On the surface, they seem quite different. Tablets are mostly considered content-consumption devices, whereas Chromebooks are often viewed as cheap laptop replacements. But as the app and keyboard options improve for slates, and Chromebooks learn to do more offline, you might be wondering which type of device is the better investment. Chromebooks start at $199 ($249 with touch). Smaller tablets cost about the same as Chromebooks, but slates with larger displays cost $379 and up.

So, which is the better choice for you? We considered your everyday needs — from portability and display to productivity and battery life — to determine whether tablets or Chromebooks are the better buy.

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