17 Inch Laptops

We usually refer to laptops by the size of their screen. For example, a 14 inch laptop has a screen measuring around 14 inches across the diagonal. A 17 inch laptop has a display measuring 17.3 inches across the diagonal.

There's no right or wrong answer to this question - it will come down to your personal preference. When looking at the two sizes, you might find that 17 inch laptops are at a slight premium. They're great for multimedia and gaming use, but there are other benefits too.

Depending on the model, screen resolution usually increases with size. This means that the larger the screen, the higher the resolution. This is great for gaming and a lot of gaming laptops have this screen size for a better experience. This isn't always true though, sometimes a 17 inch display will be the same resolution as a 14 inch one. This does mean that the icons and text will be bigger and easier to see on the 17 inch though.

Aside from the extra clarity, 17 inch laptops usually also offer some other benefits. Because the screen size is bigger, the size of the laptop is also bigger, meaning more ports and slots.  With the expanded size, the processor and other components also have more room to breathe. This leads to less heat and more performance. Finally, the battery is often bigger - meaning a better battery life.

This is a question you should be asking yourself before you buy. Though it's down to personal preference, there are clear benefits to the larger screen on a 17 inch laptop. The main downside to this larger screen is that the laptop will be heavier and bulkier. If you're usually sitting at a desk, then this won't matter, but it's worth thinking about before you buy one!