9 Detachable Tablets To Replace Your PC
Tablet sales have fallen, but interest in detachable devices is on the rise. Could one of these hybrids replace your PC? Here is a look at 9 options.
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The tablet market is in trouble. A new report from IDC shows tablet shipments hit 39.6 million during the first quarter, which marks a 14.7% drop year-over-year.
In the months when slate sales have been in constant decline, the demand for detachable tablets has risen. Hybrid devices like the Microsoft Surface that are equipped with a compatible keyboard have seen significant growth.
Microsoft started the detachable tablet trend when it launched its Surface product lineup. The company has unveiled several iterations of the Surface and Surface Pro, which were most recently updated with the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book in October 2015.
[Read: 9 Reasons Behind Microsoft's Mobile Mayhem]
Several tech companies have recognized the appeal of these hybrid devices and followed Microsoft's lead. Smartphone makers including Samsung and Huawei have begun to release detachables in an effort to break into the growing market.
IDC claims the growing popularity of these hybrid devices should give traditional PC makers reason for concern. There is tremendous potential for the detachable tablet market to grow, especially as PC sales continue to slide and businesses consider replacing PCs with smaller, more mobile devices.
The competition among detachable tablet makers is only in its early stages, but there are already several devices on the market powerful enough to replace the PC. Here, we spotlight nine of these hybrids.
Do you already use a detachable tablet? Would you consider replacing your traditional PC with one of these models? Have we missed any detachables in this roundup? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Samsung's Galaxy TabPro S is a 12-inch detachable tablet running Windows 10. It has a 12-inch, 2160x1400 touchscreen that runs on an Intel Core m3 CPU and comes with 128GB SSD. The tablet weighs about 1.52 pounds without the compatible keyboard cover. Samsung claims the battery takes 2.5 hours to reach a full charge, which will give you up to 10.5 hours of battery life.
The TabPro S runs for $899. Customers will appreciate that Samsung bundles the tablet with its compatible keyboard cover instead of charging extra to purchase the cover as an accessory.
The Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi is another Windows 10 device equipped with a keyboard that detaches to turn it into a Windows tablet. The tablet's slim form factor has a 12.5-inch screen, measures 7.6mm in thickness, and weighs a little over three pounds with the attached keyboard.
The Transformer Book runs an Intel Core M processor and comes with a 128GB SSD and 4GB RAM. It promises up to eight hours of battery life. The tablet ships with the ASUS Mobile Dock and a full keyboard for $599.
As a bonus, the detachable comes with one year of unlimited ASUS WebStorage for customers to store and share files, music, photos, and videos. ASUS also sells the Active Stylus Pen, an accessory designed to work with the device.
The Dell Latitude 13 7000 2-in-1 is a business-class detachable running Windows 10.
This Latitude has a 13.3-inch display. It's powered by an Intel Core m5 processor. It ships with 8GB memory and a 128GB SSD. At the time of publishing, it was selling for $1,469, discounted from $2,098 as part of a promotion. Price varies depending on customization. For example, adding a smart card and a fingerprint reader will increase the total cost by $21. You can also opt to increase storage to 256GB SSD for $189 or 512GB SSD for $385.
The 2nd-generation Lenovo ThinkPad Helix has an 11.6-inch 1920x1080 display. The tablet itself weighs 1.75 lbs., but goes up to 3.7 lbs. with the included Ultrabook keyboard. Its hinge allows for a 360-degree rotation, so you can use it in laptop, tablet, stand, or tent mode.
The Helix runs up to an Intel Core M processor and comes with either 4GB or 8GB of RAM. Customers can choose to include up to a 256GB SSD. Lenovo promises about eight hours of battery life.
Lenovo offers multiple keyboard options. The Ultrabook Keyboard comes with additional USB and HDMI connectivity, along with TouchPad navigation. The more elite Ultrabok Pro comes with an extra USB 3.0, a mini Display port, TouchPad navigation, backlit keys, and a second battery for up to 12 hours of work.
Prices for the Helix start at $1,039 at the time of publishing, but will vary depending on specs.
The Surface Pro 4, Microsoft's latest addition to its Surface Pro lineup, is on the pricier, but more powerful, end of the detachable spectrum. It ships with the compatible Surface Pen, but not the Type Cover keyboard, which costs either $130 or $160, depending whether you want the version with Fingerprint ID.
Surface Pro 4 has a 12.3-inch PixelSense display and weighs about 1.7 pounds. Customers can choose to include 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage and 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB of RAM. CPU choices include Intel Core m3, i5, and i7. Microsoft promises battery life of nine hours with video playback.
Prices start at $899 for the most basic version, which comes with a 128GB SSD and runs on an Intel Core m3 processor with 4GB of RAM. The middle-of-the-road version costs $1,299 for 256GB SSD, an Intel Core i5 processor, and 8GB of RAM.
The Acer Aspire Switch 12 S has a 12.5-inch display. It's designed to convert into desktop, tablet, laptop, desktop, and tent modes through the power of Continuum on Windows 10.
The Aspire Switch 12 S runs on a 6th-generation Intel Core M processor. You can choose to include 4GB to 8GB RAM and a 128GB to 256GB-size SSD. When paired with the included keyboard, it weighs a little over three pounds. Prices for the premium detachable start at $999.
The HP Pavilion X2 is a good option for people seeking a budget-friendly detachable. It was selling for $250 (down from $300) at the time of this publishing. It ships with the standard keyboard.
Prices for the 10.1-inch Pavilion X2 vary according to specs, which are customizable at the time of purchase. It already ships with an Intel Atom processor and 32G Intel HD graphics, but you can upgrade to 64G graphics for an extra $70. You can also boost the included 32GB storage to 64GB for an additional $50.
The Surface Book is Microsoft's first hybrid laptop, released in October 2015. It can be used as a laptop or a slate, or folded back into a notepad. The high-end hybrid has a 13.5-inch display that detaches at the hinge to be used as a tablet.
The Surface Book runs on a 6th-generation Core i5 or i7 processor. You can opt to include 8GB or 16GB RAM and either 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of SSD capacity. Microsoft promises battery life up to 12 hours with video playback. Prices for Surface Book start at $1,499.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 700 is a detachable 2-in-1 running Windows 10. Its 12-inch, 2160x1440 tablet detaches at a "watchband hinge" from the compatible keyboard. The two ship together as a bundled package.
The Miix runs up to a 6th-generation Intel Core m7 processor. It comes with up to 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. Lenovo promises battery life of up to nine hours with local video playback.
Prices for the Miix start at $750 for an Intel Core m3 processor, 4GGB RAM, and a 64GB SSD. You'll pay up to $1,099 for a fully outfitted device with an Intel Core m7 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Customers can also opt to include the Lenovo Active Pen.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 700 is a detachable 2-in-1 running Windows 10. Its 12-inch, 2160x1440 tablet detaches at a "watchband hinge" from the compatible keyboard. The two ship together as a bundled package.
The Miix runs up to a 6th-generation Intel Core m7 processor. It comes with up to 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. Lenovo promises battery life of up to nine hours with local video playback.
Prices for the Miix start at $750 for an Intel Core m3 processor, 4GGB RAM, and a 64GB SSD. You'll pay up to $1,099 for a fully outfitted device with an Intel Core m7 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Customers can also opt to include the Lenovo Active Pen.
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