Les tablettes gagnent en performances tandis que les ordinateurs portables deviennent de plus en plus fins et légers. Ces deux types d’appareils satisfont les mêmes besoins en matière d’ergonomie et de fonctionnalités. Mais, on retrouve certaines caractéristiques d’un PC qui manquent à une tablette, et inversement. Comment faire le bon choix entre PC portable et tablette ? Les réponses dans notre guide.
Buying criteria: how to choose between a tablet and a laptop
User needs
Whether you’re buying the device for yourself, for your child or for someone else, the way it will be used is crucial.
Study
A student working towards a PhD needs a device that can store research and handle thesis writing. Having a keyboard is essential. They also need a device that’s easy to carry around and offers good battery life.
Leisure
A carefree teenager, on the other hand, will mainly use their device for entertainment: games, music, films, social media… They need something that slips easily into a bag and can be used anywhere (on the bed, on the tube).
Work
Professionals generally need a powerful tool that can run office suites and work software. However, the needs of an architect won’t be the same as those of a virtual assistant.
Mobility
A mobile professional uses their device to communicate with colleagues, keep an eye on all their activities and work remotely. They also need a device that gives full access to collaborative tools. Portability and ease of use are therefore key factors.
Family use
A family is usually looking for a machine that suits everyone’s needs. In other words, a device for work, study and fun activities.
Performance expectations
The performance of a tablet or a laptop is determined by the following elements.
The processor
Put simply, this is the engine of your PC or tablet. To assess its power, check its clock speed in Gigahertz (GHz). You should also look at the number of cores, which determines the device’s processing power and its ability to multitask. For good performance, a Quad Core (4 cores) or more is now standard.
Memory or RAM
This allows the device to keep current tasks in memory without saving them. In practice: a high RAM capacity lets you run several different tasks at once without the machine crashing. From 8 GB upwards, your device – tablet or laptop – will feel smoother and faster.
Storage
Storage determines how many files, apps and operating systems your device can keep in the long term. A storage capacity of 512 GB offers solid performance.
Operating system
For computers, Apple machines run on macOS while most of the others run on Windows. Dell is one of the few manufacturers that offers some laptops with Linux. For tablets, the most widely used operating systems are iOS and Android.
Battery life
For any portable device, a minimum of 8 hours’ battery life is reasonable. That roughly matches a working day when the user is expected to be away from home.
Tablet vs laptop: side‑by‑side comparison
The tablet
What do we like about tablets?
- Compact size. On one side you have the smartphone, whose small screen makes browsing and reading files uncomfortable. On the other, you have the laptop, which is heavier and bulkier. A tablet is a good compromise between the two, combining light weight with enough performance.
- Touchscreen use. It’s quick, intuitive and easy to get to grips with. If you need to do word processing, some tablet models come with a keyboard.
- Battery life. A touchscreen tablet can run for up to 18 hours without being plugged into the mains.
- Price. A tablet generally costs less than a laptop.
What are the downsides?
- You can’t upgrade a tablet’s performance. You can’t add more RAM, fit a powerful graphics chipset or overclock the processor.
- Tablet storage is usually between 32 and 64 GB, which is very limited. Models with 256 GB or 512 GB of storage are rare.
- A tablet has fewer ports. It offers fewer USB ports than a laptop, and HDMI outputs are uncommon.
The laptop
What do we like about laptops?
- Performance. A laptop’s ability to handle computing tasks is high. Laptops are also the go‑to option for demanding performance, such as gaming.
- Screen size. A larger screen is far more comfortable for your eyes. With a 15‑inch screen, text and numbers are easier to read. You can also enjoy images, videos and game details more fully.
- Storage capacity. It’s easy to find laptops with 1 TB of storage (two times 512 GB). And if you use an SSD instead of a hard drive, storage can go above 2 TB.
What are the downsides?
- A laptop is heavier and bulkier than a tablet.
- A laptop is also relatively more expensive than a tablet.
Conclusion
Your choice should be based on your needs, so you must take the features of each type of device into account. A tablet is recommended for mobile use that doesn’t require exceptional performance. Sending emails, posting on LinkedIn, managing tasks on Slack, checking Instagram, listening to music, playing Candy Crush… all these everyday tasks are perfectly manageable on a tablet.
A laptop, on the other hand, is better suited to more advanced use. Its processing power, RAM and storage capacity make work easier. This type of device can run software that demands a lot of resources. A laptop will also be more satisfying if you need higher‑quality graphics.
