Laptops used to come with almost the same shape and design. However, there has been a new wave of laptops with taller displays in recent times, and the main difference comes down to the aspect ratio.
An aspect ratio determines how wide or tall a display is. Most laptops have a standard 16:9 aspect ratio, which is the same as your HDTV at home. These laptops support common resolutions such as 1920×1080 and 4K, making them ideal for watching movies.
However, if you’re buying a laptop for productivity and work, you’ll benefit more from a laptop with a taller aspect ratio: 16:10 and 3:2. That’s because you get more vertical screen real estate, allowing you to see more information without scrolling.
3:2 aspect ratio laptops are the tallest and offer more screen space for working with documents, browsing the web, and writing code, making them ideal for pure productivity, office work, and college.
Here are the best 3:2 aspect ratio laptops available right now.
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Best 3:2 Aspect Ratio Laptops Compared
Image | Product | Details | Check Price |
---|---|---|---|
Asus ZenBook S | Size, Resolution: 13.9-inch, 3300x2200 Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7 Storage: 1TB SSD RAM: 16GB RAM Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-A, 1x HDMI 1.4, Micro SD card reader Battery Life: 12 hours Weight: 2.76 lbs | Check on Amazon | |
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga | Size, Resolution: 13.5-inch, 2256x1504 Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i5 (Up to Core i7) Storage: 256GB SSD RAM: 8GB Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, Headphone/microphone combo Battery Life: 11.7 hours Weight: 2.54 lbs | Check on Lenovo | |
Acer Swift 3 | Size, Resolution: 13.5-inch, 2256x1504 Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7 Storage: 512GB SSD RAM: 8GB Ports: 1x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI, Headphone/microphone combo Battery Life: 14 hours Weight: 2.62 lbs | Check on Amazon | |
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go | Size, Resolution: 12.4-inch, 1536x1024 Processor: 10th Gen Intel Core i5 Storage: 128GB SSD RAM: 8GB Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, Headphone jack, 1x Surface Connect port Battery Life: 13 hours Weight: 2.45 lbs | Check on Amazon | |
HP Spectre x360 14 | Size, Resolution: 14-inch, 1920x1280 Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i5 (Up to Core i7) Storage: 256GB SSD RAM: 8GB Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x USB-A, Headphone/microphone combo Battery Life: 10 hours Weight: 2.95 lbs | Check on HP | |
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 | Size, Resolution: 13.5-inch, 2256x1504 Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 Storage: 256GB SSD RAM: 8GB Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, Headphone jack, 1x Surface Connect port Battery Life: 19 hours Weight: 3.40 lbs | Check on Amazon | |
Google Pixelbook Go | Size, Resolution: 13.3-inch, 1920x1080 Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core i5 Storage: 128GB SSD RAM: 8GB Ports: 2x USB-C, Headphone jack, Battery Life: 12 hours Weight: 2.3 lbs | Check on Amazon |
Best 3:2 Aspect Ratio Laptops – Our Picks
1. Asus ZenBook S – Exceptional Color Accuracy for Creative Work
The Asus ZenBook line has, for what seems like ages now, wowed us with some unrivaled looks and the most practical design of all ultrabooks. It gets even more interesting as the latest ZenBook S ditched the standard 16:9 aspect ratio for a more office-friendly 3:2.
Asus refreshed the ZenBook S with 11th Gen Intel processors, a larger battery, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. It has the same jade black finish with bold red copper accents as the previous generation. You also get the innovative ErgoLift hinge for a comfortable typing experience and LED-illuminated NumberPad on the touchpad. Asus managed to fit everything in a lightweight yet solid chassis that meets MIL-STD-810H U.S.
The display not only features a 3:2 aspect ratio, but it is also PANTONE Validated for color accuracy, making it perfect for color-grading work and graphics design. The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics is powerful enough to power you through intense graphical work and editing. You also get plenty of ports for your creative workflow, including a MicroSD card reader and HDMI and Thunderbolt 4 ports to connect high-resolution external displays.
Our TakeThe Asus ZenBook S is an excellent choice for those looking for a 3:2 aspect ratio laptop for work and graphics design. It has more pixels per inch (PPI), super-accurate colors for editing work, and an ergonomic keyboard.
- Solid and stylish design
- Bright and color-accurate screen
- Snappy with everyday use and multitasking
- Great connectivity
- Excellent ergonomics
- No headphone jack
2. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga – A Premium 2-in-1 for Business Users on the Go
The Lenovo ThinkPad line has been a stalwart of reliable and durable business laptops for years now. The X1 Titanium Yoga combines all the ThinkPad bells and whistles—great keyboard, TrackPoint, and Touchpad buttons—with a brand-new 13.5-inch display with a QHD (2256×1504) resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio. The result is a flexible, lightweight, and powerhouse laptop for business and professional use.
It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a thin and light laptop for work. It’s built to withstand all the bumps and bangs of the road, with a tough chassis that meets the military-grade requirements for reliability and durability. It has excellent security features, specially-designed processors for business use, and a decent 11.7-hours battery life that can easily get you through an entire workday.
However, the X1 Titanium Yoga isn’t just about the solid build quality and business features. The 13.5-inch screen with a 2256×1504 resolution is bright and sharper than regular 1080p laptops. You can spend an entire day staring at the screen without straining your eyes. There are also Thunderbolt 4 ports and Wi-Fi 6 for faster and secure connections.
Our TakeIf you’re looking for a laptop for solely business use, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is the best option you can get. The taller screen gives a lot of space to work with, and its thin, tough design lets you carry it around with you easily.
- Thin, strong 2-in-1 body
- High-resolution 3:2 display
- Plenty of security and privacy features
- Stylus support
- Not many ports
3. Acer Swift 3 – Excellent Performance and Features on a Budget
You don’t have to spend over a grand for the best 3:2 aspect ratio laptop. The Acer Swift 3 (Intel EVO) is a nice, inexpensive Windows machine that can handle most everyday tasks, thanks to its 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor. It’s an Intel Evo platform-based laptop, so you’re getting an excellent mix of performance, responsiveness, awesome battery life, and vivid display.
While some brands skimp on the build quality to keep the prices down, the Swift 3 comes with a solid, all-metal chassis, and it’s incredibly light at only 2.62 pounds. Along with a backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and remarkable 14 hours battery life, it got more ports than some of the premium offerings in the market: Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI, and headphone jack.
However, the display is the star of the show here. It’s a 13.5-inch screen with a 2256×1504 resolution, which results in crystal-clear images and text. Like all 3:2 laptops, you get a lot of vertical space for working with documents, browsing, and more.
Our TakeIf you’re looking for a budget 3:2 aspect ratio laptop, the Acer Swift 3 (Intel EVO) offers a crisper 3:2 display, faster performance, and an impressive selection of ports without breaking the bank. The build quality is up there with the best, and it won’t weigh you down.
- Affordable
- Powerful performance
- Sharp display
- Great port selection
- Latest connectivity, including Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6
- The display is a little dim
4. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go – Entry-Level 3:2 Aspect Ratio Laptop
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go is an entry-level laptop from Microsoft aimed at business users on the go. It’s the smallest laptop on this list at 12.4 inches, and while it lags behind some of the best ultrabooks in terms of performance, it offers more bang for the buck than any other laptop.
The Surface Laptop Go is the cheapest laptop with a 3:2 aspect ratio you can buy today. It is available in different configurations, but we recommend a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It is powerful enough to breeze through day-to-day productivity tasks without blowing a hole in your wallet. The keyboard is comfortable to use, and you can take this device anywhere, thanks to its sub-3 pound weight.
The resolution is only 1536×1024, but at only 12.4 inches, the low resolution does not have a dampening effect on the picture quality. There are also some nice additions, such as touchscreen support and a Windows Hello-compatible fingerprint reader. You’ll have to live without a backlit keyboard, but that’s a reasonable sacrifice given the price.
Our TakeThe Surface Laptop Go is the perfect laptop for business users and students. It has excellent performance, a taller display for working with documents, a small form factor for travel, and best of all, a good price for most people.
- Incredibly value
- Small and lightweight
- Excellent performance
- Comfortable keyboard
- No backlit keyboard
5. HP Spectre x360 14 – Exceptional Performance in a 2-in-1 Design
The HP Spectre x360 14 is our go-to recommendation for those looking for a Windows laptop for everyday use. It was co-developed with Intel for their EVO platform, meaning you’re going to get the best mobile experience, with great battery life, faster charging, brilliant display, and next-gen connectivity. The 11th Gen Intel processors and Iris Xe integrated graphics give this laptop a massive performance boost, allowing you to run just about anything.At its core, the Spectre x360 14 comes with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage, which is the perfect combination for daily use and work. You can upgrade it to a beefier Core i7 processor for intense video editing and demanding workloads.
The 14-inch 1920×1280 touchscreen display is sharp and bright. OLED and 1,000-nit display options are also available if you’re willing to spend more. There’s a stylus pen included which conveniently attaches to the side of the laptop. It’s a great addition if you plan to use the laptop in tablet mode.
There is really not much to complain about with the Spectre x360 14. Everything from its flexible 2-in-1 design and taller display to its comfortable keyboard and practical port selection oozes quality and class.
Our TakeThe HP Spectre x360 14 is an outstanding all-around Windows laptop. It has a flexible design, sharp and bright display, great keyboard, and on top of that, exceptional performance. Overall, this is the best Windows laptop you can buy today.
- Superb performance
- Great battery life
- Premium build quality
- Bright and colorful display
- Thunderbolt 4 and USB-A ports
- High-end configurations are pricey
6. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (13-Inch) – Best Windows 10 Experience
If you want pure Windows 10 experience, you’ll want to consider Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 4. Microsoft refreshed it with new, faster chips, and it comes with a clean Windows 10 install without the usual bloatware like other laptops. You also get a free upgrade to Windows 11 once it is available.
There are different processors to choose from, but we recommend going with AMD Ryzen if you’re hoping to do some light video editing or gaming. Both Intel and AMD versions are excellent for office and everyday use, such as working on documents, browsing, and doing college assignments. The 2256×1504 resolution makes the display sharper than standard 1080p laptops, and it is also compatible with the Surface Pen.
Microsoft claims up to 19 hours of battery life for the AMD Ryzen 5 model, which is decent by today’s standards. The keyboard is excellent, and you get a decent I/O configuration, including Type-C and Type-A USB ports. Overall, the Surface Laptop 4 is an excellent Windows 10 laptop that should please office users and students alike.
Our TakeThe Surface Laptop 4 is a premium offering from Microsoft that’s worth all the hype. It has everything you’ll need in a laptop: slim and lightweight design, great screen, excellent keyboard, Windows Hello, and a choice of AMD and Intel processors.
- Great performance
- No bloatware pre-installed
- Great keyboard
- Available in 15 inches
- No SD card reader
7. Google Pixelbook Go – Going Chrome
If you spend most of the time browsing the web, you’ll benefit more from a Chromebook than a standard laptop. The Google Pixelbook Go is made by the same company behind Chrome OS, so you’re assured of the best Chromebook experience and periodic updates.
The base (cheaper) model comes with an Intel Core M3 chip, but we reckon the Core i5 is better if you want the best performance from your Chromebook. Coupled with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, this configuration can power you through most heavy multitasking workflows. You can open upwards of 20 Chrome tabs with other background tasks running without a dip in performance.
The Pixelbook Go has excellent battery life and a slim, lightweight body. The 13-inch display is sharp, colorful, and responsive to touch, which comes in handy when running Android apps. Yes, Chromebooks can natively run Android and Linux apps, and so is the Pixelbook Go. You also get a crystal-clear 1080p webcam and a backlit keyboard.
Our TakeThe Google Pixelbook Go offers the best Chrome OS experience you can get from any Chromebook. It’s fast, lightweight, and comes with one of the best displays on a laptop.
- Snappy performance
- Lightweight
- Bright and colorful screen
- Good battery life
- No USB-A ports
Choosing the Best 3:2 Aspect Ratio Laptops – Short Buying Guide
Here are the factors to consider when looking for the best laptop with a 3:2 aspect ratio.
Resolution
1920×1280 is the minimum resolution we recommend for a 3:2 aspect ratio laptop. However, if your budget allows it, we recommend going with a 2256×1504 for a sharp and crisp display. Displays with high resolutions produce sharp images and text and reduce eye strain when staring at the screen for a long time.
Size
The best size for a 3:2 laptop depends on how you plan to use the laptop. A 13- or 14-inch laptop is ideal if you’re always on the go and need something you can easily throw on a backpack. However, 15-inch laptops give you more space for work and multitasking.
Most 3:2 laptops come in smaller 13-inch and 14-inch sizes. If you want a 15-inch laptop with a 3:2 aspect ratio, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is the best option.
Processor
We recommend a 10th- or 11th-generation Intel Core i3 or Ryzen 3 processor for an entry-level 3:2 laptop. They are excellent for everyday tasks such as reading emails, browsing, working on documents, and basic schoolwork.
However, a Core 15 or Ryzen 5 and higher will give you better performance for editing, gaming, and heavy multitasking. If time is not on your side, look for a laptop with an Intel EVO badge. These laptops are designed and tested to provide the best mobile experience.
RAM and Storage
We consider 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage the perfect combination for an entry-level laptop. You can skimp on the storage for a 128GB model and use external storage, but don’t go any lower.
You’ll hardly need 16GB of RAM unless you’re an avid multitasker or gamer. Otherwise, 8GB of memory is decent enough for productivity and everyday use.
Best 3:2 Aspect Ratio Laptops – Frequently Asked Questions
Which Aspect Ratio Is Best for Laptops?
If you want a laptop for watching movies and consuming content, a 16:9 aspect ratio is the best for your laptop. However, if you’re looking for a laptop for productivity work such as working on documents, browsing the web, and writing code, a 3:2 aspect ratio is the cleanest solution. 16:10 aspect ratio sits in the middle, so if you want a laptop for both content consumption and productivity, 16:10 is the best option.
What Is a 3:2 Aspect Ratio Laptop?
A 3:2 aspect ratio laptop is a laptop with three pixels wide for every two pixels across. It is taller and can display more lines and text vertically than standard 16:9 laptops.
What Aspect Ratio Is 15.6 Laptop?
While most 15.6-inch laptops come with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 15.6-inch and aspect ratio are two different things. 15.6-inch means the size of the laptop, and aspect ratio refers to the shape of the laptop. There are 15-inch laptops with 16:10 and 3:2 aspect ratios.