Confusion about tablets

[MC.Morrado]

One thing I never quite understood was the whole deal with tablets. Sure, they had their uses in the early to mid 2010's but those days have long past.

 

It seems that tablets themselves are obsolete. Everything that a tablet can do, a smartphone can do (and much more). And when needing to more intensive tasks we have laptops and computers. There really isn't much a tablet can be considered useful for besides iPads being used by artists and animators in a professional scenario. 99% of the time I only see tablets used by children to watch brainrot in public.

 

I think we've reached a point to where smartphones have gotten so good that tablets for normal people are borderline useless. What do you think?

[Blue4130]

10 minutes ago, MC.Morrado said:

One thing I never quite understood was the whole deal with tablets. Sure, they had their uses in the early to mid 2010's but those days have long past.

 

It seems that tablets themselves are obsolete. Everything that a tablet can do, a smartphone can do (and much more). And when needing to more intensive tasks we have laptops and computers. There really isn't much a tablet can be considered useful for besides iPads being used by artists and animators in a professional scenario. 99% of the time I only see tablets used by children to watch brainrot in public.

 

I think we've reached a point to where smartphones have gotten so good that tablets for normal people are borderline useless. What do you think?

I don't have a laptop. Don't need one. I have a desktop and a tablet (and phone). I use the PC when I am at home. I use the tablet when I travel. I can actually do my job on my tablet when at hotels, I can't do that on my phone. Also, it is perfect for watching a show while laying in bed.

[Hinjima]

My mother uses her tablet a lot more than her phone.

While watching TV she playes some light games to keep her ADHD brain happy.

She also uses it for email and to read the news, bigger screen and buttons are easier than on a smaller phone.

She also uses the tablet to read E-Books regularly.

[porina]

43 minutes ago, MC.Morrado said:

I think we've reached a point to where smartphones have gotten so good that tablets for normal people are borderline useless. What do you think?

As far as I'm concerned, they're the same thing with one major difference: Screen size. I have a 6" phone. I also have a couple 10" tablets in daily use. They're each over 3x the screen area. That's a massive difference in usability. A phone is ok for quickly looking something up while out, or sending a quick message, but if you spend any time doing something, you will welcome a bigger screen.

 

One of my tablets has a keyboard cover. That's infinitely better than screen typing and also frees up more screen estate by not losing a good proportion of it to the on screen keyboard.

 

Outside of PC gaming, I don't think there's anything I can't do on a tablet that I would do on a laptop.

[Millios]

1 hour ago, MC.Morrado said:

I think we've reached a point to where smartphones have gotten so good that tablets for normal people are borderline useless. What do you think?

Nah not really

I read web comics and digital comics a lot, I consume a lot of visual media (vids, movies etc) and I read a lot using a tablet or a larger screen

Due to my eyesight (I use glasses when using anything that has a screen and or read) I get really uncomfortable to borderline in pain using phones for extended periods of time cause I have to squint and strain my eyes more often than not so a tablet with nearly 2x the amount of screen REALLY helps

And cause I have some hyperactivity (aka I cant sit down for a long time or I get physically uncomfortable) the fact I can carry it around easily makes it better for me and a lot of others

Also as @Blue4130 said its just damn convinient to bring around and do some work on especially in flights, hotels and other such occasions

Basically, for me, it just suits my needs better than a phone and its more suited than a laptop

[WereCat]

I use my tablet way more than my laptop so... for watching videos and browsing its much better, especially in bed

[Issac Zachary]

Assuming the tablet doesn't have a sim card reader (or internal sim card) a tablet can get you away from the internet a bit better, like when you go to read in the park.

[Donut417]

3 hours ago, MC.Morrado said:

What do you think?

My phone screen to too small to enjoy videos. Sure I can watch shorts, but I find it too small to enjoy Youtube or any other video streaming service. Tablets can also be used in place of a laptop in many places. Tablets are designed with touch screens in mind, while Windows works with a touch screen, its UI is not really designed for it. Apple doesnt do touch screens on any of its computers by default. 

 

Tablets can be used in place of paper, for notes and drawing. In the case of an iPad and Apple computer you can use an iPad as a secondary screen. Tablets can be used as eReaders. Id imagine with the bigger screen people like my dad who have not the best vision likely would have an easier time with a tablet. Another thing to consider compared to a  lot of laptops, tablets are likely more portable and lighter. 

[Commodus]

Phones are usurping some of the utility of tablets, but it also feels like tablets are better at replacing laptops, at least this year.

 

iPadOS 26 and Android 16 look like they’ll be much more usable for people who treat their tablet like a computer. Not that you couldn’t do it before to some degree (hi OnePlus and Samsung), but we’re getting better functionality in the core OS along with the performance to match.