I have been using a touchscreen PC for several years. Here's why I'll never switch back.

      I will always remember the day my touchscreen laptop unexpectedly became my hero. I was in the middle of an important project when my mouse suddenly stopped working. I felt a sense of panic as I frantically moved the cursor, hoping it was just a temporary glitch. Then I recalled that I could use my laptop’s touchscreen to navigate my files and keep working. The touchscreen ended up being my saving grace, and in that moment, I realized I could never go back to a non-touchscreen computer.

      The touchscreen helped me avoid a work disaster.

      Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

      The unresponsive mouse was merely an inconvenience; without the touchscreen, who knows when I would have been able to resume my project? That issue could have disrupted my entire workday, but instead of spending time trying to fix it, I utilized my screen and addressed the corrupted driver issue later. This was a true lifesaver as I had no time to tackle another problem, even something as crucial as having a functioning cursor.

      After that incident, I began using the touchscreen more frequently. Initially, it was just for convenience, but soon it became my go-to option. For instance, tapping the screen felt quicker and easier when navigating through menus and settings, and I had just the right amount of control while scrolling. Zooming in on images felt instinctive too, just like it does on my phone. Whenever I wanted to pause a YouTube video, I found myself tapping the pause button instead of reaching for the mouse. I was astonished at how quickly I adapted to using a touchscreen PC, even attempting to swipe on a secondary monitor that lacked a touchscreen. Before long, I was using the touchscreen not just for urgent matters, but for the most minor tasks as well.

      One of the most overlooked advantages of having a touchscreen PC is the convenience of using it without a mouse, especially when I'm relaxing in bed watching a show. I can easily grab my Asus Zenbook Space Edition laptop, get comfortable, and browse through Amazon without needing extra space for a mouse. There’s no hassle or juggling a trackpad on a blanket—just the swipes I’m already accustomed to.

      I love touchscreens, but they do have their downsides.

      Prakhar Khanna / Digital Trends

      Even though I enjoy using a touchscreen, it does come with some drawbacks. For instance, to benefit from a touchscreen, one must pay extra for it. The exact price varies based on the model and specifications, whether it’s among the best laptops available or not. Each laptop has both touchscreen and non-touchscreen versions. For example, the Dell XPS 17 and XPS 15 offer both variants, and opting for the touchscreen model would typically cost a few hundred dollars more.

      However, having one of the top 2-in-1 laptops is even better. The additional expense might appear to be an unnecessary indulgence, particularly since you’re already spending a considerable amount on the laptop. But for me, that extra cost was justified as it saved me when my mouse failed. I like to think that I paid for the peace of mind that the touchscreen provides, along with the enhanced experience I enjoy during daily use.

      Another downside to having a touchscreen laptop is that the display can become dirty more quickly. At first, I didn’t mind because I couldn’t see the smudges, but watching them accumulate eventually became irritating. The annoyance peaked when sunlight hit the screen, unveiling a grim display of fingerprints and smudges across my precious screen. The true nightmare unfolded when I reached for a microfiber cloth to clean it, only to inadvertently close an essential window. After a brief moment of panic (and some frustrated shouts at my screen as if it were to blame), I managed to recover everything. Since that day, I’ve definitely paid closer attention to how dirty the screen can get and started cleaning it before turning on my PC.

      Lastly, I noticed that heavy use of the touchscreen drained the battery more quickly. Consequently, I found myself reaching for the charging cable more often. It’s not that the battery will always deplete faster solely due to the touchscreen; digitizers consume very little power when idle, even less than the CPU and GPU. However, the battery drains quickly if I engage in activities that require constant touch interaction.

      Despite these drawbacks, I wouldn’t go back to a non-touchscreen PC. In my view, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and justify the extra expense.