Key takeaways
- Best large-display laptop: Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro) ($2,799 – $2,999).
- Best value large display: ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED ($799 – $999).
- Large screens boost productivity, but check the weight before you commit to carrying one daily.
In this article
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The best laptops with large displays give you more room for spreadsheets, timelines, code and movies. Screens from 15 to 18 inches reduce the need for an external monitor and make multitasking easier. Here are the best big-screen laptops of 2026 for productivity, creativity and gaming.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price on Amazon.
Quick answer
- Best laptop with a large display: Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro) ($2,799 – $2,999)
- Best lightweight big screen: Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) ($1,299 – $1,499)
- Best value large display: ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED ($799 – $999)
- Best 17-inch laptop: LG gram 17 ($1,299 – $1,799)
- Best premium Windows big screen: Dell XPS 16 (2026) ($2,029 – $2,499)
- Best 18-inch gaming display: ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 ($3,499 – $4,499)
Large-display laptops compared
| Product | Best for | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro) | Best laptop with a large display | Buy | 9.3/10 | $2,799 – $2,999 |
| Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5) | Best lightweight big screen | Buy | 9.2/10 | $1,299 – $1,499 |
| ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED | Best value large display | Buy | 8.4/10 | $799 – $999 |
| LG gram 17 | Best 17-inch laptop | Buy | 8.5/10 | $1,299 – $1,799 |
| Dell XPS 16 (2026) | Best premium Windows big screen | Buy | 8.8/10 | $2,029 – $2,499 |
| ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 | Best 18-inch gaming display | Consider | 9.0/10 | $3,499 – $4,499 |
Our picks in detail
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro)
Best laptop with a large display · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.3/10 · Typical price: $2,799 – $2,999
Key specs: Apple M5 Pro chip, 24GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR 120Hz display, about 4.7 lb, 21-plus hours tested battery
Why we picked it: A 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, M5 Pro power and over 21 hours of tested battery make the MacBook Pro 16 the best big-screen laptop.
Pros: Longest battery life of any pro laptop · Huge, accurate mini-LED display · Quiet under load · Full port selection
Cons: Heavy and large · Very expensive with upgrades · Bulky for flights
Buy it if you want a desktop-class creative workstation that still lasts a full day unplugged.
Skip it if you travel constantly or have a tight budget.
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M5)
Best lightweight big screen · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.2/10 · Typical price: $1,299 – $1,499
Key specs: Apple M5 chip, 16GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, about 3.3 lb
Why we picked it: The 15-inch MacBook Air gives you a large screen in a thin, fanless 3.3 lb body.
Pros: Big screen in a thin, fanless body · Six-speaker sound system · Long battery life · Same speed as the 13-inch model
Cons: Costs $200 more than the 13-inch · Still 60Hz · No HDMI or SD card slot
Buy it if you want more screen space for spreadsheets, split-screen work or movies without carrying a heavy laptop.
Skip it if you mostly work on the go, where the 13-inch is easier to carry.
ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED
Best value large display · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.4/10 · Typical price: $799 – $999
Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 5/7 or AMD Ryzen AI, 16GB memory, 16-inch 3.2K OLED 120Hz
Why we picked it: A 16-inch 3.2K OLED at 120Hz for under $1,000.
Pros: Big OLED screen for the price · Slim for a 16-inch · Good performance · Strong battery
Cons: Glossy screen · Integrated graphics only · Average speakers
Buy it if you want a large, sharp screen for productivity and streaming under $1,000.
Skip it if you need to game.
LG gram 17
Best 17-inch laptop · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.5/10 · Typical price: $1,299 – $1,799
Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB–32GB memory, 17-inch 2560×1600 display, about 3.2 lb
Why we picked it: The LG gram 17 is remarkably light for its size and lasts a long time on battery.
Pros: Remarkably light for a 17-inch · Big, productive 16:10 screen · Long battery life · Full-size keyboard
Cons: Flexes more than heavier laptops · Integrated graphics on most models · Average speakers
Buy it if you want the biggest screen you can still carry easily.
Skip it if you need a dedicated GPU in a 17-inch body.
Dell XPS 16 (2026)
Best premium Windows big screen · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.8/10 · Typical price: $2,029 – $2,499
Key specs: Up to Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, Intel Arc B390 graphics, up to 32GB memory, 16-inch 3K OLED, about 3.65 lb, 17-plus hours tested battery
Why we picked it: The XPS 16’s 3K OLED and 17-plus hours of tested battery make it a premium productivity machine.
Pros: Large OLED display · Impressive battery for a 16-inch laptop · Slim, premium design · Strong integrated graphics
Cons: Expensive · No dedicated GPU option · Few ports
Buy it if you want a big premium Windows screen for productivity and light creative work.
Skip it if you need RTX graphics for gaming or 3D rendering.
ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18
Best 18-inch gaming display · Verdict: Consider · Score: 9.0/10 · Typical price: $3,499 – $4,499
Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia RTX 5080 or RTX 5090, 18-inch 2.5K mini-LED 240Hz, about 7 lb
Why we picked it: An 18-inch mini-LED and RTX 5090 make the ROG Strix SCAR 18 a portable gaming theater, at a heavy cost.
Pros: Huge, bright mini-LED display · Top-tier performance · Excellent cooling · Upgradeable
Cons: Very heavy · Expensive · Loud under load
Buy it if you want a no-compromise 18-inch gaming desktop replacement.
Skip it if you want portability.
Choosing a screen size
- 15 to 15.6 inches: a good balance of space and portability.
- 16 inches: popular for creators and gamers; 16:10 aspect ratios add vertical space.
- 17 to 18 inches: desktop-replacement size; best for people who rarely travel.
Resolution matters too: 2.5K to 3.2K looks sharp on 16-inch screens, while 4K is mainly useful for creative work. Read our guides to 16-inch and 17-inch laptops.
Which large-display laptop should you buy?
Professionals should choose the MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Pro). Everyday users who carry their laptop should buy the MacBook Air 15 or LG gram 17. Value seekers should get the Vivobook S 16 OLED, and Windows professionals should consider the XPS 16. Gamers can go big with the ROG Strix SCAR 18.
Carrying a large laptop
Choose a backpack with a padded 16- or 17-inch compartment, such as the Peak Design Everyday Backpack, and a compact GaN charger to keep total weight down.
What to check before you buy
- Check weight and dimensions against your bag.
- Look for 16:10 aspect ratios for more vertical space.
- Compare battery tests, especially for high-resolution panels.
What to skip
Common mistake: choosing a heavy 18-inch gaming laptop as a daily commuter. It is tiring to carry and often needs its large charger.
When to buy
Large-screen laptops see their biggest discounts during Black Friday and back-to-school sales.
Compare more options
Search 16 inch laptop on Amazon See top-rated 16 inch laptop on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What is the best laptop with a large display?
The Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro) for professionals, and the ASUS Vivobook S 16 OLED for value.
What is the lightest large-screen laptop?
The LG gram 17 weighs about 3.2 lb despite its 17-inch display, and the MacBook Air 15-inch is about 3.3 lb.
Is a 16-inch laptop too big to carry?
Many 16-inch laptops weigh 3.5 to 4.7 lb and fit in most backpacks, but they are less comfortable on airplane trays.
Do larger laptops have better battery life?
Often, because they have room for bigger batteries, although larger screens and powerful chips use more power.