Pros
- Exceptional build quality
- Robust mounting kit
Cons
- Expensive
- Limits usability of iPhone
- Muffled audio
Bottom Line
The Outride is an interesting concept that proves remarkably compromised in real-world use.
Pros
- Decent battery life for a touch system
- Attractive design
- Narrow bezels, responsive touchscreen
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Some touchpad issues
- Heavy, even for a touchscreen Ultrabook
- Other laptops offer the same or better specs for less money
Bottom Line
The Series 5 UltraTouch is a solid mid-range Windows 8 Ultrabook, with decent battery life, a responsive touchscreen and a tasteful design. If you wanted, though, you could get the same specs for less money.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Comfortable keyboard
- Allows for pen input
- Wide viewing angles
Cons
- Pen support isn't standard
- Bluetooth occasionally causes typing lags
- USB port doesn't work with USB hard drives or external optical drives
Bottom Line
The ThinkPad Tablet 2 is the best low-powered Windows 8 tablet we've tested, thanks to its 10-hour battery and an unmatched typing experience.
Pros
- Smooth, confident handling
- Incredible power delivery
- Plenty of tech toys
- Best-in-class range
Cons
- Limited charging stations
- Occasional lack of attention to interior detail
Bottom Line
Tesla's Model S is light-years beyond the Roadster in terms of refinement, and is the current benchmark for production EVs.
Pros
- Solid performance
- Attractive design
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Low-res
- Somewhat awkward to hold
Bottom Line
The SV is a solid option for people who want an LTE device on the cheap.
Pros
- Solid-feeling design
- Great 1080p display
- Good performance
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Noisy, annoying fan
- Un-optimized experiences
Bottom Line
Microsoft's Surface with Windows 8 Pro is the best tablet running Windows 8 we've yet seen, but still feels like a compromise when used as a tablet or laptop.
Pros
- Attractively priced
- Good battery life
- Performance matches higher-end devices
Cons
- Middling camera performance
- Windows Phone 8 lacks app selection of entry-level Android phones
Bottom Line
The Lumia 620 is a budget phone offering good performance and an attractive design. It sets a new benchmark for low-price smartphones.
Pros
- Innovative design
- Great viewing angles on both displays
- Fast performance
- Supports pen input
- Good sound quality
Cons
- Short battery life
- Interior screen doesn't support touch
- Runs hot
- Some touchpad issues
Bottom Line
The TAICHI has an inventive dual-screen design with fast performance, wide viewing angles and decent audio. But we'd rather wait for a second-gen model with better battery life.
Pros
- Impressive performance for the price
- Minimal bloatware
- Expandable storage
Cons
- Low-res screen
- Underwhelming camera performance
- Cheap-feeling construction
Bottom Line
The ATIV Odyssey looks like a budget phone, with its cheap construction and low-res screen, but it performs like a flagship.
Pros
- Brilliant IPS display
- Sophisticated, well-built design
- Good keyboard
Cons
- Short battery life
- Expensive
Bottom Line
The HP Spectre XT TouchSmart boasts a great, 15-inch touchscreen and a comfortable, svelte design. The downsides are disappointing battery life and a high starting price.
Pros
- Powerful, intuitive gestures
- BlackBerry Hub aggregates everything
- Great stock keyboard
Cons
- Maps application feels unfinished
- Hub can quickly get overwhelming
- Limited selection of quality apps
Bottom Line
BlackBerry 10 is fast, intuitive and far more modern than the dated OS it replaces. But, its tardiness and limited selection of quality apps make it a bit of a hard sell for those already on iOS, Android or Windows Phone.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Inexpensive for a full Windows 8 system
- IPS display offers good viewing angles
Cons
- Cramped, ugly keyboard dock
Bottom Line
The W510 is a relatively inexpensive hybrid offering best-in-class battery life. Still, its cramped, netbook-like keyboard could be a dealbreaker.
Pros
- Office 2013 itself is feature-rich and easy to use
- Subscribers get extra SkyDrive storage, Skype minutes
- Software version is always up to date
Cons
- Subscription model makes less sense for people with one or few PCs
Bottom Line
Unless you plan to run Office on five or so computers, it might make more sense to purchase Office 2013 instead of paying for an annual subscription.
Pros
- Nice display
- Solid build quality
- Removable battery
Cons
- Limited app selection
- Slow boot and shutdown
- Underpowered speaker
Bottom Line
The BlackBerry Z10 is a better-than-good, but far-from-great smartphone.
Pros
- Easy setup
- Stable performance
- Android / iOS compatibility
- Waterproof to 50 meters
Cons
- Limited app selection at launch
Bottom Line
Pebble is already an excellent value, but new features will increase the appeal.