Let me start by clarifying the title: I know Windows tablets exist. I’m one of the few nerds who’s been using 2-in-1 PCs as my primary device for over a decade. I’ve been on the tablet bandwagon before Microsoft Surface even existed, back when 2-in-1s were just called tablet PCs.
And yet, after all this time, tablet PCs have never been great at being, you know, tablets. Usually it’s not for lack of decent hardware – manufacturers were able to come up with devices with good designs and nearly iPad-like performance. Instead, it’s the software shortage that makes it difficult to use a Windows tablet to its full potential.
And then Microsoft announced that it would bring Android apps to Windows, suddenly opening up a myriad of possibilities for touch-enabled Windows devices. Amazon’s App Store, used for its Fire tablets, would be available in the Microsoft Store, while Intel would help with backend technology.
Earlier this week, Microsoft revealed that this technology would be rolling out in a public preview starting next month, although it has been in testing through the Windows Insider Program for months now.
This revelation was bolstered by Google’s announcement that it would be bringing Android games to Windows (via a “Google Play Games” app), although it is apparently doing so without Microsoft’s help. And aside from app stores, the Windows Subsystem for Android – the software that runs all those Android apps – has opened the door for users to sideload a myriad of apps that may not yet be officially available on Windows.
It’s been a long time since I felt like there was hope for Windows tablets having software properly designed for them.
Windows tablets have too few good apps
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been using Windows tablets this whole time for a reason. There are some conveniences offered by the form factor – most the ability to handwrite notes and sketch out ideas and diagrams. I don’t have a particular affinity for real pen and paper, but I love being able to think things through and solve problems in the way that handwriting best offers. I love being able to grab my device, hold it in my arm, and browse the web from a distance comfortable for my eyes and back.
But I also like having access to complete and versatile PC applications. That’s why I use Windows convertibles rather than an iPad. For most people, owning an iPad means you also need another device for your “real” work. There’s a lot you can do, but there comes a time when you eventually need to run more traditional PC apps.
This is not the case with the majority of Windows tablets. They may be weaker than similarly priced traditional laptops, but at the end of the day, they can do everything a regular laptop can.
Unfortunately, that same versatility is likely why Windows has been stuck with too few apps that work very well with a touchscreen and/or stylus; developers haven’t had enough incentive to make good tablet apps when good old mouse and keyboard apps work just fine.
The are some tablet-friendly apps from smaller developers — the StaffPad music composition app and Drawboard PDF are two of my regulars — but for the most part, the Microsoft Store has felt sterile for years. And even when there is are The available Windows apps are often not as good or updated as regularly as those on other platforms.
But apps for Android tablets aren’t great either, are they?
You are right. While Android and iOS call apps are roughly comparable most of the time, Android tablet apps tend to lag far behind their iPad counterparts. So… why get excited about Android apps coming to Windows?
To put it plainly: your typical Android tablet app is always better than your average Windows tablet app. More importantly, there is only path More of them. For reference, the Microsoft Store has about 800,000 apps in 2021. The Google Play Store has about 3 million.
And if I was a bettor, I guess the average quality of these latest apps is higher. Even though most Android apps designed for phones don’t have an optimal user interface for tablet-sized screens, at least they tend to work really well.
Granted, Microsoft uses the Amazon App Store, and so far there’s only been a small selection of apps officially available to Windows Insiders during the testing period. But it didn’t take long for enterprising developers to figure out how to sideload Android software on Windows 11, including the Google Play Store and Google Play Services. Technically, you don’t even need to be running an Insider build to run Android apps.
And I have already reaped the benefits. Just a few weeks ago I was trying to find some very specific content that was only available for Android and iOS apps. No windows app, not even a browser version. I simply side-loaded the app, and it worked without a hitch.
Since then, I’ve loaded a variety of apps, and with a few exceptions, they’ve worked flawlessly. The Android Kindle app running on Windows is a million times better than its native Windows equivalent. In the past few months, I’ve used more new touch apps on Windows than in years.
I also suspect that the increased prevalence of tablet-friendly Android apps will eventually benefit Android tablets as well. While Android tablets may be relatively unpopular, Windows 2-in-1s are a growing category (not to mention their Chromebook equivalents, which also run Android apps). Bringing Android software to more tablet-sized devices will hopefully inspire developers to create more tablet-optimized apps.
Microsoft must maintain its momentum
Bringing Android apps to Windows is one of the best things to happen to tablet PCs in years, but it’s up to Microsoft to make it worthwhile for users and developers alike. My experience with Android apps on Windows so far has been surprisingly positive, but only after using workarounds to get the most out of the system.
Although Microsoft understandably only tests a small number of apps before public release, I fear the Amazon App Store will become a barren wasteland after the initial hype. In my ideal world, the full Google Play Store would eventually be readily available on Windows 11, but there’s no indication from Google that this will happen.
Still, things are looking up for Windows tablet users. Hoping this is our year.
