Computer technology moves so quickly that the lines between devices can start to blur. A perfect example of this is the rapid advances made in tablet computing power.
This has convinced some small business owners that they can run their entire business from a tablet….but how true is that?
Laptops are far better suited to environments where high levels of productivity are required, whereas tablets are better suited to web browsing, casual gaming and basic productivity tasks. Affordable tablets simply lack the processing power to make them a viable replacement for a mid-range laptop.
Here’s a bit of trivia for you – although people believe that Apple and others were the first to create a tablet, it was actually Alan Sugar that released the first consumer tablet – the PenPad – way back in 1993.
So…getting back to things – should you buy a laptop or a tablet?
Don’t go jumping on trends
There’s a kind of trend now around ditching the laptop and using tablets instead.
It’s like herd mentality kicks in.
Some social influencer or marketer said they run their entire business from a tablet and everyone jumps on board with the idea.
These are typically Apple users who’ve just dropped $1,200 on an iPad Pro.
But nobody stops to ask, “Hey…does this actually make sense?”
Can you run your entire business from a tablet instead of a laptop?
“Yes”, but only barely and it’s going to cost you a fortune.
Let’s look at why that’s the case and the pros and cons of each.
| Laptops | Tablets | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Budget laptops use powerful desktop CPUS | Tablets use the same processors as smartphones |
| Operating System | Windows/MacOS have access to unlimited applications | Limited to what's available in the app store |
| Input | Keyboard and mouse for maximum productivity | Touchscreen interface better suited to entertainment |
| Battery life | Up to 25 hours | Limited to 10 hours |
| Storage | Multiple terabyte capacities | Maximum of 1TB |
| Portability | Heavy and requires accessories | Extremely portable |
| Screen size | Max size of 20-inches | Max size of 12-iches |
| Cost | Work laptops cost $500 - $700 | Premium laptops cost $800 - $1,200 |
How much processing power do they have?
Tablets lack the processing power to truly compete with laptops – they just can’t go toe to toe with each other.
So let’s work with some real-life examples.
Let’s compare a Samsung Galaxy tablet costing around $300 with a laptop that costs the same amount.
The Samsung will feature something like a Snapdragon 855 processor vs. a basic Intel i3 CPU in the entry level laptop.
The Intel i3 is designed for use in actual computers whereas the Snapdragon range of processors was designed for smartphones.
Is your smartphone faster than your laptop?
No.
Even if we scale this up and look at a high-end iPad Pro and its A12Z “Bionic” chip vs. an i7 laptop there’s no real difference.
The gap closes here when measuring basic processing power, but the i7 still outperforms Apple’s processor.
And it does that at a fraction of the cost.
Operating systems & limitations
Now, this is a really important point to cover.
If you’re using a tablet you have two choices of operating system (OS):
- Android
- iOS
Yes, you can get Windows 10 on a Microsoft Surface…except the Surface Pro can cost up to $2,000.
Which is what you find with most 2-in-1s.
And if you’re considering a Surface vs. a really nice laptop then you probably have more money than sense.
So…unless your business productivity can afford to be limited to whatever apps you can find in the “app store” then a tablet makes way more sense.
Even a shitty $100 laptop with Windows 7 allows you to use programs you simply can’t get for tablets.
That means laptops beat tablets when it comes to operating systems and overall application flexibility.
How easy is it to type on?
All laptops have a built-in keyboard and they always have.
Microsoft, Apple and Android tablets do not, unless you want to count on-screen keyboards.
And tapping away at a virtual keyboard all day isn’t an ergonomically friendly alternative i.e. you’re going to wind up with an injury.
Tablets have built-in touch screen functionality and they always have.
Most laptops do not – even though Microsoft tried to push this technology with Windows 8.
Remember Windows 8?
Remember how bad it was?
So the reality is that nobody really wanted touch-screen laptops.
So we need to break it down to the basics here with a question:
Can you get more work done with a multi-touch tablet screen or with a laptop with a keyboard and mouse?
You can answer that for yourself.
Laptops were designed as productivity tools.
Tablets were designed for entertainment.
P.S And yes, I’ve tried using a tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard. Not an enjoyable experience because you’re doing double duty between typing and then touching the screen.
How long does the battery last?
Companies manufacturing laptops and tablets always advertise the best possible battery life of their devices.
So they’ll say “Up to 10 hours of continuous use on one charge”.
Yup, if you have Wi Fi and Bluetooth disabled, your screen dimmed and you’re not playing games, watching a movie, or doing some video editing.
Because if you are then your battery will last something more like 4 – 5 hours.
Always reduce the claimed battery duration by at least 30% to get an idea of how long it will last under normal usage.
There are other factors to consider though.
The first is that tablets are specifically designed to be portable and the second is that the CPUs used in tablets are optimized for power usage.
So a typical tablet should last longer on a single charge than equivalent laptops.
But that’s not what happens in real life…despite what the advertising and fanboys say.
If you take some of the more recent Dell Latitude laptops – like the 9410 – they have a claimed battery life of 23 hours.
In real-life tests though that drops to just under 17 hours.
But that’s still 7 hours longer than any equivalent high-end tablet, including any Apple device.
Yet you’re told that a $1,200 tablet with a 10-hour battery is somehow exceptional?
Sounds like effective advertising to me.
How much storage space do you need?
There’s no real competition here so I’m not going to waste your time.
Tablets come with between 64GB and 1TB of solid-state storage.
And the 1TB model is going to cost you at least $1,500.
Even the cheapest laptop will come with hard drives varying in size from 512GB up to a 2TB (Terabytes).
So you get more storage space but at a fraction of the cost.
This one is a no-brainer, folks.
Does screen size matter?
The biggest tablet screen so far comes in at just over 12-inches.
The biggest laptop screen used date measured in at 20.1 inches, but they’re hard to find.
17-inch laptops are extremely common, and you can get up to 18-inches of screen real estate with some Alienware models.
But you’re not here to buy a gaming laptop.
There’s an upper limit on tablet screens in terms of the end-user.
What I mean is that 10-inch tablets are physically uncomfortable to hold in your hands for an hour.
So it’s unlikely that companies are going to start pushing out tablets with 14 and 17-inch screens.
Also, there’s a problem inherent to larger screens – the bigger the screen the faster your battery drains.
But if you’re looking for a truly huge screen then laptops are your only real choice.
How portable is it?
One of the biggest chores in the world is lugging a laptop around with you for work.
You have to pack the laptop itself, then a charger, your mouse, and maybe a separate webcam.
Tablets, on the other hand, are designed to be extremely portable.
There’s no need to take a ton of accessories with you, including a charge because you’re never too far away from a USB charging port these days.
So technically the only tablet “accessory” you need is the right USB cable for your device.
Tablets win in terms of portability, but only for light or short work stints e.g. a business meeting during lunch.
How much can you afford to spend?
Everyone reading this wants the best laptop or tablet that money can buy.
But that’s not always an option.
So you need to be brutally honest here about what you can really afford, and how much bang you can get for your buck.
A high-end tablet + pen will set you back at least $1,200.
A high-end laptop can cost upwards of $2,000.
But if we get our focus here back away from gaming laptops and premium-priced tablets and back to what you actually need the device for.
It’s for work.
Most likely some web browsing, answering emails, typing documents, sending invoices, etc.
All of that can be done on a $500 – $700 laptop.
A tablet with equivalent capabilities will cost $1,200 – $2,000.
Don’t let your vanity get the better of your financial common sense.
Wrapping it up
I have to admit that I’m not entirely unbiased here in the laptops/tablets debate.
But that’s down to watching people make silly claims about what you can and can’t do on a tablet.
That somehow some free app they found is better than Word or Photoshop.
I know people who are absolutely determined to convince themselves that tablets are the better option and they don’t want to hear any different.
And believe me, I’ve tested the whole laptop vs. tablet thing.
The end result is that my 10-inch tablet + keyboard combo is used for checking emails and web stats before I got to bed.
Whereas my laptop is used every single day.