Microsoft Surface Go launched in India starting at Rs 38,599, will be available from Flipkart

Microsoft is bringing its entry-level Surface Go 2-in-1 computing device to India. The Surface Go, which is billed as Microsoft’s “smallest, most portable and affordable Surface device yet” will be available for pre-order starting today, i.e December 15, exclusively from online retail website Flipkart. Microsoft is only bringing the Wi-Fi-based variants of the Surface Go for now, with no word yet on if and when its LTE variants will make their way to the country.

Price starts at Rs 38,599 for the base variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage, going all the way up to Rs 50,999 for the top-end variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD storage. As always, Surface accessories will be sold separately. The keyboard type cover accessory for the Surface Go will start at Rs 8,699 for the black variant, going all the way up to Rs 11,799 for the more premium signature-style variant.

Coming to the Surface Go, as mentioned earlier, it is an entry-level Surface designed for productivity on the go. But unlike other top-tier Surface devices, the Surface Go has been seemingly designed for budget-conscious buyers. The Surface lineup, it is no secret, costs a bomb in India and a device like the Surface Go that starts at under Rs 40,000 comes as a much needed respite for buyers looking to invest in the Surface ecosystem but without burning a hole in there pocket.

The Surface Go may be an entry-level Surface but it’s still a Surface at heart though, which means it packs the same all-Magnesium body, and the same full friction hinge that can extend up to 165 degrees depending on how and where you’re using it. It packs the same 3.2 high-resolution PixelSense display found on the more expensive Surface devices, and boasts of up to 9 hours of battery life.

Connectivity options include, Surface Connect for charging and docking, USB-C 3.1 for data, video, and charging, a headphone jack, and a micro-SD card reader for storage expansion. The Surface Go also features a 5MP HD camera and rear auto-focus 8MP HD camera, along with dual microphones.

But then again, the Surface Go is an entry-level Surface which means, corners needed to be cut to accommodate its aspirations. The Surface Go, to that effect, is a 10-inch Surface powered by a bare-bones Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4415Y (7th Gen) and the base variant ships with slower eMMC storage and mere 4GB RAM. Clearly, it is not meant for power users and would be limited in scope for hardcore users. It could be a viable device -- that basks in all-premium and all the other bells and whistles you’d normally associate with a Surface device -- for students, and also for professionals who would want to keep it as a secondary device for basic crunching.

Although the Surface Go supports a full-blown version of Windows 10 operating system, it ships with Windows 10 S by default. Windows 10 S is essentially a skimmed down version of Windows 10 "streamlined for simplicity, is secure and runs with superior performance," according to Microsoft. Designed specifically for the classroom environment, Windows 10 S only runs apps from the Windows Store with no third-party installs. The Microsoft Edge, for instance, will be the default web browser on a device like the Surface Go running Windows 10 S. You will be able to run Firefox or Chrome on it only if developers make them available on the Windows Store. If all of this sounds restrictive to you, there will be a one-time option to opt for Windows 10 on the machine.

Also Read: Flipkart Teases “#OnTheGo” Laptop-Tablet Hybrid: What Could This Point At?