Best Dell tablet and 2-in-1 laptops 2022

Last Updated: April 13th, 2022

Dell tablet and 2-in-1 laptop models are some of the best Windows devices on the market. In 2022, Windows laptops are still as popular as ever. Despite all the hype around Apple silicon and the disruptive launch of M1 devices, Windows will always have its place. 

With that said, that place is losing its appeal among some people who don’t want a traditional laptop. This is why iPads are so popular. However, Windows will always be a desktop OS, unlike iPad OS, so a 2-in-1 Windows touch screen laptop can give you the best of both worlds. If your interest is in gaming, also check out our Dell gaming laptop page.

If you’re committed to a tablet then be aware that the Windows tablet market can be something akin to the Wild West. There are many options out there, but very few of them are good. Luckily, a lot of the good ones happen to be from Dell.

We’ll be taking a comprehensive look at some of the best Dell tablets on the market.

Best Dell tablet 2022: Our top picks

01

Editor’s choice

The Dell tablet to buy if you want advanced features with an ultra-premium design.

Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable

02

Best Convertible Laptop

One of the most iconic laptops, now available in the 2-in-1 form factor.

Dell XPS 13 (13-inch, OLED)

03

Best Rugged Dell Tablet

If you need durability when working in harsh conditions, this is the tablet to buy.

Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme

Best Dell tablet & 2-in-1 laptops: things to consider

The difference between a Dell 2-in-1 laptop and a tablet

These days, proper portable windows devices such as Dell tablets are few and far between. This is because while 2-in-1 laptops and tablets were all the rage a couple of years ago, the trend has significantly died down. There are many reasons for this.

The first one is that Windows isn’t exactly the best OS for tablets. Back in the day, Dell tablets had Windows 8 installed, but they did not sell very well. However, things have got better with the release of Windows 11. That’s made the user experience on Windows tablets a lot better. 

However, there is a difference between 2-in-1 laptops and tablets. True tablets will always be more portable, and there are still a few newer Dell tablets out there. While 2-in-1 laptops are great, the keyboard can tend to get in the way of what companies call tablet mode.

Detachable keyboards are a great solution to this, as we will see later in this article. So, keep the form factor differences in mind if portability is a concern.

Tablet battery life

Generally speaking, a lot of Windows machines and Dell tablets are more powerful than your entry-level Android tablets or iPads. However, that power can come at a significant cost. Here’s why.

Most people want to buy Windows tablets such as the Surface Pro X for a seamless experience during graphic design. It’s a good option for video editors as well. To power these workloads, Windows tablets have powerful processors inside of them. 

Of course, power comes at the cost of battery life. If you are thinking of buying a Dell tablet you should bear this in mind. 

Be prepared to sacrifice some performance

Expanding on the previous topic, a good way to save battery life is to cut down on performance. Many Dell tablets and 2-in-1 laptops will use processors with a lower TDP to conserve battery life. 

Of course, this means you won’t get the same performance as you would with a traditional laptop at the same price.

Another thing to consider is that Dell tablets and other 2-in-1 laptops require more careful engineering. This is to make sure that thermals, battery life, and repairability are all decent at the very least.

That means they end up costing more than a traditional laptop. You will likely be paying more for a Dell tablet that has a lower performance than a similarly priced laptop.

Best Dell tablets and 2-in-1 laptops in 2022

Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable

13-inch, 1920 x 1280 pixels

This excellent windows device is the ultimate Dell tablet on this list. This tablet is a no-nonsense business machine, as indicated by the gray design. It comes with a keyboard cover that uses a tough fabric and a darker shade to contrast the look of the tablet.

Furthermore, the keyboard here feels excellent, as the keys are sturdy and comfortable. It’s not all that heavy either, considering the power-packed inside this thing. Of course, you wouldn’t want to carry this in your hands all day, and that’s where the integrated kickstand comes in handy.

Connectivity comes in the form of two USB-C connections and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Both of those USB ports support Thunderbolt 4, which is great to see. The 13-inch display with an FHD+ resolution here is quite bright and vibrant.

Performance is quite good, thanks to the 11th gen Core i7 inside of this thing. This Dell tablet performs slightly better than the Surface Pro and Lenovo Thinkpad X12. Both of which have an i5 processor inside.

Overall, it is quite difficult to find any real flaws with this tablet, apart from the pricing.

Dell XPS 13 (13-inch, OLED)

Pros

• Lightweight and portable
• Stellar battery performance
• Lots of color options
• Decent graphics performance

Cons

• Somewhat uncomfortable keyboard

While this is not necessarily a true Dell tablet, this Windows laptop is a very capable 2-in-1 machine. It is one of the few laptops that has been a true rival to the Macbook Air for several years now. The XPS 13 2-in-1 is iconic, and the 9310 version is its ultimate form.

This 2-in-1 laptop is constructed from machined aluminum, with carbon fiber and glass accents here and there. Furthermore, the thin bezels allow Dell to fit the 13.4-inch panel into a very small form factor. Surprisingly, it is even slightly smaller than the Macbook Air.

Moving on, the display here is excellent, as you would expect from a premium ultrabook. This panel is bright, vibrant, and the colors are nicely saturated. You can also buy an optional pen from Dell, turning it more into a true “Dell tablet”.

Performance is excellent as well. It is surprising just how well this thing can handle day-to-day tasks, as well as some real-world workloads. The results this thing puts out are a testament to Dell’s excellent engineering. Let’s not forget the excellent battery life that can last more than 10 hours (14 if you’re careful).

Overall, this is by far still the best 2-in-1 laptop out there.

Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme

11.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 pixels

Pros

• Bright display for outdoors
• Built like a tank
• Hot-swappable batteries

Cons

• Very expensive
• No video output

This is one of those ridiculously over-the-top devices that you can’t help but appreciate. For this Dell tablet, you don’t need to worry about performance, except for the battery life. This one surely isn’t for us folks who work from home. It’s for the first responders and factory workers.

As the name implies, this is an impressively durable and rugged Windows tablet. It is a big and burly black slab, to be more precise. The screen is wrapped in black polycarbonate with rubberized bumpers around the corners.

The top webcam has a slider, so you don’t need to worry about someone spying on you. Physical buttons below the screen allow you to adjust the brightness and volume on the fly. On the back, there is a metallic kickstand that is attached via a gigantic screw.

Performance is decent enough for what this product is. It comes with a magnetic keyboard cover that snaps to the bottom edge of the tablet. The ruggedness means this is a heavy Dell tablet, and it further solidifies that this is for those people who work in extreme physical conditions.

All in all, it is next to impossible to find another rugged Windows tablet of this caliber.

Dell Inspiron 14 7415

14-inch, 1920 x 1080 pixels

Pros

• Robust all-metal construction
• Superb overall performance
• Surprisingly great speakers

Cons

• The display is a bit dim
• Substandard trackpad

This next device is not a Dell tablet, nor does it feature any real bells and whistles. The Inspiron 14 7415 is a 2-in-1 laptop aimed at business users. It’s a mainstream convertible laptop, with premium performance and good value for money overall.

The base model of this laptop comes with a Ryzen 5 5500U, 8 gigs of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. You can upgrade to a 5700U, 16GB RAM, and 512GB storage. Not bad at all considering it will cost you $200 more.

For the design, Dell is using a dark blue finish that they call Mist Blue. It adds a bit of flair and personality to this laptop. The construction feels quite solid, and it feels just as good as the XPS laptops. 

That’s all great, but there are a few downsides to this laptop. The display is a bit dim, limiting outdoor usability. Furthermore, while the trackpad feels smooth, the clicking mechanism feels chip and a bit too firm. Keep this in mind.

Apart from that, while this may not be a fancy 2-in-1 or Dell tablet, it is a great performer for the price.

Dell Chromebook 11 (3100)

13-inch, 1920 x 1280 pixels

Pros

• Durable and rugged design
• Decent battery life
• 2-in-1 hinge design

Cons

• Keyboard feels strange
• Small and low-resolution screen

Much like the previous entry, this device is not necessarily a Dell tablet. Instead, the Dell Chromebook 11 (3100) is a laptop that runs on Chrome OS. This low-power laptop is designed for education and works quite well for young students in middle or even high school. 

Much like other Chromebooks, it isn’t all that glamorous. This is a laptop that puts function over aesthetics. It uses thick black plastic for the exterior and a 360-degree hinge. This allows you to use it as a Dell tablet. The design is built for punishment, as it is extremely rugged.

Despite the generic appearance, this Chromebook can even withstand a splash of water or two. So, you should rest easy knowing this thing is going to survive a few drops. Apart from that, the performance is not much to write home about, as is with most Chromebooks.

You’ll have to deal with the shallow keyboard and poor display though. Still, for the money, it’s a decent entry-level laptop.

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Final Word

So, that about wraps it up for the best Dell tablet and 2-in-1 laptops out there. Hopefully, you found the right device that suits your needs from this guide.

If you need a truly premium full-fledged Windows tablet, then it does not get much better than the 7320 detachable. The 7220 Rugged Extreme is also an excellent option for those looking for use in demanding conditions. Other than that, the Dell XPS 13 is a phenomenal laptop either way, in both 2-in-1 and the clamshell form factor. For students, the Chromebook 11 is a good choice, while the latest version of the Inspiron 14 stands as a great value if you care about performance.