Size Matters — Why You Should Buy a 16-inch Laptop

Nov. 9 2023

Since 2021, there has been a growing number of 16-inch laptops, and it started here at ASUS with the ROG Zephyrus M16 (GU603). Instead of the conventional 16:9 aspect ratio, ASUS 16-inch laptops tout a taller 16:10 aspect ratio which gained popularity in ASUS’ more compact 14-inch offerings.

We expect this trend for larger 16-inch displays to continue as people can do more and more on their laptops, and here’s why you should get an ASUS 16-inch laptop for yourself as your next computing companion.

15-inch laptops (or 15.6-inch, to be exact) are pretty much considered the “standard” size. Just look around you, and you will spot plenty of 15-inch laptops. Being larger than the portability-focused 14-inch options and yet more compact than the 17-inch displays found in desktop replacement laptops, many consider the 15.6-inch laptops to be the “Goldilocks solution”, so to speak, as it is the ideal middle ground that’s not too small like 14-inch laptops, and not too bulky like a 17-inch laptop.

It is also due to this popularity that there are plenty of accessories designed around the average dimensions of a 15-inch laptop, from laptop bags to laptop stands, you can usually quite easily find something to fit your 15-inch laptop. So, what about 16-inch laptops then? Well, thanks to our ingenious designers and engineers, ASUS 16-inch laptops are designed to be just as compact as any modern 15-inch laptop — and way more compact than older 15-inch ones — while giving you approximately 10% more screen real estate for you to see more of whatever you’re doing.

ASUS 16-inch laptops are just as portable as 15-inch laptops

As mentioned above, ASUS 16-inch laptops generally share similar dimensions with 15-inch laptops, which means that it can easily fit into any backpack or laptop sleeve designed for 15-inch laptops. This also means that if you’re used to carrying around a 15-inch laptop, you would have no issues going around town with an ASUS 16-inch model.

Aside from the dimensions, the weight of ASUS 16-inch laptops are also very similar to 15-inch laptops. We will be talking about some models ranging from mainstream productivity laptops to gaming laptops that easily come in under 2kg, as well as a pro-creator laptop that comes in at slightly above 2kg, but delivers desktop-level performance.

So what’s the right 16-inch laptop for you? Here are three options that we would recommend to you, depending on your needs and budget.

ASUS has been releasing a number of 16-inch laptops recently, and the ASUS Vivobook 16 (M1605)ranks as one of the most affordable 16-inch laptops, making it perfect for students or casual users looking to get a laptop with a larger display. This laptop fits as easily into your budget as it will your bag. As it is very similar in size and weight to a 15-inch laptop, the ASUS Vivobook 16 (M1605) won’t weigh you down at all when you bring your laptop out for collaborative assignments or classes.

And of course, there’s the benefit of the larger 16-inch display. When compared side-by-side against a conventional 15-inch laptop, you can quite easily see the extra screen real estate gained by going with the marginally larger 16-inch ASUS Vivobook 16. That’s at least 4 rows of text that you would have had to scroll to see if you were using a 15-inch laptop!

Like most of the recent ASUS laptops, the ASUS Vivobook 16 (M1605) also comes with a full array of ports for all your needs, ranging from a USB-C port that supports USB Power Delivery (USB-PD), to a full-sized HDMI port, perfect for when you want to project your presentation to a larger display. No dongles required!

There are plenty of gaming laptops in the market, but you would be hard pressed to find one as sleek and stylish as the ROG Zephyrus G16. Featuring the iconic Prismatic Shine dot matrix design, the ROG Zephyrus G16 looks unlike any other laptop you have ever seen.

The 16-inch screen behind the stunning lid here is an ROG Nebula Display, which means that it met ROG’s stringent requirements in terms of brightness, vividness, and speed.

The taller 16:10 aspect ratio comes in handy for gaming and creating, giving you 10% more space for all that you do. The narrow screen bezels on all sides maximizes immersion while also enhancing the overall aesthetics, and unlike 17-inch laptops which often are designed to maximize performance at the cost of portability, the ROG Zephyrus G16 packs all the gaming horsepower you need into a 1.9kg light chassis. These benefits also apply to most of other ROG 16-inch gaming laptops .

Other than for casual users and gamer, ASUS also has a full lineup of laptops designed for creators. Take your content creation experience up a notch with the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED (H7604), which features the latest generation hardware and a stunning 16-inch 3.2K 120Hz ASUS Lumina OLED display. This world-leading screen gives you 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, Delta E <1 color accuracy, as well as both Calman Verified and PANTONE® Validated certifications, ensuring that you get the true-to-life colors and visual experience you would expect from a creator laptop.

That’s before even we talk about how the taller aspect ratio benefits you in creator applications. The extra vertical room afforded by the 16:10 aspect ratio of the 16-inch screen featured in the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED (H7604) makes editing vertical videos much more comfortable. While vertical videos may have been primarily the domain of amateur creators, we are seeing an increasing trend for even professional creators to craft their content in the vertical format for better reach on viral video sharing platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

The ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED (H7604) is designed with more than just a stunning display though. The cooling is optimized to deliver great performance even during extended editing sessions, and the ASUS Dial adds a new way to work with your creative applications, productivity apps and more. Enjoy a more intuitive twist to your workflow with the ASUS Dial, exclusively available on ASUS’ creator laptops.

16-inch displays surely bring plenty of benefits to everyone, regardless of whether you’re a student, a gamer or a content creator. If you want to check out more of ASUS 16-inch laptop offerings, make sure to check them out via the links below!