Characteristics of a tablet PC

Characteristics of a tablet PC

What, exactly, defines a tablet? It's hard to pin down, especially as today's manufacturers design models that stretch the traditional tablet size limits, introduce new operating systems, and so on. But there are some general characteristics that separate tablets from their larger and smaller counterparts:

Extreme portability and viewability:
Start at 7" diagonal screen size... bigger than smartphone, smaller than most laptops
Wireless connectivity (primarily)... home/office network or cellular service (3G, 4G, 5G, etc.)
Designed to be carried everywhere... ultra light weight; no spinning hard disk or DVD drive
Touch screen interface (with options):
Offer touch screens as primary interface... users gesture to control actions (slide, pinch, etc.)
Typically, also accept pen/stylus input... aided by improved handwriting recognition software
Sometimes include keyboards (attached or detachable) ... for laptop-like typing as needed
Note that tablets with physical keyboards are today considered a category of their own called "2-in-1s" or "2-in-1 PCs" .