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Don’t just say 16 inches: laptops with this screen size are smaller than their brothers with the same screen size from a few years ago. There are plenty
Don’t just say 16 inches: laptops with this screen size are smaller than their brothers with the same screen size from a few years ago. There are plenty of reasons to choose a 16-inch notebook these days, although that’s no reason to write off smaller models.
Are you opting for a compact 13-inch laptop? Or would you like it to be a little larger and are you thinking about a 16-inch model? While 16-inch laptops were once the domain of gamers, they can now also be found in the mainstream business segment. There are several good reasons for this. We’ll take the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 as an example and first take a look at its size.
After all, we don’t just say 16 inches. This information refers to the screen diagonal and corresponds to 40.6 cm. This means that you won’t know exactly how big the screen is unless you know the screen ratio. Not long ago, almost all laptops had a screen ratio of 16:9 (the ratio of the long side to the short side), which is ideal for those who want to play media. For a 16-inch laptop, this means the screen measures 35.4 cm x 19.9 cm.
New (business) laptops are moving away from this. For most applications, an aspect ratio of 16:10 is more interesting. If we unleash some Pythagorean magic on the numbers, we discover that a 16-inch screen diagonal in 16:10 corresponds to a screen measuring 34.4 cm x 21.5 cm. The ThinkPad E16 has an aspect ratio of around 16:10 and a screen that is about a centimeter narrower.
This doesn’t make the notebook any taller. Older devices traditionally had a much higher screen bezel at the bottom, but on a 16:10 laptop this is taken up by an additional screen. The edges on the side have also become smaller over the years. Our 16-inch ThinkPad is therefore a lot more compact than a 16-inch laptop from a few years ago. It’s safe to say that a 16-inch device today will fit comfortably into the body of a 15-inch device of yesteryear.
Laptops are no longer the giants of yesterday and you can feel that in your back. The ThinkPad E16, for example, weighs a comfortable 1.76 kg. A 13-inch Ultrabook weighs significantly less, but you can’t blame the ThinkPad and Co. for being too thick.
If mobility is your only need, you might be better off going with a 13-inch or 14-inch model, but if you travel occasionally or commute primarily by train, you can really get started with a 16-inch model . Additionally, a 16-inch laptop will accommodate a larger battery than a smaller one, although it will need to support a larger screen with more pixels, so you can’t expect much value from it.
Inside a 16-inch device, the components have more space, so they heat up less quickly and influence each other less. The same processor in a 16-inch laptop will generally perform slightly better than in an equivalent 13-inch laptop.
This is not the case with our test model of the Lenovo ThinkPad E16, but many other models receive an additional graphics card from their manufacturer because the additional space makes integration easier.
Despite the screen ratio calculations discussed above, a 16-inch laptop is of course slightly wider than a 14-inch equivalent. This gives the manufacturer leeway to add a numeric keypad. On the ThinkPad E16 you will see such a full-fledged numeric keyboard, without narrowed keys. This is a welcome addition, especially in our region where the numbers above must share keys with special characters.
We see that many manufacturers are taking the opportunity to integrate a slightly larger touchpad. This makes operating the laptop without a mouse much more pleasant.
What about the screen itself? This is of course much more spacious than that of a 14-inch or 13-inch laptop. You can choose what you do with it. If you have good eyesight, you can easily display more information on the laptop screen. This is ideal for photo and video editing, as you can still see the image in large format while still leaving space around it for function buttons and toolbars.
Of course, you can also make individual components of the user interface a little larger. For example, a 16-inch laptop is a better choice for those whose eyesight is less than optimal.
When it comes to space, we would like to point out the 16:10 aspect ratio: such a notebook is more compact, but the total screen area is larger. A 16:10 ratio corresponds to a larger total screen area of 742.3 cm² compared to 705.7 cm² for a 16-inch screen. This gives you more space to work. You can also see this in the resolution: The ThinkPad E16 has 1,920 x 1,200 pixels. A 16:9 laptop would only have 1,080 pixels on the short side.
Bigger doesn’t mean more expensive. On the contrary: it is often easier for a manufacturer to accommodate the internal hardware and cooling in a slightly larger case. For example, the ThinkPad E16 costs 718 euros excluding VAT (with Intel Core i3, 256 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM). The screen space therefore does not cost you any additional money. As with other formats, there are of course also entry-level models (like this device) and other premium models.
So there are more reasons than ever to consider a 16-inch device. The devices are significantly more compact than before and offer more screen space than smaller laptops and even older 16-inch laptops with a different aspect ratio. The additional space in the case ensures better performance of the components and offers optional space for a graphics card. You get a larger keyboard, a more spacious touchpad and space for a numeric keypad. 16 inches are rightly gaining a place in the business mainstream.
Of course, that’s not your only option. 13-inch and 14-inch devices still have a great right to exist. Firstly, they benefit from the same switch to 16:10, so these laptops also offer more screen real estate than before. They are also much more portable. A weight of less than 1.2 kg is usual, while outliers in the premium segment weigh less than 1 kg.
These devices are ideal for anyone who travels a lot. Don’t just think about commuting: The added mobility benefits everyone who travels frequently for work, goes on business trips a lot or of course has to carry their laptop on their back for a long time while cycling. Big and small both have advantages and disadvantages, but 16 inches shouldn’t simply be written off.
This editorial article was created in collaboration with Lenovo.
Source: IT Daily
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
