Touchscreen vs Non Touch Laptop: 2-in-1s are the talk of the town when it comes to laptops, as you get the touchpad experience of a tablet while also still utilizing a keyboard and trackpad like a laptop.
You can be typing up a document for a presentation and then flip over to the touchscreen to create data figures that complement the presentation. But is having a touchscreen really all that worth it?
Here is how to decide between a laptop touchscreen vs non-touchscreen.
What Are You Using the Laptop for?
The usage of a laptop can vary from person to person. While someone may be a student using it for notes and presentations, someone else may be using theirs as part of their work as a graphic designer. Then there are people that simply type up data and check their emails.
Students
Students will be typing up papers, creating presentations, and even doing their homework on their laptops. Depending on the field you’re going into, you can find usage from both the laptop portion as well as the tablet portion.
You can take your notes with the laptop, switch over to the tablet portion to create visuals more effectively, and when you’re done, set it up to stream your favorite movie or TV show. If you’re someone that prefers to write out their notes but wants to save paper, a touchscreen laptop offers that sweet in-between.
Creatives
Laptop touchscreen benefits stretch far and wide when you’re in the creative field. Those that create digital art, do graphic design, and like to enhance their photos more effectively will find the touchscreen tablet mode useful for getting close and personal with your project.
You don’t have to worry about what it will look like while you draw on a separate device that has no screen. You’ll feel the flow as if you were working with a real canvas, rather than a digital one. Do note that you should go easy on the touchscreen and not push down too hard, as this can damage the screen itself.
Workstations
Those that need powerful workstations for 3D modeling and rendering will want to stick with a high-end laptop that focuses on graphics and workflow management. Laptops are already at a disadvantage when it comes to performance compared to desktops, so adding in unnecessary items like a touchscreen can take away from the performance that you need to handle your workload.
>> Read: How to Clean your Laptop Screen, Keyboard, and Mouse?
This truly depends on how much you’re willing to spend though. You can get the best possible touchscreen on the market and have the ability to have your workstation turn into a tablet. It is simply going to cost an arm and a leg.
Data Entry
Those that are working in data entry or accounting will find little to no use in the touchscreen. These fields focus on data being processed through spreadsheets and inventory management software. The inclusion of a touchscreen would be of no benefit, as most of those that do audits will find that they utilize machines that hook up to the computer rather than the computer itself.
How Do They Stack Up Against Normal Laptops
So, is a touchscreen laptop worth it from a performance and price standpoint? You can often find the price can be comparable and in certain aspects better compared to normal laptops. You’ll find the display and graphics all relatively stay the same, with minor increases for higher-end models.
Performance
In terms of performance, 2-in-1 laptops with touchscreens are looking to meet the demands of those that need to multitask and run intensive programs. These laptops come with a hidden benefit, where putting them in tablet mode can actually find a decrease in thermals.
This only applies when you have the laptop in a mode that looks like a stand, rather than leaving it flat against the keyboard. In this position, it will run into the same problem and possibly perform worse.
Price
The price of a touchscreen laptop is negligible and will come down to sales. The pieces needed to produce touchscreens have become relatively cheap and can be mass-produced in specific designs.
In the event there are no deals, a 2-in-1 will be more expensive because it offers more accessibility than what a normal laptop offers. But the price point will be close enough that you should still go for the touchscreen.
When shopping for the best deals on laptops, be sure to check out Lenovo and the options that they have for all of their laptop lines.
Display
Displays can still get up to 4K, even on touchscreens. Though you will be paying for that high-end screen.
4K displays on normal screens are still expensive, just not as expensive. You can also find higher refresh rates on displays that are utilized for normal laptop activities. Giving it a smoother scrolling and movement experience compared to 60 Hertz screens.
Productivity
Are you someone that enjoys multitasking and can’t stand only one tab open at a time? You can enjoy the multitasking that comes from being able to switch from data entry into creativity. All you have to do is grab your favorite pen and flip open your laptop to tablet mode.
If you need to focus on writing content and need multiple tabs open, you can the laptop in its normal form and get going.
Benefits of a Touchscreen
Touchscreens are perfect for bringing the information and screen closer to you. Those who find it easier to read on a tablet compared to a computer because there is less distance will find comfort when they switch their laptop to tablet mode. Those that want to take advantage of eBooks for school will welcome this.
If you enjoy streaming media, whether that be videos or movies, you can put the 2-in-1 in a position where only the screen is visible. Rather than having to worry about the keyboard distracting you from the screen, you can also get better viewing angles.
In the event that you need a better screen to see what you’re doing, you can hook up your touchscreen laptop to another monitor. From there, you can mirror your display and essentially have your own high-end drawing tablet.
Negatives of a Touchscreen
Touchscreens aren’t without fault though. If in the instance that a crack happens on the touchscreen, it can start to mess with your entire system and cause it to not function properly. This happens because the computer thinks you are touching the screen from the pressure applied from the crack.
Because of the nature of you touching your screen more, you’ll have to stay on top of cleaning the screen like you would your phone. If not, you’ll find your screen covered in fingerprints and smudges that can make doing work difficult.
To offset the smudges, you can pick up a separate mouse and keyboard. But this ends up costing money and will start to feel like your laptop is a glorified monitor.
Benefits of a Normal Screen
Sticking with a normal screen has its own benefits though. One that hasn’t been mentioned yet is the performance when it comes to gaming. Laptop monitors that do not convert into 2-in-1’s will more than likely offer a higher refresh rate.
A higher refresh rate allows your screen to refresh more often, allowing you to see more frames and react quicker. This could give you a competitive edge over your opponents.
Normal screens are also tried and true and will have fewer kinks to work out. Because you’re not going to be moving the screen back and forth as much, you’re less likely to experience failure at the hinges or in the display itself.
Negatives of a Normal Screen
Normal laptops come with their own disadvantages though. If you pick up a hobby where you find yourself wanting to get into digital design, you’re going to find utilizing your existing laptop frustrating.
You’re always going to need to find a place that allows your laptop to be adequately cooled, as laptops produce a lot of heat. This comes from the fact that you have to cram so much processing power into a tiny device. The airflow is then stifled even further when it gets pressed up against a flat surface.
When thermals get too bad, you can start to experience thermal throttling. Thermal throttling causes the CPU to lower its core speeds to lower thermals, which in return lowers the performance.
Laptop Touchscreen Vs Non-Touchscreen: Key Takeaways
When it comes to a laptop touchscreen vs non-touchscreen, it simply makes sense to go with the touchscreen. The prices of them have dropped significantly enough that you can get the same performance as you would with a normal laptop in the same relative range. Then you don’t have to worry about choosing.
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