السيد مراجعة الخليج للتكنولوجيا : I Used a Convertible Laptop, and Now I’ll Never Use a Tablet Again

As a gadget lover, I have spent a lot of time bouncing between devices over the years. That includes larger pieces of tech like tablets and laptops. Recently, I used a convertible laptop, and while I wasn’t sure how it would take, it’s quickly become my go-to device. It hasn’t replaced my giant smartphone, but now there are several reasons why I’ll never use a tablet again for certain tasks.

My Gear

Currently, I have a Galaxy Tab A8 and a Fire Tablet, along with a few older laptops from HP and Acer. I’ve owned the iPad Mini and a few other slates, but spend most of my free screen time on the Galaxy Tab or my iPhone.

I also consume a lot of content on these devices, from streaming services to TikTok and YouTube. When my Acer Aspire bit the dust, I debated between a new large 2-in-1 tablet and a convertible laptop. I knew finding a device that could do it all would be challenging, and it certainly was. After researching laptops and putting serious thought into my needs, I went with a new version of the Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5.

It’s an affordable system that’s available in a variety of configurations, but not without some drawbacks. Soldered RAM aside, it’s the first time I used a convertible laptop, and I was head over heels after a few short weeks. 

Great Convertible Laptop

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What Makes My Convertible Laptop Better Than a Tablet

Everyone has different needs and expectations when they purchase a new piece of tech. A laptop is more of an investment than most tablets, although both can largely perform the same tasks. Now that I’ve been using a convertible laptop for a few months, here are the areas that shocked me the most.    

A Massive Touchscreen

The ability to use my laptop as a giant tablet is a bonus, but only because it has a beautiful touchscreen display. In this case, I’m working with a 16-inch display and a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. Given the size of my Fire Tablet and the Galaxy slate, it’s a huge difference.

If you’ve never used a 16-inch touchscreen, it’s hard to describe the joy it can bring. Sure, you’ll have to deal with fingerprints, but it’s a minor complaint when you have that much space to work with. That big display has also opened the doors to new possibilities, including graphic design.

As a traditional artist, I’ve always been hesitant to transition to digital media. Cost is a significant reason, but I don’t need to buy a Wacom slate to test my skills anymore. I’ve been able to doodle and dig in with programs from Adobe on my laptop, while the smaller tablets stay in the drawer.

All of my devices are compatible with a stylus, from my iPhone 14 Pro Max to my older laptops and tablets. They don’t provide the same experience as a convertible laptop in “tablet” mode with a proper pen from Lenovo or Wacom, however.

Versatility

When you buy something billed as a 2-in-1 device, you expect a degree of versatility. My previous laptop had a touchscreen display, but wasn’t a convertible. Do you know how often I used that touchscreen? Maybe a dozen times in about five years. That’s not the case with the Ideapad, which transitions from a laptop into a full-blown tablet.

I can use my convertible laptop in tent mode as a tablet or like a traditional laptop. While I use it for work on a daily basis, the new laptop stays active when I’m off the clock. Previously, I would switch to my tablet. Now, it’s disappointing to pick up a device with a smaller display, especially when I can use my laptop as a giant slate or tent it on a table and enjoy content.

I still break out the tablet to play select mobile games or browse the web around the house. Overall, my usage has dropped drastically since I purchased the new laptop. It’s easier to carry a slate around than a 16-inch laptop, but that’s the only advantage my tablets have these days when it comes to versatility.

More Powerful Than a Tablet

Tech does not always age gracefully. While you can find ways to repurpose old tablets and PCs, they become expensive paperweights at a certain age. That’s because you can’t replace components inside a tablet. Most laptop components aren’t replaceable, aside from the hard drive and RAM.

Some tablets can outperform laptops. A convertible laptop is the best choice when you want a device that can hang with the latest tech for more than a few years. This was an area where I knew a convertible laptop would blow my tablets away. I was shocked by how much power I could get for the price compared to slates.

For around $600, I was able to get a convertible laptop with a 12th gen Core i7-1255U, 16GB of RAM, and a 500GB solid-state drive. Based on my experience and how I used my last laptop, those specs will suffice for 5-7 years or more. By comparison, my tablets felt sluggish within a few years, especially after using newer slates my friends owned.

Gaming

Thanks to several consoles and a weak laptop, I had gotten used to mobile games and titles designed to run on potato PCs over the past few years. It’s a situation many tablet users find themselves in. It’s also a drag to see your friends with PCs play titles that are not available for tablets or consoles.

Since I used a convertible laptop, I’m able to play everything I could want, including Cyberpunk and Starfield. That includes classic games from LucasArts, steam titles, and even mobile games through emulation like Angry Birds.

Cloud gaming is something I used from my tablet and old laptop with Game Pass, but it’s a different experience on a 16-inch convertible laptop. The ability to put your system into tent mode and connect a controller is amazing and was a major selling point for me. As a bonus, the exhaust is at the top of my laptop in tent mode, so overheating has not been an issue at all.

The Wrap-Up

Tablets are still a great way to consume content. While my slates are charged, they tend to collect dust. That wasn’t the case with my old laptop, despite the fact it has a touchscreen and a 15-inch display. Those features were nice, but the “convertible” aspect of my new system took things to the next level.

I was tempted to get an ASUS convertible with a dedicated GPU, but it wasn’t worth it when I considered my needs. I have an excellent internet connection that’s ideal for cloud gaming and preferred to have longer battery life than a dedicated card. A 2K panel seemed the better choice for that reason over 4K displays. It’s safe to say I’ll never go back to a traditional laptop or spend much on a tablet after picking up my convertible machine.

If you’ve been on the fence about picking up a 2-in-1 laptop, rest assured they are worth it. Just remember to put your needs before your “wants” when shopping for a new machine.