It’s not uncommon to have a smartphone, a laptop and a tablet. I use all three, sometimes for many of the same tasks, like text messages, streaming and social media. The same is true for a lot of people.
CNET’s recent survey examines how most US adults use laptops, tablets and smartphones. Laptops are commonly used for work and educational tasks like creating and viewing documents (52%), streaming (35%) and creative work (33%).
Besides texting, calls and social media, we use our smartphones for quick and at-hand organizational tasks, like calendar updates and to-do lists. But we’re increasingly relying on our smartphones for longer viewing activities, like gaming and streaming.
So will smartphones make laptops and tablets redundant soon? Here’s what CNET’s subject matter expert thinks.
Smartphones are convenient for organization and taking notes
Smartphones have a major perk that laptops and tablets don’t: convenience. The most common way US adults (66%) use their smartphones is for organizational tasks, like calendars, to-do lists and taking notes. These compact, handheld devices make it easy to carry out standard organizational functions on a phone that takes up less space, said CNET’s smartphone expert Abrar Al-Heeti.
Al-Heeti pointed out that note-taking apps on Android phones and iPhones are becoming more versatile, especially with artificial intelligence integrations. There are also third-party organizational apps with expanded capabilities, like Evernote or OneNote. The real game-changer for some US adults is pen support for smartphones, which is like having a powerful notepad and pen in your back pocket.
“For people who appreciate the more traditional feel of writing with a pen, a device with a stylus like the Galaxy S25 Ultra can be great; that gives you the option to jot down either handwritten or typed notes, and that wider display can come in handy,” said Al-Heeti.
Nearly half of US adults use a smartphone to stream shows and movies
Despite smartphones having much smaller screens than tablets and laptops, almost half of all US adults (44%) use their smartphones to stream shows and movies, as well as for gaming (47%),
That doesn’t surprise Al-Heeti. Almost any app you can use on your laptop or tablet can be accessed on a smartphone. If you’re at a restaurant, you can’t easily watch an important soccer match on your laptop or tablet, but you can take out your phone and catch the score. The same is true if you’re waiting in line or hanging out at a cafe and decide to do some gaming on the go.
If you’re using your phone to watch games and shows geolocked in another location, a virtual private network, or VPN, can let you stream the show or game using a server that has access to the show you’re streaming.
VPNs are best for privacy and security when using public Wi-Fi networks, as they prevent hackers from easily accessing your information. CNET recommends ExpressVPN as its VPN pick for its streaming capabilities, privacy and security features.
Is it worth having both a smartphone and a laptop?
If our smartphones are used for an increasing number of activities and viewing experiences, why do we need laptops?
Based on CNET’s survey, over half of US adults (52%) still use their laptops for digital tasks like creating and viewing documents, while only 38% do so on their smartphones. The keyboard and bigger screen are likely key here. Laptops are also used more for creative work (33%), test-taking (31%) and studying (33%).
Fundamentally, most US adults use laptops for work and educational tasks, while smartphones are for leisure and organizational purposes.
“People tend to have their phones with them most of the time; they’re better suited for on-the-fly tasks like adding something to a calendar, making a to-do list or jotting down notes,” Al-Heeti said.
Smartphones are powerful and a part of our everyday lives, and you may not need a larger device unless you handle work or similar tasks, said Al-Heeti. Otherwise, a smaller screen could suffice.
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