When it comes to the world of tablets, it’s hard to deny that Apple has most of the market in its hands with the iPad lineup; however, Microsoft has a few interesting offerings when it comes to Windows 10. With the power of Windows on a tablet, you can enjoy a full desktop experience with windowed multitasking while being able to run an extensive library of legacy applications. We’ve picked a few tablet options out for everyone to get work done or play a few games. Here are the best Windows tablets you can buy.
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Best Windows tablets at a glance
- Best Windows tablet overall: Microsoft Surface Pro 7
- Best ultra-mobile Windows tablet: Microsoft Surface Go 2
- Best Windows tablet for business: Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Tablet
- Best Windows tablet for power users: Microsoft Surface Book 3
- Best Windows on ARM tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro X
Best Windows tablet overall: Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Why you should buy this: With the seventh generation of the Surface Pro tablet, Microsoft makes some of the best hardware you can pair with Windows 10.
Who’s it for: Those looking for the absolute best Windows 10 tablet experience who also don’t need the power of a dedicated graphics card.
Why we picked the Microsoft Surface Pro 7:
When we talk about the world of modern Windows tablets, we are talking about tablets resulting from the launch of the first Microsoft Surface device. Along with its predecessors, the Surface Pro has established itself as the premium tablet experience for Windows users. With an ultra-light and thin design, the Surface is easy to throw in your bag or carry around, and the PixelSense Touchscreen gives you a reason to keep using the device, thanks to the high-resolution 10-point multi-touch experience. Under the hood, users can take advantage of up to 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM, a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, and up to 1 TB of solid-state storage. The only downside here is being unable to throw in a more powerful, dedicated GPU for graphic-intensive applications and gaming.
Read our Microsoft Surface Pro 7 review
Best ultra-mobile Windows tablet: Microsoft Surface Go 2
Why you should buy this: It’s the power of Windows 10 in a small 10.5-inch package, at a more affordable price point than its siblings.
Who’s it for: Students, business professionals, and anyone who finds themselves traveling but doesn’t want to be weighed down by a larger tablet.
Why we picked the Microsoft Surface Go 2:
When Microsoft released the first Surface Go tablet, we were excited but ultimately let down by its unimpressive internals. Surface Go 2 returns a bit more power, perfect for users browsing the web, checking emails, writing up documents, and performing other light work. Speaking of light work, the Surface Go 2 is light itself, weighing in at only 1.2 pounds. The Surface Go 2 can be upgraded to boast an Intel M3 processor, which Microsoft proudly claims is 64% faster than the first Surface Go, up to 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of solid-state storage. If you do find yourself traveling, you can also add on a Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 LTE Modem for high-speed connectivity when you’re away from a Wi-Fi network.
Read our Microsoft Surface Go 2 review
Best Windows tablet for business: Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Tablet
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Why you should buy this: ThinkPad has been a staple brand name for business professionals, and the performance and reliability of the X1 Tablet are no different.
Who’s it for: Business professionals looking for a tablet that will keep them connected while providing a seamless experience for the IT department behind the scenes.
Why we picked the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Tablet:
If you dressed the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet up in a military-grade business suit, you would have the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet. Lenovo isn’t playing around with this expensive Windows tablet, but it sure does deliver the ultimate experience. The touchscreen is wonderful with its 3K resolution, and the optional Core i7 processor makes this machine worth more than just a glance. Of course, the heart of any ThinkPad is the keyboard, and Lenovo continues to deliver here with a world-class option. The battery life could be improved, but in exchange, you’ll be purchasing a tablet that’s been tested against 12-military-grade requirements and offers components that are easy to swap out.
Best Windows tablet for power users: Microsoft Surface Book 3
Why you should buy this: The Surface Book represents Microsoft’s most powerful option with up to an Intel Core i7 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPU.
Who’s it for: Power users demanding the most out of their tablet and those who have the money to add on a few extra bells and whistles.
Why we picked the Microsoft Surface Book 3:
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 — is it a laptop or tablet? The short answer is that it’s both, but because the internals are housed within the screen, we’re considering the hardware keyboard as a bulky add-on. If you need a tablet that offers power, the Surface Book 3 is available in two sizes, 13.5-inch and 15-inch, and provides some of the highest specs of any machines that Microsoft is currently offering on the market. You can use the Surface Book 3 as a stand-alone tablet or dock it into the base to gain a physical keyboard, trackpad, and additional battery life. Surface Book 3 is also compatible with the Surface Pen and Surface Dial so that you can sketch out your greatest ideas. Just keep an eye on the price, as the upgrades can get expensive.
Read our Microsoft Surface Book 3 review
Best Windows on ARM tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro X
Why you should buy this: It represents the next generation of Surface devices with an ultra-thin and light design, along with Microsoft’s SQ 1 and SQ 2 chipsets.
Who’s it for: Windows 10 fans who want to live on the bleeding edge and users who demand up to 15 hours of battery life on a single charge.
The Microsoft Surface Pro X is a unique beast because it is promising, but it isn’t for all users. A part of the next generation of Windows 10 machines, the Surface Pro X is designed to run on the ARM platform with Microsoft’s SQ chipsets. The result is a machine that is incredibly thin and lightweight while offering impeccable battery life. Microsoft has chosen to add ultra-fast LTE to the package, making the Surface Pro X an excellent machine for those always on the go. The one downside to note is that Microsoft’s x86 emulation isn’t as fine-tuned as its fruit-logo competitor in California. What this means for the average user is that some traditional Windows applications that have always worked might not do so well here.
Read our Microsoft Surface Pro X review