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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BuddyRich - Saturday, November 29, 2014 - link
I just ordered a Dell Venue Pro signature edition 64 from the MS Store which was only 229 (it had a 120 discount for black friday but it also sold out) should be here shortly. $100 more for 1" of screen and 1GB of RAM is alot but I wanted to ensure I could get a working OTG+Charge cable, Dell sells one, and early tests indicate the Stream 7 doesn't work with with the cheap OTG Y cables. OTG works but it does charge. Maybe something like a Vener8 or +port will work but for what I want to use it for I need charge and USB port access at the same time and these things only have the one port. Otherwise at $99, the Stream 7 is like a Raspberry PI only with a screen (and a version of windows). They are PCs, you can install Linux on these things but with much better hardware than the Pi. Install XBMC and you are better than the XBMC version of Android and you still get a touch interface for fairly cheap.This will be my first Windows tablet, but Ive used windows 8 and 8.1 since its release and everything Ive read says these tablets should get a free update to Win 10 in April or whenever its released.
I used to be an Apple fan boy, going from iPod touch to 3GS to iPhone5 and bought the iPad3 for my first tablet. I dabbled with jailbreaking with the ipod and 3GS but by the time ios4 came out it had most of the features I wanted stock so haven't jailbroken since.
Then in Nov. of last year I bought a N7 over the iPad Mini for the screen quality and to try something different as iOS7 killed my performance on the iPad3. It wasn't bad on the 5. 7.1 went a long way to fixing this, but there was nothing really new and I found the ios experience to be getting stale. Having dropped my 5 and cracking the screen in May of this year I ordered a Nexus 5 and sold the iphone 5, and have been android ever since, save my iPad and old 3GS I use as remotes and music streamers. I was disappointed with the N9 so don't know what I'll buy next. I want to stick to stock Android but I was intrigued by the OLED screens in the Tab S tablets, but dislike the Samsung UI touchwiz stiff. I do find the Android app ecosystem offers more open apps but also trails iOS in app availability and app features where they exist on both. Its getting better but its not there yet, mostly the games, iOS is usually the first platform where something gets released (see Touchstone for example). Otherwise I love the fact I can run a file explorer on Android and tinker with a bunch of things I couldn't on iOS but with 4.4 and 5 more and more things require root to tinker with and the OS is becoming more closed.
mhaubr2 - Saturday, November 29, 2014 - link
I've been using the Asus TF700 as my "take everywhere" office device for the past 2 years, and I'm totally sold on the idea of an Android convertible. I can just shove it in a folio and take it everywhere - access corporate email & calendar, take notes using the keyboard, and because Android has pointer support with a bluetooth mouse I can remote into my Windows desktop and it's actually usable (even using the tiny trackpad on the keyboard dock). The TF700 is getting a bit long in the tooth, though, and the newest flagship TF303 isn't yet available in the US (assuming it ever will be). I recently picked up the TF103 for $150 for home use and although the screen is crap I really can't complain about the features for the price. Other folks at work have been getting iPads, and but my Asus is far more useful. I'm surprised Android convertibles haven't gotten more traction for this use case.Hemant0010 - Sunday, November 30, 2014 - link
Microsoft Surface Pro series of tablets bridged the gap between Laptop and Tablet very well. Also, iPad Air 2 and Mini 3 are one of the best Tablets around right now and are also launched in India now. Know more about the price in India and other details - http://www.techuntold.com/ipad-air-2-and-ipad-mini...ruthan - Sunday, November 30, 2014 - link
Sorry boys but some graphics, headers.. would be nice, this is wall of text.jhh - Sunday, November 30, 2014 - link
I bought a Nexus 10 on the day it launched. While I don't use it for gaming, the performance is adequate for my use. But, the battery is losing capacity, as it shuts down at 50%. I've read other people saying their Nexus 10 shuts down at 70% available. There are no legitimate options for battery replacement other than returning the tablet to Samsung, and not clear that they have any actual new batteries, or only old batteries with few cycles.Tablets without an aftermarket replacement battery source are doomed to a 2-3 year lifetime. If there was a decent tablet with assurances of 6 years of after-sale service available, they would be most likely to get my replacement business. But, they would have to be profitable on after-market services, not just new tablet sales. I hate creating all this electronic waste.
PC Perv - Sunday, November 30, 2014 - link
Read GSMArena's Tablet guide. Much more thorough and unbiased unlike Brandon Chester's propaganda-ridden crap.http://www.gsmarena.com/tablet_buyers_guide-review...
PokerGuy - Monday, December 1, 2014 - link
As a long time AT reader I'm very disappointed by this tablet guide/review. It's fine for an audience that doesn't know (or want to know) the details, but rather just high level guidance on what to buy at the store. For a site like AT where the readers are tech savy, it's pretty lousy. I expect more from AT.I also don't understand how the G tab pro 8.4 isn't recommended over the N7. I can't see any reasons why the N7 is superior, and it actually costs more. Am I missing something?
Poik - Monday, December 1, 2014 - link
I agree. The problem with a Nexus 7 or 9 is storage. Unless you have an unlimited plan 32GB isn't enough in this day and age and not including SD expandability makes the problem worse. I get that Nexus has never done that but limiting the capacity to 32GB really limits what I can do with it. I want to get a tablet for a trip I'm taking in January but the cost of a tablet with a decent amount of storage is rather crazy.blzd - Monday, December 1, 2014 - link
The Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is cheaper than an N7? What world do you live in?The MSRP for the N7 is/was $200. As Anandtech mentioned, Samsung's exynos chips are slow and disappointing even compared to the now outdated Snapdragon 400. That wouldn't be too bad except it's trying to power the slow and disappointing skin known as TouchWiz which makes it feel even slower. Not to mention that the N7 has Android 5.0 already so is light years ahead in software while remaining a good $100 cheaper.
stlc8tr - Monday, December 1, 2014 - link
The Tab Pro 8.4 is available now for $200 (from Best Buy and a few other sites). The MSRP of the N7 was $229 but since Google isn't selling the N7 anymore, there's no direct comparison. New 16GB N7's are going for $200 on eBay.Also, the Tab Pro 8.4 does not use an Exynos. It's a Snapdragon 800 @ 2.3Ghz with Adreno 330 GPU.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7886/samsung-galaxy-...
As for TouchWiz, it's an acquired taste. There are pluses and minuses. I don't mind it as much now that I've used in for awhile.