Microsoft launched the original Surface Pro with Windows 8 at a time when the tablets were expected to replace laptops. Unfortunately, after more than a decade, Microsoft is one of the few players still making Windows tablets, and the PC market continues to grow despite tech investors writing it off as a sleepy field in decline.

This will likely change in 2024 with the new breed of Microsoft Copilot PCs powered by ARM chips. These tablets will last longer and perform better while running a full-blown Windows operating system.

Why Windows Tablets Never Took Off

The idea behind a Windows tablet was simple: offer a full-fledged computer experience in a portable form factor that can also be used for media consumption and mobile apps. However, this niche market had its own challenges and seemed way ahead of its time. With Windows 8, Microsoft tried to create a touch-friendly Windows operating system while retaining the core functionality of desktop apps. However, it failed in both aspects.

While the Metro UI with its fancy Live Tiles worked well as a touchscreen interface, it was undone by the absence of a good app ecosystem. The Windows Store lacked quality apps like those on Android and Apple tablets, and the apps that were available weren't fully optimized for touch usage. Additionally, the x86-64 and ARM chips on lower-end devices were inefficient in handling the bulk of Windows and suffered from poor battery life.

Despite this, Microsoft has managed to carve a niche for its Surface devices, catering to professionals looking for a premium portable productivity machine. Since iPads and Galaxy Tabs are mostly an enlarged version of your smartphone and not exactly an alternative for your computer, a market for Windows tablets has always existed. With the introduction of new Copilot PCs running on ARM architecture, the Windows tablet market might change for the better.

The Transition to New ARM Chips and Copilot PCs

So, why is ARM important? Its significance lies in superior power efficiency, which is critical for a portable device like a tablet with limited space and battery capacity. With a small form factor, a powerful but efficient chip can handle the bulk of Windows without the usual issues of an x86-64 architecture. It also leaves room for better thermal performance in a fanless chassis.

While Windows on ARM has existed since Windows RT, it lacked support for native apps and was plagued by emulation issues. This is changing with Qualcomm's powerful Snapdragon X Elite / Plus chips and Microsoft's new Prism translation layer, which can translate x86 binaries on the fly. This is not the first Qualcomm ARM chip designed for PCs, but it is by far the most powerful and power-efficient chip.

Another aspect of Copilot PCs is their neural processing unit (NPU). Both variants of the Snapdragon X chips feature a 45 TOPS NPU to assist with the AI features baked into the operating system. This dedicated processor takes over whenever you want to do an AI task, like live captions, Copilot, or Studio Effect, to free up your CPU and GPU for other core tasks.

With an expanding ecosystem of native ARM apps, Microsoft has also announced an ARM Advisory Service to encourage developers to build ARM-optimized apps for Windows. In the absence of a native ARM app, you can still run the x86 apps on Microsoft's Prism emulation platform with reasonable performance and efficiency.

New Windows-on-ARM Focused Tablets

While there are plenty of new Copilot PCs running the latest Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips, the two devices of interest here are the new Microsoft Surface Pro (11) and the ASUS ProArt PZ13.

Starting with the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, the latest version of the fan-favorite Surface now boasts a Qualcomm 12-core Snapdragon X Elite or 10-core X Plus Arm processor, depending on the variant you get. On the storage front, you get up to 1TB of SSD, 16GB of RAM as a standard, an excellent high-resolution OLED touch display, and even impressive battery life.

What's more, you can hook it up to three external high-resolution monitors for more real estate or get the optional Stylus keyboard (type cover) combo to turn it into a laptop.

The ASUS ProArt PZ13, on the other hand, is a more affordable Windows 11 ARM tablet. It features a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, an excellent OLED touch display, IP52 rating for dust and splash, full I/O ports, and a bundled keyboard and pen. ASUS also promises excellent battery life with a 70Wh battery.

These two versatile tablets with laptop capabilities offer competitive performance and, hopefully, fewer compatibility issues for most users. While they are good for media consumption and web browsing, you can quickly turn them into your work computer without compromising battery life or performance. As for the lack of native ARM apps, with some exceptions, most Windows x86-64 apps should work fine in emulation.

The Future of Windows Tablets is Promising

Imagine taking your Windows tablet to work or your home office, attaching a keyboard, and voilà, you have a fully functional laptop running a desktop OS. Or better yet, plug in one, two, or even three monitors and turn it into a PC without the fan noise. Granted, the Galaxy Tab and iPads can do some of this. However, they still run a mobile operating system, which is what keeps them from becoming a laptop replacement.

The new ARM-based Windows PCs can offer great multitasking, casual gaming, excellent file management, and access to the vast Windows app ecosystem. While they still lack the expansive touch-first mobile app experience that iPad and Android offer, this will likely change with the increased adoption of ARM-based Windows devices. With the reports of more chipmakers joining the race for Windows, the future of Windows tablets looks more promising than ever.