Laptop or tablet: What do you really need in 2025?
Verdict in brief
Whether a laptop or a tablet is better depends on five questions: use, performance, apps or full software, ports and travel-friendliness. For video editing and demanding Excel, Jen needs a laptop; for light tasks and on the go, a tablet is enough.
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The video is in German.
Do you really need a hefty laptop, or is a light tablet enough? To help you decide, I will give you five criteria, my personal philosopher’s stones. I show the difference using the Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 Gen 9 (14 inches) and the Lenovo Tab Yoga Plus (12.2 inches).
The basic question: What do you want to do with the device?
Do you just need something to write a cover letter or to watch Netflix in bed? Or something to really work on, with Excel, photo and video editing or specialized applications? The lines are blurring on many current devices. The Lenovo notebook is a 2-in-1 and can be used in tablet mode. The Lenovo tablet has a high-quality keyboard and a desktop mode, so you can write and work well with it. Both have a stylus for notes and drawing.
A laptop does not have to be better in terms of the display either. The IdeaPad has 2K, the Yoga Tab 3K. So hardware-wise, you often no longer have to choose, since full-fledged features are usually included or can be bought separately.
Stone 1 and 2: Performance
You usually get more performance with laptops.
| Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 Gen 9 | Lenovo Tab Yoga Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 14 inches | 12.2 inches |
| Display | 2K | 3K |
| Processor | Snapdragon X Plus with NPU | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB or 1 TB | 256 GB at most |
| Ports | 2x USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, microSD | 1x USB-C |
| Weight | about 1.5 kg | 640 g |
| Price at the time of the video | €892 (512 GB) | €799 (256 GB) |
If you want to edit videos, edit photos professionally or use demanding 3D programs, you are much better off with a laptop. You will not be happy with a tablet there. For a few vacation photos or a short reel for Instagram, a tablet like the Yoga Plus is more than enough. That is the second stone.
Stone 3: Apps or full software
On tablets, you only have apps. On laptops with Windows, you can install full software applications. For me, there are two scenarios where a tablet is not enough, however powerful it is: editing my YouTube videos with lots of large 4K files, and Excel. If you do not use Excel just for adding and subtracting but need the tricky functions, you will not get far with the tablet app. It is extremely stripped down.
Stone 4: Ports
The IdeaPad has two USB-C ports, one USB-A, HDMI and a microSD card reader. The Yoga Tab has only one USB-C port. If you want to connect the tablet to a monitor, charge at the same time and use an SD card, you need an adapter. You should be aware of that.
Stone 5: Travel-friendliness
Laptops naturally bring more weight. The IdeaPad weighs about 1.5 kg, the Yoga Tab only 640 g. The tablet is much more pleasant in a bag or backpack.
And the price?
For me, the price plays only a minor role. It can be very close, especially if you go for a strong processor and lots of storage on a tablet. Then you quickly end up at the price of a full-fledged laptop. The IdeaPad with 512 GB cost €892, the Yoga Tab with 256 GB €799.
Verdict: five questions
- What do I actually use the device for in everyday life?
- How much performance do I need for my applications?
- Do I get by with apps, or do I need full software somewhere?
- Which ports do I need at home or at my workplace?
- How compact, light and travel-friendly does my device need to be?
If you answer these five questions for yourself, you have a good basis for deciding whether to go for a laptop or a tablet.
Questions and answers
- Do I need a laptop or is a tablet enough?
- For a cover letter, Netflix or a short reel, a tablet is enough. For video editing with large 4K files, professional photo editing, 3D programs or demanding Excel, a laptop is much better.
- How much does the Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 Gen 9 cost?
- With 512 GB of storage, it cost €892 at the time of the video. The Lenovo Tab Yoga Plus with 256 GB was at €799.
- How heavy are the Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 and the Tab Yoga Plus?
- The IdeaPad weighs about 1.5 kg, the Tab Yoga Plus only 640 g, which is almost half.
- Can you install full software on a tablet?
- No, tablets only have apps. On laptops with Windows, you can install full software applications. According to Jen, the Excel app on the tablet is heavily stripped down.
