8 Lightweight Laptops to Make Work and Play a Breeze
Laptops are an essential part of life. Whether it’s for work or play, chances are your laptop is never far away. But your laptop shouldn’t weigh you down in any way, shape, or form—especially if and when you need to grab and bring it with you. And while laptops, as a whole, are generally lighter now than they’ve ever been, you can go even lighter if you want.
Lightweight laptops typically weigh under three pounds. In most cases, lightweight laptops have a display of 10 to 13 inches, but some laptops can push that size to 15″ or even 16″ for a bit more weight, depending on the model. (For this reason, we have a separate shopping guide for the best mini laptops, which are 13-inches or under but not necessarily lightweight.) However, some of these units may not feature super-high-end features (you’re likely to see more HD displays instead of something like 4K), but that’s the tradeoff for having something so light.
If you’re tired of lugging around a brick of a laptop, you should know you can still find a powerful option that won’t break your back. Here’s our list of the eight best lightweight laptops.
1. LG Gram 16″ Lightweight Laptop
BEST OVERALL
Weighing just 2.6 pounds with a vividly striking 16″ screen, the LG Gram is our pick for the best overall lightweight laptop for the sheer amount of features and power-packed into one package. The display really is the star of the show here, as its screen offers staggering visuals. The full keyboard (with included keypad) is responsive and great to use, as is the oversized touchpad. Oh, and best of all, it boasts 22 hours of battery life, making it so you can go a full workday (and then some) without the need to charge it again.
2. Apple M1 MacBook Air Lightweight Laptop
BEST FOR APPLE USERS
At 2.8 pounds, the MacBook Air is the lightest of Apple’s products but still manages to execute on the brilliant design features the company is known for. Regular Spy readers should also know that we’re pretty obsessed with the M1 MacBook Air, and we truly believe this is one of the best computing devices in the world right now. With about 15 hours of battery life, you’ll have plenty of time to accomplish your tasks, whether that’s using the brand’s specialized M1 chip to get lightning-fast processing speeds for multiple projects or just streaming shows on the stunning Retina Display. With the benefits of Apple’s infrastructure, it’ll work to keep all of your documents and files synced across your various devices, which makes it even more of a no-brainer purchase if you’re an avid Apple user.
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Buy: Apple M1 MacBook Air Lightweight Laptop
3. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Lightweight Laptop
BEST UPDATE
Looking over the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 and you’ll notice it looks pretty similar in style to the same ThinkPad that’s been a go-to design for the brand since the ’90s. However, at a mere 2.5 pounds, this isn’t your parents’ bulky laptop. The X1 is so light that you’ll likely forget you’re even carrying it. It’s tailor-made for business use, with a fast Intel processor that will allow you to multitask with ease. Oh, and the display is pretty impressive, too, thanks to its 16:10 aspect ratio.
Buy: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Lightweight Laptop
4. ASUS ExpertBook B9 Lightweight Laptop
BEST CONSTRUCTION
With its military-grade design, the ExpertBook B9 from ASUS went through intense internal testing to ensure that, should you happen to drop the unit, it’ll be okay. This is especially handy considering the ExpertBook is only 2.2 pounds, which means there’s quite a bit of stability there for how light it is. Additionally, it comes packed with great features like a fingerprint sensor, webcam shield, fast-charging battery (up to 60% in just 45 minutes), and even an LED-illuminated number pad on the touchpad when you need to do some data entry.
Read More: The Best Laptops to Buy in 2021
Buy: ASUS ExpertBook B9 Lightweight Laptop $1,115.50
5. Dell XPS 13 Lightweight Laptop
PORTABLE POWERHOUSE
At 2.8 pounds, the Dell XPS 13 is on the heavier side of the options on this list. Don’t let that fool you, however, as the laptop is a portable powerhouse, capable of tackling pretty much any and everything you can imagine thanks to its Intel i7 processor, which allows for all kinds of rapid multitasking. The InfinityEdge touchscreen provides an incredible display while also giving you the flexibility to use touch if you need. Plus, the XPS features a 15-hour battery life, making it super efficient considering how powerful it is.
Read More: Best Laptops for Photo Editing
Buy: Dell XPS 13 Lightweight Laptop $1,499.98
6. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Lightweight Laptop
BEST CHROMEBOOK
We’ve spoken about the benefits of a Chromebook before, but they also make for fantastic lightweight options. This Samsung Galaxy Chromebook, weighing about 2.2 pounds, can be both a tablet or a laptop and even comes with a pen to make drawing or writing on the screen a breeze. Speaking of the screen, the 13″ display outputs in 4K (!), making it stunning to watch all of your favorite streaming services on. Plus, the boot time is about 6 seconds, which means you’ll be off to work or play in no time.
Read More: Best Gaming Laptops
Buy: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Lightweight Laptop $744.00
7. HP Elite Dragonfly Lightweight Laptop
BEST 2-IN-1
With its 360-degree hinge, HP’s Elite Dragonfly can present itself in laptop, tablet, or easel mode, depending upon your individual needs. This makes the Dragonfly great for on-the-go business users who might want some added flexibility of use. With a weight of 2.2 pounds, it’s one of the lightest units on this list. Additional features of note, especially for those who look to use it on the go, include LTE connectivity, an included pen, and (most impressively) a 24-hour battery life.
Read More: Best Laptops for College Students
Buy: HP Elite Dragonfly Lightweight Laptop $1,499.00
8. Acer Swift 5 Lightweight Laptop
BEST BIG SCREEN
Given the fact the screen on the Swift 5 is just under 16″, you’d think there’s some weight to it. However, that’s not the case at all, as Acer’s stunning lightweight laptop clocks in around 2.2 pounds, making it tremendously light given its screen size. While it’s not a powerhouse like the Dell XPS 13, it’s still more than capable of getting the majority of your work tasks done, especially with that larger display to give you plenty of real estate. Plus, the 10 hours of battery life will easily get you through a workday with no problem.
Read More: Best Dell Laptops
Buy: Acer Swift 5 Lightweight Laptop $1,092.00
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