Laptops vs Tablets – Which is Better to Buy in Kenya?
Laptops vs tablets, which one is better? To answer the question of whether or not a tablet is the best option for a portable computer, it’s important to determine which features are most important.
A tablet is more powerful than a budget laptop and can provide more computing power that is often needed for tasks such as video editing, but on the other hand, they also lack certain features that laptops have that are essential for day-to-day activities like running office applications, browsing, and even gaming.
Here is a quick summary of everything:
Tablets
- Longer battery life (here is how to increase battery life).
- Smaller and lighter.
- Designed for media consumption.
Laptops
- More powerful.
- Programs typically have more features.
- Designed for productivity.
If you can only afford one device, then you’ll probably be looking for a laptop. Budget laptops cost the same as mid-tier tablets, and they can do a lot more.
Tablets are primarily used for browsing the web, reading ebooks, playing games, listening to music, and other passive activities.
Laptops are not necessarily designed for the same purposes as tablets, but there are a number of benefits to using one. They’re much better suited for productivity and a wide range of software. Some laptops even come with the ability to use them in tablet mode.
Laptops vs Tablets: Input Method
You can do more with laptops.
Since tablets rely solely on a touchscreen interface for input, there are some challenges when you need to input text. For example, the layout of virtual keyboards varies between devices and can present challenges in different scenarios.
Many of the best two-in-one tablets come with a detachable keyboard, but these models still fall short of the true laptop experience because of their limited size and more conservative design.
If you decide to add an external Bluetooth keyboard, you will have to carry more costs and peripherals which could make the laptop less portable. Laptops are better for people who type a lot.
Laptops vs Tablets: Size
Tablets are more portable
Most tablets weigh less than 2 pounds and are much smaller than laptops like the MacBook air 11. The main reason they are smaller is that the keyboard and trackpad take up additional space.
Laptops that have more advanced components require additional cooling and are smaller and lighter than traditional laptops, but they may be difficult to carry around. Because of this, tablets are a better option for travel, especially if you’re looking for something lightweight to take with you.
Laptops vs Tablets: Battery Life
Tablets last longer.
Due to their lower power requirements, tablets are designed with efficiency in mind. Laptops, on the other hand, use more powerful hardware and have a higher chance of running out of battery life.
The size of the battery is getting smaller and smaller, which is a great thing for laptops. The reason for this is that it takes up a far smaller percentage of the space needed for internal components.
Thus, even with the higher capacity battery offered by laptops, they don’t run as long as tablets. Many tablets can support up to ten hours of web usage before requiring a charge. In comparison, the average laptop only runs for about four to eight hours.
Laptops vs Tablets: Storage Capacity
Laptops have more space.
To keep the tablet size and weight down, manufacturers generally opt for solid-state storage memory instead of hard disk storage. This technology has one major disadvantage: the amount of data it can hold. Most tablets typically offer between 16 and 128 gigabytes of storage.
Compared to laptops, the average budget laptop comes with a much larger hard drive; one with a capacity of 500 GB. These drives are still used on some laptops although SSDs are becoming more common as well.
Portable storage is a key feature of many laptops and tablet computers that allows users to purchase an external hard drive or USB stick in order to give them extra memory.
Laptops vs Tablets: Performance
Laptops Are More Powerful
For tasks like email, web browsing, or playing video or audio, both platforms will work equally well since these activities don’t require much processing power. There is a bit of a difference between the two once you start performing more demanding tasks that involve multitasking or HD graphics.
When it comes to laptops, there are often exceptions to the rule. In some cases, notably video editing, high-end tablets can actually outperform laptops in certain scenarios due to specialized hardware.
Laptops vs Tablets: Software
Tablet Apps Are Restrictive
While a laptop can be used on either Windows or macOS, a tablet is typically restricted to operating in only one operating system. This means that the software on the tablet will likely be slower than that found on a laptop.
As Microsoft has continued to invest in the Surface Pro, a tablet that can be used as a primary laptop, it has become more viable in the workplace. It can provide better mobility and compatibility than traditional laptops and is often just as powerful.
The other major tablet platforms are Android and iOS, both of which require applications specific to their operating systems. There are many apps available for each platform, and most apps will perform most of the basic tasks as a laptop.
On the other hand, it has not been fully realized how some of their more advanced features can, in fact, be done in a tablet environment and should not be left out.
Laptops vs Tablets: Cost
There are three tiers of tablets, with the majority being budget models under $100. The middle tier starts at around $200 and consists of more capable models that do most tasks just fine, as a comparison to their laptop counterparts. The top tier is where the big spenders have their choice with models ranging up to $1000+.
Primary-tier tablets usually cost between $500 and $1000. They provide the best performance, but at these prices, they tend to offer worse performance than a laptop that costs the same amount.
Laptops vs Tablets: Final Verdict
Laptops still offer greater flexibility for mobile computing than tablets. They may not have the same level of portability, running times, or ease of use as a tablet, but there are still a number of technical limitations that tablets must resolve before they can fully replace laptops.
If you already have a laptop or want to get one for just occasional use, a tablet may be a great addition to your arsenal as it can provide you with entertainment options when you just want to sit back and relax.
What to Consider When Buying a New Laptop or Tablet
When you are shopping for a new laptop or tablet, you should keep in mind the size, weight, screen size, and quality.
The size of the laptop is a very important factor to consider because it determines how comfortable you will be when carrying it around. If you are someone who travels often, then a smaller laptop will not be a good option for you. On the other hand, if your work requires frequent use of multiple tabs or apps at the same time, then a larger screen can help considerably.
When it comes to weight and portability, tablets are usually lighter than laptops since they don’t have as many hardware components like hard drives and processors. However, they are also cheaper than laptops so they should only be considered if your work requires frequent use of multiple tabs or apps at the
How Does the Screen Size Affect Your Experience with the Device?
Tablet screens have been getting bigger and bigger, with the average screen size now sitting at 13 inches. This has created a new problem for users – how to fit the content on their devices.
The larger the screen size, the more difficult it is to view all of the content on your device without scrolling. In order to solve this problem, you can either use software that allows you to zoom in or make use of multi-tasking features that allow you to switch between apps.
Tablet sizes are increasing and people are struggling with how they should be using them. Software is being developed that allows users to zoom in so they can view all of their content without scrolling too much.
You can read about Laptops vs desktops here