A personal digital assistant (PDA) is a portable mobile device used for personal or business tasks, such as scheduling and maintaining calendar and address book information. Smartphones can also perform these tasks, through built-in functionality or apps. This article examines the differences between PDAs and smartphones to help you decide which is right for you.

Smartphones are everywhere and many users rely on these devices for more than just voice and text communication. However, the PDA is still around and some users enjoy the functionality of the digital day planner.

Since the first PDA users were business users, there is good business software available for PDAs. However, the range and compatibility of apps available for smartphones is astonishing and the best days of the PDA seem to be behind us.

PDAs are often less expensive than smartphones over the life of the device, although the initial purchase price of some smartphones is less than the cost of a PDA. You often pay more for a smartphone over the course of a year or two than you would for a PDA. For example, wireless data plans add up over time, making smartphones more expensive in the long run.