I tested the best Windows tablets, from rugged models to sleek, lightweight devices

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Windows tablets are highly versatile devices. They combine the slim form factor of a tablet with the functionality of a Windows 11 laptop, making them an excellent choice for working professionals and casual users. A good Windows tablet can hop between virtual meetings and tackle work projects without breaking a sweat.

There are many options. Asus’ ROG Flow Z13 costs $2,100 and has a 2.5K touchscreen that is great for content creators, while the DT Research Rugged Tabletalso $2,100, is best suited for outdoorspeople. To help you find the right fit, we’ve tested and researched the best Windows tablets currently available.

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What is the best Windows tablet right now?

Each model was evaluated for performance, display quality, hardware configurations, and overall value. After considering these criteria and much deliberation, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 rose to the top as the best Windows tablet. It has solid hardware, a high-resolution OLED touchscreen, and a long-lasting battery. However, it’s not the only option out there. There are plenty of other great tablets that excel in certain situations and are worth your consideration.

Also: The best tablets of 2025 (Apple, Samsung, Amazon, and more)

Best Windows tablet in 2025

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Why we like it: Leading the pack as the best Windows tablet overall is the 2025 Microsoft Surface Pro. The company refined the previous model’s design for this generation, making it lighter and sporting rounded corners. The Snapdragon X Plus processor delivers a snappy performance perfect for everyday tasks. It’s also flexible enough to switch between laptop and tablet modes seamlessly. Battery life is another highlight. During testing, the tablet ran for a little over 15 hours of video playback. When it comes to sustained use, the Surface Pro’s longevity dropped to 10 hours.

Review: Microsoft Surface Pro (2025)

Who it’s for: Microsoft’s Surface Pro is perfect for people who want a lightweight tablet that can double as a laptop with the right accessories. The 12-inch Surface Pro Keyboard for Business feels satisfying to type on, housing spring keys and a smooth trackpad. It snaps securely to the bottom of the tablet via magnets. The accessory sits closer to the tablet, so it doesn’t leave a gap.

Who should look elsewhere: The 12-inch Surface Pro isn’t meant for power users. Its Snapdragon X Plus chipset is fine, but it’ll struggle under heavy workloads. During testing, ZDNET Editor Kyle Kucharski discovered that the Surface pen will sometimes lag under certain conditions. Additionally, while the tablet isn’t super pricey, accessories like the keyboard and pen will drive up the price tag.

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Why we like it: The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a sleek tablet with surprisingly powerful hardware. It ditches the Intel and Nvidia configuration found in the previous generation and opts for a full AMD build. Under the hood is an AMD Ryzen AI MAX 390 processor, an AMD Radeon 8050S graphics card, and an AMD XDNA NPU for extra performance.

User reviews across the internet praise the device for its top-notch hardware. Some have called it a “portable powerhouse.” The 13-inch Nebula display is a standout feature, covering the entire DCI-P3 color gamut for vibrant images. Toss in a refresh rate of 180Hz and PANTONE validation, and you’ve got a touchscreen perfect for content creators.

Who it’s for: Asus’ ROG Flow Z13 is ideal for creative professionals and hobbyists who want a tablet that punches well above its weight class. The Z13 has the specs to handle heavy workloads, like editing high-resolution photographs or designing a website. Digital artists who work with a stylus will appreciate the tablet’s flexibility. It comes with a kickstand that lets you work comfortably from various angles.

Who should look elsewhere: There are a couple of downsides to the ROG Flow Z13. First off, it’s expensive at $2,100. Secondly, it runs hot. A customer review on B&H Photo Video claimed the tablet’s internal components reached 90 degrees Celsius, or 194 degrees Fahrenheit. And third, the battery only lasts 10 hours max on a single charge.

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Why we like it: The DT Research Rugged Tablet is an exceptionally tough device. ZDNET Senior Contributing Editor Adrian Kingsley-Hughes ran it through the wringer when he tested the tablet earlier this year. He dropped it on sharp rocks, covered it in mud, and splashed it with water. The Rugged Tablet survived every endurance test with style. The outside of the tablet is made out of a combination of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), a polycarbonate polymer, and a magnesium-aluminum alloy. Together, they create a hardy device able to withstand everything thrown at it.

It’s no slouch in the performance department either. Inside is an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 8GB of RAM, and “storage options ranging from 512GB to 2TB,” which is plenty for “data-intensive tasks.” On the front is a 1920 x 1200 LED touchscreen that outputs 1,000 nits of brightness, enough to remain visible under the sun.

Review: DT Research Rugged Tablet

Who it’s for: I don’t think the average person would get a lot of usage out of the DT Research Rugged Tablet. It’s primarily meant for professionals working in harsh conditions or people who love going outdoors. It cannot be understated just how tough this laptop is. Plus, key features like the hot-swappable battery and the ability to read inputs through gloves make it a practical choice for many.

Who should look elsewhere: If you just need a lightweight device for emails, notetaking, or streaming movies, you’re better off buying a consumer tablet and buying a hardy protective case. The DT Research Rugged Tablet is great at being an outdoorsman’s tablet, but it’s not user-friendly. On top of that, it’s expensive.

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Why we like it: At a glance, the Asus ProArt PZ13 looks identical to the 2025 ROG Flow Z13, but they have different use cases. Where the ROG Flow excels in gaming and content creation, the ProArt PZ13 excels in art, as the name suggests. This device boasts a stunning 3K OLED touchscreen. Color pops out thanks to a combination of Dolby Vision, full DCI-P3 coverage, and HDR True Black support, enabling an ideal environment for creative work. The Creator Hub is a standout feature. It’s an app that lets users adjust visual settings and change color spaces on the fly. This single feature provides a level of flexibility that artists will appreciate.

Performance is solid, too. Its Snapdragon X Plus chipset can run dozens of tabs, videos, and livestreams running smoothly without a hitch. Adding the super long battery — over 21 hours on efficiency modes — and you have a tablet that’ll get you through the day.

Review: Asus ProArt Z13

Who it’s for: As stated, this tablet is meant for artists, designers, and other types of creative professionals. The combination of OLED screen and Creator Hub makes it perfect for photo editing, digital illustration, and similar workloads. I also recommend it to users constantly on the go. Its slim 0.35-inch frame and long battery make it perfect for travel.

Who should look elsewhere: Overall, the ProArt PZ13 remains a solid tablet in 2025, although I have a few nitpicks. First, the port selection is limited. There are only two USB-C ports and an SD card reader, and there isn’t a headphone jack. I also wish Asus had included a stylus with the purchase since the tablet is meant for artists. You have to purchase the pen separately.

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Why we like it: I will freely admit that I am cheating a little with the HP OmniBook X Flip 16 because it is a 2-in-1 laptop. It excels so well as a tablet that I had to include it. HP’s laptop hits a sweet spot balancing style, functionality, and price. Its 3K OLED touchscreen is vibrant with silky smooth animations thanks to a 120Hz refresh rate. A screen like this makes multitasking a breeze. Under the hood is an Intel Core Ultra 7 chip, Intel Arc graphics card, and 32GB of RAM, delivering reliable performance for most workloads.

The laptop can also come with the HP Active Tilt Pen. It’s a great stylus that is both accurate and highly responsive, perfect for sketching and notetaking.

Review: HP OmniBook X Flip 16

Who it’s for: I recommend the HP OmniBook X Flip to anyone looking for a work device that doubles as a tablet and laptop, specifically one that performs equally well in both use cases. This model is an excellent fit for people who spend all day writing documents and attending multiple meetings. Its portability and 10-hour battery make it worthwhile for remote workers, too.

Who should look elsewhere: It’s not a perfect machine, as much as I want it to be. Its midrange hardware struggles under heavy loads. The glossy display can be difficult to see in bright environments, unless you crank up the brightness. And while the pen is great, the base model doesn’t include it, so you’ll have to pay extra for what, in my opinion, should be part of the base kit.

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Microsoft’s Surface Pro 11 stands as the best Windows tablet thanks to its Snapdragon X Plus chipset and long-lasting battery. Below is a list comparing the model’s specs to everything else.

Best Windows tablet	Price	Processor	Display
Microsoft Surface Pro 11	$887	Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus	13-inch LCD or OLED
Asus ROG Flow Z13	$2,100	AMD Ryzen AI Max 390	13.4-inch 2.5K IPS
DT Research Rugged Tablet	$2,095	Intel Core i65-1335U	11.6-inch LED touchscreen
Asus ProArt PZ13	$1,200	Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus	13-inch 3K AMOLED
HP OmniBook X Flip 16	$750	Intel Core Ultra 7 256V	16-inch 2K IPS touchscreen

*MSRP at the time of publication

With numerous specifications, features, and visual designs to consider, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when choosing a tablet. The table below provides a brief overview of each recommended model and highlights key features of interest:

Choose this Windows laptop…	If you want…
Microsoft Surface Pro 11	The best Windows tablet, with its stunning PixelSense OLED display and next-gen Snapdragon X Plus chipset powering it.
Asus ROG Flow Z13	The best Windows tablet for content creators. Its powerful hardware configuration can handle a wide range of workloads, from gaming to illustration.
DT Research Rugged Tablet	The best rugged option. This bulky tablet handles harsh conditions very well, and its touchscreen looks great even in sunlight.
Asus ProArt PZ13	The best Windows tablet for artists. It boasts a vibrant 3K OLED screen and features that let you tweak its visual output on the fly.
HP OmniBook X Flip 16	The best Windows tablet for work. This model has the ability to transform into a laptop, which is a handy feature for easy document writing.

When selecting the best Windows tablet, several key factors were considered in our recommendations:

Processor: Processors directly determine how fast a laptop can complete tasks, like launching apps and managing demanding workloads. We prioritized advanced multi-core processors that can easily handle creative applications.
Display: Displays are critical to the user experience, especially for photo editing or document reading. We focused on devices with high-quality touchscreens. Additionally, touch responsiveness and screen clarity are key factors ensuring smooth navigation.
Design: A tablet’s design affects its portability and ease of use. A slim, lightweight form factor is ideal for users on-the-go, while durable materials ensure longevity.
Features: Features are essential as they help determine a device’s versatility and capability. Stylus support and detachable keyboards make Windows tablets suitable for various tasks. We also considered features like multiple ports and art software. Since highly capable devices tend to be expensive, it’s important to assess whether certain features are necessary for your needs or are optional.

ZDNET receives a lot of tablets to review, and many of them could’ve made the list. To separate the best from the rest, we follow the criteria mentioned in the previous question — which ones have the nicest displays, the best hardware, and more. At first, the tablet is tested casually. We surf the internet, watch videos, download apps, and work on them to get a feel for them. From there, we run more labor-intensive apps and perform benchmark tests to see what the hardware is capable of.

Once all the testing is complete, we place the best of the best on the list. Picking the premiere options can be tricky, but sometimes there’s a clear winner, like the Surface Pro 11.

For more on how we test tablets at ZDNET, check out our full tablet testing methodology.

Latest news on Lenovo laptops

Like 2024, 2025 has been a quiet year for Windows laptops. There really haven’t been any standout releases apart from the new yearly release. I personally would’ve loved to have seen a follow-up to the Dell XPS 9315 2-in-1 tablet. In 2026, we should see the next Surface Pro tablet from Microsoft. It’s currently unknown if there are any plans for a budget version of the Surface Pro. I haven’t seen any rumors or online reports for a midrange tablet online yet.

Similarly, I don’t know of any other company working on a Windows tablet. It seems that laptop manufacturers are content with releasing convertible laptops like the HP OmniBook X Flip X and have those devices fill in that Windows tablet niche. However, nothing is set in stone. Things can always change.

Microsoft consistently produces some of the best Windows tablets. The Surface Pro 11, in particular, is a significant advancement for the series. Much of this improvement is due to the Snapdragon X Plus chipset, which has been a key factor in the tablet’s performance boost. Qualcomm’s SoC has notably impacted consumer technology, and we expect it to continue making waves on Windows tablets.

Asus and Lenovo are also strong contenders in the tablet market. Asus is known for equipping its devices with powerful central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) combinations. Lenovo is recognized for its innovation, often pushing the boundaries of the traditional tablet. While not every Lenovo device is a hit, models like the ThinkPad X1 Fold stand out as strong recommendations.

Windows tablets can be an excellent alternative to laptops, offering better versatility and flexibility. Unlike laptops, tablet keyboards are detachable and can be swapped for a stylus for added functionality. If portability is a priority, a tablet might be the better option.

If power is your priority, we suggest you go with a laptop, as they’re better for tough workloads and typically have larger storage drives. The two tablets with a 1TB solid-state drive (SSD) on this list are the most expensive. But with laptops, you can find models housing a 1TB SSD for a much lower price.

Tablets are capable of handling many tasks, but they’re limited. While tablets and laptops are portable and can assist with work, the former offers a more user-friendly experience. The touchscreen interface is typically easier to navigate than a touchpad and keyboard, especially since many users nowadays are more familiar with smartphones. Tablets also tend to be better suited for creative tasks.

Laptops typically have more powerful hardware, which allows them to run more demanding software. Thanks to their size, they also generally have larger screens and more ports. Tablets are designed to be slim and lightweight, which limits the number of ports they can accommodate.

That depends on what you need from a tablet. Android tablets are typically cheaper and more lightweight. If you just want a casual device for browsing the internet or streaming movies, an Android model will do the job. Plus, there are a ton of affordable options on the internet. For example, you can buy an Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus for a little over $100.

Also: The best cheap tablets: Expert tested

If you need something that can double as a laptop, you’re better off purchasing a Windows tablet. These types of machines are better suited for work. Not only do they support Windows apps that your job may rely on, but they also have more supportive hardware. Every entry on this list houses processors normally found on laptops, whereas Android tablets typically have smartphone-like chipsets.

Android models can offer good performance and workflow, but they’re not on the same level as a Windows machine.

Tablets frequently go on sale throughout the year, but you can find deeper discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday — two of the best days to purchase a tablet.

Many brands get in on holiday sales throughout the year. Apple slashes the price tag on iPads, Lenovo does the same with Tab models, and Microsoft discounts its Surface Pro tablets. You’ll be able to find these deals across multiple online retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.

Latest updates

For the September 2025 update, I added the 2025 Asus ROG Flow Z13, DT Research Rugged Tablet, and HP OmniBook X Flip 16 after much deliberation. I also updated each of the entries by introducing more pertinent information.

Other Windows tablets

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Asus’ Zenbook Duo 14 is a content creator’s dream machine, consisting of two 14-inch OLED touchscreens sitting side by side.

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Lenovo’s ThinkPad X12 Gen 2 is a solid alternative to the HP OmniBook X Flip 16. Customer reviews praise the device’s excellent build, high-resolution display, and great keyboard accessory.

lenovo-thinkpad-x12-gen-2-detachable-image-1

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If you’re taking your tablet into harsh outdoor conditions, check out the Dell Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme Tablet. The lightweight 12-inch device works even if you’re wearing gloves, and its screen is viewable in direct sunlight at 1,200 nits.

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Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.

Tablets Reviewed & Compared

I tested the best Windows tablets, from rugged models to sleek, lightweight devices

What is the best Windows tablet right now?

Best Windows tablet in 2025

Latest news on Lenovo laptops

Latest updates

Other Windows tablets

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