I’ve been on the hunt for a new laptop for quite some time now, and I’ve narrowed it down to one model. And that’s because this laptop is the right size for what I do, or to be more precise, the screen size ratio.

Because for years now, the standard screen size ratio has been 16:9 or 16:10. This is the aspect ratio of the display, not the size of the screen. So a laptop with a ratio of 16:9 or 16:10, could have a screen size of 13”, 14”, 15” or 17”.

But the screen aspect ratio is just as important as the screen size, and the one to choose, depends on what you use the laptop for. So here’s a quick guide to help you choose the best screen ratio…

16:9 – This would be the best option, if you’re into gaming.

16:10 – If you watch movies mixed with word processing, internet and email access, this would be a good choice.

3:2 – This is the latest ratio, which is very popular for business applications. And that’s why I’m waiting for a particular model of laptop from HP, that comes with a 3:2 ratio.

The big plus with a 3:2 screen ratio, is that it provides a significant height advantage, which means it’s ideal for emails, spreadsheets and word processing, as there’s a lot less scrolling involved.