Windows tablets are an increasingly solid option and the ones with the most potential for many to replace a laptop. Thanks to the work of some manufacturers, with the help of Chinese tablets and perhaps a push in the near future with Windows 10 for ARM, we also have options for all pockets: we review the best Windows tablets in 2018.
The path traveled by Windows tablets It is not being easy and there have been failed projects, but learning from mistakes they have managed to carve out an important niche in the market and are a great option for those looking for a tablet with which to study or work or who simply feel more comfortable with devices more similar to traditional laptops. Whatever the characteristics that are most important to you and your budget, there are Options to consider.
The best Windows tablets
We are going to start by reviewing those who are undoubtedly the queens of this segment right now, although also the most expensive (later we will see more affordable options), with prices above 1000 euros, in general. Most of them saw the light last year and you have them presented in more detail and along with some more options in our selection of the best high-end Windows tablets of 2017but in the CES 2018 some more have been presented that are worth considering.
Surface Pro
Despite the fact that the renewal with respect to the Surface Pro 4 has been relatively discreet and that the competition is on its heels more and more closely, the Surface Pro continues to exercise the leadership among Windows tablets and is one of the best options, with a design even more polished (the rear mount allows even more degrees of tilt and even in the models with Intel Core i5 fans have been dispensed with), with more autonomy, XNUMXth generation Intel processors and the possibility of accompanying it with an improved Surface Pen. It has in its favor an excellent screen and a great user experience, and against which the accessories are sold separately and that it does not have USB Type-C ports.
Galaxy Book 12
The best alternative we have right now to the Surface Pro is probably the Galaxy Book 12, a tablet that has been a huge advance over the previous Galaxy TabPro S. In this case, it must be counted in its favor that it is one of the few Windows tablets that we will be able to find with Super AMOLED panels, which puts you a step ahead in the multimedia section, and not only comes with the included keyboard, but also with the S Pen. Although its design and finishes in general lines are excellent, perhaps against it would be that using the keyboard as a support makes it somewhat less stable, and we do not have many configuration options to choose from, since Samsung has preferred to focus on models with Intel Core i5.
MateBook E
The range of Windows devices from Huawei It grew considerably last year, but if we are really interested in a tablet, the model we have to address is the MateBook E. It is a somewhat more affordable option than the others, but what stands out the most in its favor is its design, since it is the most stylized, light and fine of the three. If we want a Windows tablet as close as possible to a conventional tablet, this is probably our best option. In return, on the side of the cons, we have not only that it also uses the keyboard as a support, which is not optimal in certain circumstances, but that it is the one that shines the least in the autonomy section (its lightness is achieved by sacrificing a lot in battery capacity).
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet
We are going to leave a mention of a tablet that we just met in the CES 2018 and that at the time we write this is not for sale yet, but it deserves to be highlighted because it is the best Windows tablet that Lenovo has presented to us to date, surpassing even the already excellent Miix 720: the ThinkPad X1 Tablet comes with a spectacular 13-inch screen with 3000 x 2000 resolution, like the Surface Book, with processors XNUMXth Gen Intel (only i5 or i7 in this case, since it is a tablet of the highest level that completely dispenses with more affordable versions) and with a keyboard that makes good use of the extra space to offer a more similar experience to that of a laptop , with a wide trackpad and buttons.
An extra note: pay attention to the offers
Before moving on to the next section, we want to encourage you not to completely rule out getting one of these Windows tablets high-end if the budget difference is not too great, because we have to say that over the last few months we have seen quite a lot on sale, especially the MateBook E and, most of all, the Surface Pro. Get an idea, we have seen Huawei's tablet (with Intel Core i5) for up to 800 euros, and Microsoft's (with Intel Core m3) for up to 700 euros. If you follow us, we are always attentive to notify you when we find a significant reduction.
More affordable alternatives: the best mid-range and upper-middle options
The big drawback that the Windows tablets is that they are still quite expensive devices, and although there are options with prices closer to those of Android tablets, the truth is that this is achieved at the cost of sacrifices in hardware that greatly harm the user experience. In the catalog of Lenovo Above all, however, there are a few options that are worth considering if we look for more affordable alternatives to the star models.
Miix 520
We start with an option that does not involve much savings but it must be said that it does not involve making many sacrifices. Moreover, if what we are interested in is mainly performance, it may be a superior option, even since it already comes with processors. XNUMXth Gen Intel and the model that has been put on sale in Spain already leaves us an i5, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. At $ 1000, it's far from a bargain, but it's still a substantial savings over the equivalent configurations of the other models (and the processors are from the previous generation). The only thing we lose is in resolution, since theirs is "only" Full HD.
Yoga Book
It is an older model, but it is still worth a mention and the time since its initial launch works in our favor when it comes to price, since it is now more easily below the 600 euros that it initially cost. Keep in mind, however, that in terms of performance it is a much more discreet option, with a processor Intel Atom, although in its favor it must be put that at least it comes with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB. The section in which it shines, in any case, is that of design, especially because of the original proposal that its keyboard, which is not actually such, but a touch screen that can act as such or serve, among other things, to draw. It is technically a laptop because it cannot be undocked, but due to its size and weight it is not that different from a conventional tablet.
Miix 320
We end up with the most affordable option we have in the catalog of Lenovo and one of the few mid-range Windows tablets whose purchase is really advisable, even if we must always bear in mind that we cannot expect from it the same as from a high-end with Intel Core i3 processors onwards. Compared with the proposals of other manufacturers in this price range, the Miix 320 at least comes with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, and offers us a fairly fluid user experience in everyday tasks. If we are a little attentive, in addition, it is found with certain frequency on its own website for less than $300 which officially costs.
Alternatives with mobile connection: the best 4G tablets with Windows
Another of the difficulties that we can find when searching Windows tablets is to have mobile connection, but fortunately there are more and more models with LTE variants. Not long ago we did a more detailed review of the best 4G tablets with Windows that we can find, but it must be pointed out that the Surface Pro LTE Advanced Yes, it became a reality, as we expected, but at the moment it is not possible to buy in our country.
Galaxy Book 12
La Windows tablet de Samsung Yes, it came from the first moment with an LTE version and, in fact, it is not optional depending on the configuration that interests us: the standard one, also comes with an Intel Core i5, but with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage and has only Wi-Fi connection; If we make the leap to the top, we will have 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage and also with mobile connection. It must be said, in any case, that it is usual that we only have the possibility of choosing this type of connection in the higher-level models. Do not forget, by the way, that in this case the S Pen is included.
ThinkPad X1 Tablet (2017)
Earlier we have highlighted the new ThinkPad X1 Tablet (2018) as one of the best Windows tablets high-end of the moment, but its predecessor was already a high-level tablet and has the advantage that we will not have to wait to get our hands on it, including the LTE version. In fact, we have not one, but two configurations with mobile connection: one with Intel Core i5, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, and another with Intel Core i7, 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. If we not only want to have a mobile connection but also top-level hardware, this is undoubtedly the best option, although it will be noticeable in the price.
Miix 320
Fortunately, Lenovo also has an LTE version of its Windows tablet cheaper, yes we can enjoy mobile connection also in the mid-range. Compared to the standard model, in any case, the price goes up a lot again, since again it is only included in the highest level configuration. This means, on the bad side, that we have to pay about 150 euros, but, on the good side, we will also be able to enjoy resolution Full HD y 128 GB storage. It also applies to this model, by the way, the discounts that we have said that are normally found on the Lenovo website for the Miix 320, although it is also the one with the most stock problems.
A new way: the best tablets with Windows 10 and Snapdragon processors
Speaking of always being connected, after many months of waiting, finally being the first Windows 10 tablets for ARM, which are distinguished precisely by having mobile connection, in addition to a greater autonomy, and, despite being limited to Windows 10 S, they will be able to run x86 applications without problems. Microsoft is expected to launch one as well with a Snapdragon 845 and others will be launched, but at the moment we have two.
envy x2
The first was that of HP, which debuted late last year. Its design is inspired by that of the Surface Pro and does not distinguish it from conventional Windows tablets, and when it comes to hardware, it is true that it is perhaps a step behind the stars of the high range, but its characteristics still They are above the usual in the mid-range, with a 12.3-inch screen with Full H resolution, up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage capacity. The star features, in any case and as we had anticipated, is autonomy, which HP promises will be 22 hours.
Miix 630
The other Windows tablet with Snapdragon 835 that has already seen the light has been presented to us by Lenovo at CES 2018 and it is very similar to the Envy x2 in technical specifications, with a 12.3-inch screen with Full HD resolution, up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of capacity storage. Autonomy, of course, is also one of its outstanding characteristics, ranking equally above the 20 hours. In design, however, it is a bit different, using the keyboard as a rear support. An interesting extra is that it seems that it will arrive with the included stylus.
Another formula to consider: the best convertibles
For those who have more difficulties to abandon the classic format of the notebooks, there is another formula with which the transition will probably be easier, which are the devices in which the keyboard is joined with a hinge that allows a 360 degree rotation, allowing it to be placed behind the screen to use them as if they were a tablet. In our selection of the best convertibles you have a few suggestions, but since then there have been some very interesting additions.
2 Surface Book
The queen of this category is undoubtedly the Surface Book and it has only recently Microsoft He finally introduced us to the second generation. It is already confirmed, in addition, that it will be sold in Spain as well and we will not have to wait too long (it will be here in spring). The new model arrives in two sizes, adding one with a 15-inch screen and an even more spectacular resolution (3240 x 2160) and, of course, it will be available in configurations of the highest level. Another point in its favor is that in both we have an Nvidia GeForce GTX, something interesting because normally not so much attention is paid to the graphics section.
Yoga 920
The most interesting rival for the Surface Book (and as long as we do not have budget problems) is probably the Yoga 920 and this one has already landed in our country. Although, of course, we will also have the opportunity to get hold of it even with 7th generation Intel Core i16 processors, with 1 GB of RAM and 13.9 TB of storage, the truth is that the design and the screen are here again those that capture our attention the most, and it is not for less because we are facing a XNUMX-inch screen without borders with 4K resolution.
Yoga 720
If the Yoga 920 is going to be a bit of a budget, we must remember that Lenovo It also has in this case a somewhat more affordable option, which we can also buy already with processors XNUMXth Gen Intel (we can choose between i5 and i7) and with 8 GB of RAM memory (this data is the same for all the configurations available right now) that assures us that we are not going to miss anything in terms of performance. We are not going to have such a spectacular screen, yes, since yours is 13 inches and its resolution is "only" Full HD.
Hard to beat prices: the best Chinese tablets with Windows
In view of the fact that we have so few options in the mid-range, there are many who turn to import to search more affordable models and the truth is that there is no shortage of options. We have a more extensive recent selection in which we review the Chinese tablets with Windows more interesting (thinking of those for which there are analyzes that attest to their reliability and a minimum of quality in their design), but we are going to highlight here those that would be the safest bets.
Teclast X3 Plus
La Teclast X3 Plus It is the cheapest of all and we include it for those who do not have special demands in terms of performance, but we must bear in mind that we are dealing with a tablet with a processor Intel Apollo Lake and that, therefore, is somewhat limited in this section. Compared to the tablets that we can buy for the same price without resorting to imports, however, we have a larger screen with Full HD resolution, its finishes are quite good and it does not overheat too much. It can be found on Amazon if you prefer, and the price difference is not too high.
Cube Mix Plus
If performance is a key factor for you and you have no problem with the screen being a little smaller (10.6 inches, but also with Full HD resolution), the most interesting option we have is the Cube Mix Plus, which will not cost us much more than the X3 Plus and arrives, however, with a processor Intel Core m3 and it is, furthermore, that he gets the most out of it. The storage capacity that it offers us is also quite large for its price, with 128 GB. An interesting extra is that it has support for a stylus, something that must be taken into account that we will not find in many Chinese tablets.
Cube Thinker i35
We are going to finish highlighting the i35 de Cube, although we have to start by specifying that not a 2 in 1 like the previous ones, but a convertible, which means that it can be used in tablet mode by turning the keyboard but not undocking it. It is also a much more expensive option, but its technical specifications justify it, because not only do we have here an Intel Core m3 processor, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, but also a spectacular 13.5-inch screen with 3000 x 2000 resolution like that of the Surface Book (evidently, its inspiration in this case, more than the Surface Pro).
Interesting add-ons: the best accessories for Windows tablets
Normally Windows tablets already come with their own keyboard cover and almost all manufacturers have their official stylus, but we can still find that we are missing some complement to get the most out of them, so before finishing, we remind you that we also have at your disposal a selection with a few of the best accessories for Windows tablets.