Why 14-inch laptops are the Goldilocks solution to the 13 versus 15-inch dilemma

(Image credit: Laptop Magazine)

For the past several years, about all ultraportable laptops had one affair in common: a xiii-inch display. When these thin and lightweight laptops arrived on the scene, they gave users the portability 15-inch laptops couldn't evangelize at the fourth dimension and the speedy operation now-extinct "netbooks" would never reach.

The 13-inch laptop was the sugariness spot. Any larger and you sacrifice a sleek design worthy of capturing the attention of in-store customers, any smaller and you creep into tablet territory. But what if yous could get the same portability but with a larger display? That'south where 14-inch laptops come in.

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In the past few months, we've seen 14-inch versions of flagship laptops that were previously available in only xiii-inch and 15-inch flavors. Take, for case, the HP Envy and HP Spectre models — these two well-regarded families of laptops received a 14-inch sibling this year. In both cases, the new version is essentially identical to the 13-inch model but with a larger panel — making them like shooting fish in a barrel to recommend.

Why fourteen inches is the sweet spot

My previous two laptops were a Dell XPS 13 and an XPS xv. I loved the smaller model (although information technology was the terminal version without the InfinityEdge display) for its meaty size and robust build. But when information technology was time to upgrade, I opted for the larger XPS 15 — the thirteen.3-inch panel on the XPS 13 was but likewise minor for my multitasking needs.

I have no regrets almost moving to the XPS 15. The xv.6-inch panel allows me to comfortably use two windows side-by-side, something I exercise frequently when writing reviews or editing manufactures. That said, the XPS 15 is considerably heavier than the XPS 13. My specific model comes in at a relatively mesomorphic 4.half dozen pounds. Yep, you can discover much lighter 15-inch models, simply they tend to cede durability.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon — (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

The influx of new 14-inch laptops comes at the perfect fourth dimension. I will be in the market for an XPS 15 replacement side by side yr and will exclusively be looking at laptops with 14-inch displays. These, I feel, offer the best compromise of the three Ps: power, portability and ports. Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a prime example. It boasts the newest Intel 11th Gen U-series chips, comes in at 0.half dozen inches and 2.4 pounds, and offers a generous option of ports, including Thunderbolt, USB Type-A and even HDMI.

For the longest time, I assumed my side by side laptop buy would exist that exact model — Lenovo (forth with Asus) being among the few companies to regularly release 14-inch laptops over the years. However, this once-niche category of notebooks is at present heating up. It's safe to presume that, when information technology's fourth dimension for me to buy a new device next yr, I'll have enough to cull from. There is the aforementioned Spectre x360 fourteen (which, to be off-white, has a xiii.five-inch console), every bit well every bit the Vaio Z, EliteBook 840 G7, Yoga 9i and Acer Swift 3. I'm even eyeing the ZenBook Duo, a dual-screen option with a primary fourteen-inch panel and a secondary 12.6-inch screen.

Power or portability: Take your option

What's unique about fourteen-inch laptops is how they span across diverse categories. On i end, laptop makers take institute means to pack powerful components into the chassis of a 14-inch laptop without running into heat problems. On the other finish of the spectrum, some 14-inch models are fifty-fifty thinner and lighter than their 13-inch counterparts.

If y'all desire the well-nigh power, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a capable gaming laptop with a Ryzen 9-4900HS CPU and an RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU. It can stand toe-to-toe with much larger 15.6-inch or even 17-inch systems in part because Asus uses magnesium alloy to keep the chassis cool under a heavy workload.

If you need something more portable, there are now plenty of great options, similar the Asus ExpertBook B9450, LG Gram xiv, Vaio Z, ThinkPad X1 Carbon or the Acer TravelMate P6. These are all under 2.v pounds, or less than what many 13-inch laptops weighed just a few years ago.

MacBook Pro with a fourteen-inch display?

Even when Apple tree doesn't start a trend, information technology is oftentimes credited for popularizing information technology, so if the upcoming MacBook Pro launches with a 14-inch brandish, expect to hear more "14 is the new 13" takes. You should also expect brands that oasis't already caught on to exercise the same — and for display suppliers to go all-in on that screen size (the Spectre x360 14 can already exist configured with a 3K2K OLED panel with a 3:2 attribute ratio).

But I'k getting ahead of myself; what's this 14-inch MacBook Pro I speak of? Multiple reports and leaks hint at a fourteen-inch MacBook Pro ready to replace the previous 13-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt ports (the 2 Thunderbolt version could stay at 13.3 inches). These aren't but any rumors; they come up from 2 of the most reliable sources in the Apple realm: the TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Marker Gurman of Bloomberg.

It'due south assumed that Apple tree will make similar changes to the 13-inch model as it did when information technology transformed the 15-inch version into a current xvi-inch MacBook Pro. Those updates (along with a fancy new Apple Silicon chip) include thinner bezels, and therefore, a like footprint as the electric current one despite it having a larger screen. This is an Apple product, so don't expect anything physical until we go closer to launch, which is said to be in the third quarter of this year. I'm hopeful Apple makes the modify so it tin can accelerate the growth of xiv-inch laptops.

Phillip Tracy is the assistant managing editor at Laptop Mag where he reviews laptops, phones and other gadgets while roofing the latest industry news. After graduating with a journalism caste from the University of Texas at Austin, Phillip became a tech reporter at the Daily Dot. There, he wrote reviews for a range of gadgets and covered everything from social media trends to cybersecurity. Prior to that, he wrote for RCR Wireless News covering 5G and IoT. When he's not tinkering with devices, you lot can find Phillip playing video games, reading, traveling or watching soccer.