HP Pro Tablet Review

Last Updated on March 29, 2020

For the most part, the mobile world seems to be dominated by Apple and Samsung in a way that’s become tiresome. A little variety and new blood would be welcome. Fortunately, Microsoft is constantly trying to expand its mobile presence and there’s no more natural partner for their latest cross-platform operating system than HP.

The new HP Pro Tablet 608 is a serious device that should appeal to users that want more than the usual iPad experience.

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Form Factor & Exterior Layout

Just 8.35 mm thick and weighing only 360 grams, the HP Pro Tablet 608 is surprisingly lean for such a powerful machine. The 7.9-inch IPS LCD boasts a 4:3 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels.

That crisp screen is protected by a tough layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 4 embedded in a sturdy plastic housing featuring DTS Studio Sound speakers.

Internals and Computing Hardware

The heart of the Pro Tablet 608 is a 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Atom x5 Z8500 with HD Graphics supported by 2GB of RAM and augmented with 32GB of eMMC storage. If you opt for the 64GB or 128GB variant, the RAM gets bumped up to 4GB.

As far as ports go, there’s the new USB-C and a microSD slot that can handle 2TB of additional storage.

OS, UI and Additional Software

Now featuring the device-agnostic Windows 10, the Pro Tablet 608 is stocked with the typical Microsoft programs like Cortana and Skype. In addition, there’s a slew of unique apps produced by HP including Client Security, Touchpoint Manager, ePrint, PageLift and Mobile Connect.

Unlike the bloatware that comes with a typical Android tablet, the freebie apps on the Pro Tablet 608 actually come in handy.

Networking and Extensibility

As you might expect, this HP slate comes with the standard dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless connectivity. There’s also support for LTE/HSPA+ Qualcomm Gobi 4G mobile broadband if you’re frequently on the go.

The optional HP Pro Portable Tablet Dock greatly expands the capabilities of the 608 due to its HDMI port, Miracast and NFC support, RJ-45 Ethernet ports and USB slots.

Performance in the Real World

Thanks to a fairly robust processor and plenty of RAM, Windows 10 runs like a dream on this HP tablet. The on-board 21WHr battery is good for about 8 hours of operating time if you’re not gaming or watching media.

The optional HP Pro Tablet Mobile Retail Solution dock transforms the 608 into a payment processor capable of working with numerous digital wallets like Google Pay.

Pros and Cons Worth Considering

While HP might not be the sexiest name in tech, the Pro Tablet 608 is actually an attractive customer with a ton of power under the hood. Windows 10 is a great OS and it’s a terrific fit for this productivity machine.

The only real criticism that one could make is that it’s not quite as slim as competing devices like the iPad Mini.

The Ideal Pro Tablet 608 Buyer

Long story short, the Pro Tablet 608 is a great mid-sized tablet that can practically double as a laptop with the right peripherals. In many ways, it’s actually superior to the popular Nexus 9.

Ultimately, this tablet is all about creation rather than consumption. If you’re a business user that wants to get things done no matter where you are, this HP may be the tablet for you.

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HP Pro Tablet 608 Review Video

HP Pro Tablet 608 Detailed Look and comparison to Surface 3