The best Windows tablets are giving Apple’s iPads a serious run for their money, and they’re only getting better and better. These tablets are not only good for media consumption, web surfing and staying in touch with loved ones anymore. Many of them also tout enough power in their thin and light form factor for productivity and creative work as well, making them excellent laptops alternatives, only more portable and often less expensive.
Some of the best Windows tablets are even powerful enough to rival the best 2-in-1 laptops when it comes to performing general computing tasks. So whether your daily computing needs only involve watching movies on Netflix and playing PUBG Mobile or also include writing emails and typing up work documents on Google Docs, these devices have you covered.
We scoured the market to find the best Windows tablets out there for you. We’ve even tested and reviewed every single pick, ensuring that whichever one you end up with, you’ll get a quality device. No matter what you need, you’ll find the ideal Windows tablet for you here.
Best Windows tablets at a glance:
- Microsoft Surface Go
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet
- Microsoft Surface Pro 6
- Acer Switch 5
- Lenovo Yoga Book C930
1. Microsoft Surface Go
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 10.5-inch 1,800 x 1,200 PixelSense touch display | Storage: 64GB eMMC – 128GB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11ac; Bluetooth | Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front | Weight: 1.15 lbs (522 g) | Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches
Affordable
Light and easy to hold
Not as powerful as the iPad
The Microsoft Surface Go meets that large demand for a budget Surface device, while also being among the best Windows tablets for anyone who wants to do a bit of work on the go. It’s thin, light, portable and elegant like its more expensive cousins, but it has a price tag that’s a bit more affordable for regular users, thanks to Microsoft packing in everything they could in a device with a reasonable price tag. If you’re a student, or just someone who wants to consume some media while traveling, including playing some of the best laptop games on an airplane, then you can’t go wrong with the Microsoft Surface Go.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go
2. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet
A versatile Windows 10 tablet that moonlights as a powerful laptop
CPU: Up to 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8650U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Screen: 13-inch QHD+ 3k (3,000 x 2,000) IPS multi-touch | Storage: Up to 1 TB PCIe SSD | Connectivity: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 8265 (2 x 2), Up to Bluetooth 4.1 with vPro | Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 2MP front-facing | Weight: 1.69 pounds (890g), 2.79 pounds (1.27kg) with keyboard | Size: 11.96 x 8.88 x 0.59 inches with keyboard
Great design and build quality
ThinkPad Pen Pro included
Vivid 13-inch 3K touchscreen
Battery life is still limiting
Bulkier than the Surface Pro
Touted by Lenovo as ‘an IT admin’s dream,’ the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet indeed offers many of the makings of such a device. That includes dual Thunderbolt ports for faster data transfers, Windows Hello login via fingerprint reader, and the optional IR camera for a more secure login and Microsoft AutoPilot readiness. And, that’s without mentioning the SSD and battery that are field serviceable so that you can get a certified technician to come to you if you need parts replaced. But that’s not all; it’s also got a light and sleek chassis, and it comes with the ThinkPad Pen Pro, which means it’s great value all around.
Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet
3. Microsoft Surface Pro 6
The best Windows tablet ever
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 12.3-inch, 2,736 x 1,824 PixelSense display | Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.1 | Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 5MP front-facing | Weight: 1.73 pounds | Size: 11.5 x 7.93 x 0.33 inches (W x D x H)
Much improved performance
New color options
No USB-C
Microsoft’s Surface Pro lineup is the epitome of what other Windows tablets should strive for – and the Surface Pro 6 has followed in its predecessors’ footsteps. While it doesn’t bring anything particularly fresh to the table, it does iterate in a relevant way, inheriting all the best parts of the previous model then rolling out with more powerful hardware and a new black color option to boot. The Surface Pen and Type Cover are still for purchase and not included in the box, but that’s just the reality we have to live with these days. Either way, the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 easily one of the best Windows tablets you can buy today.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 6
4. Acer Switch 5
A great Surface Pro alternative
CPU: 7th-generation Intel Core i3 – i5 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 12-inch, 2,160 x 1,440 IPS touchscreen | Storage: 128GB – 256GB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11ac; Bluetooth | Camera: 3MP rear, 1MP front | Weight: 2.8 pounds | Dimensions: 11.49 x 7.94 x 0.62 inches
Great price
Solid performance
Dim display
The Acer Switch used to be a more affordable alternative to the Surface Pro. These days, the Acer Switch 5 will cost you just as much, but that’s also for comparable specs except perhaps an older processor. Price increase aside, this tablet is still one of the best Windows tablets – not to mention, best performing – out there, and it’s the perfect solution for students and professionals who don’t want to buy into the Surface trend.
Read the full review: Acer Switch 5
5. Lenovo Yoga Book C930
CPU: Intel Core i5-7Y54 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 10.8” QHD (2560 x 1600) IPS touchscreen – 10.8” FHD (1920 x 1080) Flexible E Ink Mobius touchscreen | Storage: 256 GB SSD
Very thin and light
Gorgeous main display
E Ink screen works well
Very expensive
Low on RAM
The Lenovo Yoga Book C930 is a truly innovative 2-in-1 laptop, with a second E Ink display that moonlights as a keyboard, a pad for making notes and drawing and a traditional E Ink reader for viewing documents. It’s perhaps this second stunning screen that’s the biggest selling point of the Lenovo Yoga Book C930. That fact that it’s thin and light makes it an excellent tablet as well. If you’re looking for a laptop that doubles as a tablet and a drawing pad, this one’s an ace in our book.
Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book C930
Bill Thomas, Gabe Carey and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article
Images credit: TechRadar