Tablet vs Laptop: Which is the Best for Remote Work?

The debate of tablets vs laptops has been one that has raged on for some time. Laptop vs tablet, tablet or laptop? When deciding “do I need a laptop or tablet”, it can help to compare laptop vs tablet pros and cons.

From there, it is a matter of finding the best laptop for remote work or the best tablet for working remotely. This is your guide for deciding tablet or laptop when it comes to your remote work needs.

What are Tablets Best for?

Part of working remotely means being comfortable. When working with tablets, you need to find the best tablet for working remotely. The best tablets can differ depending on what your needs ultimately may be.

There are the best budget tablets, which are great for games and surfing the web. Then there are the best tablets for work. Those will have more work-related apps and a better functionality in the keyboard than some of the other tablets on the market. Again, it comes down to the intended use of the tablet when choosing.

Pros of Tablets

There are more than a few pros. Tablet storage has come a long way, accommodating modern needs. Even better, the accessories for tablets are comprehensive. You also get the battery life of a tablet (which is a long battery life compared to a laptop). Touchscreen tablets offer high pixel density as well.

There is also the remote camera control and even the standard tablet has GPS navigation. You can even bring your tablet with you to snap pictures if you are on the go, just check out the tablets with the best camera before making a purchase.

Cons of Tablets

The major downside is the processing power of tablets. Laptops are much better and more capable of handling complex tasks. Even expensive tablets offer less computing power. There is also the matter of tablet keyboards. They are much smaller, especially on small screen tablets.

For a lighter workload – answering emails or maybe a video chat – a tablet is fine. But when there are multiple applications required or a more fluid keyboard, it may not be the best option. Not to mention a drop will lead to the need to repair tablets more often than laptops. That is the tradeoff.

What are Laptops Best for?

Laptops can be brought anywhere, though they don’t have the same compact nature as a tablet. Still, the best laptop for remote work is capable of handling a much more comprehensive workload than its counterpart.

The best laptops can be had for cheap and even the best budget laptops are substantially better than they were even five years ago. The best laptops for working remotely have good processing power, which means being able to run several applications at one time. For the multi-tasker, someone who needs to balance many balls, a laptop provides the versatility and computing power necessary to do the job.

Pros of Laptops

There is a stark contrast in the pros of a laptop vs the pros of a tablet. For one, large screen laptops give you a lot more space to work with. There are laptop ports and laptop connectors to accommodate any drives or devices you need.

There are now many laptop touchscreen options available. And though the battery life of laptops isn’t quite up to par with tablets, they have come a long way as well. The laptops keyboard, laptop cooling fan, and laptop operating system are all superior. And that’s not mentioning laptop storage or how upgradeable a laptop is.

Cons of Laptops

There are downsides, of course. The short battery life compared to tablets, for one. Low webcam quality can’t compete with the cameras on tablets, either. There is also the much more expensive price when compared to tablets to consider as well. And the cumbersome laptop charger is also something to contend with.

There are more than a few reasons why a laptop might be too bulky or cumbersome to want to use for remote work regularly. And that is not even factoring in the need to repair laptops when something goes wrong. Those repairs tend to be much more costly.

Which is Best for Remote Work: a Tablet or Laptop?

So which is best a laptop or tablet? The best laptop or tablet will offer substantial benefits that are varied from their counterpart. So, if you are really wondering which is better tablet or laptop, the simple fact is that it comes down to needs and preferences.

Someone doing a heavier workload may benefit from the screen size, storage, and processing power of a laptop. Someone looking for a more compact, fluid option may opt for a tablet instead. It all comes down to the specific needs and workload of the person using it. But the gap between the two is closing with each passing day.

Conclusion

The simple fact of the matter is that you cannot go wrong with either device. Both offer perks for working remotely, offering greater ease of use and comfort along the way. When working at home, it is probably best to go with a laptop. On the go, however, a tablet may be the better choice.

It comes down to what kind of applications and how much usage you need. The heavier the workload, the better suited a laptop is for the job.