14 inch vs 15.6 inch laptop screen

Laptops have been an integral part of the IT revolution that we have been undergoing since the early 2000’s. People are working on the go, processing data, crunching in numbers, creating and editing content digitally. 

Being the absolute busybodies they are, people tend to look for laptops and notebooks that help them meet their end of working hard pressed. Computers and laptops with big screens and big bodies have always been sought after and thus marketable. 

Laptops have been an integral part of the IT revolution that we have been undergoing since the early 2000’s. People are working on the go, processing data, crunching in numbers, creating and editing content digitally. And now, they are also studying online. Anyone can learn a new skill and receive certification online. College students can even pursue degrees, not to mention all the helpful educational tools, essay and research paper writing service platforms that they have access to. As long as you have a laptop and a stable internet connection, you can do anything.

But for people that need to be active on their systems no matter the time or their location, smaller screen laptops are the most viable option and thus are in demand.

Can one do with a 14-inch laptop screen? Is it big enough?

A 14-inch laptop specializes in being portable and nifty not only because of its screen size but because of the following reasons:

Weight:

Taking into consideration the size difference of a 14-inch laptop and its closest variant, a 15.6-inch laptop, we can totally understand why the weight difference is as much as it is. 

Laptops are made to be carried around as your own personal system, and thus it’s best if it weighs less. Carrying around a heavy system not only requires a sturdier backpack but also requires a lot of energy for a daily commuter. 

Being a smaller variant, it has a lesser risk of shocks or impacts from outside. Thus weighing less definitely adds an edge to a 14-inch laptop.

Portability:

Working on the go is the primary reason for buying a laptop. With a heavier and bigger laptop, working even when you do not have a desk becomes a major inconvenience. 

A bigger laptop is not only prone to shocks on commutes but has a tendency to wear you out if you’re using your legs as a stand. 14-inch laptops are well optimized to be carried around as they are too compact.

Working faster:

As a 14-inch laptop fits right on your lap; it increases typing and working efficiency of the user. With a screen as compact, going through data and lines is a cakewalk. The keyboard usually doesn’t have number pads on the side which might hinder typing speed a little. 

But it fits right into the chassis perfectly to provide the best typing experience. With a perfectly optimized keyboard working faster would be undemanding. 

Density of pixels:

The 15.6-inch laptop, which is an immediate variant of the 14-inch laptop, is considerably bigger in size than the latter. The screen resolutions on both laptops are optimized equally, but the screen size is a major decisive factor in pixel distribution. 

The 15.6-inch laptop has a bigger screen, but the same resolution has worse pixel distribution whereas, in a 14-inch laptop, the pixels are closely packed into a smaller screen, thus providing a richer experience.

Battery life:

The screen provides the output is a major player in deciding the battery life of any device is it a laptop or any mobile device. Working on a smaller screen for longer periods of time won’t induce as much battery drain as in a 15.6-inch laptop. 

14-inch laptops also have a significantly lesser amount of high-grade specs due to low space in the body and thus demand a lot less battery consumption.

Conclusion:

Given above was a conclusive list of reasons on why a 14-inch screen on a laptop is optimum. Not only can one make do better with a smaller screen, but it can also be deduced that a 14-inch laptop screen is big enough.

Hey y'all, I'm deciding whether I should get a 14 inch (1080p) or 15.6 inch laptop (1080p).

I've owned a 14 inch asus vivobook with a 1080p display, but the scaling is too weird on Ubuntu, PopOS, and all the other non-kde distros. Scaling at 100% is too small, and 200% is too big, so I am forced to use kde distros on it with 150% scaling.

I've heard that Thinkpads have good linux support in general, but does this issue still persist on the 14 inch 1080p Thinkpads? If so, would picking a 15.6 inch model fix that?

Looking at the Thinkpad L14, E14, and L15, to be specific.

Edit: accidentally put 125% instead of 150% oops!

Edit 2: Thanks, everyone! It seems the general consensus here with 14 inch 1080p laptops is to either scale the fonts or use a de that supports fractional scaling (kde, deepin, gnome + experimental features or xrandr). The numpad, typing on the 'left,' and the extra weight that comes with 15.6 laptops is totally up to preference :)

Edit 3: Similar thread on r/thinkpad for those wondering as well: https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/o8r2qa/how_good_is_the_linux_display_scaling_on_14_inch/

Written by Kasper 16 March 2021 12:20

One laptop is not the other. They are all different in size, thickness and weight. There are so many different types of laptops that it is sometimes difficult to orientate yourself. Especially if you don't know which size best suits what you want to do with the laptop. On this page you can read which inch format suits your usage situation.

Which inch size suits you depends on several factors. To make a good decision, it's useful to ask yourself the following questions:

• Is a large screen important or rather a smaller screen?
• Do I take my laptop with me a lot or do I mainly work at a fixed location?

10-inch laptops are the smallest sized laptops. That makes them ideal for on the road, because these laptops weigh less than a kilogram. Working out notes or watching a YouTube video on the go is great on these laptops. However, if you want to use programs that require sharp images or powerful hardware, then you don't want a 10-inch laptop. In that case it is smart to buy a larger and more powerful laptop.

Just like their little 10-inch brothers, 11-inch laptops are especially useful if you travel a lot. This size laptops is also lightweight and therefore ideal for use in, for example, the train. In terms of hardware, these laptops are not high-flyers, just like the 10-inch variants, so photo editing or more demanding tasks are not reserved for the 11-inch laptops. Checking your Facebook timeline, surfing the web or watching your favorite YouTube channel, these laptops are going great.

Do you do more with your laptop than home-garden-and-kitchen use and you also travel a lot, then you end up with for example 12-inch laptops. The powerful hardware ensures that you also perform heavier tasks on the laptop. Think of photo or video editing or sketching ideas on a touchscreen. Just like the smaller laptops, a 12-inch laptop is handy to take to, for example, college or your work.

From 13-inch laptops you can speak of a fully-fledged notebook with sufficient screen space. This format is convenient to take with you and use on the road, but also to place on location and work there. There are 13-inch laptops from simple versions to luxury models with powerful hardware. Whether you use it for e-mailing, watching films or doing graphic work: there is a 13-inch laptop for everyone.

The screen of 14-inch laptops is slightly larger than an A4. Handy for traveling and at the same time certainly suitable for use at your desk. A 14-inch is the size for you when you find 13-inch too small and 15-inch laptops too colossal. What do you use them for? For photo and video editing, watching movies or simply getting rid of your inbox. As with the 13-inch models, there is always a 14-inch that meets your requirements.

15-inch laptops are the most popular laptop format. Unlike smaller laptops, they are more difficult to carry, but at a fixed location you have a much larger screen to work on. These laptops are suitable for the simplest or most demanding tasks. So whether you watch or make videos, are a gamer or perhaps want to explore virtual reality, with a 15-inch laptop you are in the right place for every task.

The largest format laptops. If you want to use the laptop primarily in one place and you want a screen as large as possible, a 17-inch is for you. The large screen makes these notebooks ideal for working with 2 windows next to each other. Do you want to play your favorite games or watch a movie on a screen as large as possible, even then a 17-inch format is what you want. Just not exactly easy to take with you.

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