Today we will be discussing different parameters such as laptop display size, screen resolution or screen types that can affect overall user experience in laptops.
Display sizes
Laptop screen size is measured diagonally from edge to edge. It comes in several sizes. They can start with 11 inches and can go upto 17 inches in size. The most common screen sizes you will see are 14, 15.6 and 17 inches. While bigger displays are built for heavier laptops, smaller displays are integrated with thin-and-light laptops which are easy to carry around.
So if you are a user who needs frequent travelling carrying your laptop, you can opt for screens under 14 inches.
Display resolution
Screen resolution is measured in pixels and is mentioned in horizontal vs vertical pixels and the most common screen resolutions are HD, Full HD and UltraHD or 4K.
Basic thing to remember here is that the more screen resolution you choose, the better visual experience you are going to get.
HD Display: 1366 x 768 pixels
Starting with a HD resolution, which is a 1366 by 768 pixels in size, is basically found in entry level budget laptops. It is a cost efficient display and is sufficient to watch movies, internet browsing, reading or playing games with low graphics demand.
Full HD: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Coming to the FullHD screen resolution, which is twice the pixels and clarity vs HD display. It is available in high end laptops and provides a balance between cost, good visuals and battery life. Users who love enjoying HD videos and want to enjoy graphics in a gaming session can opt for a Full HD resolution screen.
Ultra HD or 4K: 3840 x 2160 pixels
Now if we talk about 4K displays, they are 4 times sharper in resolution than a FullHD display. Needless to say they offer the highest image and video clarity and is the most expensive display. You can even go for higher resolution displays such as 8K, but they will be present in high end monitors or televisions.
Screen Type
|
IPS |
Non-IPS |
|
Much higher visual quality |
Lower visual quality compared to IPS |
|
Better viewing angles |
Lesser viewing angles |
|
Higher color accuracy |
Lower color accuracy than IPS |
|
More expensive |
Less expensive |
Now if we talk about different screen types, we can find basically two types. One is IPS or In-Plane Switching and the others are the non-IPS screen displays. IPS displays allow users to watch screens without any discoloration, with more viewing angles. They provide higher color accuracy and are more expensive. On the other hand, Non-IPS displays are less expensive and generally provide a lesser visual quality compared to an IPS screen.
Touch Screen Laptops
You will find several laptops with touch displays which are generally called as 2-in-1 or convertible laptops. They offer an enhanced user experience similar to a tablet or a smartphone. On a touch screen users can directly interact with the display thus making it highly in demand by visual artists who need to draw directly on a laptop screen.
Screen refresh rates
One of the highest seeking features in a laptop screen is higher screen refresh rate. Screen refresh rate which is measured in Hertz or Frames per seconds, is the number of times an image is changed per second on the screen. The standard refresh rate for laptop screens is 60Hz with higher FPS giving smoother gaming experience.
So if gaming is one of your top priorities, you should look for a laptop with a higher refresh rate display.
Screen Bezels
Screen Bezels, they may look ugly but they protects the screen from accidental damage and houses front facing camera. With modern laptops bezels are getting narrower allowing the increase in size of the display without increasing the weight of the laptop.
Glossy vs Matte Screens
Glossy displays have more vivid color and contrast. Colors appear more intense and saturated, while blacks appear deeper. However the most noticeable downside of a Glossy display is the reflection of light. Reflections can make a glossy display basically unusable in direct sunlight.
If we talk about Matte screens, they have an anti-glare coating applied to them, so they’re much better at preventing reflections. It’s easier to see a matte screen in a bright room. The downside is that the anti-glare coating makes colors appear a bit more dull. Matte displays are not suitable for professionals whose profiles demand highest color accuracy in work.