Is Surface Go good for artists?

Best answer: For light sketches and 2nd artwork, yes. The Surface Go isn't the most powerful device out there, and the Surface Pen response isn't perfect. All the same, for sketches and even more than detailed pieces in Photoshop, the Go will serve yous well. If yous need something more than powerful, bank check out the new Surface Pro 6.

Microsoft: Surface Go (from $400)
Microsoft: Surface Pro six (from $899)

How does the Become stack up in the art world?

Testing out the 4GB Surface Get has been quite fun. Its small, calorie-free, and the refined rounded edges arrive pleasant to hold versus some of the larger two-in-1s out in that location. For fine art, it isn't perfect, simply as long as y'all know what you're working with going in, y'all'll have a lot of fun with information technology.

The Surface Pen is often the subject of criticism among some more hardcore digital artists, but as a casual sketcher, I observe it to be more than acceptable to just sit down down with and throw some paint upwards onto the screen in apps like Sketchable and Photoshop. Despite its lower-end specs, it runs Sketchable flawlessly, although some more complex pieces might take a little while to load initially when compared to a more powerful device. The same is true for Photoshop in that sense. I haven't found it to struggle with the software after the initial loading phase, although high resolution pieces with many layers may push button the Surface Get to its upper limits.

Starting a quick monster cartoon on Surface Become, blending and shading on Sketchable.

Where you might detect some disappointment is in the brandish and pen itself. Attributable to the hardware, the inking experience isn't as good every bit y'all might observe on a Surface Pro or Surface Book, which sport co-processors to reduce latency between the pen and the screen. The difference is fairly noticeable, only non what I'd phone call atrocious. The latency ways that, occasionally, the pen will continue producing ink fifty-fifty when it leaves the display. Even though it's simply mayhap a couple of milliseconds, information technology'll be enough to badger those of you who are particular most accuracy. Depending on your style, this could be a problem.

Additionally, inking on the glass display isn't as pleasant as you might feel on a dedicated drawing tablet like the Wacom Intuous, as the flex in the glass can produce wobbles in your lines. Although with some tweaking to the Surface Pen sensitivity in the settings, yous'll be able to consistently ameliorate the experience.

Bottom line is the Surface Go is a fun device to use for light fine art and sketching. With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt support for shading and a massive amount of digital applications to choose from thanks to the power of total Windows, information technology's either a keen device for getting started, or something fun for veterans who want something highly portable.

Surface Go for low-cal art

While you lot won't be rendering movies or edifice circuitous 3D scenes, for 2d work in Photoshop or S-mode apps like Sketchable, Surface Get is a fun tool.

Our choice

Surface Get

A digital sketchbook for $400.

The Surface Get isn't a powerhouse but it is a fun device. Priced at the affordable end while packing premium construction, the Surface Go lends itself well to light digital artistic pursuits from Sketchable all the way to Photoshop.

Surface Pro 6 for heavier lifting

If yous're a more than serious creative person and want something a little more than capable, consider the Surface Pro 6 instead. The Pro 6 comes with a co-processor which reduces inking latency considerably in some apps. Additionally, more than circuitous art pieces, even up to 3D, would perform far improve on the Pro 6'southward more than beefy internals. That said, it'south also significantly more than pricey.

A more capable drawing tablet

Surface Pro 6

Surface Pro is svelte and portable, and powerful.

If you lot desire to ensure a college-quality inking experience, the Surface Pro 6 has to be a consideration. While it is more than twice as expensive as Surface Get, it has a better inking response, while supporting taxing tasks and apps more capably.

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Jez Corden

Jez Corden is a Senior Editor for Windows Cardinal, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking sectional news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while existence powered by caffeine. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his Xbox 2 podcast, all about, you guessed information technology, Xbox!