Best Tablets: Holiday 2014
by Brandon Chester on November 28, 2014 8:00 AM ESTWindows Tablets
In the early days of Windows 8 tablets, users had to decide between ARM based devices running Windows RT or x86 devices running the standard version of Windows 8 that you would get on a desktop computer. At this point it's fairly safe to say that Windows RT was an utter failure and is dead as a platform. Removing support for every piece of legacy software effectively removed the appeal of running Windows, and efficient x86 processors from Intel have closed the battery life gap between ARM and x86 in the tablet form factor.
For that reason, we haven't seen any big Windows RT tablet launches, and there aren't any that are worth recommending. However, there's a surprisingly large range of prices for Windows tablets, and many double as laptops through convertible designs or keyboard and trackpad attachments. Due to the unique nature of the Windows tablet space, our recommendations here address both price points and special cases of 2-in-1 laptop and tablet hybrids.
The first Windows tablet on our list also happens to be the least expensive of all the tablets. It's HP's recently launched Stream 7 tablet, and it sells for just $119. It's currently available for $20 less at Microsoft's online store, bringing the price down to $99. Before we talk about the tablet itself, it really needs to be stated that it's amazing to see a device running full Windows, and with a full year subscription to Office 365, for $99. Not long ago that $99 would have gotten you a copy of Windows, or a copy of Office. Now you get both, and HP basically throws in a tablet.
The tablet itself isn't bad either, at least relative to its price. Obviously concessions are going to be made to achieve such a low price point, the largest of which is the use of only 1GB of RAM, which will definitely be a limiting factor even on 32-bit Windows 8.1. The omission of 802.11ac is also unfortunate but entirely expected. The rest of the specifications are quite respectable for this price point. The display is a 7" 1280x800 IPS LCD, and the CPU is Intel's Atom Z3735G, a quad core 1.33GHz Bay Trail part with a 1.86GHz burst frequency. For storage you get a 32GB SSD, although it should be noted that a large portion of that is used by Windows. This doesn't leave a lot of space for local files and programs, but it's called the Stream 7 for a reason.
Obviously the Stream 7 isn't going to replace a high end laptop or desktop any time soon. But for someone who needs to have some sort of Windows software available quickly in a small package, it's definitely a good option. I'm interested in it just for the ability to run MPC-HC and madVR on a tablet that can be fueled by videos both in the cloud and on MicroSD storage.
Users looking for a higher end Windows tablet that is still relatively affordable should take a look at the Dell Venue 8 Pro. Normally $299, this tablet is available for $199 from Microsoft's online store during the time surrounding Black Friday. That price gets you similar specifications to the Stream 7, with 32GB of eMMC NAND, a 1.33GHz quad core Atom Z3740D, and an 8" 1280x800 IPS LCD. The biggest improvement is the shift to 2GB of DDR3L-RS memory, clocked at 1600MHz vs 1333MHz in the Stream 7. There are also improvements to the cameras, although I haven't really covered the cameras in any detail with this guide because I don't think they're really a selling point for most people. Without being able to measure the display, it's hard to say if the Venue 8 Pro is worth the premium over the Stream 7 at its normal price of $299. However, at its current sale price of $199 it's definitely worth considering due to the RAM increase alone.
Next up is the 2-in-1 category. I've never really been a fan of devices that try to turn laptops into tablets or tablets into laptops. I find they usually just let me down by not having sufficient hardware to do any sort of productivity tasks where I would appreciate the keyboard input. But for users who just want to have the option to type some notes or surf the web using a keyboard and mouse, they certainly have some appeal. In this category the ASUS Transformer Book T100 is one of the only devices available at the moment, and it hovers around $329.
The T100 actually came out in 2013, and it impressed us at that time. It has a 10.1" 1366x768 IPS display, a 1.33GHz quad core Atom Z3740, and 2GB of RAM. Since it released, there hasn't been much improvement in this product category, owing to the fact that we are just now seeing Intel's Core M parts begin to ship. Anyone looking to get a Windows tablet with a keyboard attachment should know that it won't be long before devices like the ASUS Transformer Book T300 Chi start shipping with significantly improved displays and processors, and unless you really need a device right now, you'll be better off waiting.
At the end of our Windows recommendations we have another device that's a tablet with a keyboard and trackpad attachment, but this one sits firmly in the price territory of laptops. Some would argue it really is considered a laptop rather than a tablet, but Microsoft's own marketing about the Surface Pro 3 would disagree. Microsoft's tablet bills itself as the tablet that can replace your laptop, and like many laptops, it comes in many different varieties. We've laid out the different SKUs in a chart below.
| Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Configuration Options | |||||||||||
| Configuration | $799 | $999 | $1299 | $1549 | $1949 | ||||||
| CPU | Intel Core i3-4020Y | Intel Core i5-4300U | Intel Core i5-4300U | Intel Core i7-4650U | Intel Core i7-4650U | ||||||
| TDP | 11.5W | 15W | 15W | 15W | 15W | ||||||
| Cores/Threads | 2/4 | 2/4 | 2/4 | 2/4 | 2/4 | ||||||
| Frequency Base/Max Turbo | 1.5GHz/- | 1.9/2.9GHz | 1.9/2.9GHz | 1.7/3.3GHz | 1.7/3.3GHz | ||||||
| GPU | Intel HD 4200 | Intel HD 4400 | Intel HD 4400 | Intel HD 5000 | Intel HD 5000 | ||||||
| GPU EUs | 20 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 40 | ||||||
| GPU Frequency Base/Max Turbo | 200/850MHz | 200/1100MHz | 200/1100MHz | 200/1100MHz | 200/1100MHz | ||||||
| Storage | 64GB SSD | 128GB SSD | 256GB SSD | 256GB SSD | 512GB SSD | ||||||
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | ||||||
As you can see, there's a large price range for the Surface Pro 3, although all of them are well above what most people would consider paying for a tablet. But for anyone who needs a tablet running full Windows, and more hardware power than is available with any of Intel's Bay Trail processors, the Surface Pro 3 is as good as it gets. Microsoft's marketing positions it against other laptops, and with the hardware it provides it really can do anything an Ultrabook can. It should be noted that the type cover is still a separate accessory that costs $129, and with that cost even the Core i3 based Surface Pro 3 is pushed strictly into Ultrabook pricing. For what it offers, I don't think the pricing is unfair, although I do wish that the Core i3 model came with 128GB of storage.
The Surface Pro 3 is definitely aimed at a specific group of users, and I doubt there will be any cross shopping between it and the other tablets listed, unless one is contemplating buying the most expensive model of the iPad Air 2. Anyone who is looking for a tablet that allows for serious productivity should give it a look though, as it's well worth its cost.
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PC Perv - Sunday, November 30, 2014 - link
Your bias is blinding you. How about checking out your own review?http://www.anandtech.com/show/7886/samsung-galaxy-...
The Nexus 7 has literally zero advantage except for getting quicker Android updates. That's per YOUR OWN review. And what is wrong with RGBW panel, as long as it displays correct images and gives awesome crispness thanks to its high PPI? Would you say CYMK in your printer (and just about every printer) is also a problem?
From what I can tell you are one of those typical AT reviewers, hell bent on "Apple is the standard" and judging everything from that angle. I admit not every AT reviewers are like that - especially those in Europe seem to be more even-headed. I am looking forward to the day when you "leave" to work as Joni Eve's personal driver.
PC Perv - Sunday, November 30, 2014 - link
lol, Joni Eve. Sorry I meant "Johnny Ive" XDBrandon Chester - Sunday, November 30, 2014 - link
My mistake, I had forgotten how it's strangely the larger tablet with the worse display. Calling me ignorant for a mistake is interesting since you incorrectly identified the SoC in the Nexus 7 two times in a row, despite the exact model being put in the article. I never called you ignorant for your mistake.RGBW is actually a real issue, you get huge reductions in chroma resolution. Again, the display isn't so much the issue as the hardware driving it. I have used it myself and there's obvious jank, S800 was not designed to drive such a high resolution. That's all I have to say about that.
I don't know why you brought up Apple, it seems like you've just fallen into throwing out ad hominems because of what appears to be buyer's justification because you own the TabPro. If you disagree with me that's fine, but accusing others of bias and making personal attacks is not at all a valid way to argue a point.
PC Perv - Sunday, November 30, 2014 - link
Wrong again. I had the Nexus 7 (2013 model, which I sold because of performance degradation due to its cheap components), not the Tab Pro. I would have not spent $400 on the Tab Pro anyway.I know exactly what the Nexus 7's SoC is. I just wasn't sure how to call it. That was not a mistake. Your "mistake," on the other hand, is a different kind. "It's RGBW, so it's out of running" Just like Brian Klug's "It's AMOLED, so it's worthless." type of mistake.
I can't wait for the day when Apple adopt AMOLED and you declare "AMOLED DONE RIGHT."
stlc8tr - Sunday, November 30, 2014 - link
Just to be clear, AFAIK, the Tab Pro 8.4 isn't RGBW. It's a full RGB stripe display. Only the 10.1 and 12.2 tablets are RGBW.Also, given the the Tab Pro 8.4 was recommended at $400, I don't understand why it isn't being recommend at $200, which is *CHEAPER* than the N7.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7886/samsung-galaxy-...
"Android alternatives include the Nexus 7, which delivers slightly less performance in most cases than the Pro 8.4 and it “only” has a WUXGA display, but it has one big selling point: it costs $170 less than the Pro 8.4, and you could even pick up two for the price of a single Pro 10.1 – or you could grab the 32GB model and still only pay $269. The Pro 8.4 looks and feels nicer in my opinion, but it’s really difficult to argue with that sort of price competition. If you want two more options, the Kindle Fire HDX 7” ($200) and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9” ($379) pack similar performance with their Snapdragon 800 SoCs and have a lot to offer, but the lack of Google Play Services is a pretty massive drawback in my book. I really can’t find any other direct competition in the Android market for the Samsung Pro 8.4 right now, so it's an easy recommendation."
PC Perv - Monday, December 1, 2014 - link
Another ridiculousness is how he thinks the value of $100 when we talk about $200-ish tablets. He says,[Q]Also it's an RGBW panel, and it's normally $300 so I still don't see the appeal at all.[/Q]
Either he is totally brainwashed, or really bad at math. I mean, if the Nexus 7 was $120 ($220 - $100), would he say the same? Or, would he say the same about the iPad Air 2 if it's on sale for $100 less? No appeal at all?
I somehow doubt it. Says a lot about his bias, arrogance, and his total disregards of actual consumers.
I wish this guy had a humility to look himself in the mirror, but I frankly do not expect it from the attitude he has shown here so far.
The0ne - Monday, December 15, 2014 - link
It's not math. It is the unconscious decision to ignore everything else regardless of what was said or in some cases the facts. Religion is great at doing this btw. As you stated previously what does it matter if it's RGBW or anything as long as the image is clear and clean. And at these screen sizes who is really going to see the difference?Brandon, he threw out Apple reference because Anand's reviews share the same common reasoning, using Apple as the standard. Remember the screen size, the display? No different that what you're really doing here, albeit not as excessive as the full fledged Apple-loved reviews by Anand. I pray you don't ask us to cite them because that would be embarrassing to Anandtech.
steve1616 - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
I have noticed so many people bag on this site for being pro apple. It seems like if anyone says anything good about an apple product, than obviously it is wrong. I didn't read a review made by an apple fanboy, but I have read mean comments made by obvious android fanboys.This is a neutral site, but even a pure android site (android police) recommended the ipad air 2 over all the android tablets. Maybe its just better. I started on android tablets. I bought hisense sero 7 pro tablets for my kids since their school required them and this tablet was recommended by the IT guy at their school. It was a good performing tablet, but so far 2 of the tablets I bought died within 6 months. The other 2 tablets have had problems that I have fixed and I am still limping them by. I replaced the 2 dead tablets with ipad minis reluctantly because they have a great track record for reliability and they were on sale for $170. These old tech original ipad mini tablets were better performers on games. They never stuttered on games that the hisense stuttered slightly on. My sister also bought some hisense tablets on my initial recommendation. Her tablets died within a few months and hisense will drag on a warranty for years it is looking like. We're yet to receive anything and it has been over 6 months since we returned the units with RMA's. She bought 2 ipad minis and 1 Samsung tab 4, 8" tablet. We almost bought this same Samsung, but it was quite a bit more money than the ipad mini. I have gotten the chance to play with both tablets and the Samsung tablet is not as good a perfomer as the hisense tablet. It stutters badly in games compared to the ipad mini. In subway surfer the samsung always has this little stutter that can really mess you up. The ipad mini is just smooth. I was guilty of not giving apple a fair chance before this experience, and it was misguided. They seem to have the best tablet at the best prices if you wait for big sales
tuxRoller - Sunday, December 14, 2014 - link
It's actually a krait 300 (15%ipc compared to krait 200).It's basically an underclocked s600.
gailthesnail - Sunday, November 30, 2014 - link
Yeah I'm pretty sure you're wrong about that. I have a tab pro and it runs games great. It may not have the absolute newest chip but the s800 is still plenty powerful enough and definitely way more powerful than the s4 pro in the nexus 7. I would even pick it over the shield as nvidia has overpromised and under delivered on all of its chips in the past. The k1 looks like the most overrated chip in recent memory. It overheats, isn't battery efficient, and doesn't actually perform any better than competitors.