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MagyarThe Best Windows Tablets (2-in-1 Tablets)
Windows on smartphones has failed, but the OS is still the leading solution for PCs. There are hardly any Windows tablets without keyboards anymore or the usage concept for these tablets is designed with attachable keyboards in mind (Surface Pro). This is why the following Top 10 ranking only includes 2-in-1 devices consisting of tablet and keyboard dock, also called detachable. All Yoga like devices with 360 degree hinges are listed in our ranking of 2-in-1 laptops. The following ranking might be interesting as well:
- The Best Convertible Notebooks (laptops that can be used as tablets)
- The Best Tablets (traditional tablets running Android or iOS)
- The Best Phablets (smartphones with particularly large display)
The Best Windows Tablets
The table above contains an overview over the best Windows tablets reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Link: all devices in this class reviewed
Editors' Comments
If you want Windows in your tablet, you do not want to get stuck in the first app for lack of performance. True to this solution, the market now offers almost all devices with real SSDs and Core-i processors (with/without fans). Core-m/Y- turned out to be a kind of intermediate solution that is preferably found in detachables (HP Spectre Folio, Surface Pro 6 i5,...), which are supposed to work even more frugally, without a fan and with longer runtimes.
All models mentioned here in the top list have the claim of notebook performance, at least approximately. The crux of the matter is: Very often the Core-i systems throttle their clock rate significantly after 5-20 seconds in maximum performance in order not to exceed certain thermal limits. You should read our respective tests carefully here.
1st – Dell XPS 13 9315 2-in-1
As a Surface variant for the business environment, the Dell XPS 13 9315 presents itself with a sleek look, high-quality workmanship and compact dimensions. The Intel Core i5-1230U offers good performance with its 10 cores. The SoC is passively cooled, which means that the XPS 13 9315 is completely silent. There is also an optional 5G module and the light tablet also offers 2x Thunderbolt 4.
The Dell XPS 13 9315 2-in-1 combines sufficient speed and enough endurance in a slim and chic overall package.
The XPS 13 9315 (Core i5-1230U) is listed on Amazon for $1,347.
Pricecompare
2nd – Microsoft Surface Pro 8
The Surface Pro 8 is Microsoft’s attempt at competing against Apple’s iPad Pro, and our detailed review focused on whether this attempt was successful, and the Surface Pro 8 is actually better than the iPad Pro or not. Equipped with a Tiger Lake Core i7-1185G7, 16 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD the device is well equipped for work. Its biggest update apart from the improved design is the addition of Thunderbolt 4, which both USB-C ports on the device support. The SSD is upgradable, which means you don’t have to include potential future use cases in your initial configuration. The 120 Hz 3:2 display can easily keep up with its competitors.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 8 offers a new 120 Hz display, Thunderbolt 4, and an improved design with many benefits over its predecessor.
Downsides include a slightly shorter battery life. The Core i7-equipped SKU is available among others on Amazon with prices starting at $1,600.
Pricecompare
3rd – Lenovo ThinkPad X12
The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 is successor to the 3-year-old ThinkPad X1. It is cheaper than other devices and continues to offer a 12.3-inch 3:2 display.
We liked its great build quality as well as its high-quality materials. As expected, its input devices are excellent and the display performed very well overall.
Lenovo’s ThinkPad X12 is a well-made tablet featuring a great display.
The device can be purchased among others through Lenovo’s own webstore.
Pricecompare
4th – Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus
Not much has changed visually in the Surface Pro 7 Plus. The tablet from Microsoft is still very high-quality and the device feels good in the hand. Nevertheless, Microsoft has improved the new Surface Pro 7 Plus a bit. For example, the SSD can now be replaced. The manufacturer also upgraded the CPU and GPU of the Surface Pro 7. Due to the passive cooling, the SoC throttles in the long-term test, but even larger devices cannot deliver better rates in some cases.
In terms of battery runtimes, the Surface Pro 7 Plus is slightly better than the predecessor and lasted a good eight hours in the test. That is enough for a workday and there is currently little competition in this performance class.
Microsoft stays true to its line and also presents the 2021 Surface in the familiar design. The look, feel and design are convincing and the Surface Pro 7 Plus offers a very good performance.
The Surface Pro 7 Plus combines many positive features and leaves a very good impression in the test. It should be mentioned positively that the Surface Pen is now included. However, the Type Cover has to be purchased separately, which is an additional burden on the wallet when buying a new one. We very much welcome the new Type-C port. However, it is still not Thunderbolt-compatible.
The Microsoft Store has the Surface Pro 7 Plus listed at prices starting from $899.99. Customers can purchase the device from Amazon as well.
Pricecompare
5th – Microsoft Surface Book 3 15
The Surface Book 3 15 is slightly larger than the 13.5-inch model and offers a better performing GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q. Both models feature up-to-date Ice Lake quad-core CPUs.
In some aspects the new 15-inch convertible is an improvement over its own predecessor. In others, it most certainly is not.
Thanks to its good performance the Microsoft Surface Book 3 remains a great convertible with some know flaws, such as for example the fact that Thunderbolt 3 is only available in combination with the expensive dock.
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 15 is a premium device with a much higher 3D performance than its predecessor.
Its main benefits are the excellent build quality and its high-quality materials. The robust base and well-thought-out docking mechanism are worth the trade-off of a slightly thicker device.
The top model is only really worth it if you absolutely need the GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q’s prowess. Unfortunately, not everything was improved over last year’s model. The major downside is the slower SSD when compared to last year’s model.
Pricecompare
6th – Dell Latitude 13 7320
Dell’s Latitude 13 7320 offers solid performance paired with a good display. Its GPU is significantly faster than last gen’s thanks to its Tiger Lake SoC. Overall, the Latitude 13 7320 is Dell’s fastest currently available Windows tablet. It also features 16 GB of RAM and a fast NVMe SSD.
Its minimalistic design and good connectivity make for a great device.
The Dell Latitude 13 7320 is not yet widely available except through Dell’s own webstore. Some retailers, such as Newegg, carry a handful of select SKUs as well.
Pricecompare
7th - Lenovo Yoga Duet 7
The Lenovo Yoga Duet 7 (see review here) is Lenovo’s attempt to lure away potential Surface Pro 7 customers, and truth be told Lenovo did a great job overall as the Yoga Duet 7 only showed a few weaknesses during our review. Its strengths include its robust high-quality case as well as its solid performance, courtesy of Intel’s Core i5-10210U processor. A bright sRGB display and low noise emissions seal the deal, and face recognition with support for Windows Hello is the icing on the cake.
Lenovo’s Yoga Duet 7 is a serious competitor for Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7.
Downsides include relatively low amounts of storage. Both RAM and mass storage devices would have benefited from more spacious designs in order to lure customers over resulting in a slightly sour aftertaste.
Pricecompare
8th – Microsoft Surface Book 3
The Surface Book 3 with GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q (see review here) and up-to-date Ice Lake quad-core CPU is Microsoft’s latest offering for power users.
In some aspects the new 13.5-inch convertible performed very well. In others we keep wondering why Microsoft continues to ignore known issues or foregoes current standards.
Thanks to its good performance, the Surface Book 3 remains a virtually unrivaled product. However, it requires a few compromises (no Thunderbolt 3!) that are not worthy of its high price.
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is a premium device incapable of fully utilizing its hardware’s full performance potential.
Its main strength is mobility due to the tablet option. Undocking takes mere seconds and combined with a Surface Pen the 13-inch tablet is ready for the next meeting. Unbelievably, said Surface Pen is not included by default despite the Surface Book 3’s high price of more than $2,500.
The top model is only really worth it if you absolutely need the GTX 1650 Max-Q’s prowess. Compared to its predecessor, we fail to see any convincing reasons as to how the new model would be beneficial.
Pricecompare
9th – Microsoft Surface Go 3
The Surface Go 3 is an affordable Windows tablet. As is the case with more expensive and bigger Surface tablet, its build quality and choice of material are superb. Visually, the Surface Go 3 is practically identical to the Go 2. However, its insides have been upgraded and include new features such as for example the built-in IR camera with support for Windows Hello.
In our review, this 10-inch tablet turned out to offer a high-quality display with great color-space coverage as well as a slightly improved performance thanks to its passively cooled Core i3-10100Y – at least on paper. In reality, the Go 3 performed pretty much identical to the Go 2.
Microsoft’s Surface Go is a high-quality Windows tablet with a comparatively low price for a Surface device. Its accessories, however, are quite expensive and can be a deal-breaker.
Battery life is decent but not long enough for a full day of work. However, its silent cooling system make it much more enticing, and the Go 3 continues the Go 2’s passive cooling tradition. Keep in mind that while the device itself may be priced quite aggressively its accessories, such as the Signature Type Cover of the Surface Pen, remain fairly expensive.
The Surface Go 3 can be purchased on Amazon with prices starting at just $400.
Pricecompare
10th – Microsoft Surface Pro X
The Microsoft Surface Pro X is based on an ARM processor and therefore ideal for road warriors and mobile usage, which is further amplified by the existence of an LTE modem. As always build quality is excellent, and the 3:2 display remained the same. The device is silent and its SSD is replaceable. Other benefits include a good front-facing camera, a keyboard dock, and a stylus.
Microsoft’s first ARM-based tablet is too expensive, and the limitations of its built-in ARM chip are not to be ignored.
Prices start at around $900, and the device is available through the usual retail channels, such as for example Amazon.
Pricecompare
Top 10 Convertibles (2-in-1 Tablets) in Comparison
Test Results
| Dell Latitude 12 7210 2-in-1 | Microsoft Surface Pro 8, i7-1185G7 | Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Plus | Microsoft Surface Book 3 15 | Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7 | Lenovo Yoga Duet 7 13IML05-82AS000WGE | Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5 | Microsoft Surface Go 3 Core i3 | Microsoft Surface Pro X | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | ||||||||||
| Display P3 Coverage | 67.9 | 78.2 | 67 | 66.9 | 61.5 | 79.5 | 68.9 | 63.5 | 69 | |
| sRGB Coverage | 96.8 | 100 | 99.2 | 96.7 | 92.7 | 100 | 98.2 | 95.1 | 99.1 | |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 68.8 | 77.6 | 68.8 | 69.1 | 63.6 | 78.4 | 71.1 | 65.7 | 69.8 | |
| Response Times | ||||||||||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 29 ? | 46.4 ? | 63.2 ? | 50.8 ? | 38 ? | 53.2 ? | 58 ? | 57 ? | 37.2 ? | 49.6 ? |
| Response Time Black / White * | 16 ? | 23.2 ? | 36 ? | 33.6 ? | 25 ? | 32.8 ? | 26 ? | 38 ? | 22.8 ? | 30.4 ? |
| PWM Frequency | 1250 ? | 29760 ? | 199.2 ? | 250 ? | 2451 ? | 962 ? | 201.6 ? | |||
| Screen | ||||||||||
| Brightness middle | 380 | 444 | 419 | 408 | 428 | 521.8 | 450 | 391 | 418 | 466 |
| Brightness | 378 | 451 | 406 | 425 | 413 | 504 | 411 | 367 | 415 | 470 |
| Brightness Distribution | 86 | 91 | 94 | 85 | 89 | 93 | 83 | 86 | 90 | 92 |
| Black Level * | 0.31 | 0.43 | 0.23 | 0.34 | 0.23 | 0.35 | 0.22 | 0.19 | 0.28 | 0.44 |
| Contrast | 1226 | 1033 | 1822 | 1200 | 1861 | 1491 | 2045 | 2058 | 1493 | 1059 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.28 | 2 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.65 | 3.83 | 4.15 | 3.07 | 1.2 | 2.1 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.93 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 8.12 | 5.51 | 11.49 | 4.74 | 2.6 | 4 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 0.97 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.92 | 1.97 | 1.09 | 1.52 | 1 | |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.56 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 3.99 | 4.4 | 6.66 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 2.8 |
| Gamma | 2.32 95% | 2.11 104% | 2.06 107% | 2.05 107% | 3.12 71% | 2.02 109% | 2.42 91% | 2.29 96% | 2.21 100% | 2.05 107% |
| CCT | 6130 106% | 6417 101% | 6524 100% | 6432 101% | 6309 103% | 6494 100% | 6043 108% | 6330 103% | 6225 104% | 6589 99% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 63 | 62.8 | 63.7 | 58 | 65 | 61 | 72.1 | |||
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 97 | 99.2 | 96.8 | 93 | 98 | 95 | 96.8 | |||
| Heat | ||||||||||
| Maximum Upper Side * | 37.5 | 45 | 39 | 42.9 | 41.4 | 38.8 | 33.6 | 41 | 46.1 | 41.8 |
| Maximum Bottom * | 36.2 | 47.2 | 41.7 | 44.8 | 39.7 | 40 | 33.9 | 43.7 | 42.7 | 45.7 |
| Idle Upper Side * | 25.7 | 24.1 | 25.6 | 28.8 | 34.6 | 31 | 24.8 | 29.2 | 25 | 26.3 |
| Idle Bottom * | 24.3 | 23.4 | 25.6 | 25.8 | 30.3 | 31.6 | 25.4 | 27.6 | 25 | 25.8 |
| Battery Runtime | ||||||||||
| Reader / Idle | 1365 | 816 | 969 | 1062 | 768 | 991 | ||||
| H.264 | 676 | 604 | 597 | 650 | 776 | 494 | ||||
| WiFi v1.3 | 489 | 456 | 492 | 483 | 512 | 661 | 523 | 396 | 420 | 469 |
| Load | 111 | 70 | 119 | 232 | 179 | 126 | 95 | 188 | ||
| Power Consumption | ||||||||||
| Idle Minimum * | 3.2 | 3.9 | 4 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 2.6 | 3.2 |
| Idle Average * | 5.3 | 8.5 | 5.9 | 9.1 | 7.4 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 9.4 | 5.1 | 8.5 |
| Idle Maximum * | 8.4 | 9.8 | 8.3 | 10.8 | 9 | 6 | 8.7 | 11.2 | 5.9 | 9.6 |
| Load Average * | 27 | 48 | 30.1 | 39.2 | 78 | 31.9 | 20.5 | 72 | 22.9 | 19.8 |
| Load Maximum * | 46.9 | 63 | 59 | 62.5 | 108 | 61 | 22.6 | 90 | 24.6 | 24.7 |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 41.5 | 30.8 | 94.2 | 26.2 |
* ... smaller is better
