May 30, 2023

Laptops, tablets, and 2-in-1s all have their advantages. Deciding which device you should buy boils down to the design and features that work best for your needs. Learn the differences between a tablet vs. laptop and how with the right accessories, like a detachable keyboard, a 2-in-1 device can combine qualities from both.

What are the differences between laptops, tablets, and 2-in-1 devices?

The basic differences are how the devices are designed. If you’re comparing the designs of a tablet and a laptop, you’ll notice that a laptop has a permanently attached keyboard whereas a tablet doesn’t include an attached keyboard.

A 2-in-1 device bridges both styles because you can use it like a tablet through its touchscreen: a great option for keeping children entertained with tactile games, educational apps, and videos.

Or, you can pair your 2-in-1 device with a detachable keyboard to use it like a laptop. Detachable keyboards are an easy-to-clean, compact, and replaceable option when you don’t want to touch letters on a touchscreen, and they are often sold separately, so you can have more options when looking for your perfect fit. You also have the choice of a battery-free detachable keyboard, like the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard that gets its power from your 2-in-1 device’s battery.

Surface laptops also bridge styles with their combination of PixelSenseTM touchscreens and standard laptop processing and form. Surface Laptop 5 is a powerful device that elevate the traditional laptop experience, from multitasking with touch to streaming entertainment on their vivid displays. Use the screen as a digital canvas with Surface Slim Pen 2¹, or work in whatever way suits you on these versatile laptops. See how Surface fits in with your lifestyle below: 

Differences between laptops, tablets, and 2-and-1s go beyond how these devices are designed and the accessories they’re paired with. When selecting a device, you should also look at the following:

Processing power

How you plan on using the device is one of the most important factors you should examine when choosing between a laptop vs. tablet vs. 2-in-1. Most tablets don’t have the processing power that’s packed in a laptop. Some 2-in-1 devices, like Surface Pro 9, have powerful 12ᵗʰ Gen Intel® Coreᵀᴹ i5 and i7 processors that don't compromise on processing power. If you’re a video or photo editor, digital artist, or graphic designer, you’ll appreciate the Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics — specifically engineered to further laptop performance when working on graphics-intensive projects.

Battery life

Whether you’re a student preparing for an all-night study session, or meeting a work deadline while traveling, you’ll appreciate a long-lasting battery. Battery life often increases with device size, so you might balance the choice of battery life with options for more memory, the greatest portability, or the fastest processing. Find the right fit for you, whether it’s the lightest-weight device, the one that lasts the longest away from a charge, or an option that’s somewhere in the middle.

Portability

While tablets, laptops, or 2-in-1 devices are all portable devices, it’s easier to carry some devices than others because of how much they weigh. Laptops can be built with larger, heavier batteries, wider screens, and permanent keyboards. Tablets and 2-in-1 devices that don’t have an attached keyboard tend to be lighter, sleeker, and more portable. The Laptop Go 3 combines the best of both: not only does it feature a wide 12.4” PixelSense™ display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, but it weighs under 2.5 lbs, making it easy to slip into a backpack or messenger bag.

Price

If you’re shopping on a budget, price is something you should examine in your choices of tablets, laptops, and 2-in-1 devices. Don’t assume that if a tablet is smaller in size it’ll be cheaper when compared to a larger laptop. Material, processing speed, graphic capabilities, and storage are some of the factors that influence price.

Surface devices come in a range of prices, designs, and configurations that empower you to find the type of device you want with the features you need. Choose the right Surface for you based on the type of tasks you want to complete.

Frequently asked questions