15 Inch Laptop Vs. 17 Inch Laptop: [Which One You Should Buy?]
Whether you are buying your first laptop or looking to upgrade, deciding between a 15-inch and 17-inch laptop can be difficult. Many factors will affect the decision such as what do you plan on using it for?
Not every laptop is best for programmers, gamers, graphics designers, students, editors/writers, and travelers. A 15” laptop can do what a 17’’ laptop can’t. And the opposite is true too.
15″ laptops are great for travelling, as well as students and office workers; while gamers and designers would definitely prefer something bigger like a 17″ laptop.
This post will compare 15 inch laptop vs. 17 inch laptop in terms of their specifications, and explain which one to choose between them if needed.
15 Inch Laptop Vs. 17 Inch Laptop: Comparison based on 6 types of users
Which one to choose between a 15″ laptop and a 17″ laptop? It’s not easy to answer. Someone will definitely suggest that the bigger it is the better, but you have to understand things much more acutely. There is no right answer because it depends on who you are and what YOU want.
Certainly, someone who has to carry their laptop around at their workplace and all the way back home would have different preferences than someone who mainly needs a bigger display on a laptop- like, a gamer.
By keeping this in mind, below I have explained how 15’’ and 17’’ laptops are user-friendly for different background users. So let’s have a look.
1. For programmers
The 17-inch laptop offers a bigger screen to code. They also have a higher definition, so programming is even more fun and easier with your latest programming software. Apart from the screen size, the same goes for 15’’ laptops.
Both 15 and 17 inches laptops provide you with high resolution. You can use a 17” laptop by keeping multiple tabs side by side for your working efficiency. It helps you to work constantly without any problem. Most of the programmers keep external monitors to deal with the issue of the little screen of 15’’.
Although programming is mostly done at programming workstations for occasional coding, programming on the go is possible through 17inch laptops but a bit painful. One of the disadvantages of large-size laptops is they don’t fit easily inside the regular backpack.
Moreover, programming with a 17-inch laptop has an ergonomic keyboard designed for comfort, accuracy, and productivity. A 15” inches laptop has a small keyboard but is quite a perfect comfort for any average user.
However, a larger screen with a low power processor and low battery life won’t be much helpful for your programming work. So a detailed evaluation of the laptop is a must before buying.
To sum up, if you ask me to pick one among 15 vs 17-inch laptops for programming, I would prefer a 15’’ laptop
2. For gamers
The more days pass, the more the trend of gaming is growing. Whenever you want to decide on which size laptops to buy for gaming might pop up a lot of confusion inside your head.
To experience unparalleled gaming, you should go for a laptop that does not compromise with its screen size and battery performance. Some other key thing you need is display size plus visibility. An extremely easy to use keyboard is also a must for gamers.
Most of the people in the gaming community go for a 17’’ laptop due to the larger screen room. Because a 15’’ laptop will require an extra external monitor for the perfect gaming feel.
So why go for extra money spending and time-wasting? My recommendation between a 15 inch vs 17 inch laptop for gaming is the 17’’ laptop.
Gamers need not only a great screen but also high-level resolution and pixels to run games smoothly. And a 17’’ laptop does this task far better than a 15’’ laptop.
Game files are typically huge and put lots of pressure on your laptop. A small and compact laptop would heat up quickly and put your laptop at risk.
While you have a lot of room for hardware and won’t bother with too many heating problems. The Graphics processor needs less heat in its environment which a 17’’ can easily maintain.
Moreover, a 17” laptop helps you to add more RAM which a 15’’ simply can’t do. Though the 15’’ laptop is lighter than the 17’’ laptop, that does not even come close to the value that a 17’’ provides for the gamers.
3. For college and uni students
If you are in college then lightweight laptops would be the most appropriate. A heavy laptop will give you a hard time as you have to move quite a lot of places a day.
Undoubtedly, carrying a heavy laptop with books is just an extra burden and will make you exhausted.
So, for students, the best option is to go for a 15” laptop. An okayish RAM and normal processor can easily do the required task because students do not have a high level of workload and thousands of files.
Unless you use any high-end software like Autocad, ArchiCAD, V-Ray, SketchUp, and Matlab then you need a 17’’ laptop.
If you are a student of programming, vehicle engineering, and graphics designing then a high-end laptop is crucial. A laptop that can’t perform on top-level won’t be a good choice for you so a 17’’ is best for such a case.
Until you reach a higher level of study, a 15’’ laptop can be a good option for you in terms of portability and to be able to study or read at any place.
4. For a graphics designer
The larger your screen, the more space you have for working with various graphics programs.
A 17-inch laptop gives you more than enough room and allows you to see everything on your screen in its entirety–this is especially useful as your work as a graphic designer progresses and you need more room to store all of your files.
A 15’’ laptop can serve just as well for graphic design, but it may have certain limitations that wouldn’t necessarily be present with a larger screen.
For instance, working on 4K resolution images would require you to zoom in more frequently on smaller screens.
While the size of your screen is important to consider, many other factors are also important when purchasing a laptop. The speed of your processor, graphics card, and RAM are all crucial to creating graphic design projects with ease.
So you need to look at all the sides. But a high-end 17’’ is suitable for the work of a graphics designer.
5. For travelers
If your workplace or job demands you to travel frequently then a 17’’ laptop would be a bad option for you. Because taking it out from the backpack and using it is not that easy. Plus the high weight is also an issue.
On the other hand, a high-end 15’’ laptop can do most of the tasks for your daily use while consuming less space during your traveling.
The trays that we see in airlines and trains are not that big but large enough to use your 15’’ laptop.
6. For writers
Unlike many other users, writers don’t need a high configuration laptop. Because they typically don’t use high-range software that requires an excellent processor, graphics card, or RAM.
If you are working as a content writer or editor then a 15’’ laptop is an excellent choice. You don’t need to buy a high price and a larger size 17’’ laptop for your writing and editing.
Plus, you will get the advantage of keeping it with you all the time as the weight is less.
Advantages and Disadvantages of 17 inch laptop
Advantages :
- Has better configuration
- The display is larger in size
- Have a higher level of screen resolution and refresh rate
- Good for high-level complex multiple software use
Disadvantage:
- Users will find it a bit heavy to carry
- Not friendly for users who move frequently
Advantages and Disadvantages of 15 inch laptop
Advantages:
- Compact and lightweight
- Decent configuration for most of the users
- Battery backup is quite good
- Provide enough support for programmers
Disadvantage:
- Screen resolution isn’t high and the small display
- Not good for complex multi-tasking
Which one is better: a 15’’ laptop or a 17 ’’ laptop?
It’s hard to say on a rough note which one is better for you without knowing your background. It varies from person to person.
So if you are a student, writer/editor, or programmer then a 15’’ will be fine for you mostly.
On the other hand, if you are a gamer or graphics designer then a 17’’ is best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 17-Inches Have Good Battery Support?
Yes it does have good battery support but the big display consumes battery pretty fast.
How Much Does A 15-Inch Laptop Weigh?
The average weight range of a 15” laptop is somewhere between 2.2-4.4 lbs.
Is 1080p Enough For A 17-Inch Laptop?
Yes, 1080p is the optimum resolution for a large 17″ laptop. You will have a crystal clear experience with this resolution on a 17” laptop.
Is A 17 Inch Laptop Too Big For College?
For college students 15’’ laptops are better due to their small size and lightweight.
Will A 17″ Laptop Fit In A Backpack?
17’’ laptops will not get a very easy fit in the regular backpack due to its large size.
Do 17-Inch Laptops Have Better Cooling?
The 17 inch laptop does not have better cooling but has an ample amount of cooling fans to run it smoothly.
Is A 17-Inch Laptop Good For Programming?
Yes, they are good for programming as they have a bigger screen compared to a 15-inch one which allows you to look at multiple browsers and software at same time.
Final Words
From the above information, you can see that each laptop has its advantages and disadvantages. I have discussed both of them in detail so that you get a clear picture before purchasing your laptop.
I hope, after reading this 15” laptop vs 17” laptop comparison, you can understand which one to buy for your current requirement.