Laptop not slim enough for your zoom-zoom lifestyle? Look at a Windows 11 tablet. Windows tablets can work with a keyboard cover or Bluetooth keyboard to serve as a laptop, functionally speaking, but are detachables (able to jettison their keyboards) rather than 360-degree-rotating convertibles. We treat these tablets much the same as laptops, though, when applying our collective decades of expertise to testing and reviewing them. Since the founding of PC Labs more than 40 years ago, we’ve tested thousands of mobile PCs. We use repeatable, industry-standard benchmarks to measure all aspects of CPU and graphics performance, and we assess tablets on the basis of design, usability, connectivity, and battery life. Our current best Windows tablet for most people is the Asus ProArt PZ13, ending the Microsoft Surface Pro’s lengthy win streak at the top of its category. Read on for the rest of our picks.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Windows Tablet for Most Users
Asus ProArt PZ13
- Gorgeous OLED touch screen
- Kickstand cover and above-average keyboard included
- Dual high-quality cameras
- SD card slot
- Affordable price
- Pen not included
- Scanty port selection and no headphone jack
- Arm software compatibility concerns
- No WWAN option
Microsoft ought to make room for Asus at the top of the Windows tablet heap, thanks to the ProArt PZ13, a device that outpaces the Surface Pro in many ways, particularly on value, with the keyboard cover included in its $1,100 list price. This tablet also uses Qualcomm Snapdragon processing, albeit a bit less powerful, but more efficient with a longer battery life. The tablet also includes an SD card slot and two high-fidelity cameras. At long last, the Surface Pro has been outclassed in a few key ways, mainly coming down to dollars and cents.
This is the high-end Windows tablet for anyone with an occasional creative streak or professional digital drafters needing a capable portable solution while away from the workstation. Anyone who remembers groaning at the Surface Pro, and its optional (read: essential but expensive) accessories, will appreciate the Asus ProArt PZ13.
Class
Detachable 2-in-1
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100)
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
13.3 inches
Native Display Resolution
2880 by 1800
Panel Technology
OLED
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno GPU
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Dimensions (HWD)
0.35 by 11.7 by 8 inches
Weight
1.87 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
17:47
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Best Windows Tablet for Copilot+
Microsoft Surface Pro (2024)
- Improved battery life
- Option for high-quality OLED display
- Slim, versatile 2-in-1 design
- Improved Flex Pro wireless keyboard
- Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and monitor support
- Essential accessories still sold separately
- Windows on Arm adds compatibility complexity
- Underwhelming AI features
- Limited port selection
Microsoft’s flagship Copilot+ PC, the latest Surface Pro tablet, ditched Intel processing in favor of Qualcomm’s newest laptop-grade Snapdragon X mobile chips. These processors boost battery life, maintain performance, and introduce onboard AI processing hardware. Also, the specter of app compatibility is less of a concern with improved emulation and broader app support than ever. The tablet’s top-level connectivity and upgraded wireless keyboard cover are side bonuses to the Copilot+ AI features that this device grants access to in Windows 11, like live translation, instant file recall, and automated video meeting enhancements.
This tablet is aimed squarely at cutting-edge mobile professionals in high-end offices or client-facing roles with high expectations for appearance, like sales. It’s also among the longest-lasting Windows tablets regarding battery life, and its top-end connectivity is ideal for frequent commuters and travelers. If you’re embarking on business trips and interacting with particularly posh clients or contacts in your work, then the newest Surface Pro should be on your shortlist.
Class
Detachable 2-in-1, Ultraportable
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E80100)
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Screen Size
13 inches
Native Display Resolution
2880 by 1920
Panel Technology
OLED
Variable Refresh Support
Dynamic
Screen Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno GPU
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Dimensions (HWD)
0.37 by 11.3 by 8.2 inches
Weight
1.97 pounds
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
14:23
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Best Windows Tablet for Business
Dell Latitude 7350 Detachable
- Full-workday battery life
- Powerful, laptop-like performance
- Wi-Fi 7 and Intel vPro
- Built with recycled materials
- Three-year warranty
- Expensive, and essential accessories are still extra
- So-so cameras
Dell holds the title for best Windows tablet for business with its updated Lattitude 7350 Detachable. The new Latitude tablet achieves all-day battery life while still delivering laptop-grade performance with its Intel Core Ultra processor and ample 32GB of memory. It also has a sharp, 13-inch 2.8K touch screen and cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 onboard. All this and an extended warranty rival and outdo the latest Microsoft Surface Pro for businesses needing high-end tablets.
If you need a high-end tablet to get work done on the field or in offices with lofty tech expectations, then this is the best Windows-based option right now. Dell made a winner with the Latitude 7350, meeting or exceeding all criteria for a leading Windows tablet. We’ll always wish the necessary accessories were included, but it’s tough to compete with this level of quality. This Latitude is the first-class Windows tablet for workers of all (particularly deep-pocketed) sorts.
Class
Detachable 2-in-1
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Screen Size
13 inches
Native Display Resolution
2880 by 1920
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel Graphics
Wireless Networking
Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7
Dimensions (HWD)
0.35 by 11.5 by 8.2 inches
Weight
1.76 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
15:26
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Best Windows Tablet for Overall Value
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Gen 2 Detachable
- Reasonable price includes keyboard and pen
- Trim design with ThinkPad quality
- Decent cameras
- Performance trails competitors
- Relatively brief battery life
- No screen upgrades or Wi-Fi 7
One of our biggest gripes with most Windows tablets is that they do not include the arguably essential accessories that make using them like laptops possible. Lenovo has heard the complaints and addressed them directly with a ThinkPad Windows tablet with the accessories in the box: the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Gen 2 Detachable. It’s not the most potent Windows slate we’ve seen, but the lower price and value-added package help make up for that, not to mention the signature ThinkPad design and effective cameras.
This ThinkPad option will well serve fleet managers looking to maximize savings. Since it’s not the most potent option available, end users shouldn’t be handling workloads much more substantial than minor document, presentation, and spreadsheet manipulation on this ThinkPad. If that fits your organization’s specific needs or your individual needs as a contractor, this is the Windows tablet to buy.
Class
Detachable 2-in-1
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 5 134U
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Screen Size
12.3 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1280
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel Graphics
Wireless Networking
Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E
Dimensions (HWD)
0.22 by 11 by 8 inches
Weight
1.67 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
11:39
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Best Rugged Windows Tablet Overall
Dell Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme Tablet
- Rugged design can survive almost anything
- Sunlight-ready touch screen works with gloved hands and included pen
- Plenty of features, including 4G/5G mobile data
- Optional handle for grab-and-go use
- Dual hot-swappable batteries with long battery life, too
- Heavy and chunky
- Middling performance
- Keyboard not included
Of course, not everyone who works with a Windows tablet works indoors, and our answer for them is Dell’s Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme Tablet. Dell built this slate to withstand the elements and unfortunate events such as spills and drops. Its sunlight-readable touch screen works with gloved hands, and Dell even includes a stylus pen in the package. Naturally, the Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme includes optional 4G or 5G connectivity. Its most exciting feature? Two hot-swappable batteries that stretch its already long battery life to, theoretically, infinity.
This is the best Windows tablet for first responders, field workers, and anyone who needs a computer for extreme outdoor situations. The Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme blows past the MIL-STD 810H specs for travel hazards like shock, vibration, weather, and temperature extremes. What’s more, its IP65 ingress protection rating means it can survive dirt, dust, and heavy rain, though it can’t actually be submerged as many smartphones can.
Class
Rugged, Detachable 2-in-1
Processor
Intel Core i5-1240U
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Screen Size
12 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1080
Panel Technology
WVA
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.94 by 11.65 by 8 inches
Weight
3.5 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
15:34
Best Rugged Windows Tablet for First Responders
DT Research DT302RP Rugged Tablet
- Rugged design for extreme conditions
- Lightweight, magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis
- Long-lasting, hot-swappable battery
- Sunlight-legible display
- Pen included, with storage clip and tether
- Magnetic port covers
- Beefy design made bulkier with handle
- AAAA battery for stylus tough to replace
- Adequate performance but not top-tier
Our pick for the best rugged Windows tablet would be fine for first responders, but workers in those fields generally need something more compact than the Dell Latitude above. With a 10.1-inch, sunlight-legible display in a lightweight magnesium-aluminum frame, the DT Research DT302RP is ideal for emergency response, police officers, or operators in war zones. This is underlined by key factors such as a long-lived, hot-swappable battery and a rugged design that surpasses MIL-STD 810H requirements. The included stylus with built-in storage is a bonus.
The DT Research DT302RP fills a niche for field workers needing a rugged yet highly portable device. Additional features like magnetic port covers reassure anyone who needs to take Windows apps into harm’s way.
Class
Rugged
Processor
Intel Core i7-1355U
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
10.1 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1200
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Wireless Networking
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions (HWD)
7.7 by 10.7 by 0.79 inches
Weight
3 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
8:07
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The Best Windows Tablets for 2025
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Buying Guide: The Best Windows Tablets for 2025
Like the Apple iPads that sparked them, Windows tablets come in a range of sizes, computing power, and prices, with no single slate best serving every user’s needs. All current models now run Windows 11. As you begin shopping, you’ll find that they fall into a few different categories and don’t parallel the same concerns you have when shopping for the best laptop.
First are inexpensive models with 10-inch screens, designed to let you browse the web and enjoy streaming a movie from Netflix or Amazon Prime. Because these budget devices usually rely on low-power processors and minimal storage, they’re better used as a second or third device to serve alongside your laptop or smartphone. In other words, these aren’t full-powered devices that can replace a conventional laptop PC.
Then, you have larger 12- and 13-inch tablets designed to work with an included or optional stylus pen and docking keyboard. These give you a better way to take notes in class or type up an email or a term paper, and they generally provide a well-rounded Windows experience. The leading example is the popular Microsoft Surface Pro. Microsoft remains the dominant company in this market.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
Finally, you’ll find premium and business systems designed as productivity tools rather than media consumption devices. Two other major PC companies, Dell and Lenovo, have dabbled in these with their Latitude and ThinkPad lines, respectively. The Microsoft Surface Pros also qualify for this category.
What’s the Right Processor to Get in a Windows Tablet?
Windows tablets have developed to become either luxury entertainment and creativity devices or potent productivity tools. How do you know which to buy depending on your needs? As with conventional laptops, a lot comes down to the processor.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
Some budget Windows tablets might use Intel’s more basic Core processors (i series or non-Ultra Core). These CPUs can work without built-in cooling fans and provide several hours or even a day or two of light use without having to plug in and recharge. Low-power processors like these, though, definitely lack the processing oomph you want for applications like Adobe Photoshop. Still, they are fine for checking email or Facebook and then kicking back with some streaming videos, and the draw on the battery may be less, leading to better battery life.
At the other end of the tablet CPU spectrum are Intel’s Core i and Core Ultra processors, also seen in full-fledged laptops. While these CPUs draw more power and require more cooling hardware, they’re much more capable, letting you run demanding applications. Slates with these chips are priced more like laptops (usually more than $1,000), but you get performance to match their increased cost.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
Some of the best Windows tablets have ditched Intel processors in favor of Arm-based alternatives from companies like Qualcomm and MediaTek. Expect to continue to see more Windows tablets featuring Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X processors alongside Intel’s “Lunar Lake” chips and AMD’s Strix Point chips. These particular silicon solutions have AI-ready hardware, designed with leading-edge efficiency in mind. Their neural processing units (NPUs) are core clusters that handle AI-specific tasks such as automatic system optimizations.
While Windows on Arm OS is not 100% compatible with all Windows software, an impressive amount of native Arm-optimized software runs well, and an additional swath of apps will operate fine through Microsoft’s Prism emulation scheme. Full x86 compatibility isn’t there quite yet, but this is the best Windows on Arm has ever been, and it likely won’t fizzle out quickly the way it did with previous pushes.
Windows Tablet Security and Connectivity
Once you’ve decided which processor will fit your usage pattern, it’s time to move on to the features that make handheld PCs far more flexible than conventional laptops. Sensors previously seen in smartphones bring new ways to interact with your PC, with accelerometers, gyroscopes, and e-compasses providing positional awareness for both automatic screen rotation and new immersive applications.
Microsoft even has a Windows tablet version of FaceID, which lets you unlock your Apple iPhone or iPad Pro simply by looking at it. Called Windows Hello, it’s also available on laptops and desktops, but it is most useful on tablets that don’t have a keyboard handy to enter a secure password.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Let’s not forget tablets’ touch screens. With capacitive screens that track five or ten fingertips at a time, you can pinch, swipe, and tap your way through any task, even those that would have required a keyboard and mouse years ago. Many tablets also come with optional digital pens or styli. Some are housed in “garages” or holes in the tablet chassis that secure the stylus and charge its battery. Others must be carried separately or cling magnetically to one of the slate’s edges.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
There’s also the question of connectivity. With eminently portable designs, it’s only natural that some users want tablets with Wi-Fi internet access and the same no-hotspot-required mobile broadband they enjoy on their smartphones. A few of the best Windows tablets on the market have 5G and LTE connectivity options that work with a mobile phone plan.
Don’t Overlook the Convertible Hybrid
Finally, what if you simply can’t live without a real keyboard but don’t want the hassle of carrying a separate one? As we mentioned, convertible laptops offer keyboards that fold around the back so you can use them as a laptop or tablet or propped up in presentation or kiosk mode. We’ve focused on detachable Windows tablets here, but to learn more about convertibles, see our roundup of the best 2-in-1 laptops.
The switch from a laptop to a tablet doesn’t come without issues. The thin confines of a tablet make worries about heat buildup all the more critical—especially when that heat is literally in hand. Touch screens add a new opportunity for frustration when taps and touches won’t register properly, and the opportunities provided by docks and accessories also open up the chance to lose a valuable part of your PC while out and about. (Say what you will about tablets; you’ll never misplace your keyboard while using a conventional laptop.)
Ready to Buy the Right Windows Tablet for You?
We’ve demonstrated that we’ve waded through the current tablets available and tested and compared many more in recent years to discover what works and what doesn’t. So, check out the rest of our recommendations if the familiar Surface Pro is out of your price range, battery-life comfort zone, or usage profile. If you’re set on a Surface model but unsure which way to go, an excellent additional resource is our guide to which Microsoft Surface you should buy.
And if you’re not married to Windows, read our roundup of the best tablets overall and our look at the best Android-based models. (Our overall best laptops roundup is worth a look, too, if you’re on the fence between a Windows tablet and a classic clamshell laptop.)
This article was published by WTVG on 2025-02-21 17:24:00
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