Tablet or notebook - what to buy?
Related Videos: Tablet vs laptop (May 2024).
If you want to buy a mobile device to work, play or surf, the question arises: tablet or notebook? We show the main differences between the two concepts and give tips on which device might suit you.
What are the advantages of conventional laptops?
- Compared to tablets, ordinary notebooks are primarily characterized by their extensive equipment: With notebooks you usually get a large display, a full-fledged keyboard, lots of connections for USB, HDMI, LAN and co. as well as a powerful processor.
- Different operating systems can also run on notebooks: Windows, Mac OS and Linux are the three big names between which you can choose. All three operating systems have in common that they are very powerful and enable effective work on the computer.
- You can find the currently best notebooks in our leaderboard.
Tablet PCs can generally score here:
- Modern tablets are particularly impressive due to their excellent mobility: thanks to their flat design and low weight, you can transport them easily. The longer battery life also helps.
- The two main operating systems on tablets are iOS and Android - Windows tablets are still a niche product. Both are characterized by an optimal adaptation to mobile needs and a pure touchscreen operation. The respective app stores allow you to expand both iOS and Android tablets with countless optimized tools.
- Depending on the model and configuration, tablet PCs are also cheaper to buy than notebooks.
Tablets in the test
1
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 "256GB LTE (MTHV2FD / A / MTHV2KN / A)
final grade
1.3
Very good
Review
- Display (1.0)
- Performance (1.0)
- Facilities (1.5)
- Battery (2.1)
price
from € 1, 299.00
price estimate
Expensive (4.4)
price comparison
price comparison
TO THE SHOP
(Real)
TO THE SHOP
(Real)
2
Apple iPad Pro 11 "256GB LTE (MU102FD / A / MU102KN / A)
final grade
1.3
Very good
Review
- Display (1, 2)
- Performance (1.0)
- Facilities (1.5)
- Battery (1.8)
price
from € 1, 111.80
price estimate
Expensive (4.0)
price comparison
price comparison
TO THE SHOP
(Rakuten)
TO THE SHOP
(Rakuten)
3
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 128GB LTE (SM-T865NZAA)
final grade
1.4
Very good
Review
- Display (1, 2)
- Performance (1.4)
- Equipment (1, 2)
- Battery (1.9)
price
from € 679.74
price estimate
Acceptable (3.1)
price comparison
price comparison
TO THE SHOP
(Böttcher AG office market)
TO THE SHOP
(Böttcher AG office market)
4
Apple iPad Air 3 256GB LTE (MV0N2FD / A)
final grade
1.4
Very good
Review
- Display (1, 1)
- Performance (1.3)
- Facilities (1.0)
- Battery (2.7)
price
from € 760.57
price estimate
Acceptable (3.0)
price comparison
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TO THE SHOP
(Rakuten)
TO THE SHOP
(Rakuten)
5
Apple iPad Air 3 64GB (MUUJ2FD / A)
final grade
1.5
Very good
Review
- Display (1, 1)
- Performance (1.2)
- Facilities (1.8)
- Battery (2.2)
price
from € 489.18
price estimate
Very cheap (1.3)
price comparison
price comparison
TO THE SHOP
(Rakuten)
TO THE SHOP
(Rakuten)
To the complete leaderboard
Alternative: buy notebook and tablet in one device
- Increasingly popular and a serious alternative are 2in1 devices, which you can use both as a notebook and as a tablet.
- In further practical tips, we present convertible ultrabooks and notebooks with a touchscreen.
Conclusion: laptop for work and tablet for entertainment
- The purchase decision between laptop and tablet primarily depends on the area of application. If you need the device to work effectively and in particular to write texts, you are probably better advised with a laptop. Even if you want to use special software such as Adobe Photoshop or a video editing program, you can hardly avoid the operating systems Windows and Mac OS.
- A tablet can be the better alternative if you are primarily interested in entertainment and mobility. The pure touchscreen operation can be particularly pleasant when surfing or playing. The flat devices also fit in every pocket and are ready for use around the clock.
- Nevertheless, you should take a close look at the individual products and try them out as necessary before buying.
In another practical tip, we compare tablets from the two major manufacturers Apple and Samsung and give you a purchase recommendation. You can save a lot of money when you buy a laptop with discount promotions.