Is there such a thing as a touchscreen laptop?

There are plenty of factors to account for when you’re searching for a new laptop . Not only do you need to assess its specs and check its memory and hardware, but you also have to consider whether you need a regular non-touchscreen laptop, a fancy gaming model, or go for newer models with touchscreens. Today’s modern crop of touchscreen laptops has its pros and cons, just like any other laptop feature.

This article will discuss the pros and cons of touch screen laptops, and some recommended models of touchscreen and non-touchscreen laptops.

Touchscreen laptop pros

Having a laptop with a touchscreen can offer many benefits. As technology improves, these devices become more integrated within our lives. Here are some of the pros when buying a touchscreen laptop.

Easy, fast navigation

The main goal of having a touchscreen on laptops is to streamline navigation. Compared to trackpads and mouse devices, users can perform tasks more manageably, and it’s simpler to launch and shift between applications. Moreover, you can also use the touchscreen feature to get your work done if the trackpad or keyboard stops working.

Suitable for drawing and note-taking

Graphic designers and artists often prefer a touchscreen feature. There are laptop models equipped with a touchscreen display and stylus so users can efficiently generate sketches of artworks on the go at their convenience. A touchscreen and stylus display combo can be a highly convenient feature package for students, as it eliminates the need to have to carry around several heavy notebooks for classes.

Expressive, high-quality displays

Touchscreen laptops tend to come with fantastic brightness and superior color vibrancy, accuracy, and reproduction compared to non-touchscreen displays. The majority of touchscreen models feature displays with higher resolution. Glossy touchscreen displays respond to touch better than matte ones. Many users who work with color often typically choose touchscreen models due to their fantastic color brightness and accuracy.

Learn more about Vibe for remote team collaboration

Learn More →

Touchscreen laptop cons

There can be many benefits to having a touchscreen laptop. However, it’s not always a positive experience. Technology advances quickly, but there are still some faults with the systems that we use. Here are some cons about having a touchscreen laptop that you should be aware of.

Batteries drain quickly

Touchscreen features mean that the computer’s hardware has another set of processing tasks to take care of thanks to the touch panel. If you’re planning on frequently using the touchscreen feature, you will need to have a spare battery. Other battery-related questions to consider include the following:

More expensive

Having a touchscreen feature will add to the price of the laptop. Some manufacturers offer higher-resolution touchscreen displays, which elevate the cost further.

Adds weight

Adding extra technology to the computer means it takes up more bulk and space, making the laptop heavier. Even though the difference is in grams, a small amount of weight is noticeable in laptops.

It’s hard to view in direct light

Laptops featuring touchscreen displays are great for dim lighting areas but can be difficult to use under direct lighting. The glossy finishes on touchscreen models respond faster to touch, but this kind of finish also easily attracts fingerprints, smudges, and the like.

Top choices for touchscreen laptops

Razor Book 13 (2021)
One of the best non-gaming laptops of the year. This ultraportable is one of the first touchscreen laptops that can compete with the MacBook Air. A top-of-the-line Core i7 processor and endless plugin features make this laptop all-around top-notch. USB Type-A, HDMI, and USB Type-C ports make this ultraportable an easy favorite.

• Size: 11.6 x 7.8x 0.6 inches
• Reference Price: $1,799

touchscreen laptop-Razor Book 13

HP Spectre x360 (2021)
This HP laptop is back with more powerful components like Intel Iris Plus graphics and 10th-generation Intel Core processors and features their amazing Bang & Olufsen speakers and extra security. This laptop is for those who care about aesthetics as much as overall quality and performance.

• Size: 11.8 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Reference Price: $1,299

touchscreen laptop-HP Spectre x360 14

Dell XPS 13 (2021)
The Dell XPS 13 holds a high ranking in every list of best touchscreen laptops and remains one of the best laptops on the market years after its first release. This luxurious device comes with reliable performance, and all-day battery life, and a streamlined design. While the price tag is on the higher end, the Dell XPS 13 is worth every cent.

• Size: 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
• Reference Price: $1,700

touchscreen laptop-Dell XPS 13

What is the best touchscreen laptop under $500?

HP Laptop 15z-gw000

The HP Flagship High-Performance Touchscreen Laptop might be the best touchscreen laptop that you can get on a limited budget. Don’t expect it to do everything, but this little 15.6 inch HD laptop can do quite a bit.

This user-friendly touchscreen offers 4GB RAM and a processing speed of 2.16GHz. 500GB of storage on the hard drive alone provides plenty of space, but you can always expand with the use of its USB ports.

touchscreen laptop-HP Laptop 15z-gw000

Top choices for non-touchscreen laptops

HP Laptops, Premium 2019 Flagship 15.6 HD Laptop The number of people working from home increases every single day. Remote workers need a laptop with a minimum of 8GB of RAM, a powerful processor, and solid battery life. This HP non-touchscreen laptop is ideal for teaching remotely , offering 12 hours of battery life, 8GB of RAM, and a fast processor. If you prioritize battery life, non-touchscreen laptops are typically the best choice since touchscreen displays eat up battery rapidly.

HP Laptops, Premium 2019 Flagship 15.6

Dell Vostro 5000 15.6″ FHD Laptop
Engineered for both work and games, these Dell laptops offer a robust structure and build. If you’re looking for a powerful laptop, this laptop comes with a Core i7 processor that is fantastic for accounting and software engineering along with gaming. Nvidia Graphics is the best GPU for fluent gaming, which this laptop also has. This laptop offers a luxurious 16GB of RAM plus DDR4, which means a double data rate of 4 for maximum speed.

Dell Vostro 5000 15.6″ FHD Laptop

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 provides the user with a powerful and pure Windows 10 laptop experience. The Surface Laptop 2 does not have modern ports, but this problem can be circumvented since the spec improvements make the laptop force to be reckoned with.

Which type of laptop is better?

Users of touchscreen laptops mention that the touchscreen feature assists with productivity since it helps them get tasks done faster. Touchscreen models are highly feasible for specific tasks, such as doing creative work from sketching to drawing and taking quick notes. The display is more easily navigated because you can directly use your fingers. Moreover, touchscreen models are aesthetically pleasing and offer exceptional color brightness and accuracy, which is excellent for those who work with color a lot.

As we discussed above, these models also offer certain disadvantages. They are heavier, more expensive, and use more batteries than regular laptops. When it comes to the touchscreen feature, you should consider your personal needs and think about how the advantages of touchscreen laptops meet those needs.

What’s the difference between a touchscreen laptop and a 2-in-1 laptop?

A laptop with a touchscreen is precisely that. This refers to a computer with a keyboard, mouse settings, and ports like a standard laptop, but it does feature a touch-sensitive screen.

In contrast, a 2-in-1 or hybrid laptop is similar. Many of these will also feature standard ports like USB. The most significant difference is that this laptop is more interactive and can be used as a tablet as well. Often the keyboard is hinged or detachable for ultimate versatility.

Related: The Best Time to Buy a Laptop and Other Office Essentials

[Editor’s note: this post was originally published on January 26, 2021 and updated on Oct 27, 2021.]

Vibe offers a collaborative solution combining an interactive digital whiteboard and innovative smart software. Increase engagement and efficiency at your brainstorming sessions, virtual training, and classroom sessions by integrating your favorite applications with video conferencing and an infinite, mess-free writing canvas. Collaborate today with Vibe.

Looking for the latest in interactive whiteboard technology? Check out Vibe today!