Fujitsu Stylistic Q702 review [UPDATED]

Fujitsu's Stylistic Q702 is a hybrid tablet that could be the Windows 8 device that business users are waiting for. Not only does it deliver a full Windows 8 touchscreen tablet experience, but can be paired up with a keyboard dock that converts it into a laptop and doubles the battery life.

Announced last year but only recently shipping in the UK, the Stylistic Q702 shows Fujitsu's no-nonsense approach to business devices that could see it as a challenger to Microsoft's Surface Pro, which has yet to 'surface' over here.

Like the Surface Pro, the Q702 is based on Intel Core processors, and so is capable of running existing x86 Windows apps as well as the new Metro-style apps designed for the Modern UI environment. It also comes with a digital stylus for pen input in addition to supporting multi-touch gestures.

However, Fujitsu's tablet comes with more corporate-friendly features such as a fingerprint scanner in addition to a trusted platform module (TPM) security chip, and optionally supports an LTE/HSPA mobile broadband modem in addition to Wi-Fi for connectivity.

Fujitsu has also included support for Intel's Anti-theft technology and the Absolute Computrace service, both of which provide the ability to remotely lock down missing or stolen devices.

On the downside, the Q702 has relatively short battery life, and its display seems to suffer from glare more than other tablets we have seen.

Design
When used just as a tablet, the Q702 weighs in at 850g, making it slightly lighter than the Surface Pro despite having a larger 11.6in display.

At 30x19.5x1.3cm, the Q702 is significantly larger and heavier than Apple's iPad, but as a full-blown Windows device, it is fair to say it is aimed at a different market.

That 850g weight makes the Q702 tiring to hold using just one hand for any length of time, although less so if you hold it in the middle, or in portrait orientation. The screen automatically rotates the display image to match whichever way you are holding it, as most tablet users now expect.

Compared to some other tablets, Fujitsu's model is also peppered with external features, although the front panel presents a fairly standard appearance with a black bezel surrounding the touchscreen, with a webcam lens above this and Windows home key below.

Closer inspection reveals that the right-hand edge in particular is studded with ports and buttons, comprising a sliding power switch, a separate switch to turn wireless on and off, volume up/down controls and a button to turn the screen auto-rotate on and off.

Next: Design continued