Windows 11 tablets are now good enough to replace your iPad

Throughout its history, Windows has been an operating system focused on keyboard and mouse input. The touchscreen experience has always felt like an afterthought, despite a dedicated tablet mode in Windows 10 (and 8, if you think that far).

Ditching tablet mode in Windows 11 sounds like a step backwards, but it turned out to be the opposite. A host of small changes mean that running the operating system on a tablet now makes more sense than ever. But is it really a viable alternative to Android slates or even the iPad?

To test this, I spent a week using the Surface Pro 9 without any accessories attached. My goal wasn’t to replace my regular Windows laptop, but to use it instead of an iPad for activities where tablets typically excel, like browsing the web, watching videos, and playing games.

Despite some worries and frustrations, I was surprised at the overall quality of the experience. So good, in fact, that many people would benefit from ditching their iPad or Android tablet in favor of a Windows 11 tablet. Here’s why.

1. Complete Desktop Apps

All iPads run iPadOS, while Android tablets upgrade to Android 12L. Both offer a handful of tweaks to operating systems designed for smartphones, but few apps are truly optimized for larger screens.

Instead, you’ll often find phone apps that are awkwardly stretched to fit a larger screen that has a different shape. Or, you might find that you just can’t get these apps for a tablet: Instagram and WhatsApp for iPad come to mind.

In contrast, all Windows 11 tablets can run full desktop versions of apps. Not only do they generally have more features than the mobile equivalent, but some are exclusive to Windows or macOS.

The touchscreen experience isn’t always perfect, I’ll admit, but I had no issues installing and using a variety of apps like WhatsApp, Chrome, and Slack.

2. No App Store limitation

This brings me to my next point. For most people, Android and iPadOS apps are limited to the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store respectively.

There are millions of apps on both, but you won’t be able to download the ones that aren’t available in those stores unless you go the sideloading route – which isn’t recommended unless you have the necessary technical knowledge and understand the risks.

Although the Microsoft Store can’t compete for absolute numbers, you can download apps from anywhere on the web since it’s Windows. Provided you take the necessary security precautions, such as using good antivirus software, you can install any application without Microsoft stopping you.

Plus, almost every developer releases a version of their app for Windows, which means you definitely won’t run out of new apps to download on a Windows 11 tablet.

3. Play full versions of games

Mobile games are very popular these days, but the size of phones and tablets means you’ll often find simplified versions of games. Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG Mobile look awesome on tablets, but they can’t quite match the full PC equivalent.

With a tablet running Windows 11, there are no such limitations. Just go to the Microsoft Store, install Steam or download the game of your choice – it’s like on any PC.

As a bonus, it’s easy to connect an Xbox or PlayStation controller to a Windows 11 tablet. Plus, the built-in Xbox Game Bar offers console-like gaming functionality.

Your main challenge will be finding a powerful enough tablet (something you certainly don’t have to think about when buying an iPad), but devices like the Asus ROG Flow Z13 prove it’s possible. Windows 11 tablets with dedicated GPUs are increasingly common, while even less capable devices can handle casual gaming.

4. Lots of tablet-focused features

The touchscreen experience never seemed to be a priority on previous versions of Windows, even Windows 10’s tablet mode is far from perfect.

And that was pretty much the case when Windows 11 launched in 2021, but Microsoft has set out to change that through various updates since then.

Many tablet-focused features arrived in the 22H2 update, including a range of navigation gestures and the ability to hide the taskbar when using an app in fullscreen. You now have Start menu folders and a single swipe to access all your apps, making Windows 11 feel more like a true tablet OS.

The on-screen keyboard was one of Windows 11’s biggest weaknesses, but several improvements mean it’s now as good as the Apple or Google versions. If you don’t feel like typing, the built-in voice dictation is awesome and works across apps.

Add that to the existing Snap Layouts functionality (for split-screen multitasking) and Task View (to see all open windows at once), and you’ve got software that’s surprisingly good on touchscreen devices.

5. They can replace your laptop

It’s tempting to think of the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, but that’s just not a reality for most people. The limitations of iPadOS are the biggest hurdle, but with a Windows tablet you have a proper laptop as soon as you pair it with a detachable keyboard cover, and even a mouse if you want.

Windows 11 isn’t universally loved, but it has everything you need to get all kinds of work done. With this type of setup, you have a portable productivity device as good as a “proper” laptop.

And I’m not just talking about Microsoft’s Surface devices either. More and more companies are releasing Windows 11 tablets with keyboard covers. There are even some with screens that can fold in half.

If you’re sold on all of this, take a look at our best 2-in-1 laptop and best Microsoft Surface roundups to see what we recommend buying.