Laptop or tablet: which one actually replaces the other
Tablets have closed most of the performance gap. The honest answer still depends on what you do for the four hours in the middle of your day.
The gap is no longer about speed
A current tablet will out-run a mid-range laptop from three years ago. Performance stopped being the deciding factor a while back; what you are really choosing between is two ways of handling windows, files and peripherals.
Choose a laptop if
- You keep more than two windows visible at once.
- You work with files across several applications.
- You need a specific desktop application with no mobile equivalent.
Choose a tablet if
- Most of your day is reading, reviewing and replying.
- You draw, annotate or sign documents.
- You want something that survives being carried everywhere.
The middle path costs more than both
A tablet with a keyboard case and a stylus often lands close to the price of a capable laptop. That is fine if you genuinely use both modes — but if the keyboard stays attached all week, you bought an awkward laptop.