ZDNet's Expert Guide: Discover the Ultimate Non-iPad/ThinkPad Tablet for Savvy Business Travelers!
The Best Non-iPad, Non-ThinkPad Tablets for Savvy Business Travelers: Top Picks Featured
Ed Bott/ZDNET
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links
If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Microsoft has made one of the best work tablets of 2024 with the 11th-generation Surface Pro for $1,000.
- It’s one of the new Copilot+ PCs housing next-gen hardware, long-lasting battery, and a stunning OLED touchscreen.
- As great as it may be, the device’s generative AI features don’t perform at the same level as the rest of the machine’s features.
There’s been a lot of hype surrounding Copilot+ PCs. When they were first announced back in May , Microsoft waxed on about how well they perform, how they’re better than the M3 MacBook Air, and all the new features they’re coming with. So far, it seems consumers have responded to the hype, believing the company finally managed to create a worthwhile Windows on arm machine .
Recently, I had the opportunity to test out one of these machines: the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition , and I had one question in mind going into it: does it live up to the hype? Now that I’ve had a chance to test it, I can confidently say that the device meets the hype in some ways, and doesn’t in others.
It starts with the model’s hardware. The Surface Pro houses Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite, which, if the hype is to be believed, make this laptop a “MacBook killer”. It certainly performs well enough. Browsers ran smoothly, even with multiple videos playing and a lot of open tabs. First-party software and some third-party apps also did pretty well.
Also: The ThinkPad I recommend for hybrid workers is not Lenovo’s newest model
I did, however, have some difficulty properly testing the hardware. The Snapdragon X Elite chips are so new that many of the usual benchmark tests we use at ZDNET don’t work as intended yet. Geekbench was one of the few that did, earning a score of 14,564, placing the processor above the M3 MacBook Air but below the M3 MacBook Pro. While this suggests the new Surface Pro is better than Apple’s hardware, it’s hard to say for without proper testing.
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
We have to wait until the developers update their benchmark software to get a better picture. Additionally, as Windows releases further updates to optimize performance with the new chips, we’ll see increased efficiency and performance over the next few months.
Also: This Asus has one of the best OLED displays I’ve seen, and I’ve tested hundreds of laptops
Regarding third-party apps’ performance on the new Copilot+ PCs, you may have heard that some are slow, glitchy, or don’t work at all. Thankfully, Microsoft’s Prism emulator allows may such apps to run on Windows on arm PCs (similar to how Apple’s Rosetta lets you run non-native apps on MacOS), although not everything works perfectly yet.
Newsletters
ZDNET Recommends
ZDNET saves you time and money by delivering the best products and tech deals to your inbox every week.
Subscribe
As a Copilot+ PC, its AI capabilities are a big part of the device’s draw. But in practice, I found most of the immediately-available features a little disappointing. Content from the Cocreator AI image generator was low quality. Live Captions was slow and often inaccurate. Studio Effects , on the other hand, was pretty good. It enhances the already fantastic 1440p webcam by improving lighting in video calls, centering the camera, and blurring the background among other things.
Speaking of work, professional users will fall in love with the gorgeous PixelSense Flow touchscreen. It’s a 13-inch OLED display that pumps out an image resolution of 2,880 x 1,920 pixels. The PixelSense even has a refresh rate of 120Hz for velvety-smooth visuals. And with all the software enhancers, image quality is nothing short of stunning.
Also: How to pick a laptop for college: 4 big considerations (and 10 great options)
The speaker system on the Surface Pro was surprisingly good as well, as I was fully expecting tinny audio, but the output has a nice bass to it. The drivers won’t be filling the room, but you can watch a movie and feel like you’re a part of the action.
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET
Accessories also play an important role in the Surface Pro ecosystem. I had the opportunity to try out the Surface Slim Pen and the Flex keyboard ; both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Tablet keyboards tend to be low quality in my experience, so I wasn’t expecting much, but Microsoft did a great job with this keyboard. The new generation has a sturdier design made of carbon fiber, resulting in a light but sturdy product that offers a wonderful typing experience.
Also: How we test laptops at ZDNET in 2024
Regarding the pen, I loved its accuracy. The accessory was able to perfectly follow my sloppy writing on screen, and that level of precision extends to illustration. Every brush stroke, every scribble is accurately portrayed. Also, the flat end of the pen is a handy button. Double tapping it opens a configured app for instant access.
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET
And for one of the best qualities of this laptop: battery life is absolutely phenomenal. I performed our usual test of running a YouTube livestream at 720p and 50% brightness. At its peak, the Surface Pro lasted just under 13 hours on a single charge. That’s just shy of Microsoft’s purported 14-hour battery life. In practical usage, this is a device that will easily last multiple days on a single charge.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 11th edition is an awesome computer for professional artists who want a high-performance machine with a brilliant display. The era of Windows on Arm laptops is finally here, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.
Prices for the device start at $999.99. My review unit with the 12-core Snapdragon X Elite chipset, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD costs $1,699. However, it’s important to note that those prices are without accessories like the Flex keyboard. They cost extra, and they’re not exactly cheap, with the Flex keyboard and Slim Pen combo running $449.
Featured reviews
One of the best smart thermostats I’ve tested is not made by Ecobee or Amazon
I demoed Apple’s standard iPhone 16 and didn’t envy the Pro models at all
This Lenovo laptop that transforms into an Android tablet is the most clever device I’ve tested
Forget Apple Watch Series 10: The Oura Ring is my go-to health tracker for one obvious reason
- One of the best smart thermostats I’ve tested is not made by Ecobee or Amazon
- I demoed Apple’s standard iPhone 16 and didn’t envy the Pro models at all
- This Lenovo laptop that transforms into an Android tablet is the most clever device I’ve tested
- Forget Apple Watch Series 10: The Oura Ring is my go-to health tracker for one obvious reason
Also read:
- [New] 2024 Approved Embed Presentation Asset as Video Feature
- [New] In 2024, Understanding Facebook's New Policies and Updates
- 9 Quick Fixes to Unfortunately TouchWiz has stopped Of Tecno Spark 20 | Dr.fone
- Comprehensive Troubleshooting Tips: Eliminating Parse Errors From Your Android Codebase
- Explore with Tom: In-Depth Analysis of Latest Gadgets and Computers
- In 2024, ShareX Review and Alternatives
- Intel's Puget Passes Quality Test: Demonstrates Superior Failure Ratings Over Competitor AMD Ryzen - Insights From System Builder's Detailed Analysis
- Latest EVGA Graphics Card Drivers: Quick Install Steps for Windows Users
- Navigating the World of Gadgets with Tom's Hardware Experts
- Performance Showdown: How Kingston's C38 DDR5-7200 CAMM2 Stacks Up Against Conventional DIMM Memory Modules - A Benchmark Study
- The Best Android SIM Unlock Code Generators Unlock Your Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Phone Hassle-Free
- Tom's Tech Review: Comprehensive Guide on Hardware Evaluations
- Unveiling the Latest AMD Bundle: Experience Enhanced Gaming with a Ryzen 7000 Processor & Radeon RX Ebox 7000 - Collect Up to Two Complimentary Games, Note: Not Applicable for Upcoming Ryzen 9000 Series
- Urgent Security Alert: AMD's Sinkrate Flaw Compromises Global Processor Units & Facilitates Data Breaches – Immediate Fixes Underway with Additional Measures Coming
- Viral Video Ventures Crafting Addictive Loops on IG
- Title: ZDNet's Expert Guide: Discover the Ultimate Non-iPad/ThinkPad Tablet for Savvy Business Travelers!
- Author: George
- Created at : 2024-10-19 20:42:13
- Updated at : 2024-10-26 21:34:41
- Link: https://hardware-tips.techidaily.com/zdnets-expert-guide-discover-the-ultimate-non-ipadthinkpad-tablet-for-savvy-business-travelers/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.