Traveling with your computer is a must when you are working while on the go. A good travel laptop makes transporting your work much easier. If you’re looking to buy a laptop for air or road travel, you might be wondering if a 15-inch laptop is too big.
Most 15-inch laptops are too large to travel with because of the big size and the heavy weight. Deciding whether or not to travel with a 15-inch laptop though depends on how often you’re traveling and how far you’re traveling.
You might be wondering how to decide whether or not to travel with this size laptop. Don’t worry. This article will go over all the things to consider to help you make an informed decision.
Weight and Size
Most 15-inch laptops weigh 5 pounds or more.
Lugging around a backpack or purse with an extra 5 pounds is difficult, especially when you’re going through airports. You will also have to pull the 5-pound laptop out every time you go through a security checkpoint since TSA requires that laptops be taken out of bags and put into a bin.
You will also need to put the laptop bag under the seat on the airplane. If the bag is filled with your computer plus other items, it can be hard to fit it under the small seat in front of you.
5 pounds might not seem like a lot but keep in mind that most 13-inch laptops only weigh a little over 3 pounds making them much easier to tote around.
It’s Not Compact
Compact laptops are extremely important because you want the laptop to fit comfortably on your lap.
When sitting on an airplane, you also don’t have to take up other people’s space if the laptop doesn’t fit onto your lap or onto the tray that flips from the seat. You also want to be able to balance the laptop on your lap in case there are no free tables or counters in the waiting area.
You can always put the laptops on your lap at the store before buying to see how it feels.
Shorter Battery Life
On average, 15-inch laptops have shorter battery life than smaller laptops. When traveling, you want devices that have the longest battery life possible. 13-inch laptops usually have batteries that can last 8 hours or more which is much better for travel.
15-inch laptops will only last 5 or 6 hours which can damper your ability to work while at the airport if there are no outlets available. You also won’t be able to charge your computer on the plane unless you’re on a larger jet that has seat outlets.
More Expensive Bags
Bigger laptops like the 15-inch will need a larger computer bag or backpack. These bags usually cost a little more than the 14-inch or 13-inch bags. 15-inch laptop bags can also be harder to find so you might need to order them online.
Some companies also don’t make 15-inch laptop bags so you might not have as many color or design choices.
Bigger Screens
One of the major reasons you might be looking at buying a 15-inch laptop is because of the larger size of the screen. Your job or hobbies might benefit from having a larger screen.
If this is the case, you need to make sure you’re okay with the larger weight and size to get a bigger screen. A 15-inch screen might be necessary if you do a lot of gaming or graphic design.
Better Quality
Another main reason why people opt for a 15-inch laptop is that they are usually top-of-the-line when it comes to features and software.
These superior qualities might be worth the larger size and weight depending on what you use the computer for. 15-inch laptops might also have larger storage which means you can keep more movies and music on your computer to keep you entertained during travel.
Is a 15-inch Laptop Too Big for Car Traveling?
Size doesn’t matter as much if you’re road-tripping and in the car. You won’t have to carry around a laptop bag constantly on your shoulder like you would if you’re in an airport, bus station, or metro.
You can keep the laptop bag in your car and only carry it back and forth between the car and hotel or wherever else you might be going.
Final Thoughts
In most cases, a 15-inch laptop is too big for travel, especially if you’re traveling by plane. They’re larger, heavier, and harder to carry around. They do offer superior qualities and features though which could be worth the extra weight depending on what you use your laptop for. If you’re traveling by car, a 15-inch laptop should be okay.
