Tablet PC Vs. Laptop - Think Before You Buy

Windows 10 hybrid tablets combine full-size keyboards and touchscreens to give you a feel of both, laptops as well as tablets, in one device.

Laptops and tablets may look similar, but are worlds apart. They are two different devices running two different systems.

A point-to-point comparison may yield no winner as such, but it will at least give you a fair idea of what is similar and different between the two. This will eventually affect your evaluation of your device requirement and your final decision as to what you will be opting for. Read the comparison below, and choose wisely.

Being a one-piece computer device, a tablet is portable, lightweight, and can be operated by gesture control, viz. stylus, finger-touch, accelerated movements, etc.

Tablets use light hardware components and hence are battery-efficient. A tablet's battery assembly may not be as powerful as a laptop's, but its use is enough to carry it slightly beyond 6-7 hours.

Although a laptop's battery assembly is more powerful than that of a tablet, its overall efficiency does not go beyond four hours (even lesser in some cases). This is because laptops carry heavy hardware that uses the battery far more intensely.

Tablets are built for low-utility usage. They consist of a low-power processor and deliver decent performance for tasks like web browsing, playing movies and music, etc. More complicated tasks like heavy games, multitasking, graphics, etc., slow down the device considerably. 

Tablets are typically used for light tasks such as browsing, playing small games, music, etc. However, the small and static screen is a disadvantage. Multiple people cannot see the screen at the same time. This, indeed, is the essence of a tablet, but sharing something quickly with people around you need not always be a Bluetooth operation.

A laptop is strong and sturdy and hence heavier to carry around, but it still is portable and that counts. Its powerful hardware assembly allows for heavy-duty operations to be carried off with ease and speed. Everything you do on a PC is possible on a laptop; only, it is more personal.

A laptop's screen can be tilted to the user's advantage. The keyboard and keypad allow relatively easy navigation as compared to a tablet. A laptop can be a user's standalone device.

Tablets are fancy devices and carry fancy price tags with them. If fancy tasks are what you are buying a device for, this is your device. The price of a tablet averages around USD 500.

Tablets are limited by their ability to function. While it is lighter and more portable than a laptop, if performance is your criteria, tablets are a disappointment. If light use coupled with longer battery life is what you are looking for, the tablets make a great buy.

A laptop is a system in itself. If you are looking for a replacement for your old computer, a laptop is your best bet.

Choosing which of these two to buy could be an overwhelming decision to make. Both come with their pros and cons. It depends on what you really need to have. 

There are also hybrid tablet PCs available in the market today, which are basically tablet PCs, but you can attach a keyboard and mouse to them, and use them in a vertical position just as you would use a traditional laptop. These devices are worth a look, but they are more on the expensive side, so one would have to take into account that as well.