For many in Malaysia, laptops are the go-to option for work. Tablets are another option, depending on a person's use case. Laptop or tablet is the question many ask. Well, why not both? After all, having two devices could cover more of your daily tasks.
So, the question then becomes - "Which laptop and tablet should I get?" Today, there are 6 laptop and tablet combos we think you might want to consider. These options are mostly based on the total budget required, but also based on possible use cases. Without further ado, please read on.
Enough for simple needs - ASUS Vivobook Go 15 + Redmi Pad SE
The first pair is the ASUS Vivobook Go 15 and Redmi Pad SE. This duo is targeted at those with low budgets, as the former costs RM1599 and the latter RM799 for a modest total of RM2398. The average work laptop could cost as much as this, so getting a combo at this total is pretty good.
Of course, don't expect these devices to do anything fancy. The Vivobook Go 15 only sports an Intel Celeron N4500 CPU and Intel HD graphics, so don't expect to run any advanced video editing apps or play games on it. However, it does have enough memory, with 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD storage. The 15.6-inch FHD display is also decent enough to comfortably browse the Internet and social media or watch YouTube videos.
As for the Redmi Pad SE, it's actually pretty good value. Although the Snapdragon 680 4G chipset can't run any high-end apps or mobile games at higher visual settings, it's enough to casually watch YouTube videos, browse Facebook or read e-books. In addition, it has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is sufficient for the average person.
For light gaming and productivity - Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 + Honor Pad X9
Looking for something with a bit more juice? Then here's a combo you can consider, the Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 and Honor Pad X9. This pair of devices offers more power and utility, albeit at a noticeable bump in cost. At current retail prices, the Lenovo laptop and Honor tablet cost RM3998 (RM2999 and RM999, respectively).
So, why pick the Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9? For starters, it features a significantly more powerful Intel Core i5-12450HX and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 GPU. It also has 8GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB of storage. With this laptop, you can do some light photo editing and even play games in your free time. Sure, you won't be able to play any AAA titles. But e-sports titles like Dota 2 and CS: GO should be fine. Also, if you love Numpads, this laptop has one.
As for the Honor Pad X9, the reason for getting this is the free Bluetooth keyboard. This is useful when you need to type notes at meetings or classes, saving you the effort of carrying a heavier laptop. The performance is similar to the Redmi Pad SE since its Snapdragon 685 4G chipset isn't a notable improvement over the Snapdragon 680. But this isn't a bad option if you want the utility and convenience of a Bluetooth keyboard.
Solid pair for creative works - ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED + Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Next, we want to suggest a duo more suitable for creatives. We're referring to the ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED (RM4399) and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (RM1799). The RM6198 total sounds very pricey, but it's not too bad if you consider how some creatives use way more expensive hardware.
As the name suggests, the Vivobook S 14 OLED comes with a 14-inch OLED panel. It promises accurate industry-standard colours, deep blacks, and exceptional details for designers and photographers to ply their craft. Also, it lets you switch the colour gamut between sRGB, DCI-P3, and Display-P3. If you like streaming movies, it has good audio quality to go with its high-quality display. Another advance is its ultra-slim and compact body, which makes it highly portable.
The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a good partner for this Windows 11-powered Vivobook, as it comes with an S Pen for sketching or drawing. With the Phone Link app or Samsung DeX, you can leave the office with just the tablet, sketch or draw outdoors, then transfer the file to the laptop later for editing. It's great because it makes the creative process more convenient and likely faster.
Mid-range entertainment - Lenovo Legion 5i 16 + Xiaomi Pad 6 Max
For a combo that's more geared to gamers, you can check out the Lenovo Legion 5i 16 (Gen 9) and Xiaomi Pad 6 Max. While the latter isn't available via Xiaomi Malaysia, you can grab it from Shopee now for around RM1790. As for the Lenovo gaming laptop, it's going for RM5088 now with Lenovo Malaysia's mid-year discount. The price is higher than most are willing to pay for, but you're getting two solid entertainment devices.
The latest Legion 5i 16 laptop launched last month has excellent gaming performance for its price range. It features an Intel Core i5-13450HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, which is enough to tackle even AAA games at medium settings. Moreover, 512GB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage means you have enough space for at least a few storage-demanding games. On top of the above, you get a 16-inch 2560x1600 resolution display that supports a 165Hz refresh rate. Overall, not bad for a mid-range gaming laptop.
When you need to play more casual games or just want to chill on the couch watching Netflix, the Xiaomi Pad 6 Max would cover that. It has a Snapdragon Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which sounds old by now but is more than capable of handling current mobile games. Additionally, its large 14-inch 120Hz display (1800x2880 resolution) and Dolby Atmos speakers make the tablet great for streaming movies. On top of that, there's a huge 10000mAh battery, which should last pretty long.
High-performance gaming - Dell Alienware m18 R2 + Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
Unfortunately, further upgrades come at greater costs. Let's take gaming laptops for example. To get a meaningful upgrade, you need at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. That means you need something on the level of the Dell Alienware m18 R2 (RM12598) laptop. For the tablet side, you probably need something like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (RM3699).
So, why pay such a steep price for a laptop? Some people don't like desktop PCs and just a laptop for everything. With models like the Dell Alienware m18 R2, you're essentially treating it as your go-to device for gaming, productivity, and entertainment. At this price configuration, you get an Intel Core i7-14700HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD storage. You also get a large 18-inch display (QHD+, 120Hz).
Of course, at over 4kg the Alienware isn't a very portable laptop, which is where the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 comes in. When paired with an S Pen and keyboard, this tablet alone can function as your drawing, light entertainment, and even productivity device. Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, it's also a powerful mobile gaming device.
Turning up creativity - Apple MacBook Pro M3 + Apple iPad Pro (2024)
Finally, what's a device recommendation list if it doesn't have Apple products? If you consider content creation more important than gaming, you can't go wrong with the latest MacBook Pro and iPad Pro. Of course, high-end Apple devices come at a premium. For a powerful MacBook Pro and the latest iPad Pro, you're looking at a total of at least RM14k.
On the laptop side, RM8299 lands you a 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the Apple M3 chip. It'll also have 8GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD, which is enough storage as a start. You could even double the memory and storage, but it'll cost an extra RM2400. Anyway, this MacBook Pro is targeted at users who work in the creative industry or just prefer to work with macOS.
As for the new iPad Pro, that's expected to arrive next month for RM5299. It's powered by the new Apple M4 chipset, which has a 50% faster CPU and 4x faster GPU than the Apple M2 model. There is also a new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro that provide improvements to productivity and design apps. Of course, this tablet can play mobile games if you so desire.
That's about it for our laptop and tablet list! Mind you, there are plenty of other options available in Malaysia. Please note that the above are our suggestions and aren't necessarily the best in the category. Also, the prices aren't final because the brands usually give you options like more RAM, more storage, added accessories, etc. Of course, this is at the expense of higher cost.
Having said that, what do you think of the devices we've listed? Do you have a specific model or brand you prefer? Please share your own suggestions on our Facebook page! And as always, stay tuned to TechNave for more on the latest laptops and mobile gadgets.
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