Tablets have come a really long way from the early days of the iPad. With today’s powerful chips, compact batteries, and great screen technology, the line between laptop and tablet is really getting blurred.

There are laptops with removable keyboards and tablets with attachable keyboards. There are even laptops that are just two tablets stuck together, where one acts as a digital keyboard.

So, can you actually interchange the two? Can you replace your laptop with a tablet? To find out, I set out on a mission.

Choosing the Right Tablet

When getting started, I wanted to find the best tablet for this experiment. The iPad Pro is a pretty obvious option because it has the same chip as the MacBooks (the M2) and the apps are generally more optimized than Android tablets. However, I didn’t choose the iPad Pro because I wanted one feature that only Samsung offered.

I ended up going with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. It’s not necessarily better than the iPad, but for this experiment, it made more sense because of a feature I’ll discuss shortly. Here’s a quick overview of this tablet:

  • Large display with really thin bezels
  • Fastest Android chip out there (Snapdragon Gen 2 for Samsung)
  • Extremely slim with a great screen-to-body ratio
  • Weighs about 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg)

The one big feature that made me choose this tablet over the iPad was Samsung DeX. It feels a bit like a cheat code, providing a desktop-like interface that the tablet can use. With a button press, instead of the regular Android tablet interface, it switches over to this desktop mode. This way, I can use it as a tablet when I want, and switch to DeX when I need multiple windows and resizing capabilities.

Initial Challenges

In the beginning, I had a pretty rough start. It took some time to figure out which apps were optimized and worked well. For instance, while I’m used to using Brave or Chrome, I found that Samsung Internet was more ideal on this tablet, as things weren’t quite optimized in the former browsers.

Additionally, when browsing websites, I needed to ensure I was in desktop mode to avoid the skinny mobile view on the wide, large screen. After some time, I found alternate apps that made things work and were optimized for this tablet.

The hotkeys also worked, with Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Z, and others functioning similarly to Windows, though with some slight differences that took a bit of learning.

Expanding the Workspace

I was excited about the ability to use DeX with another monitor, but I encountered a small issue. You can’t actually have two screens showing DeX. Instead, you can have one monitor running DeX while the tablet is either off or in tablet mode.

Having one screen show DeX and the other in tablet mode still allowed for easy multitasking, even though they were running different interfaces.

Another learning curve was the ports. This tablet obviously doesn’t have many ports – just USB Type-C and the ability to insert a Micro SD card (with a tool to eject the SIM tray). When using wired DeX, there’s no HDMI, no headphone jack, and no USB-A.

However, I found a solution in the Anker 551 Hub, which doubles as a stand. This allowed me to charge the tablet continuously and provided additional ports, including SD card, Micro SD, USB Type-A, and HDMI for connecting to a monitor. This was a total game-changer and made things feel more like a laptop, albeit even better in some ways.

Advantages of a Tablet

With the hub set up, I felt like I was really getting into the swing of using this tablet as my everyday laptop. Here are some of the advantages I discovered:

  1. Cameras: The rear cameras were incredibly useful, not just for scanning documents but also for explaining things visually, like interior design, landscaping, or engineering designs. The flash also helped in low-light situations.
  2. S Pen: The S Pen is accurate, has low latency, and provides a natural writing experience. Drawing on things was great, and I found myself doing more handwriting, which helped me remember things better.
  3. Webcams: The two front-facing 4K cameras are better than most laptop webcams, and the option to use an ultra-wide lens is a nice touch for video calls.
  4. Quick Startup: Unlike laptops with their spinning wheels during startup, this tablet is almost instant – just like a phone. You can sign in with your fingerprint and get going right away.
  5. Fingerprint Sensor: The ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is great for unlocking the device and various apps and password managers.
  6. Intuitive Gestures: Being an Android device, the tablet offers smooth and intuitive gestures similar to a phone.

Limitations and Quirks

Despite the benefits, I ran into a few issues and weird quirks:

  1. Wired Printer: The drivers didn’t work, so I couldn’t print from this tablet (at least with my wired printer).
  2. No 5G: Oddly, you can only get cellular data on the middle model, the Tab S9 Plus, and not the Ultra or the regular S9.
  3. App Optimization: Many apps aren’t optimized for DeX, with Samsung forcing some apps to be widescreen, resulting in stretched-out pictures and interfaces.
  4. Unavailable Apps: Some apps, like Signal messaging, simply don’t work on tablets. And heavy-lifting apps like Adobe Premiere Pro and Creo aren’t available either.

On-the-Go Benefits

One area where the tablet shines is mobility:

  • It has GPS, so you can use it for navigation while driving.
  • The solid battery life and lack of fans mean no noisy fans during video calls.
  • With an IP68 water resistance rating, it’s more durable than most laptops.

If you need to run heavy applications while traveling, you could try remote desktop access to a more powerful machine at home, provided you have fast internet.

Not having a trackpad felt a bit weird initially, but a mouse is recommended, especially if using the tablet at a desk.

A nice touch is the “Daily Board” feature, which acts as a better version of a screensaver, displaying information like weather, time, and photos when the tablet is not in use.

Tablet vs. Laptop: The Final Verdict

This table highlights the key differences between using a tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra as a laptop replacement versus a laptop like the Lenovo Yoga 9i that can also function as a tablet. The choice depends on whether you prioritize traditional productivity applications or prefer the mobility and features of a tablet-first device.

FeatureTablet (Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra)Laptop (Lenovo Yoga 9i)
Primary Use CaseTablet first, laptop secondLaptop first, tablet second
Operating SystemAndroid with Samsung DeX (desktop mode)Windows 11
Web Browsing, PDFs, Note-taking, Common AppsExcellentExcellent
Heavy-lifting Apps (Adobe Premiere Pro, Creo, etc.)Not availableAvailable
App AvailabilityLimited to Android appsFull Windows app support
Multiple Displays with Desktop ModeOnly 1 external displayMultiple external displays
Rear CameraAvailable for scanning, visuals, etc.No rear camera
Stylus SupportS Pen with low latency and accuracySome stylus support, but not as advanced
Instant Wake & Fingerprint UnlockYesNo (slower startup)
Gestures & Intuitive UISmooth, phone-like gesturesTraditional laptop interface
Mobility (GPS, Water Resistance, etc.)Higher mobility, IP68 water resistanceLower mobility, no water resistance

After this experience, I had one last question: would it be better to get a tablet and use it as a laptop, or get a laptop that can act as a tablet (like the Lenovo Yoga 9i)?

The Yoga 9i is essentially a laptop with two displays that fold together, running Windows. It’s a laptop first, tablet second – whereas the Tab S9 Ultra is a tablet first, laptop second.

I think it comes down to this: if you mostly browse the web, review PDFs, take handwritten notes, and work on common programs like Google Docs, Excel, PowerPoint, and Gmail, then a tablet like the Tab S9 Ultra checks all the boxes.

However, if you need heavy lifting or high output productivity, the software limitations of a tablet might hold you back. You won’t be able to run demanding applications like Adobe Premiere Pro or Creo.

So, while capable, tablets are still limited by their software when it comes to replacing laptops entirely. Let me know your thoughts in the comments – do tablets need to partition the drive and run Android and Windows? Or maybe a different operating system like Chrome OS? I’m curious to hear your ideas on what tablets need to do to truly replace laptops.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding replacing laptops with tablets.

What is a good tablet to replace a laptop? 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra with Samsung DeX is a great option for replacing a laptop, thanks to its desktop-like interface and S Pen support.

Can you replace a PC with a tablet? 

For basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption, a powerful tablet can potentially replace a PC. However, for demanding applications and multitasking, a traditional PC may still be necessary.

What are the disadvantages of using a tablet over a laptop? 

Disadvantages include limited app availability, fewer ports, lack of a physical keyboard (unless using a detachable keyboard), and potential software limitations for demanding tasks.

Do tablets last as long as laptops? 

Generally, tablets have a longer battery life than laptops due to their power-efficient mobile processors. However, laptops may have an overall longer lifespan due to their ability to upgrade components.

Which is faster laptop or tablet? 

High-end laptops with powerful processors and dedicated graphics tend to be faster than tablets for demanding tasks like video editing and gaming. However, tablets can be snappier for basic tasks.

Can we use Excel on a tablet? 

Yes, you can use Microsoft Excel on a tablet. The mobile version of Excel is available on both iOS and Android, and the desktop version can be used on tablets with detachable keyboards or desktop modes.

Do tablets have Microsoft Office? 

Yes, Microsoft Office is available on both iOS and Android tablets. You can install the mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps, or use the desktop versions on tablets with desktop modes.

Can you print from a tablet? 

Yes, you can print from a tablet, either wirelessly or by connecting the tablet to a printer via USB or cloud printing services. However, some printer drivers may not be compatible with tablets.

You may also solve your following issues and take a quick using guidance regarding your Android Tablet on this blog site.

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