The Type-C port supports DisplayPort and charging
- Good battery life given the small 29Wh capacity (~7 hours of videos)
- The Intel Processor N200 sustains a 3.12 GHz clock in short loads
- 13MP IR Web camera
- The chassis doesn’t feel hot during max stress
Cons
- Pricey for what it is
- Expensive optional accessories such as Surface Go Type Cover and Docking stations
- Just 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM
- The UFS storage is slow
- Only 1x USB port
- Unimpressive CPU and iGPU performance
- 103°C CPU temperature is short loads
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