Tablet vs. Smartphone: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A tablet is a portable computing device with a large screen, primarily used for internet, media, and applications. A smartphone is a smaller, handheld device that combines a computer's functionality with mobile telephony.
Key Differences
Tablets are larger with screen sizes typically ranging from 7 to 13 inches, making them less portable than smartphones. Smartphones are smaller and more compact, usually with screens from 4 to 7 inches, easily fitting in a pocket or purse.
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Nov 21, 2023
Tablets are geared more towards entertainment, reading, and tasks that benefit from a larger screen. Smartphones are designed for communication and have additional functionalities like calling and texting, which are central to their design.
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Nov 21, 2023
Tablets often have larger batteries and may have more powerful processors suited for media consumption and multitasking. Smartphones, while powerful, prioritize components for connectivity, such as cellular antennas, and often have more advanced cameras.
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Nov 21, 2023
Tablets generally run the same operating systems as smartphones but may have apps that are optimized for larger screens. Smartphones have a wider range of telephony and messaging apps, with software typically designed for smaller screens and one-handed use.
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Many tablets are Wi-Fi only, with some models offering cellular connectivity but not traditional phone functionalities. Smartphones are inherently built with cellular capabilities, allowing for voice calls, SMS, and mobile data on the go.
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Nov 21, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Hardware
Larger batteries, possibly more powerful CPUs
Compact, advanced cameras, cellular components
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Tablet and Smartphone Definitions
Tablet
Tablets are larger mobile devices optimized for media consumption.
Watching movies on his tablet was his favorite way to relax.
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Smartphone
A smartphone is a handheld device that combines a computer with mobile telephony.
He used his smartphone to navigate through the city.
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Nov 16, 2023
Tablet
A tablet is a handheld computing device, larger than a smartphone.
She uses a stylus to draw on her tablet.
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Nov 16, 2023
Smartphone
Smartphones are compact devices for communication and multimedia.
She captured stunning photos with her smartphone camera.
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Nov 16, 2023
Tablet
A tablet is a flat, portable computer with a touchscreen.
She used her tablet to read e-books during her commute.
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Nov 16, 2023
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Smartphone
A smartphone integrates advanced technology like GPS, camera, and sensors.
His smartphone guided him with real-time traffic updates.
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Tablet
Tablets are wireless, portable devices with a focus on screen space.
His tablet is essential for his digital art projects.
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Nov 16, 2023
Smartphone
A smartphone offers internet connectivity, applications, and calling features.
He downloaded a new game on his smartphone.
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Nov 16, 2023
Tablet
A slab or plaque, as of stone or ivory, with a surface that is intended for or bears an inscription.
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Smartphone
Smartphones serve as essential tools for everyday communication and tasks.
She manages her emails and appointments through her smartphone.
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Nov 16, 2023
Smartphone
A cellphone having a touchscreen or alphabetic keypad and many of the features of a personal computer, including an operating system that allows the user to download specialized apps.
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Oct 19, 2023
Smartphone
A mobile phone with more advanced features and greater computing capacity than a featurephone.
Mobile phone
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Tablet
A lightweight, portable computer having a touchscreen as the method by which data is input.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tablet
(religion) A short scripture written by the founders of the Bahá'í faith.
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Tablet
A pill; a small, easily swallowed portion of a substance.
Many people take vitamin tablets as a food supplement.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tablet
A block of several sheets of blank paper that are bound together at the top; pad of paper.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tablet
(Scotland) A confection made from sugar, condensed milk and butter, produced in flat slabs, with a grainer texture than fudge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tablet
(rail) A type of round token giving authority for a train to proceed over a single-track line.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tablet
A flat piece of any material on which to write, paint, draw, or engrave; also, such a piece containing an inscription or a picture.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tablet
A flattish cake or piece; as, tablets of arsenic were formerly worn as a preservative against the plague.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tablet
A solid kind of electuary or confection, commonly made of dry ingredients with sugar, and usually formed into little flat squares; - called also lozenge, and troche, especially when of a round or rounded form.
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Oct 19, 2023
Tablet
A tablet serves as a versatile device for browsing, gaming, and productivity.
She completed her presentation on her tablet while traveling.
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Nov 16, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are tablets good for reading?
Yes, their large screens are ideal for reading.
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Nov 21, 2023
How are tablets primarily used?
For internet, media consumption, and applications.
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Are smartphones essential for communication?
Yes, especially for calling and texting.
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Can tablets make phone calls?
Some can, but they're not primarily designed for telephony.
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Do tablets support external keyboards?
Many do, making them versatile for typing and work.
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Do tablets have cameras?
Yes, but they're generally not as advanced as smartphone cameras.
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Are smartphones portable?
Yes, they're designed to be pocket-sized and portable.
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What is a smartphone?
A handheld device combining computer functionality with mobile telephony.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can tablets run the same operating systems as smartphones?
Yes, most tablets and smartphones share similar operating systems.
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Can smartphones be used for professional photography?
Increasingly so, with advanced camera technology.
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Can smartphones replace computers?
For some tasks, yes, but not for everything.
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Do smartphones support all apps that tablets do?
Most of them, but some apps are optimized for larger tablet screens.
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Can you edit documents on a smartphone?
Yes, but it's often more convenient on a tablet.
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Do tablets have a better battery life than smartphones?
Typically, yes, due to their larger size allowing for bigger batteries.
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Do smartphones require data plans?
To use cellular features, yes, but they can also operate on Wi-Fi.
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Are tablets as powerful as laptops?
Some are quite powerful, but they generally don't match high-performance laptops.
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Is it easier to play games on a tablet or a smartphone?
Tablets offer a larger screen, which can be beneficial for gaming.
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Nov 21, 2023
Are tablets suitable for children?
Yes, they're often used for educational and entertainment purposes for kids.
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Are there specific apps unique to smartphones?
Yes, especially apps related to telephony and messaging.
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Nov 21, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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