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When buying a widescreen notebook, it can be a bit confusing to pick the right LCD. Generally, you are given a choice between WXGA, WSXGA and WUXGA notebook displays. What are these and which do you choose?
WXGA, WSXGA and WUXGA
The above acronyms are resolution standards for television and computer monitors. All of them refer to widescreen display standards: WXGA stands for Widescreen Extended Graphics Array; WSXGA for Widescreen Super Extended Graphics Array; and WUXGA for Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array.
WXGA, WSXGA and WUXGA are not the only display standards for screen displays, but they are the most common in notebook computers. True to widescreen standards, all three of these have an aspect ratio in the range of 16/9 to 16/10. They mainly differ in their resolution (the number of pixels they can display on screen).
While all widescreen displays can use resolutions lower than their rated display, they provide the best image at their native resolution, which is also their maximum resolution. Keep in mind that a lower resolution is much easier on the eyes, so you will want to go with a native resolution that does not leave you squinting at the screen in your day-to-day use.
WXGA has a 1366x768 resolution, an aspect ratio of 16/9. WSXGA boasts a greater resolution at 1680x1050 and an aspect ratio of 16/10. WUXGA uses a resolution of 1920x1200 at an aspect ratio of 16/10.
What to Pick?
If you are buying a notebook computer for gaming purposes, you probably want a WUXGA screen for the sharpest image. If you are an HDTV subscriber and you plan to use your notebook computer as an HDTV receiver, WUXGA gives the very highest resolution available. WUXGA is also great for watching movies and viewing digital images due to the sharp rendering of images and pictures.
WUXGA is very convenient for multi-tasking, provided you can handle the small display size. This is perfect for working on two documents or web pages side-by-side, which can enhance productivity.
A WUXGA LCD can display greater amounts of detail than both WXGA and WSXGA, so you can see on the screen. This is not to say that WXGA and WSXGA have nothing to recommend them. In fact, WUXGA is not for everyone.
If the notebook computer does not have a powerful mobile GPU and a 17-inch or larger LCD, high-resolution gaming potential will be more difficult, as it takes a high-end GPU to push modern games to 1920x1200 resolutions. As mentioned, customers with less than excellent vision are better off choosing WXGA to get the largest text display. If you want a notebook display with medium-sized text, sharp images, and less than 17 inches of physical screen size, WSXGA is a good compromise, and the 1680x1050 resolution is nothing to sneeze at, by any means.
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» left by andrea99 from Toronto ON (2 years 90 days ago.)
Very well explained. I'm just glad that I was not offered a WUXGA+ option on my 14" laptop, as I now realize what a bother that would have been! The WSXGA+ resolution really benefits my 14" laptop. This setup is highly recommended! Respond to this comment
» left by RRIEHLE from NYC (2 years 56 days ago.)
I just received a laptop with a 15.4" WUXGA screen. I'm a little disappointed in the screen quality, and I'm finding many others' who seem to having a similar experience regardless of the brand. My impression is because of the large size of the screen and the high resolution, the quality of these screens is much more difficult to assure. A common problem seems to be mild to moderate light leakage around on one or more edges of the screen and an uneven distribution of brightness. If you are considering the purchase of a laptop with a WUXGA screen, I would first go to a store like Best Buy or Circuit City to evaluate how these screens compare to your alternatives. Before receiving my laptop, I was concerned that the high resolution screen would make text too tiny and would therefor be annoying to read; suprisingly and fortunately, this is not the case though. I anjoy being able to fit so much on the screen. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 344 days ago.)
Very well explained. All that is left for me to do is go and see one in a store and try it for myself. I hink that I will be doing WUXGA because I need it to look at PDFs and images. Respond to this comment
» left by Ed_engineer from Brisbane Australia (1 year 335 days ago.)
The WUXDA that I have had for 3.5 years has been very good for drafting and viewing drawings. Also great for the high definition video viewing - so clear! My sight is going off a bit lately and I am 'in denial' and not wearing glasses to compensate, so I think my next laptop will have WSXGA. In a couple of weeks I will be able to compare from experience with my new one. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 143 days ago.)
If you've got a 17+ inch WUXGA notebook screen. A solution could be if you change the text size in windows. I don't know if this changes for games as well.
» left by TERMIINATOR from SKYNET (1 year 141 days ago.)
I really would like to know ASAP if for example an Acer Gemstone notebook with WUXGA and 8ms shows a judder effect. The more expansive ull HDTV's cancels this for example the Philips Aurea and some cheaper models than that with ClearLCD, Pixel Perfect engines etc.
I would agree with the above (on text size smaller if higher res display). However as mentioned you can change text size (with limited success) and of course just change the screen resolution overall. However if you do take a laptop out of it's 'native' resolution, it'll get 'blurrier'. Anyway, Windows7 does a MUCH BETTER JOB at scaling text/windows,etc.. while maintaining the screen's native resolution, so even if you have bad eyesight, you can get the higher res. screen and not suffer the ill effects of small or blurry print or 'inconsistent' behavior in other apps/web browsers/windows, which is why just changing the 'display appearance properties/text size' in XP/Vista ain't so great. Windows 7 fixes that problem.
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