Updated at: 29-04-2022 - By: Leo Hall

When it comes to computing on the go, most people are aware that both laptops and tablets are viable options. However, one or the other will always be better suited to a certain task.

Laptops and tablets are compared in this guide to help you decide which device is best for your requirements.

For those who are undecided, here are the pros and cons of each.

Portability

The issue of portability is the most pressing. Tablets rule the roost in the vast majority of circumstances.

Some larger tablet computers are designed for professional use and can measure up to 13 inches in length. It’s because they find the optimal mix between screen size and ergonomics that tablets with 8- and 10-inch screens tend to be the most popular.

The smallest and lightest tablets often weigh less than 300 grams (about 10 oz). Larger gadgets, such as the 13-inch iPad Pro, can weigh as much as 700 grams or more (about 1.5 lb).

A laptop screen, on the other hand, has a far broader range of resolutions. They can range in height from 12 inches to 21 inches. However, 15- to 17-inch laptops continue to be the most popular mainstream laptop sizes for the time being.

Liệu rằng tablet có thể thay thế laptop trong tương lai hay không?

The average 15-inch laptop weights approximately 2 kg (around 5 lb). However, laptops come in a wide range of weights just like tablets do. Some laptops and notebooks can weigh as little as 1 kilogram, while some gaming computers can weigh as much as 8 kilograms in extreme circumstances.

Because tablets are smaller and lighter than even the smallest laptops currently available, they are clearly superior in terms of portability.

Display

While we’re on the subject of dimensions, let’s not forget about the monitor. Size and resolution are the two most important factors here. This is where laptops have an advantage over desktop computers because of their wider frames, which enable for larger screens to be displayed.

In terms of resolution, the smaller tablet display would have a higher pixel density, resulting in a crisper image with less details visible in the individual pixels.

A $150 tablet’s 1080p display won’t be as nice as a $1000 laptop’s 1080p display, because the quality of a display depends on the price.

However, it’s important to remember that tablets, thanks to their higher pixel density and lower cost, often deliver better images than laptops of a same price point.

Storage

Storage is an important consideration. When it comes to portability, laptops are nearly always the clear winner. Both the 500 GB HDD and 128 GB SSD found in the most affordable laptops currently outperform most tablets.

There are a wide range of internal storage options for tablets in 2022, from 8GB to 256GB, although the most expensive high-end models can also have up to 1TB of storage. In addition to the default storage capacity, extendable storage must be considered.

MicroSD memory cards can be used to enhance the storage capacity of numerous tablets, excluding Apple’s iPads. These can vary from as little as 1 GB to as much as 1 TB, although the maximum capacity supported by each device differs.

Laptops offer a wider range of configurations. While many laptops come equipped with memory card readers, memory cards are not the most popular kind of external storage for laptops.

When paired with an internal SSD, external drives can provide massive amounts of storage for pennies on the dollar. External SSDs, on the other hand, are a viable option for individuals who need fast external storage. In addition, most standard laptops allow you to upgrade the internal storage drive, although this is not possible with tablets.

Since laptops have the capacity and speed to match a tablet’s memory, we’d offer the storage capacity to laptops rather than tablets. In addition, there are inexpensive external storage options and the ability to upgrade the laptop’s internal storage at any time in the future, making external storage an excellent alternative.

As a side note, keep in mind that you may not require much internal storage to begin with. Operating systems and apps for mobile devices, for example, are extremely compact. So, if you don’t plan on storing a lot of media files on your tablet, 32-64 GB of internal storage and cloud storage should plenty.

Cameras

Tablets, on the other hand, typically have better cameras than laptops, despite the fact that both have them.

Specifically, in addition to having both a front and rear camera, tablet cameras are frequently of a greater quality than those found in comparable priced laptops. Because they’re lighter and more portable than laptops, and because they incorporate many of the same capabilities as smartphones, this makes perfect sense.

There are few rear-facing cameras on laptops. A rear-facing camera is available on some laptops but is more commonly found on front-facing ones. As previously said, the quality of these cameras isn’t fantastic, particularly on lower-end laptops.

But tablets have a wider range of capabilities and better cameras at a lesser cost. Only the most costly tablets, however, have cameras as good as those on most mid-range and flagship smartphones.

Tablet vs Laptop - Which Is Best For You? [2022 Guide]

Battery Life

Without a good battery, what good is having a portable computer? The battery life of tablets and laptops will be examined in this section.

Tablets can often withstand 8 to 12 hours of continuous use before needing to be recharged. Laptops, on the other hand, are notoriously power-hungry, with typical battery life ranging from 2 to 6 hours, depending on usage.

The battery life of some notebooks and high-end laptops, on the other hand, may often compete with that of tablets.

Tablet batteries, on the other hand, tend to last longer. A few explanations can be given. ARM CPUs, which are simpler and less power-hungry than even the mobile versions of desktop CPUs found in laptops, are the first thing to consider.

Because they produce less heat, these CPUs are perfect for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, which lack an active cooling mechanism. iOS in particular is well-optimized for mobile devices; this is especially true for Android devices.

Turning on the laptop’s power-saving mode can help extend its battery life. This is a useful tip for extending the life of your laptop by reducing its speed and brightness.

Tablets, on the other hand, are more likely to have a longer battery life because of the lack of additional throttling. There are, of course, some things tablets can’t do that laptops can, but we’ll get to those in a moment.

Performance

The performance of a device is mostly determined by its cost and intended use. There is a widening disparity in performance between tablets and laptops as the price rises, however this gap is smaller at lower price points.

Because of this, tablets are likely to surpass low-end laptops when it comes to general-purpose computing tasks like browsing the web, watching videos, and playing light video games.

The winner in this area would have to be a laptop, despite the operating system limitations, because laptops perform better than the majority of tablets in the midrange and higher price ranges.

Operating Systems and Software

Despite the fact that laptops and tablets are extremely different in terms of hardware, there is still the software to consider. Even though Amazon’s Android-based Fire OS is highly popular in its low-end Fire tablets, most tablets today use iOS or Android as their operating system.

Windows, macOS, and Linux are all common operating systems on laptops, with Windows being the most prevalent on hybrid devices.

As a general rule, we’ll focus on the distinctions between mobile and desktop OSes rather than particular operating systems.

While mobile operating systems are streamlined and easy to use, desktop operating systems have a wider selection of sophisticated apps to choose from, making them more versatile.

In fact, the limitations of mobile operating systems are a major reason why many people believe tablets are a poor replacement for laptops or desktops.

If a desktop software has a mobile app version, expect the mobile app to lack some of the capabilities found in the desktop version. As a result, desktop operating systems, with their substantially superior processing power, take home the prize.

Interface

Using the device, in particular the interface, is a rather simple process as well.

Physical keyboards and touchpads are the primary input methods on laptops. Although laptops don’t have as many ports as desktop computers, they can still be used with external keyboards and mice as long as they have the proper connectors.

Also supported are wireless keyboards and mouse that use whatever wireless technology is offered by the laptop.

A virtual keyboard is used in tablet computers, which rely solely on their touchscreens for input. Tablets that support Bluetooth keyboards are a blessing for those who have difficulty typing on virtual keyboards, but mouse support might be a more difficult issue.

It’s impossible to choose a winner in this area because both KB&M controllers and touchscreen controls have advantages and disadvantages depending on the device’s intended function. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll state that the former is more precise while the latter is more intuitive.

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Connectivity

In this section, we’ll examine the various ways that tablets and laptops can be connected via wired and wireless connections.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are standard on most new laptops, but there are only a few that can also connect to cellular networks. There is a wide range of conditions when it comes to ports.

The connections found on a modern desktop motherboard are typically seen on larger laptops, thus you’ll find USB 3.0, Ethernet, analog audio jacks, HDMI, and so on. Smaller USB-C ports have replaced larger USB ports on laptops that are smaller in size.

Both laptops and tablet computers have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built in, but it’s rare for tablet manufacturers to provide models with cellular connectivity, unlike laptops.

When it comes to USB-C connections, most of the newest tablets use Micro USB, whereas the majority of Apple’s iPads still use Lightning connectors.

It’s impossible to say who will come out on top in the end because the requirement for several ports or cellular connectivity is highly individual.

Price

When it comes to starting rates, tablets are far less expensive than laptops. The lowest-priced tablets start at $50, while the most affordable laptops start at around $150.

On the other end of the scale are tablets that can cost up to $1000, unless they are specifically designed for professionals or are a hybrid.

The price of a mainstream laptop is likewise around $800. Exceptionally high-end laptop and gaming notebook prices can range from $1,000 to $5,000, with some even exceeding five-figure sums.

On the plus side, affordable tablets often outperform cheap laptops in terms of performance. If you’re on a tight budget, bear this in mind.

Verdict

Don’t expect a clear winner in the tablet vs. 2-in-1 laptop arena. It’s up to you to decide which portable is best suited to your needs..

As long as you don’t need much power and are okay with the restrictions of mobile apps, an outstanding tablet might be a better choice. If you need a lot of power but don’t mind the limitations of mobile apps, an exceptional tablet might be a better choice. If you’re prepared to fork over a little extra money, you can always increase its capabilities by purchasing peripherals like Apple’s Magic Keyboard or the Samsung S Action Mouse.

On the other hand, 2-in-1 laptops have all the tools you need, from their ports and modes to their full OS and more robust engine, to get you through your everyday productivity and creative chores in a far more immersive way. Even if they aren’t as small or light as tablets, laptops are still very portable, and you’d be pleased to take them on your commute with you.

Overall Findings

Tablets

  • Battery life extension.
  • Lightweight and compact.
  • Made with media consumption in mind.

Laptops

  • More potent, in my opinion.
  • The more features a program has, the more expensive it is.
  • Designed to maximize efficiency.

If you can only afford one piece of technology, then a laptop is likely your best bet. Mid-tier tablet computers cost the same as a budget laptop, but they have a lot more to offer. Most people use tablets to surf the internet, read ebooks, play games, and listen to music. However, laptops are designed for work purposes, such as generating documents, sending emails and using complex software. Convertible laptops, also known as hybrids, can be used in tablet mode, giving you the best of both worlds.

Input Method: You Can Do More With Laptops

Text entry on tablets is made more difficult by the fact that they only have a touchscreen interface. Because tablets lack a physical keyboard, you must use virtual keyboards with a variety of layouts and designs. With a detachable keyboard, the greatest 2-in-1 tablets fall short of the laptop experience due to their smaller size and more limited designs. With an external Bluetooth keyboard, you’ll incur more fees and carry additional peripherals, making the tablet less convenient to use. Laptops are excellent for folks who type frequently.

Battery Life: Tablets Last Longer

Tablets are built for efficiency because of the minimal power consumption of its hardware components. In reality, the battery occupies the majority of the tablet’s inner space. Instead, laptops make use of much more powerful components. Laptop batteries occupy a much smaller proportion of the total volume required by the laptop’s internal components. As a result, even though laptops have bigger capacity batteries, they don’t last as long as tablets. It is not uncommon for tablets to last up to ten hours on the web before needing to be recharged. In contrast, a typical laptop only lasts between four and eight hours before needing to be recharged.

Some high-end laptops with ARM-based processors have battery lives that are comparable to those of tablets, but some essential software is not compatible.

Why The Apple iPad Pro Is Not The Laptop Killer

Storage Capacity: Laptops Have More Space

Solid-state storage memory (SSD) is used by tablet makers to reduce the size and cost of their devices. One of the main drawbacks of this technology is the amount of data it can hold. Storage on most tablets ranges from 16 to 128 gigabytes. Laptops, on the other hand, still rely on traditional hard drives, which have a far higher storage capacity. With a 500 GB hard disk, the average budget laptop is equipped with solid-state drives (SSDs). External storage can be added to both laptops and tablets via USB ports or microSD cards.

FAQS:

Which is better laptop or tablet?

When it comes to doing actual work, laptops are the greatest option, even if that labor is only writing Office documents. Laptops often have more processing power and more internal storage than tablets. … Hybrid PCs are Windows tablets with keyboard docks that may be used as laptops when docked. They offer the best of both worlds.

What can a tablet do that a laptop Cannot?

Tablets are more convenient to carry around and are ideal for light tasks like web browsing, movie viewing, or playing mobile games. Laptops are more productive because they have more powerful hardware and more feature-rich software.

Can you do everything on a tablet that you can on a laptop?

Using a Windows 10 tablet will provide you access to all of the same features as using a regular Microsoft laptop, including desktop applications.

Conclusion:

There’s no mistaking the fact that tablets and laptops were made for quite distinct purposes, as this comparison shows.

However, Steve Jobs stated that tablets are meant to cover the gap between smartphones and computers and accomplish certain tasks better than either of them when he introduced the iPad in 2010.

So, what are the advantages of tablets over laptops, and which is the best option for you in the end?

For those who merely require a device for browsing the web, watching videos, listening to music, and playing casual games, a tablet is likely the best option. ‘

You can take your tablet with you everywhere you go, it’s easy to carry, and it has a nicer display than a lower-priced laptop. Check out our list of the top tablets currently on the market if you’re considering this choice.

For those who need to type a lot, a laptop would be a better option than a tablet or a phone.

If you attach a Bluetooth keyboard with a tablet, typing becomes much easier, but having a larger device with a larger screen would aid in overall productivity and multitasking.

It’s possible that if you’re truly into gaming and want a device that you can use as your primary gaming computer, a proper gaming laptop might be the best option. This is where our list of the best gaming laptops currently available comes in.

Gaming laptops, on the other hand, are only worthwhile if you travel frequently and need a portable gaming device, as they are typically more expensive and less powerful than PCs with comparable hardware.

Laptops with powerful CPUs can be made into gaming machines with the addition of an external GPU. In any case, because of the bandwidth restrictions, the final performance won’t be as fantastic as it would be if the GPU was put in a desktop PC.

Another option for professionals who require their own workstation is the laptop.

When it comes to using professional software like Adobe Photoshop on mobile devices, a high-end laptop like a MacBook or a Surface Book should be your first choice if desktop workstations are unavailable.