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The 6 Best Lightweight Laptops of 2024

Updated Oct 24, 2024 at 03:31 pm
Best Lightweight Laptops

As most of us travel with our laptops, finding one that isn't overly bulky or heavy is essential. Thankfully, there are tons of lightweight laptops on the market these days. You can even find mobile workstations and gaming laptops with powerful components that are as lightweight as ultraportables. That said, you want to be careful not to over-prioritize weight, as manufacturers often sacrifice build quality to make the laptop as light as possible. You also want to consider other aspects of the laptop, like the quality of the screen, keyboard, and touchpad, as well as the port selection, overall performance, and battery life. Last but not least, don't forget about the power adapter, as some laptops come with a huge brick that's as heavy as the laptop itself.

We've tested over 135 laptops, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best lightweight laptops. You can also check out our recommendations for the best 13-14 inch laptops, the best laptops for college, and the best business laptops.


  1. Best Lightweight Laptop

    The best lightweight laptop we've tested is the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024). This 13.6-inch model has a sleek and compact design, so it fits easily into a small bag, and it only weighs 2.7 lbs. It has an incredibly sturdy all-aluminum build and provides a great user experience with its sharp display, spacious keyboard, and haptic touchpad. Apple's M3 SoC can easily handle light productivity tasks and even some light video editing and 3D graphics. Plus, its remarkable power efficiency results in 11 to 12 hours of battery life in light uses. You get Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, great-sounding speakers, and one of the best webcams on the market. Port selection is its biggest weakness, as it only has two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports. Unlike its M2 predecessor, it can output two external displays, but it can only do so with the lid closed.

    For Windows users, we recommend the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024), also a premium model that provides a great user experience. This 2-in-1 convertible has a sturdy all-aluminum chassis, a gorgeous 2.8k OLED display, a comfortable keyboard, and a responsive touchpad. The display supports pen input if you want to take handwritten notes or draw, though you may have to buy the stylus separately. You get an excellent 4k webcam, support for the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, and a wider port selection, including one USB-A port, two USB-C ports, and a 3.5 mm mic/headphone jack. Two things to bear in mind: the display doesn't get as bright as the MacBook Air, so visibility will be more of an issue outdoors in broad daylight. Also, the screen's flickering may bother people sentitive to display flicker.

    See our review

  2. Best Mid-Range Lightweight Laptop

    Our mid-range pick is the HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024), a 13-inch Windows ultraportable. It's available with AMD Zen 4-based Ryzen CPUs, which are more than adequate to handle light tasks like text processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and video playback. You can get it with an FHD+ or QHD+ IPS panel; both look sharp and get bright enough to provide good visibility in well-lit settings. Its 1440p webcam produces a sharp but slightly overexposed image, so you'll have to tweak the webcam's settings or your room's lighting if you want to look your best on video calls. The webcam supports Windows Hello facial recognition for fast logins. Its battery life is great at around 10 hours of light use, and you can charge the laptop over USB-C, so you won't have to deal with a proprietary charger.

    Unfortunately, this model's budget-friendly price comes at a cost: build quality. Its aluminum and plastic chassis exhibit a fair amount of flexing, and the device as a whole feels hollow and somewhat cheap, especially compared to the models mentioned above. Also, the finish scratches easily from everyday use. The touchpad could be better, too; it's plastic and doesn't track continuous inputs all that well, like when dragging and dropping items across a long distance.

    See our review

  3. Best Budget Lightweight Laptop

    The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) is the best budget lightweight laptop we've tested. This compact 14-inch model is a great option if you only need a simple device for light tasks. It's available with an Intel N100, N200, or Core i3 processor; we recommend the latter paired with 8GB of RAM for the smoothest experience. The cheaper configurations with an Intel N100 or N200 CPU and/or 4GB of RAM are fine if you have an extremely light workload, but know that they'll get bogged down quickly when multitasking. You can find the Core i3 configuration regularly on sale through Lenovo.

    It's somewhat the same story when it comes to the display. While you can probably get by with the 768p TN panel option, we highly recommend getting a model with a 1080p IPS screen. Not only does it look sharper, but it also has better viewing angles and color reproduction. Unfortunately, the keyboard feels a tad mushy, and the touchpad is small and sometimes unresponsive. One notable surprise is its excellent 1080p webcam, one of the best you can find on budget-friendly Chromebooks. Lastly, remember that Chrome OS is limited in the type of applications you can install so make sure you can do everything through a Chrome browser or Android app.

    See our review

  4. Best Lightweight 2-In-1 Tablet

    If you like the versatility of 2-in-1 tablets, get the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024). Unlike 2-in-1s with a 360-degree hinge, you can remove the keyboard to make the device easier to hold. This also helps save space, which is handy in tight places, like on an airplane or bus with a small tray table. This 11th Edition has many upgrades over its predecessor, including an OLED display option, a 1440p webcam, and Wi-Fi 7. Along with the device, Microsoft has released a new Flex keyboard—sold separately—which sports a haptic touchpad and Bluetooth connectivity. The latter lets you use the keyboard even when detached from the device, so you have more flexibility to position the device to your liking. The display still supports pen input, but again, it's a separate purchase.

    An important thing to know about this model is that it uses an ARM-based Snapdragon SoC. You can choose between the X Plus and the X Elite chip; both are fast enough to handle general productivity tasks and very power-efficient. However, many Windows programs don't run natively on ARM, so it's best to check that the apps you use are compatible first. Also worth noting are the limitations regarding the display options: the X Plus model has an IPS panel, while the X Elite model has an OLED panel. The OLED display produces deeper blacks but exhibits the 'screen door effect,' meaning its digitizer is visible, creating a grid-like pattern some people may find distracting. Get the X Plus model if these issues bother you; just know that you'll have to compromise a bit on performance because the X Plus isn't as fast in multi-threaded workloads.

    See our review

  5. Best Lightweight Workstation

    For demanding tasks like video editing or 3D graphics, we recommend the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023), a premium mobile workstation. This laptop has a solid all-aluminum build but only weighs 3.5 pounds, making it one of the lightest mobile workstations on the market. It has a gorgeous Mini LED display with full DCI P3 coverage, a comfortable keyboard, and a gigantic, easy-to-use haptic touchpad. You get plenty of ports for peripherals and external displays, including three USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s, an HDMI, and a full-size SD card reader. The speakers are among the best on the market, and the same goes for its 1080p webcam.

    You can configure this laptop with an M3 Pro or M3 Max SoC; both can easily handle intensive workloads. These chips are also incredibly power-efficient, resulting in all-day battery life. Thermal throttling is minimal, and the laptop doesn't get hot or loud under load. There's a base M3 model, too, similar to the discontinued 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, which can be a great option if you don't need a lot of processing power but still want the 'Pro' features like the Mini LED display. The base M3 model only has two USB-C ports, though, and unlike the Pro/Max models, it can only support a single external monitor.

    See our review

  6. Best Lightweight Gaming Laptop

    The best portable laptop for gaming we've tested is the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024). This compact 14-inch model is easy to carry around and packs enough processing power to provide a smooth gaming experience in demanding AAA games. It sports a gorgeous 120Hz 2.8k OLED display, a tactile keyboard, and one of the best speaker systems you can find on a Windows machine. You get a wide port selection for peripherals and external displays, including two USB-Cs and an HDMI 2.1, as well as Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity for a fast and stable internet connection when gaming online.

    Configuration-wise, you can choose between an AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 CPU paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 4060, or 4070 discrete GPU. If you don't mind playing your games at 1080p, you can go with a 4050 model, but for 1440p gaming (or at the display's native 2.8k resolution), we recommend upgrading to a 4060 or 4070. Storage configuration maxes out at 1TB, which isn't a lot considering the size of most modern titles, but thankfully, it's user-replaceable. Unfortunately, the battery life lasts less than two hours when gaming, so you'll need to bring the charger when gaming on the go.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 15 (2024):

    The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 15 (2024) is a great Windows alternative to the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024) if you don't mind a slightly bigger and heavier laptop than the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024). Its 15-inch IPS display gives you more room for multitasking, gets brighter to combat glare, and is flicker-free. The downside is that you won't get the deep blacks that you'd get on the HP. Also, remember that it uses a Snapdragon SoC. This chip is faster in multi-threaded workloads and more power-efficient, but because many programs don't run natively on ARM, you must ensure that the apps you use are compatible.

    See our review
  • Lenovo Yoga 6 13 (2023): The Lenovo Yoga 6 13 (2023) is a cheaper alternative to the HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024). It has a sturdier build and a better touchpad; however, its display doesn't get as bright, and its webcam is significantly worse. It also doesn't perform as well because it uses slower AMD Zen 3-based CPUs, whereas the HP uses newer Zen 4 processors. See our review
  • Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (2024):

    The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (2024) is a good option if you want something cheaper than the HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024). It feels sturdier than the HP build-wise, and it's a 2-in-1 convertible, so you can use it as a tablet. However, you must ensure that you can get all your work done through the Chrome browser or Android apps, since Chrome OS is more limited in the type of applications you can install.

    See our review
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023): The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023) is a good alternative to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) if you prefer Windows. It has a better keyboard and touchpad, but its battery lasts only around six to seven hours of light use. See our review
  • Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023): The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023) is a decent Chromebook with more processing power than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023). It also has a better keyboard and touchpad. However, its display doesn't get nearly as bright, so it's only suitable for use in dark to moderately lit rooms. Its battery life is also shorter at around eight to nine hours of light use. See our review
  • Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021):

    The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a good alternative to the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024) if you need a cheaper laptop for media consumption. It has a nice OLED display, and its battery lasts over seven hours of video playback. Unfortunately, it has an uncomfortable keyboard, a small and sometimes unresponsive touchpad, and a very limited port selection. Also, its SoC can only handle extremely light workloads.

    See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Oct 24, 2024:

    Added the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition 15 (2024) and Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (2024) as Notable Mentions. Removed the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (2024) from the Notable Mentions because there are better options. Replaced the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021) with the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024) because the Pro 8 is discontinued.

  2. Aug 05, 2024: Replaced the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2022) with the HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2024) because the Acer is hard to find. Replaced the Acer Swift 3 14 (2020) with the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) because the Acer is no longer available. Replaced the Razer Blade 14 (2022) with the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) because it's easier to find and available with NVIDIA 40-series GPUs. Added the Lenovo Yoga 6 13 (2023) and the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023) as Notable Mentions. Removed the Dell XPS 15 (2023) from the Notable Mentions because it's no longer available.

  3. May 10, 2024: Replaced the M2 Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022) with the M3 Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024). Added the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) as a Notable Mention. Removed the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022) as a Notable Mention because there are many other better options.

  4. Mar 11, 2024: Replaced the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M2, 2023) with the M3 model. Added the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 (2023) as a Notable Mention. Removed the ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (2023) as a Notable Mention and replaced it with the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (2024) because the 2024 non-flip model is lighter and sports a 120Hz display.

  5. Jan 15, 2024: Replaced the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) with the Razer Blade 14 (2022) because the ASUS is hard to find. Minor text changes to provide information about the M3 Apple MacBook Pro 14.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best portable laptops you can get. We factor in the price (a cheaper laptop wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no laptops that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our laptop reviews. Keep in mind that most laptops are available in various configurations, and the table only shows the results of the model we tested, so it's best to see the full review for information about other variants.