Can you use a pen on Surface Laptop Go?

Best answer: Unfortunately, the Surface Laptop Go does not support inking. However, it's still a great device, and you can always go with the Surface Go 2 if you need pen support.

• Fun-sized Surface: Surface Laptop Go (From $550 at Microsoft)
• Pen-friendly alternative: Surface Go 2 (From $400 at Microsoft)

Why the Surface Laptop Go is still a good option

While the lack of pen support on the Surface Laptop Go is disappointing, the issue pales in comparison to the things that make the device such a great laptop. With its 10th Gen Intel i5-1035G1 CPU, Intel UHD Graphics, and up to 8GB of RAM, the Surface Laptop Go packs quite a punch despite its small size and price tag. The 12.4-inch 1536 x 1024 display looks awesome too, which is a great achievement for Microsoft considering the modest resolution. You can get up to 256GB of storage as well, and the top-notch Omnisonic speakers and studio mics provide a superb audio experience. Finally, the device supports Wi-Fi 6, which is important since Wi-Fi 6 is becoming the new standard.

In terms of physical design, the Surface Laptop Go is excellent as well. At 10.95 x 8.10 x 0.62 inches and 2.45 lbs, it's Microsoft's lightest and most compact laptop Surface device. Additionally, it also comes with a USB-A, USB-C, 3.5mm, and Surface Connect port for strong peripheral connectivity. The low-profile keyboard is very comfortable to type on, too, and the large trackpad makes accurate navigation a breeze. Finally, the nifty fingerprint reader on the keyboard enables partial Windows Hello support. Overall, between the device's solid specs and amazing design, the Surface Laptop Go cements itself as one of the best Surface PCs.

The little guy

Surface Laptop Go

From $550 at Microsoft From $550 at Best Buy

Size doesn't tell the full story

Despite its small size and cost, the Surface Laptop Go packs quite a punch, making it a fantastic device even though it doesn't support inking.

Pen-friendly alternative

If your heart is set on having a device that supports inking, we recommend the Surface Go 2 as a 2-in-1 alternative. With its weaker Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y / Intel Core m3-8100Y CPU options, smaller 10.5-inch display, overall smaller footprint, and a lower starting price of $400, the Surface Go 2 is essentially the Surface Laptop Go's less capable, but more affordable cousin. The display's full support for inking also means that people who like to draw, jot down notes, or mark up documents by hand will find the Surface Go 2 to be the better option.

The littler guy

Surface Go 2

From $400 at Microsoft From $400 at Best Buy

Get inking

The Surface Go 2 is smaller, more affordable, and less capable than the Surface Laptop Go, but it comes with inking support.