There has been a long open-ended debate on whether a mobile device such as a tablet can replace a conventional PC when working in environments that require greater productivity.
For many, it is a complicated question to answer because of the different scenarios and needs of each person, but should I replace my laptop with a tablet? The answer is yes and no, but it all depends on the situation and what type of work you need to perform.
In this article, we will break down the differences between a tablet and laptop to give you a better understanding of why and when to choose one over the other.
How are tablets used in the workplace
It should be recognized that not all jobs will warrant the use of a tablet as a workstation, but it is also true that there are many jobs in which a tablet can be highly beneficial because of its versatility, mobility, and battery life.
If your specific work only requires using office applications or hosted web environments, then you are in luck, many of the tablets we will present will serve you well, within the limits of their size and performance.
Many auditors and commercial businesses use tablets instead of laptops to make checklists, notes, and spreadsheets for fieldwork quickly. These then can be uploaded and updated to the network from anywhere. Many companies have adopted the use of tablets over computers simply because its a more efficient option for their employees.
Also, many students have transitioned over to using tablets for projects, and homework. With the software requirements being so low and website applications running on servers, there’s really no need for a powerful laptop or PC. Many grade schools now use google chrome books with special education applications.
Tablets are very popular for college students as well, but we would recommend purchasing a higher-end tablet such as a Microsoft surface 5 or a iPad pro 12.9. Each of these tablets come with higher processing power, an accurate Pen for writing, and a great battery life.
If you are a graphic designer, video editor, gamer, or programmer then you will not be able to use most tablets as a head computer because they will not have access to professional work suites software such as Adobe Creative studio and other software that uses a lot of computer resources. (However, they can be used to sketch, save ideas or make small changes before transitioning to a larger program.
Also, the majority of jobs still require PC/ Laptops to effectively get the job done.) Many popular applications such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and millions of work applications are still fitted to run on a PC or MAC.
The switch to online servers
Many companies are now starting to see the benefits of hosting their applications on a server and charging monthly fees instead of giving the customer access to download it. This helps tremendously because no longer need heavy resources to run a specific application. Imagine being able to play a full Modern Warefare game on your tablet without having to purchase any expensive graphic cards. Microsoft 365 is figuring this out as well, they grant you the ability to download Microsoft office, but also offer their online version that you can access on the server. How does this really help? Well, if gives tablets the ability to perform tasks like a regular PC or Mac without having all the parts that are needed.
Benefits of Tablets
- Portability
- Size
- Pen
- LTE service
- Access to millions of APP on the Apple Store, Microsoft Store, and Google play store.
Benefits of PC/Laptops
- Powerful
- Large Screen Size
- Compatible with many applications
- High hard drive space
What Specs should I look for when deciding to replace my laptop for a tablet
If you’re strongly considering a tablet over a laptop then its important to know what specs are needed and important. A decent tablet should have a fast processor, a good amount of internal storage(128+) and ram (3GBor more). It also should be lightweight, portable with LTE 4g connectivity so you can connect to the Internet from anywhere. ( The LTE is Optional, You can choose the WIFI Verison)There should be a Full HD touch screen but also a sensitive panel that can be used as a touch surface for an active stylus/pen. This will allow you to take notes or draw sketches seamlessly.
Overall, we would recommend purchasing any of the Microsoft surface pros units( Version 4-6) simply because they run a Windows 10 operating system. They’re basically a computer that’s been transferred into a tablet. On one end you get the size and portability of a tablet and on the other end, you get the benefit of an actual computer. To help with your purchasing decision, we have enlisted the top 5 best tablets that can replace your laptop.
Top 5 Tablets that can replace your laptop
Apple iPad pro 12.9 – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K3ZHM3V
We started with the tablet manufactured by Apple, the iPad Pro 12.9 inches.
In its different presentations, either in space gray or silver, we have an elegant tablet that can supply most of the activities carried out on a laptop, with its A12X Bionic chip and its iOS operating system.
It has a Liquid Retina display that covers the entire surface. In addition to that, its display has ProMotion, wide color, and True Tone, making the iPad Pro a great image experience.
Its storage space is varies (and with it, its price), as there are 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB models.
As for RAM, the 64 GB, 128 GB, and 512 GB models have 4 GB of RAM, while the 1 TB version has 6 GB of RAM.
Its back camera is one of the best in regards to tablets, and although it does not have many megapixels (it has 12MP), it has Smart HDR and is capable of recording videos in 4K resolution at 60 fps.
On the other hand, the front camera has 7 MP, it also has Smart HDR and, as if that were not enough, it has facial recognition (Face ID) for greater security.
You can get your cellular version or the WiFi version. The cellular version (LTE) is the best since you can connect to the Internet from anywhere you are, being a clear advantage over any laptop.
Samsung Galaxy TAB S4 – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H26KP3S
We have in second place this tablet manufactured by Samsung, the Galaxy Tab S4 of 10.5 inches.
Available in white, black, and onyx black, we have a very practical tablet that can work even as a phone. It has a powerful eight-core processor with a speed of 1.9 GHz.
The touch screen is Super AMOLED, and has more than 16 million colors, offering great sharpness and clarity in its image. It also includes a Samsung Pen, perfect for making notes and illustrating on the Tablet, resembling pencil and paper.
The internal storage is 64 GB and is the only presentation in terms of memory, but it has a slot for microSD, supporting up to 400 GB of external storage.
Like internal storage, RAM has a unique presentation; in this case, 4 GB. Enough to be able to execute several tasks on the device without showing symptoms of slowness.
The rear camera is 13 MP and has autofocus (AF), very useful for taking portrait photos. It also has a front camera, it is 8 MP.
Its telephone line slot is nano-SIM, and it supports virtually all GSM telephone companies, with the exception of CDMA. Useful as long as you don’t have a WiFi network available.
Something that stands out is the battery capacity, it has 7300 mAh, so it can be used for up to almost 20 hours. It is a point to take into account if you spend a lot of time away from home and you are not near any power outlet.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S8VQQT7
We continue with the third Tablet on our list, the Surface Pro 6, manufactured by the famous Microsoft.
With a silver color and a more professional style, this Tablet PC brings us a physical keyboard to be able to perform office work more easily and practically. Besides being elegant, it’s really fast thanks to its 8th generation Intel processor, a 1.6 GHz quad-core i5.
Its LCD touch screen is 12.3 inches and has the PixelSense technology, for better user experience. With its resolution of 2736 x 1824, it can be said that it is wide enough to be a tablet, and adding the graphics provided by its internal graphics (Intel HD 620), it shows high-quality graphics.
As for internal memory, it has a 128 GB hard drive, and more storage can be added with an external memory since it has a MicroSD slot.
Its RAM is one of the best in the market: 8 GB. Compared to other tablets that only have 4 GB, this Surface Pro has twice the memory to offer greater fluidity and stability to the device.
The rear camera is 8 MP, while the front camera is 5 MP. A camera that complies despite not being extraordinary.
As expected, being a Microsoft product, it comes with Windows included, in this case, Windows 10.
Lenovo Thinkpad XI – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V88H27D
Fourth we present the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
We have talked about tablets so far, but it is also worth mentioning this equipment that is better known as an Ultrabook Touchscreen. It has an Intel Core i7 8th generation 1.90 GHz processor, and it works like a common laptop but with the peculiarity of having the touch screen included.
The LCD screen is 14 inches, and as mentioned earlier, it has touch. The maximum resolution is 1920 x 1080. Its internal graphics are also from Intel, a UHD620. An excellent image quality.
The internal storage is 512 GB, it does not have any slot to add a microSD memory.
Since it is not a Tablet in its entirety, it has a lot of RAM: 16 GB. From this list, the one with the greatest capacity. There is no doubt the large number of processes, activities, and tasks that can be performed at the same time in this Lenovo model.
Being more laptop than a Tablet itself, it does not have a rear camera, and like the Surface Pro 6, it comes with Windows 10 64-bit installed.
Acer Switch ALPHA 12 – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3R2Y5F
And we reach the end of this list with the Switch Alpha, manufactured by Acer.
Although it is a bit discontinued, it is a tablet model that can be included with a keyboard and stylus, you can still get it at an electronics store. It is extremely powerful with its Intel i7-6500U processor, with a speed of 2.5 GHz.
The screen is 12 inches, reaches a resolution of 2160 x 1440, and has Intel graphics (HD520). It has multitouch IPS technology, guaranteeing a good operation with respect to the touch.
It has 256 GB of internal storage and has no slot for SD or microSD memory.
Despite being the last on the list, nothing is left behind in regards to RAM because it has 8 GB. Compared to the first two tablets we saw, it has twice the memory, not bad.
It only has a 5 MP front camera, enough to make video calls or make videoconferences.
It comes installed with Windows 10 64-bit.
Conclusion
In conclusion, is it possible to replace your laptop for a tablet? The simple is yes, it’s very possible to do this, but again it depends on what type of work you’re doing, and how you’re doing it.
If you already have a monitor and a wireless keyboard and mouse combo, then converting a tablet into a workstation is somewhat simple, and its mobile benefits will allow you to easily take your work anywhere.
Of course, its size limits the experience, and the available applications do not allow you to perform all kinds of tasks. It must be recognized that a large number of professional software is only available for Windows and Mac OS, and the transition to mobility environments may take a lot more time.
At the moment, the conclusion is very clear, working with an Android and iOS tablet is possible, but we still need a conventional PC for many tasks in ‘business’ environments.
However, for home use, for trips, to use social networks, to search for information and many other activities, the tablets far outweigh laptops and PCS.
