Physically larger screen or better pixel density?

[DripplessNewt]

I am looking into a new laptop and have been trying to figure this one out, and it spawned questions of how a monitor or tv would behave. I guess for me personally I am more interested in hearing if you guys have found it better to get a high resolution 14 inch laptop or a lower resolution 16 inch (or whatever other sizes there may be). But what about TVs and monitors? Is there a place where it changes from one answer to the other? 

Edit/Clarification: I am thinking in the sense of being better able to have multiple windows on screen effectively

[igormp]

7 minutes ago, DripplessNewt said:

Edit/Clarification: I am thinking in the sense of being better able to have multiple windows on screen effectively

Depends on how good your vision is. If you can see everything properly with a 14" 4k laptop, then you can fit tons of windows open in there. However, I don't think it's feasible to do so, so you will need to use scaling, which will actually decrease your screen real estate.

 

Better go to a store and try out some screens.

 

8 minutes ago, DripplessNewt said:

But what about TVs and monitors?

I use a 4k 42" TV as a display so I can have many windows open at the same time. I guess I could go 32", but those are more expensive here and I'm not sure I'd be able to use them without scaling.

 

My personal laptop is a 14" 1080p and I like it. Maybe 1440p could work, but 4k is a no go (I don't like scaling and don't really want to sacrifice battery for the higher DPI).

 

On my 14" MBP I do use scaling, the stock res without scaling makes things to small for me to properly see, and their default scaling leaves no actual screen area for windows, so I have it somewhere in the middle.

[Agall]

8 minutes ago, DripplessNewt said:

I am looking into a new laptop and have been trying to figure this one out, and it spawned questions of how a monitor or tv would behave. I guess for me personally I am more interested in hearing if you guys have found it better to get a high resolution 14 inch laptop or a lower resolution 16 inch (or whatever other sizes there may be). But what about TVs and monitors? Is there a place where it changes from one answer to the other? 

Edit/Clarification: I am thinking in the sense of being better able to have multiple windows on screen effectively

Depends on the use case, for gaming and general media consumption, 1080p at 14" or 16" is plenty high enough pixel density.

 

The goal is to not see the individual pixels at a normal viewing distance, laptops/phones with 1080p displays are generally plenty, where it only starts to become a problem with 1080p on >24" monitors. The scenario where you'd want more is for specific use-cases, but even then, those users are likely to just have a higher resolution external display.

[DripplessNewt]

Just now, igormp said:

On my 14" MBP I do use scaling, the stock res without scaling makes things to small for me to properly see, and their default scaling leaves no actual screen area for windows, so I have it somewhere in the middle.

I certainly feel that. I have a M1 air and the scaling+resolution options are honestly useless for me. 

I definitely will be making a store trip at some point but was curious for just putting my spreadsheet together now. Have you ever noticed anything that bothers you with having a 4k display on your desk but a 1080p one on your laptop? 

[DripplessNewt]

5 minutes ago, Agall said:

Depends on the use case, for gaming and general media consumption, 1080p at 14" or 16" is plenty high enough pixel density.

 

I am thinking mostly student type work. My biggest wonder is having two windows side by side (word and a broswer for example) and if resolution would affect that. 

[igormp]

5 minutes ago, DripplessNewt said:

Have you ever noticed anything that bothers you with having a 4k display on your desk but a 1080p one on your laptop? 

My desktop fits more windows since it's like 4x the actual resolution of my laptop  

Jokes apart, nope, but keep in mind that the distance you use your devices is also relevant. I use my laptop way closer to my face compared to my TV, so, even though it has a higher DPI, I can still see things just fine.

[jaslion]

At 15 inch 1080p is darn crispy still so really no need to go high res. Also higher res means more battery drain and if you wanna play at that on such a tiny screen a lot more needed performance for very little extra sharpness.

[Agall]

2 hours ago, DripplessNewt said:

I am thinking mostly student type work. My biggest wonder is having two windows side by side (word and a broswer for example) and if resolution would affect that. 

There's compromise within that, unless you have really good eyes and can see 3200x1800 or 4K at desktop level scaling on a 16" display, being approximately 1/4th the side of a 32" 4K display (which is the best screen size for that resolution in my opinion), then sure. Most people though won't get any increase in productivity/usability and simply either be unable to see anything or end up running such a high display scaling that its practically a 1080p display (or develop severe posture/neck problems).

 

Word+browser on a 1080p 14" display is very usable in my opinion, but I'd also recommend getting an external display if you're asking this question. They make portable external displays that stack nicely in a backpack/travel bag.

 

The advantages of higher resolution come with larger displays, as someone who at home only uses a 32" 4K display and at work uses a 32" 4K display above my work laptop's 1080p 14" display. Although at several points in the last 12 years or so, I've used multiple triple display setups and even a 1440p UW and secondary 4K display.