We often hear that smartphones are a miniature version of PCs, that one can carry in their pocket. However, is there any merit to this claim? The idea is certainly interesting, and at first glance, makes a lot of sense. After all, smartphones are seemingly capable of doing everything that PCs can do, and more. However, some have criticized the tech behind them as outdated. So, in this article, we are examining what smartphones can and can’t do when we compare them to their stationary predecessors.
A World of Entertainment
For most people, the primary purpose of a PC and a smartphone differ. PCs are pretty much necessary in the modern world. We use them for business, research, study, and of course, entertainment. On the other hand, smartphones’ primary purpose remains communication. Having said that, a lot is being done in the entertainment sector when it comes to smartphones.
An excellent example of smartphone entertainment development is the emergence of mobile casino gaming. In searching for a list of the best sweepstakes casinos, one will certainly discover that many of these websites have been created with mobile gamblers in mind. Some have even launched their own apps; which fans can download directly from the website.
But, the entertainment opportunities don’t stop at casinos, sweepstakes or traditional. Smartphone gaming in general is on the rise. Big brands have released mobile versions of their games, specifically to entice a new audience. A lot of original titles have also been released for smartphones and have attained international success. Examples would include Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail.
But, is entertainment all there is to the notion that smartphones are replacing PCs? While it is certainly a big part of it, it is not the only reason. As we said, the smartphone’s primary purpose is communication. So, let us take a look at how smartphones have revolutionized communication, even beyond PCs.
The New Era of Communication
Of course, the telephone is a symbol for a revolution in the realm of communications. But, the smartphone takes it a step further. It all began in the early 21st century, when web developers came up with the first social media websites. Skype, email, Yahoo Messenger, and MySpace were among the first sites and programs to let people communicate freely, and cost-effectively, across continents.
However, the one thing all of these programs had in common was that users would have to be anchored to their PC in order to use them. Naturally, this meant that one could miss an important email or message from their boss, friend, or family member. With smartphones, this has completely changed. People can now receive messages at any point during the day.
Each of the big-name social media companies have released apps, that allow fans to access them through their smartphones. That means that, at any point during the day, a person on these apps is open to receiving a message from their friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. On top of that, there are now plenty of apps that allow you to make direct calls through the internet, allowing free, global communication.
Processing Power is Improving
When smartphones were first released, the main complain about them was the lack of processing power. Certain high-end smartphones at the time might have been able to run a non-demanding program, that even a lower-end laptop would have no difficulty with. However, that is far from the case nowadays.
Today, the best smartphones are capable of running low-to-mid programs just as well as any laptop. The easiest proof of this is the games we mentioned before, some of which display pretty impressive graphics, animations, and mechanics. However, does that mean that smartphones can fully compare to PCs and computers?
Well, the truth of the matter is that we still have not reached a point where the iPhone can compare to the MacBook. If you are a gamer, you might get a lot out of the latest Apple products for sure. However, a PC that you can consistently upgrade and improve will certainly do the job better than a smartphone. That being said, there is hope for the future.
Technology is rapidly improving, particularly in the realm of smartphones. The younger generations are especially interested in their phone, more so than they are in a PC or a laptop. For that reason, gaming companies, software developers, and tech entrepreneurs are doing their best to improve the smartphone, to a point where the adage we brought up at the start rings true.
The Biggest Downsides
We’ve talked about the benefits of smartphones, as well as what the future may hold. However, we would be remiss if we did not bring up some of the downsides and disadvantages that smartphones have, when comparing them to PCs. One of the biggest issues would be constraints with multitasking, which might be a big deal for some people.
Certainly, it isn’t hard to multitask on an iPhone or Android. A user can have multiple tabs open, and scroll through them at a whim. It is worth noting though that the more tabs are open on a smartphone, the faster the battery drains. This, in and of itself, makes multitasking a lot harder when you are on your phone. But, it doesn’t end there.
The problem is that a smaller screen simply makes screen real estate a lot weaker. On a PC, you can have multiple tabs, or even multiple windows open with no problem. This is even true for a laptop, with a significantly smaller screen. For a smartphone, the issue becomes a bit more noticeable, especially when one has to navigate the smaller windows on an already small screen.
Concluding Thoughts
Smartphones are certainly a magnificent invention, and have made many of our lives a lot easier. They’ve helped us stay in constant communication with the important people in our life (family, friends, romantic partners, and colleagues), and they’ve given us new and exciting forms of entertainment. But, all that being said, it is difficult to say that a smartphone can fully replicate all of the functions of a PC, at least for right now. Having said that, who knows what the future holds? We may just see a world where the PC is obsolete.
