Microsoft's recently announced Surface Go laptops offer a compelling mix of features and portability starting at $549, but the cheaper models fall short on the components front, observers say.

With its low price, the Surface Go is designed to compete with mid-range Chromebooks, but can be configured with fancier specs. The Go marks a change of pace from Microsoft’s focus on the high-end, and the budget laptop comes as many consumers are looking for budget computing power during the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Microsoft Go laptop is best for people who are always on the go, like students and business people who travel a lot,” said Yaniv Masjedi, CMO at Nextiva, in an email interview. “It’s lightweight, compact, and allows people to be productive without lugging around the heft of a standard laptop.”

When the Go launches on October 13, it will compete with Apple's lower-end Macbook models, which start at $999. Microsoft is touting the Go's light weight at 2.45 pounds, which compares favorably to the Macbook Air's 2.8 pounds. The Go also has a claimed 13 hours of battery life. Apple doesn't specify the Air's battery life, other than to say it "lasts all day."