A few days late with this (sorry, normal service is now resumed), and yes, we know it's not a phone, but Microsoft announced the Surface Go 2 this week, online of course, with no physical meet in these COVID-19 times. We covered the original GO extensively over the last 24 months, but the Go 2 has smaller bezels, faster internals, better microphones, and a redesigned hinge. See the announcement text, design and sizzle videos below. The Go is a fabulous companion to a Windows 10 Mobile or (now) Android smartphone (thanks to 'Your Phone').

The best place to start is with the official Microsoft announcement/design video:

From Microsoft:

We created Surface Go to offer a more affordable and portable 2:1 to the Surface line. Organizations  like Law School Admissions Council, Renault/F1 and National Healthcare Services in the U.K., and schools like Blue Springs School District in Missouri and Aichi Prefecture in Japan, have chosen Surface Go for its compact design, the versatility of the touch screen, keyboard, Pen and added connectivity of LTE Advanced.

Surface Go 2 keeps the same thin, lightweight design, but now offers a larger 10.5-inch PixelSense display, improved battery life and a model with up to 64% faster performance than the original with 8th Generation Intel® Core™ M options for the first time. We’ve added Studio Mics, our dual microphone solution, to increase voice clarity and reduce background noise for Teams meetings or video chats, and a 5MP front-facing camera delivers sharp video even in low light. We’ve also added the new Camera app for the rear-facing camera to make it easy to scan documents and whiteboards – whether you’re sharing notes from a meeting or turning in homework. Paired with Surface Pen, Surface Go 2 allows distance learners and remote workers to stay digital, while unlocking the power of natural ink for things like drawing diagrams, marking up documents or working through math equations.

You can personalize your Surface Go with Type Covers, Sleeves and accessories in a variety of colors, including Platinum, Black, Poppy Red, and Ice Blue. Surface Go 2 starts at $399 and will be available starting May 12.

Prices in the UK start at £399, get started 'configuring' yours here. Be aware that we recommend the 8GB/128GB variant at the very least, and that takes the starting point up to £529 - plus a Type keyboard, which is almost essential, and that adds another £100. So we're up to £629 for a realistic set-up, and that's not as kid-friendly a price as hinted in the videos. As with the original Go, I think a Type Cover should have been included with every purchase. The Surface Pen is extra too, though that's more understandable.

As with the original Surface Go, it ships in 'S mode', which is fine for family members but it's easy to pull a one-way toggle and switch the device to 'full' Windows 10 (i.e. you can run anything).

Some tech specs:

As usual, there's a consumer-facing sizzle reel/promo too:

All looking very tasty, if expensive when configured for the likes of you or I, a typical AAWP reader. I've requested a review loan and will report back.

PS. If you're curious about our opinion of the original Surface Go:

1. Unboxing and photo gallery
2. Introduction and hardware thoughts 
3. The Type Cover and the laptop experience
4. Comments on performance in daily use
5. Imaging
6. The Surface Pen on the Go
7. Surface Go - the Verdict