Laptops are very convenient because they go wherever you go. This lets you get to work or surf the net—as Shakira puts it—whenever, wherever.
But you may find yourself wishing for the touchscreen features your phone has. If only you could have a device like your smartphone, except with a bigger screen...such as a touch screen laptop!
Now that it’s on your radar, how should you go about purchasing one? To help you out, we at Choosist have done the research to save you some time. Below are a few things to consider when buying a touch screen laptop.
In 2013, out of the 46 million laptops purchased, 4.57 million had touchscreen capabilities. 6 years later, that number’s sure to be much higher.
Ever since smartphones came out in the late 2000s, their utility’s been a source of obsession. It was only natural for that obsession to transfer from smartphones to laptops since they’re also a commonly used portable device.
Here’s the number one reason why you should get a touchscreen laptop:
Imagine lying in bed or on the couch, snuggled up and ready to watch a movie on your laptop. But the trackpad might not be very responsive, and a USB mouse can end up tangled with other cables.
If you had a touch screen laptop, all you have to do is reach across and set up everything with no hassle. Thanks to the great screen responsiveness, and wire-free design.
If you love the feel of hand drawing art but need a simpler way to digitize your work, a touchscreen laptop is excellent for this purpose. You can open up your program of choice and draw with either your fingertips or a stylus.
This type of digital artwork gives you more control than a mouse does, which can help you keep your style as close as possible to drawing with pen and paper.
Are you a university student? Then using a touchscreen laptop can be highly advantageous when compared to traditional note-taking. Typing out your notes lets you keep up with your professors’ lectures easily, plus it lessens the strain on your hands. You can also use the stylus option to handwrite notes on PDF handouts. Or doodle when you’re bored.
Here are a few things the experts at Choosist think you should watch out for when you’re browsing for a touchscreen laptop.
You should expect to pay more for a touch screen laptop than you would for a regular one. Companies like Dell and Lenovo can charge up to C$300 more.
But the plus side of paying more for a touch screen laptop is you usually get better resolution. So before you balk at the price tags, you’ll want to keep this in mind.
Cheaper touchscreen laptops will only have single-touch capabilities. It’s quite basic but works for people who just want to use their laptops for leisure.
However, if you’re looking for precision, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the multi-touch feature. This lets you use two fingers, gestures, and pinches to navigate through your programs.
Because there’s the added touchscreen feature, this type of laptop will have shorter battery lives than usual. If you want to bring just your laptop around, no accessories, you might run into problems with it dying.
But if you plan on either bringing your power cord or only using your laptop for short periods, the battery life won’t matter much at all.
These two factors go hand-in-hand. Touchscreen laptops usually have thicker screens, which means they can be slightly heavier than regular laptops. It’s probably not enough to make a significant difference. However, it may still be enough to require a carrying case instead of your small purse or bag.
Now that you know what to look out for when shopping for a touch screen laptop, it’ll be easier to sift through all the available options. Want to leave your power cord at home at all times? Then better go for ones with longer battery lives.
If you want some inspiration or want to cut down on your research time, we’ve put together a list of some laptops that may interest you. Check out our picks for the best touchscreen laptops of 2024!
See our full list of touchscreen laptops
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