What is the Best Screen Size for a Gaming Laptop?
At the end of the day this comes down to personal preference, but here’s what you need to consider:
Small Screen: Smaller 14 inch gaming laptops are great if you’re on the go, but at the compromise of a smaller screen. Some people won’t like trying to glance at a smaller image.
These laptops also have less upgrade options – just one M.2 slot for storage upgrades is fairly common, but the ones that have two compromise by having soldered memory.
Medium Screen: 15-16 inch gaming laptops are a great sweet spot. They usually offer enough upgrade options (e.g. 2x M.2 slots, 2x RAM sticks, 1x Wi-Fi card), enough ports, and have a slightly bigger screen which is better for most people while not being too much bigger or heavier.
Large Screen: 17 inch gaming laptops are quickly disappearing, replaced by taller 16:10 18 inch screens that fit within a similar size footprint. I think it’s fair to say that objectively, these bigger screens just look better to play games on – at least that’s our experience! But the compromise is more weight to carry around with you, there’s always a tradeoff.
For me personally, the portability trade off of a big screen isn’t worth it, as I only use laptops when traveling. But if you’re not moving the machine around as much, a bigger laptop might offer more ports, even more upgrade options (think 3x or 4x M.2 slots, up to 4x RAM slots), and potentially bigger coolers for more performance.
I’ll stick to 14-15 inch and just connect a bigger screen when I dock at home! But let me know which you prefer and why?
Of course physical size is only one part of picking a screen, you also need to pick the right resolution.
8 Comments
Ash
i like 16 inch screens, can always plug into a moniter at home but still have good portability when traveling lots as i do.
Jarrod! Would love to see a video or post about what would be a good price of certain laptops. Also a price estimate of models once 50 series gets announced and whether it will have an impact on machines with 40 series cards.
Logged onto your deals page this morning and saw the 2023 legion pro 7(AMD CPU with 4080) for 2500 cad (2800inc tax).
Would love to pull the trigger on this after all the reviews you have made and my history (lenovo 5 3070, lenovo y720) but i just dont know if a better deal will come along closer to B friday or after the new cards drop.
Just potential idea for more content as im sure many people are in my shoes and wondering whats truly a great deal or whether to hold off a little longer!
(
Jarrod
I did that recently here, though it’s only for US prices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt99vFUtnfA
No idea about 50 series unfortunately, left my crystal ball at home 🙂
I think lenovo might have some sort of price guarantee over black friday, where if you see a lower price they will pay you the difference, I’m not exactly sure, but check the terms I see the banner about it on their site.
Henrik Grender
Personally, I think 17-18″ is the suite spot. Both for work and play. Been stuck with 16″ for two laptops now since there have been no defensible deal on bigger ones.
I’m not the type to use my laptop on a plane, train, bus or at the café, but I do bring it with me whenever I travel, and, of course, from home and to work, plus I can use it in any room in my house. So, to me bigger screen is always a plus, unless the laptop becomes too bulky, like older DTR machines.
Costel Hx
Hi Jarrod, recently ASUS released a new series of budget gaming laptops, will you review the Asus V16? The only configuration available in europe is a core ultra 5 210h and rtx 4050, it’s being promoted as a slim gaming laptop. The price here is 800-950$
Jarrod
Probably not, it doesn’t seem to be available in western countries so not sure I can buy it.
Thomas Evald
Hi Jarrod, thanks for the post! I’ve been looking to get an 18-inch laptop with a 4K display, and while I was hoping they’d become more common with the release of the 50 series, that doesn’t seem to be the case just yet. One of the few models I’ve come across is the new Razer Blade 18. It looks promising with 245W performance output for 5070ti and the improved keyboard.
Where I am, the preorder price for the 5070 Ti version with 32GB RAM and 1TB storage is around $3,300 USD, which I think is not that crazy for Razer. I’m wondering if it’s worth preordering now (I imagine they don’t have a lot in stock) or if it might be better to wait a bit longer.
I saw your review of the new Blade 16—great video, by the way! Do you plan to cover the Blade 18 as well?
Jarrod
Hard to say as I don’t know what’s going to happen to prices, we are expecting to get the Blade 18 later this week, but it’s been delayed again and again so I don’t have high hopes. Once we do get it we’ll need 1-2 weeks to make the video.
Lewis
As a total war lover iv been looking for the best laptop to run the games iv been looking at handheld gameing like the legion go but i dont think it would run total war games best bet would be a laptop any help would be appreciated