Microsoft Surface devices get Consumer Reports' recommendation

Last year, Consumer Reports pulled its recommended label for Microsoft’s Surface Laptops and tablets, including the latest Surface Laptop and Surface Pro. Consumer Reports found that in a survey of over 90 thousand laptops and tablets carried out over a period of two years, Microsoft Surface owners more were likely to run into problems at a rate which was higher than similarly priced competitors like Apple.

At that time, Panos Panay from Microsoft responded to the report by stating categorically that Microsoft stood behind their Surface products. Expressing disappointment with the report, Panay claimed their own data found both their predicted 1-2-year failure and actual return rates for Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book were significantly lower than 25%. Additionally, other support incidents per unit (IPU), was now well below 1%, something which Microsoft calls a “record low.”

Later that year, Microsoft released the new Surface Book 2. After the launch, Consumer Reports said that it will evaluate the performance of the Microsoft Surface Book 2, but it will not be able to recommend it. It also said that its decision to withhold its recommendation of all Microsoft laptops and tablets is still in effect.

Today, Consumer Reports said that Microsoft Surface laptops are once again eligible for “recommended” status based on the results from its latest survey. “Microsoft’s reliability is now on par with most other laptop brands,” allowing its products to be recommended, said Martin Lachter, senior research associate at Consumer Reports. But there is one exception, CR is not recommending the new Surface Go because of its poor performance.

The Surface Go isn’t receiving a CR recommendation, but that’s based on the results of lab testing, not member survey data. The Surface Go is the only Surface that isn’t getting a recommendation; the company’s other models, including the Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, and Surface Book 2, do score well enough to be recommended.

Reason why Surface Go is not recommended:

“We weigh processing power heavily when we’re evaluating laptops,” wrote Maria Rerecich, who oversees all electronics testing for Consumer Reports. “A computer that doesn’t do well in performance testing isn’t likely to get recommended.”

You can read the full report from the link below.

Source: Consumer Reports