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Mini Laptops Vs. Regular Laptops (Which Is Better?)

Umar May 1, 2022
DISCLAIMER: I've personally researched, compared, and hand-picked these laptops and have only listed the best that deserve inclusion.

Mini laptops are laptops that have been designed to be as small as possible without compromising on the benefits, functions, and features you would expect from a regular laptop.

Most mini laptops come with a smaller keyboard and a touchpad which is often located underneath the keyboard so it doesn’t take up any space.

This allows for a very small form factor but limits their functionality in terms of typing accuracy and usability.

However, some mini laptops, such as the Acer Aspire S7 offer full-sized keyboards just like regular laptops allowing people to do everything they would normally do on a laptop including all the usual typing tasks.

Some mini desktops have docking stations that can allow even bigger screens.

These desktops are basically desktops that have full keyboards fitted instead of being a separate device.

A regular laptop is a more familiar laptop with a full keyboard and a traditional pointing apparatus, which is usually a touchpad or trackball.

The screen size of regular laptops ranges from 13 to 17 inches with the most common being around 14-15 inches in size.

The main benefit of a regular laptop over a mini version is that they have more space allowing people to type faster and more accurately as well as have increased functionality in general allowing for easier usability in pretty much every scenario.

While less space has its benefits it can also be restrictive in some scenarios such as when typing long documents, watching films, or playing games for an extended period of time where comfort is desired.

Table of Contents

  • Mini Laptops vs Regular Laptops: Which is Best?
  • Can we play games on mini laptops?
  • Can we play high graphics games on mini laptops?
  • Can we stream on mini laptops?
  • What is better: thin and light laptops or fast processors?
  • Are mini laptops cheaper?

Mini Laptops vs Regular Laptops: Which is Best?

A regular laptop is definitely the best option for pretty much anything that requires a lot of typing or using a computer.

While mini laptops are slightly more portable they suffer from decreased performance and functionality making them unsuitable for most scenarios, especially those requiring a full keyboard and more space to work with.

This means that a mini laptop would only be suitable as a secondary device or simply something to use on the go for brief periods of time where portability is preferred over better performance.

For this reason, if you’re looking to buy either one it’s recommended that you get a regular laptop due to its increased usability in every scenario.

However, if your main purpose is portability then there are other devices out there that can provide better portability without sacrificing usability.

A mini laptop may be more convenient for people who use their laptops frequently on the go but the decrease in performance and functionality is somewhat of a drawback which makes buying a regular laptop the better option.

This is especially true if your usage requires using the full keyboard regularly.

For this reason, it’s recommended that you buy either one of these types depending on what you think suits your needs best.

There are benefits and drawbacks to both devices and choosing either one will depend largely on your specific usage scenarios and what you like or don’t like about each type of device.

Can we play games on mini laptops?

Yes, you will be able to play games on mini laptops.

Generally speaking, most mini laptops are designed with the Windows 10 operating system which means that they are capable of running pretty much any software or app available including games.

Can we play high graphics games on mini laptops?

For the best performance and an enjoyable experience for playing high graphics games, we recommend a regular laptop as opposed to a mini laptop.

This is because the size and space limitations of a mini laptop mean that it’s more difficult to fit powerful components such as graphic cards inside them so they can’t perform as well as regular laptops.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t be able to run high graphics games on all mini laptops but there is definitely an increased risk of them slowing down or crashing due to the decreased space and components.

This is a general rule of thumb as some mini laptops may have improved performance allowing them to run high graphics games, but for the best experience, we recommend using a regular laptop instead.

Can we stream on mini laptops?

Yes, you can stream on both devices as they are capable of running pretty much anything available today as long as it’s compatible with their Operating System (OS).

For this reason, streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu work equally well on both types of laptops.

What is better: thin and light laptops or fast processors?

This is a tricky one because there isn’t necessarily an answer that applies to all scenarios.

If you’re looking for something with thinness and lightness as your primary focus then a thin and lightweight laptop will be the best option for you.

However, this doesn’t mean that a fast processing laptop won’t also be thin or light but in general, laptops that prioritize these features tend to sacrifice power in order to reduce size and weight.

This means that they will usually have weaker internal components making them less useful for heavy usage scenarios such as gaming or video editing.

On the other hand, if you prioritize performance over everything else then getting a high-performance laptop with a regular thickness is your best bet.

This is because most high-performance laptops have thicker bodies due to being able to fit higher quality components inside without too much trouble allowing them to outperform slim and lightweight laptops when running intensive programs such as games.

Are mini laptops cheaper?

Mini laptops tend to be more expensive than regular laptops.

This is because mini-laptops need to pack high-performance components into a smaller space which usually means that their price increases compared to standard models.

However, there are exceptions and some brands such as Acer offer cheaper mini laptops for lower budgets so it’s not an absolute rule.

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Umar

Hi, Umar here! I love touching laptops, unboxing them, and even smelling them! Maybe if I had enough money I would have bought every laptop in existence! ;)

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