Could We See The End of The Desktop Computer?

With smartphones already incredibly capable of managing a lot of day-to-day computing needs, do we still have a need for desktops?

23:40 05 October 2023

Ten years ago you'd expect to see the vast majority of web traffic originated from static, desktop computers and only a small portion came from mobile devices. Look at the same sites today and it's much more likely to originate from mobile devices. This shift is also gaining speed, with the latest statistics putting mobile traffic at around 59% of total website activity.

With smartphones already incredibly capable of managing a lot of day to day computing needs, is a day when the desktop computer is obsolete on the horizon?

What a Smartphone Can Do

This is a list that's growing every day. Many of the functions that were previously 'desktop-only' have made their way over to mobiles and tablets as well. Things like graphic design software and photo editors have become well-established in both Google Play and the App Store, owing to a substantial increase in processing power and screen space in current devices.

Between the graphics and a massive rise in processing power, smartphones can now also handle many entertainment options usually reserved for more powerful machines. 4K streaming for TV and movies has been a feature for many years but you can now add virtual and augmented reality to the mix. Entire industries focussing on online gaming have built themselves up as mobile-first due to the potential. It's why loading up something like the Sugar Rush slot on a desktop browser looks exactly the same as on your phone browser. Virtually every game created in that line is designed for mobile, even the most complex ones.

What a Smartphone Can't Do

Many forget that, as rapidly as mobile technology has developed, desktop technology has advanced almost as quickly. Smartphones may have closed the gap to standard desktops in terms of graphics and power, but at the highest end of hardware from companies like Nvidia, graphics cards and processors still surpass even the top end of mobile devices.

Take, for example, graphic design as an example pursuit. Smartphones can handle many smaller functions and files, but professional design work uses huge file sizes and major processing power, especially in the case of large video files with something like Adobe Premiere. This is not to mention the required precise controls that a small screen often can't manage, as well as the super-fast internet options that are required for transferring those massive files around.

Are Desktops Here To Stay?

The short answer is that there are currently too many uses for desktop computers for them to get wiped out entirely, particularly in the professional sphere. We will likely continue to see the average digital user shift away from static devices. Aside from the convenience of having access wherever you are, a smartphone is usually far less trouble and cost than maintaining a PC, particularly if you only want to make use of everyday features.

It may be more realistic to think of desktops themselves as likely to adapt rather than be replaced. We've already seen a number of creations from companies like Apple or Alienware where a portable machine is equal to most high-end desktops. In reality, the terminology we use for them may end up being the only thing that changes.