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

• see: Measuring diagonal wobble

Pointer lag

• How does it compare to other tablets?

Pen Tilt

• Does tilt work correctly at edges and corners?

Pen Hover Height

• See: Measuring 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?