Tablet evaluation

These are my notes on the things to look at when I evaluate a tablet. This is a work in progress and evolves over time.

Summary

These are the quick summary highlights.

  • Model number

  • Active Area - dimensions and diagonal size

  • Release year

  • Key interesting points

  • Links

    • Any manufacturer videos

    • Product page

    • User manual

Display > basics

  • Display size - should be same as active area

  • Display resolution

  • Aspect ratio

  • Response time

  • Max refresh rate

  • Brightness

    • Future: see if this can be independently measured

  • Contrast ratio

  • Display panel tech: IPS, OLED, etc.

  • Bit depth

    • If >8pp clarify if it is using FRC or not

  • Anti-glare treatment: Etched glass vs AG film

  • Laminated?

Pen

  • Pen model ID that comes with tablet

  • What is default nib in pen

Pen Pressure

  • Manufacturer stated IAF and max pressure

  • Measure IAF

    • I am not good at IAF - so for now leave this out

  • Measure Max Pressure

  • Pressure transition at low pressure

    • Look for instability / pulsing

Pen tracking accuracy

  • Accuracy in middle versus corner and edges

  • Tilt compensation

Diagonal Wobble

Pointer lag

  • How does it compare to other tablets?

Pen Tilt

  • Does tilt work correctly at edges and corners?

Pen Hover Height

Pen Hover -> Drag transition

Background: Some tablets use one smoothing algorithm on hover and a different one on drag (when the pen is pressing down) and so the transition between these smoothing algorithms can create a slight jump in pointer position as the pen hits the surface.

Check for any hover-drag transitions that cause pointer movements.

Display > Parallax

Anti-glare sparkle

Display > Color modes

  • List color modes

  • Identify which color modes the testing was done under

Display > other

  • Pixelation:

  • Dead pixels - did you notice any?

  • Backlight bleed - take photo in a darkened room

  • Display sharpness

    • Are the pixels clear when viewed close up?

    • How blurry is it compared to other pen displays?

OSD

  • How do you launch the OSD?

  • Does the OSD respond to touch even if touch is off on the tablet?

  • Take photos of the OSD screens

Ports

  • List all the ports

Connections and cablings

  • How was the tablet connected to your computer and power

  • Does it support single USB-cable connection

  • Is the USB-C port recessed?

Express Keys

  • Does it come with any express keys, dials, etc?

VESA mounting

  • Does the tablet support VESA mounting.

  • If so, which size is used

  • If you used it with an monitor arm, identify the arm

Stand

  • Does it come with a stand?

  • If so,

    • Identify model number of stand

    • Does the stand use VESA mounting?

    • How much wobble does the stand have

    • Does the stand support height adjustment

    • Does the stand support tilt adjustment

Surface texture

  • How does it feel compared to other tablets?

  • Try with plastic and with felt nib

Legs

  • Does the tablet have legs?

  • If so, what angle do the legs place the tablet at?

Fans

  • Does the tablet have fans?

Ergonomics

Heat

  • At 50% brightness for an hour - how hot does it feel to the touch?

  • At 100% brightness for an hour - how hot does it feel to the touch?

  • Are there any noticable hotspots?

Fan Noise

  • What is the noise experience at 50% brightness?

  • What is the noise experience at 100% brightness?

Touch

  • Is touch supported? On Windows? On MacOS?

Other

Sound support

  • Does it have a headphone jack?

  • Does it have speakers?

Can you use the tablet as a pen display?

  • If so how would you do that?

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