When we reviewed the new Surface Go 2 tablet from Microsoft, we found it to be “an excellent affordable Windows 10 tablet that features a premium design found in the company’s more expensive devices”.
However, if you want something even more affordable, you should check out the Pipo W11, which retails for about half the price of Microsoft’s diminutive tablet.
Pipo is not a household name, but we’ve known about the company since 2014 when it unveiled the Pipo W2 tablet. The W11 follows in the footsteps of its 6-year old predecessor, which back then ran on a little-known OS called Windows 8.1.
The W11 also comes with a keyboard cover and stylus, all for the princely sum of $274.99 (about £208, AU$377). Use the code BGpipo2 at checkout to get this price. For comparison, the equivalent Surface Go 2 configuration with pen and keyboard cover retails for $695.97 – more than twice the price.
The W11 wins out when it comes to performance, with its Celeron N4100 CPU trouncing the Surface Go 2’s Pentium 4425Y, according to CPUBenchmark. It’s also superior when it comes to storage (Pipo’s candidate has 64GB eMMC plus a dedicated 180GB SSD) and connectivity (the W11 has three more ports than its rival).
On the other hand, the Surface Go 2 has a smaller screen with a higher resolution, which produces sharper pictures, plus a bigger battery capacity, higher resolution cameras, and faster Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
Businesses looking for a cheap business tablet are also likely to side with Microsoft’s device because of the return policy, the free technical support and in-store assistance.
Bear in mind
If this product is shipped from mainland China, it will take a month to arrive in the UK or US (and potentially more). You may be levied an additional tax, either directly or through the courier.
If you’ve managed to get hold of a cheaper product with an equivalent specification, in stock and brand new, let us know and we’ll tip our hat to you.