eli5: why do people use PINs for smartphones but passwords for their computer?

Question

i don’t understand this, they are both equally important, so why use a less secure unlock on one?

In: 5

Answer 1

For starters computers offer the option of a PIN (default in laptops usually) and you can have a password on a phone. The main reason is convenience. When you turn on your computer you type in the password once and then go on to use it for a few hours. Your phone however you use throughout the day and you keep locking and unlocking it as you take it in and out of your pocket, so a pin is quick and easy enough to input every time you take it out while offering some security.