Lenovo’s ThinkPad 8 offers many advantages over competing 8 inch Windows tablets, including a faster processor, more storage, and a higher-resolution screen. But it comes up short when it comes to battery life and you’ll want to add a mouse and keyboard for anything more than web browsing and simple email.

Although it has its share of limitations, such as lackluster battery life, missing stylus/digitizer support (and thus often difficult, imprecise navigation), and a glossy screen which could stand to be a bit brighter, the ThinkPad 8 still manages to rise head and shoulders above most of its competitors in nearly every other category. ...

You get a good package for $399, including an impressive 64GB of storage. And if you think of the ThinkPad 8 as a little computer in your pocket that can pair with keyboard and monitor into a full connected device back at home, you'll probably love this. But it's not the same as a Surface, or a Lenovo Yoga, for that matter.

Not just our favourite small-screen Windows tablet, the ThinkPad 8 is contender for our favourite Windows tablet yet. Windows 8.1 Pro looks elegant on its sharp, vibrant screen, and the performance is promising. The price is tempting, too. Sure, a Google Nexus 7 will cost you significantly less, but a Retina iPad Mini is more size and price-competitive - and, ignoring Windows 8's current paltry app offering, there's no doubt that the ThinkPad is capable of doing more.