7 4 GQ.COM.AU S E P T E MB E R /O C T OB E R 2 0 1 7
TECHS MA R T P H ONE S A R E GE T T I NG B I GGE R , L A P T OP S A R E GE T T I NG L I GH T E R ,
A NA ND TA B L E T S A R E F E E L I ND TA B L E T S A R E F E E L I NGG T H E S Q T H E S QUUE E Z E. B UE E Z E. B UT C OT C OMMP E T I T I OP E T I T I ONN M ME A NE A NS S
I NI NNNO V AT I OO V AT I ONN. H E R E A R E F I V. H E R E A R E F I VE OE OF T H E B E S T TA B L E T S OF T H E B E S T TA B L E T S OUUT R I GT R I GH T NH T NOOWW..- HP
You could argue that the current You could argue that the current
HP ‘Spectre X2’ is the best-looking HP ‘Spectre X2’ is the best-looking
tablet around. The new one is better tablet around. The new one is better
and lighter. The Bang & Olufsen logo and lighter. The Bang & Olufsen logo
on the side, however, is like putting on the side, however, is like putting
a Porsche badge on your ma Porsche badge on your mountain ountain
bike. Wbike. With With Windows 10, Intel Core i5 indows 10, Intel Core i5
processor power and 256GB SSD processor power and 256GB SSD
storage, plus two USB type C ports, storage, plus two USB type C ports,
it’s hardly lacking. The four it’s hardly lacking. The four
speakers are fine but headphones speakers are fine but headphones
are better, and the screen has been are better, and the screen has been
updated to 3000 x 2000 resolution. updated to 3000 x 2000 resolution.
It’s a smIt’s a smart looking mart looking machine, but it achine, but it
would want to be at that price point.would want to be at that price point.
‘ S P E C T R E X 2 ’, F R O‘ S P E C T R E X 2 ’, F R OMM $ 1 9 9 9 , $ 1 9 9 9 ,
B Y H P ; H P. C OB Y H P ; H P. C OMM. A U. A U - M2. Microsofticrosoft
It’s tried, tried and tried again, but It’s tried, tried and tried again, but
finally Mfinally Microsoft has comicrosoft has come up with e up with
a tablet to challenge the iPad. The a tablet to challenge the iPad. The
‘Surface Pro’ m‘Surface Pro’ mixes the best in ixes the best in
tablets with the best in laptops. Full tablets with the best in laptops. Full
WWindows 10, a specific tablet mindows 10, a specific tablet mode, ode,
USB port, SD card slot and USB port, SD card slot and
a pin-sharp 12.3-inch display. Pair a pin-sharp 12.3-inch display. Pair
with the optional keyboard cover with the optional keyboard cover
(the best in class) and stylus, and (the best in class) and stylus, and
you’ll want to lose your laptop. you’ll want to lose your laptop.
You’ll pay for the convenience, You’ll pay for the convenience,
especially because you need to especially because you need to
ignore the base model driven by
a Core ma Core m3 processor and splash out 3 processor and splash out
on at least the Intel Core i5 mon at least the Intel Core i5 model to odel to
get the mget the most out of Wost out of Windows 10. indows 10.
‘ S U‘ S UR F A C E P R O ’, F R OR F A C E P R O ’, F R OMM $ 1 1 9 9 , B Y $ 1 1 9 9 , B Y
MMI C R O S OI C R O S OF T; MF T; MI C R O S OI C R O S OF T. C OF T. C OMM. A U. A U- Lenovo3. Lenovo
The ‘ThinkPad’ series (formThe ‘ThinkPad’ series (formerly erly
of IBMof IBM) is fam) is famous in business, but ous in business, but
the ‘Mthe ‘Miix 720’ tablet is worthy iix 720’ tablet is worthy
of the samof the same clientele. This We clientele. This Windows indows
10 tablet can only be optioned with 10 tablet can only be optioned with
a powerful Intel Core i5 or i7 a powerful Intel Core i5 or i7
processor and also packs a 12-inch processor and also packs a 12-inch
QHD+ screen, USB type C port and QHD+ screen, USB type C port and
a sizeable 256GB SSD. Unlike ma sizeable 256GB SSD. Unlike most ost
others it comothers it comes with the keyboard es with the keyboard
(a respectable typing experience) (a respectable typing experience)
and stylus. Wand stylus. While the ‘ThinkPad X1’ hile the ‘ThinkPad X1’
tablet is also a contender, the tablet is also a contender, the
‘M‘Miix 720’ is newer, cooler and iix 720’ is newer, cooler and
better value. better value.
‘ M‘ MI I X 7 2 0 ’, F R OI I X 7 2 0 ’, F R OMM $ 1 6 9 9 , $ 1 6 9 9 ,
B Y L E NB Y L E NO V O ; L E NO V O ; L E NO V O. C OO V O. C OMM. A U. A U - Lenovo4. Lenovo
Android tablets have gone a bit Android tablets have gone a bit
quiet of late. Wquiet of late. We’re waiting patiently e’re waiting patiently
for the Samfor the Samsung ‘Galaxy Tab S3’ sung ‘Galaxy Tab S3’
and we didn’t quite get the ‘Google and we didn’t quite get the ‘Google
Pixel C’. But Lenovo has plugged Pixel C’. But Lenovo has plugged
on with Android with its truly unique on with Android with its truly unique
‘Yoga Book’. As an operating
systemsystem in tablets, Android is in tablets, Android is
becombecoming an also-ran. It doesn’t ing an also-ran. It doesn’t
have the clout of Whave the clout of Windows 10 indows 10
or even iOS, but the ‘Yoga Book’ or even iOS, but the ‘Yoga Book’
redeemredeems itself with a dual screen s itself with a dual screen
that changes depending that changes depending
on your use. on your use.
‘ Y O‘ Y OG A B OG A B OOOK ’, F R OK ’, F R OMM $ 7 9 9 , $ 7 9 9 ,
B Y L E NB Y L E NO V O ; L E NO V O ; L E NO V O. C OO V O. C OMM. A U. A U- Apple5. Apple
WWith the ‘iPad Pro’ now available ith the ‘iPad Pro’ now available
in a 10.5-inch min a 10.5-inch model, Apple has odel, Apple has
mmixed convenience with power. ixed convenience with power.
The retina display with 120Hz The retina display with 120Hz
refresh rate redefines stunning, refresh rate redefines stunning,
while the Apple Pencil and Smwhile the Apple Pencil and Smart art
Keyboard accessories (sold Keyboard accessories (sold
separately) almseparately) almost most make it a laptop ake it a laptop
replacemreplacement. Alment. Almost. But the ost. But the
biggest win will be when the free biggest win will be when the free
iOS 11 arrives in spring with a Dock, iOS 11 arrives in spring with a Dock,
the sensational Files app (a sort the sensational Files app (a sort
of iCloud Drive replacemof iCloud Drive replacement), ent),
Drag and Drop and updated Drag and Drop and updated
mmulti-tasking. It will be multi-tasking. It will be more like ore like
your Myour MacBook than ever before. acBook than ever before.
Still no native USB, but at least Still no native USB, but at least
Apple has been kind enough to Apple has been kind enough to
leave the headphone jack. leave the headphone jack.
‘ I P A D P R O ’, F R O‘ I P A D P R O ’, F R OMM $ 9 7 9 , $ 9 7 9 ,
B Y A P P L E ; A P P L E. C OB Y A P P L E ; A P P L E. C OMM. A U. A U WO
R D S : D A MI A N F R A NC I S.WOR D S : D A MI A N F R A NC I S.Yes,
tablets are
still a thing
4422331155WHETHER FOR BUSINESS
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OUR TOP TABLET PICKS:GGQQ..COM.AU.COM.AUCOM.AU S E P T E MS E P T E MSEPTEMB E R /O C T OB E R /O C T OBER/OCTOB E R 2 0 1 7B E R 2 0 1 7BER 2017THE BRIEF