Chromebook vs Tablet: Which is better?

In just a few years, the traditional laptop has evolved into various forms. Now, you have the affordable, portable Chromebook, svelte 2-in-1 hybrids, and various types of tablets for use on the go. However, the sheer number of available options makes picking the right device for your needs not a very straightforward decision. It’s certainly not the clear choice that Apple users have when choosing between MacBooks vs iPads, with very clear limitations and obvious uses for each.

While there are some clear overlaps between the best Chromebooks and the best tablets, there are lots of differences as well as reasons to choose one over the other. We’re talking of various form factors and screen sizes, not to mention different operating systems and apps; all of which will draw you to one of the two depending on how you’re planning on using that device.

Both Chromebooks and tablets can be really powerful productivity tools and can be used for various tasks – professional and entertainment. So, it remains to be seen, which one is better than a smartphone but less complicated than a PC? Let’s explain it here.

Pros and Cons

If you’re in a hurry, let’s highlight the basics you need to know about Chromebooks and tablets, as well as their limitations.

Design

The main difference between Chromebooks and tablets comes in their form factor. Chromebooks come with the ability to be used as a traditional laptop without having to buy additional add-ons, meaning that out of the box, they come with a base with a keyboard and a trackpad. Most, but not all, sport the design of every other laptop out there.

And while laptops and Chromebooks aren’t especially meant to offer the same level of functionality due to software and operating system limitations, they offer the same tactile experience – to mean, you can set them down on a desk or lap, and use them with their keyboard and trackpad.

Tablets, on the other hand, as their name implies, are literally portable screens with all their internal components hidden behind the screen. They’re designed to be held on hand, just like you could when reading a book, though you can interact with them via a touchscreen.

Of course, Chromebooks and tablets overlap in some design areas as you’ll find Chromebooks with detachable keyboards that can be used just like a tablet or 2-in-1 models that can fold back to be used just like a tablet. The Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 is one such device, it arrives with a 10.5-inch 1920 x 1200 resolution touchscreen, a garaged USI stylus alongside a detachable keyboard, and a stand cover.

For the tablets, you can pair them with a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse and you’ll have a more laptop-like experience, with some of these external keyboards acting as a stand to match that laptop form factor.

Despite the ability to use one as the other, Chromebooks typically come in bigger sizes, starting with an 11-inch screen and stretching to 17 inches, while tablets run a bit smaller with most screens falling in the 7-13-inch range, with only a few large models like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. So, using a tablet can be a little tedious, while using a tablet like a laptop leaves you squinting while trying to type a college assignment or email.  

When it comes to ports, Chromebooks come with anything from USB-C ports to the typical assortment you’d find on a premium laptop. Meanwhile, tablets are going to give you just a single USB-C port, and a headphone jack with maybe an additional micro-SD to expand the memory if you’re considering an Android or Chrome option.

Features

Typically, both devices will come with cameras, but tablets have the advantage of having two, one front-facing and one rear-facing, against the single-user front-facing one that Chromebooks come with. In addition to dual cameras, tablets usually come with better-quality cameras. Just take a look at the latest iPad, from the iPad Pro (M2) to the iPad Mini, all come with 12-megapixel cameras, as do non-Apple tablets like the Samsung tablet we mentioned above.

Compare that to one of the most high-end Chromebooks out there, the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook which comes with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, and it’s clear who is winner here especially when you want to do anything beyond Zoom meeting. And that’s before you even consider that cheaper models typically sport webcams topping out at a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.

Another distinction in features is the operating system packed into these devices. Chromebooks, use Chrome OS, which is a modified version of Google Chrome, and interacting with it is similar to Windows or MacOS, but the keyboard and trackpad are often the preferred ways to navigate Google Docs, social media, or Netflix among other apps.

Elsewhere, the operating system on tablets, whether it’s iPad OS 17 or another version of Android OS, is made to be used directly via a touchscreen. This means you’ll be presented with screens with app icons to press on instead of opening a menu to select one.

Performance: Chromebook vs tablet

Chromebooks were meant to be lightweight, affordable alternatives to traditional clamshell laptops. Over the years, manufacturers like HP, Dell, and Asus have refined their releases, and we now have pretty powerful Chromebooks that rival mainstream laptops in both performance and price. Still, one of the great things about Chromebooks is that the Chrome OS operating system is so lightweight. It requires a much lower amount of power than Windows or MacOS to run its processes to a point that even budget models won’t feel sluggish.

On the other hand, tablets can run the show pretty well, too. The new iPad Pro, for instance, can outperform many regular laptops in tasks that require solid graphical power but is only limited by its software. Still, you can do some decent video and music editing on the iPad Pro; but Android tablets are much limited in performance. Take for instance the Amazon Fire tablets that beyond basic tasks, can be slow even right out of the box though some of the more premium options, such as the premium Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus will offer significantly faster performance.

Since most of these devices depend on software to run various processes, their lifespan is a critical consideration when choosing one. You never want to replace a device after a year or two due to outdated software.

All Chromebooks like laptops get software updates for eight years so you never have to worry about security risks or the inability to run some newer apps due to outdated software. Tablets, on the other hand, are all over the radar as it’s up to the individual manufacturer. Apple offers support for its iPads for up to five years, while Samsung and Amazon offer four years.

Which one should you buy?

Deciding on what to buy between a Chromebook vs tablet isn’t very straightforward, but it comes down to individual needs and the experience you need from the device. If you’re looking for a more traditional laptop experience with occasional needs for the keyboard and trackpad, or at least an option to, a Chromebook is going to be an excellent choice. With a Chromebook, you’re also getting a bigger screen and a bit more flexibility when it comes to software.

Tablets are great options if you’re looking for a more handheld experience whether watching your favorite show on Netflix, scrolling through social media, or sketching out an idea. For most people, the touchscreen offers a more tactile and intuitive experience but is a little tight when you need to type out ideas unless you want to invest in an external keyboard, which makes the entire concept of a tablet a little less portable. Generally, tablets are more portable as they are smaller, and not having a physical base with a keyboard and trackpad also saves space and weight.

That said, there’s no definitive right answer as to which is better – Chromebook or tablet, as each has slightly different uses. All that remains, you just have to figure out how to plan to use your device and choose accordingly.