Will Smartphones Eventually Replace Computers?

Smartphones are, in truth, miniature computers. Even since the golden age of the PDA, the dream of early adopters has been to effectively place their reliance on bulky desktop computers and laptops with these sleek and portable machines.

Now, with developments in mobile operating systems, new flexible chipsets and a slew of innovative takes on the hybrid PC/Tablet form-factor, many are beginning to ask whether the time is yet ripe for us to ditch the desktop and turn to smartphones as our all-in-one computing device.

Below we will explore some compelling reasons why the time of the smartphone office may have finally arrived in 2022.

Smartphones Are Already Preferred for Gaming

A survey conducted by DFC Intelligence found that respondents from across the world were split on the matter of their favoured gaming devices. Those from westernised markets typically preferred home games consoles or dedicated gaming PCs, while those in emerging regions around the world were found to be 150% likelier to use their smartphone as their core gaming device.

Why is this? Well for one, in regions where computing penetration is presently lower, new consumers are more likely to opt for these devices over purchasing a dedicated PC if their intention is to join the next 1 billion users set to come online over the next 10 years.

Not only are they more affordable, but more flexible. For this reason you're overwhelmingly more likely to find casino gamers from growing markets such as India opt to play roulette online by way of their mobile devices.

This is easily facilitated through platforms such as Asiabet, which is designed with mobile optimization in mind. By being among the brands positioning themselves as welcoming to mobile-only gamers, this leading platform is emblematic of the prevailing trend towards gaming on smart devices in such markets.

When compared with the process of purchasing a desktop PC, the ease of accessing this site and making use of their competitive bonus offers to get a good deal on any number of reputable gaming providers, makes it by far the more accessible choice for gamers.

This trend is unlikely to slow, and in fact we are seeing mobile gaming grow even in western markets thanks to the increasing popularity of mobile esports such as League of Legends: Wild Rift and Free Fire, which offer all the thrills of desktop esports, with easier access and less software fragmentation.

New Hybrid Formats Make Working on Mobile Easier Than Ever

For a number of years, the best case made for smart devices replacing computers has come by way of hybrid business-oriented devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro. This tablet is designed around being able to flexibly switch between touch inputs and a dedicated bluetooth keyboard, giving workers the space and functionality they need to get all but the most demanding computing tasks done while on the go.

Nowadays, with the arrival of flexible displays and new form factors, the options for those wanting to ditch computers are greater than ever before.

From Microsoft itself, we have the Surface Duo – a dual screened device that opens out like a book and can be used either as a two-screen tablet for effective multitasking, or turned on its side – converting one screen into a keyboard.

Samsung has also been looking to make the case of folding displays as an effective computing replacement. Their flagship phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 4, can expand its workspace from 6.2 inches up to 7.6 whenever the need arises.

The South Korean manufacturer has also, for a number of years, been developing a computer replacement feature. Known as Samsung DeX, it's based around a small HDMI enabled dock that can be connected to a Mouse, Keyboard and external display. In what may amount to a vision of the future of computing, DeX lets its users simply dock their smartphone to convert it into a full desktop PC experience.

While this is compelling, it has thus far been held back by Samsung's limited mobile operating system.

Similar functionality is slowly being implemented across Apple devices however, with the iPad Pro's iPadOS thought to be paving the way for the arrival of a true cross-platform operating system for use across the Cupertino company's entire ecosystem.