By Robin Owens 22 days ago, Hardware
The best portable laptops that have solid performance.
An ultrabook is a perfect solution for those who are seeking a portable, long-lasting device with a great design. As these superlight laptops are powerful enough, they can perform various functions and allow you to edit photos, create 3D designs, etc. After numerous tests, I have selected the best lightweight laptops of 2023.
All lightweight laptops described in this review feature an appealing design and possess a great variety of useful features. I have examined every single model listed in this guide, so you can be sure that all of them are reliable and have high functionality.
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128 GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Screen resolution: 1920x1080 | Weight: 3.75 pounds
⊕ High-quality, well-built construction
⊕ Modern and appealing design
⊕ Miniature chassis
⊕ Perfect everyday performance
⊖ Does not support Thunderbolt 3
The ASUS VivoBook is an affordable lightweight laptop that features a large display, has an appealing design, delivers perfect performance and connectivity. Equipped with a reliable battery, this 15-inch laptop can function quite long without recharging.
Featuring compact construction and a large screen, the ASUS VivoBook will be a perfect model for those who are searching for a functional and budget-friendly laptop for home, office or college use. Its ergonomic design and sturdy construction will provide you with a comfortable typing and working experience.
CPU: 8th Gen Intel Quad Core I5-8265U | GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 13.3-inch | Screen resolution: 1920x1080 | Weight: 2.5 pounds
⊕ Well-built
⊕ Long-lasting battery
⊕ Large and fast SSD
⊖ Not for professional gamers
The ASUS ZenBook is a small portable laptop that is quite popular among users because of its great performance and an affordable price. Although this model is not a perfect choice for professional gamers, it is still suitable for beginners.
The ASUS ZenBook is a perfect solution for all those who are looking for a thin, portable and functional notebook at an affordable price. It is the best lightweight laptop when it comes to battery life.
CPU: Intel Dual Core i3-1000NG4 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 256 GB | Display: 13.3-inch | Screen resolution: 2560x1600 | Weight: 2.8 pounds
⊕ Excellent input devices
⊕ Long-lasting battery
⊕ Great screen
⊕ High-quality speakers
⊖ Impossible to upgrade
The MacBook Air is a small portable laptop that is a perfect choice for regular tasks. Fitted with a fast SSD storage, this budget-friendly model delivers great performance even when loaded with multiple tasks. The MacBook Air does not generate much heat.
As for its single-thread performance, it can be compared to that one of a more powerful quad-core i5. Another feature that makes this model the best lightweight laptop is its almost silent fan. It can function for a long time, even when the processor is loaded with many tasks.
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Quad Core i5-1035G1 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 630 | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 14-inch | Screen resolution: 1920x1080 | Weight: 3.5 pounds
⊕ High-grade construction
⊕ Convenient typing experience
⊕ Excellent performance
⊖ Not very powerful battery
The HP Pavilion x360 was designed for users who are looking for highly functional and portable models for various fields of use. This is the best lightweight laptop for professionals who need a powerful device with an ultra-thin design.
The model is perfect for business meetings and various typing tasks. The laptop’s battery life is not so long, but this drawback seems to be insignificant if you take into account the cheap price of this device.
CPU: Octa-Core AMD Ryzen 7 4700U | GPU: AMD Radeon RX Vega 7 | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 14-inch | Screen resolution: 1920x1080 | Weight: 2.65 pounds
⊕ Excellent performance
⊕ Long-lasting battery
⊕ Keyboard with backlighting
⊕ Silent functioning
⊖ Soldered RAM is not upgradable
The Acer Swift a 14-inch small thin laptop that has a portable and slim design. If you compare this model with its predecessor, you will see that it is better in many aspects. It features a more compact chassis and has a more powerful processor that can handle many tasks.
Thanks to integrated RX Vega 7 GPU, it is even suitable for casual gaming. The Acer Swift is a perfect solution for office use and for all those who browse the Internet a lot. The functionality of this laptop allows it to solve more complex tasks as well.
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G7 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 13.5-inch | Screen resolution: 2256x1504 | Weight: 3.4 pounds
⊕ USB Type C charging
⊕ Wi-Fi 6 support
⊕ The touchpad has a large surface
⊕ Infrared camera
⊖ RAM cannot be upgraded
The Microsoft Surface laptop is a great model that has many advantages over other budget-friendly models that cost not more than $1,000. Its metal chassis is better because it lacks Alcantara. While the display is glossy, it is factory pre-calibrated. The sound quality is great for such a small portable laptop, and the fan is almost silent in most situations.
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 256 GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Screen resolution: 1920x1080 | Weight: 3.75 pounds
⊕ Value for money
⊕ Exquisite design
⊕ High-level performance
⊕ Touch-sensitive keys
⊖ Brightness of the display could be better
The HP Notebook 15 is one of the most popular superlight laptops because of its exquisite design and top-level performance. Although this model is quite affordable, it does not have considerable drawbacks. Many users consider the HP Notebook 15 to be the best lightweight laptop, as it is quite cheap and has some premium features. Besides, it comes with touch-sensitive keys.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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ASUS VivoBook
Our choice |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
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ASUS ZenBook
Lightweight |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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MacBook Air
Prime |
CHECK PRICE → |
While choosing the best lightweight laptop, you should consider its portability. The size of a laptop depends on the size of a display. Larger models are usually more functional but weigh more. Your task is to find a laptop that features a compact size and can perform the necessary functions. Nowadays, users often purchase 13 and 14-inch laptops as they have the features mentioned above. Of course, small models are the best solution for those who travel much. There are also some great devices with Retina displays with a resolution of 1800x2880.
Battery life is another important aspect to pay attention to while selecting the best lightweight laptop for your computing needs. If you spend much time on the go, pay attention to the models with powerful batteries that can last up to 8 hours without being recharged. Usually, laptops with a high-quality display and processor have such durable batteries.
Even of the most powerful laptops, ergonomics and control options are the most important features. If you need to type a lot, pay attention to the laptop’s keyboard. It should be solid, have tactile keys and other features that will optimize your workflow. If you like playing Fortnite or similar games, you can connect a special Fortnite keyboard for streamlined process. A good touchpad is also essential. It should be responsive, have a stable cursor and support multi-touch gestures.
Some superlight laptops are fitted with multiple output and input ports, but some of them do not have many connectivity options. Almost all models are equipped with USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 ports designed for connecting external drives, printing devices, etc. Some laptops have ports that are meant for charging mobile phones. Most models also have HDMI ports for plugging in headphones, external monitors, HDMI tablets, etc. Premium laptops boast Thunderbolt ports that serve for a speedy data transfer and are much faster than USB 3.0 ports.
I believe that it is the ASUS ZenBook, as it weighs only 2.5 pounds.
This review includes only one 15-inch laptop, namely the ASUS VivoBook. This ultrabook is not very lightweight, as it weighs 3.75 pounds.
The most compact laptop mentioned in this review is the ASUS ZenBook.
The Acer Swift is the most lightweight model mentioned in this article.
