The Best Small Laptops That Will Slip Right Into Your Backpack
Our editors independently select the products we recommend. We may earn a commission on items bought through our links.
If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that we have to be ready to adapt at a moment’s notice. Many people have had to leave the college classroom or office behind and adapt to that WFH lifestyle. It doesn’t matter if the days are spent working at home, at a coffee shop, or in an uber-hip co-working space — now, more than ever, work demands a laptop that’s versatile and portable. The best small laptops are up for the challenge, and they make it easy to switch locations and tasks without warning.
Today's Top Deals
This year, we’ve seeing an array of mini laptops for sale. We mean a lot, and there’s a ton of information to wade through. First of all, there needs to be a choice between being a Mac person or a PC person? If windows laptops are the main priority, what brands offer the best laptop performance during this era of tech upgrades? Dell alone has a huge lineup of great laptop options. Will the user be an avid gamer or someone who casually uses a laptop to surf the web and check email? There’s a lot to process before making a purchase decision, let alone one that is going to cost a few hundred dollars — or more.
To ensure shoppers are buying the best small laptops for their needs, we’ve got a full breakdown of all the best mini laptops for sale right now. Here are our top picks at a glance:
Don’t stress out about a (little) big purchas. Keep reading to find out everything there is to know before buying a new small laptop; we’ve got all the details on our favorite models for sale right now.
BEST OVERALL
Macbook Air M2
Buy Now On Amazon
$899 at best buy
First Look: Apple’s New M2 MacBooks Put Other Laptops To Shame
The combination of size, processing power, and price is hard to beat. The upgraded M2 chip is lightning fast and the Air can be configured to be a beast with up to 2TB of storage and 24GB of memory. Even at its baseline of 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage, along with the M2 chip, this is a desirable processing machine.
All the extras — like a 1080p Facetime camera and a crisp Liquid Retina display — are simply cherries on top. If shopping for a Mac or looking to jump ship from Windows, this laptop is the cream of the crop.
RUNNER-UP
Dell XPS 13
Buy Now
Buy Now On Amazon
Read More: The Best Dell Laptops Prove That You Don’t Need a MacBook Anymore
The update to the Dell XPS 13 not only makes it one of the best small laptops in terms of size and performance, but also a premium choice for laptops of any size. With excellent reviews for its functioning and an elegant and compact design, this mini laptop establishes itself as one to consider when looking for a smaller machine. Beyond impressive performance, it runs Windows and has an impressive battery life of up to 14 hours with the 4K UHD display configuration. It’s got a 13.4-inch InfinityEdge Touchscreen with Intel HD Graphics, an 11th Generation InteI Core i3 processor, and 8 GB of RAM.
All of this is packed in a Dell laptop that weighs less than 2.6 pounds (lighter than a MacBook Air), making it as portable as it is impressive. It’s a little more expensive than other small laptop options, but the computing power is certainly worth it.
BEST BATTERY LIFE
Lenovo ThinkPad X13s
Buy Now On Amazon
From $1,140 at Lenovo
Full Review: The All-Day Battery Life Windows Laptop We’ve Been Waiting For
When working remotely and consistently on-the-go in search of a strong internet connection, it’s important to get a laptop that has long battery life and is ultra-portable. The Lenovo ThinkPad sports 28 hours of battery life — yes, 28 — and weighs just 2.35 pounds.
The processing power leaves something to be desired, but the 1GB hard drive and up to 16GB of RAM make up for what the processing lacks. After testing and reviewing the ThinkPad X13s, one SPY editor found this to be a great option for commuters.
BEST SECURITY FEATURES
Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon with Gen 10
$1,624 at Lenovo
First and foremost, this Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is nothing short of fast and powerful. With a 12th Gen Intel processor along with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, it’s simply a powerhouse. But what truly separates it from the flock is its additional security features.
Like a computer auto-locking when the user walks away (thanks to camera AI), or if a laptop is misplaced or stolen, the laptop is “Tile ready” meaning if users subscribe to the Tile service, they can track a misplaced laptop down using a smartphone. There’s also a privacy shutter on the camera, as well as fingerprint and facial recognition. Like we said, this Lenovo takes both processing power and personal security seriously.
GREAT FOR WATCHING CONTENT
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Buy Now On Amazon
$1,400 at Best Buy
Read More: Everything Announced at Microsoft’s Surface Event
The Surface 5 comes in two screen sizes: A 13.5- and a 15-inch model. Both displays feature Dolby Vision optimized for HDR, so if these laptops are built for binging some streaming content laptop. It’s a good traveler too, weighing only 2.86 pounds.
And one of the biggest upgrades from previous models is the Surface 5 includes a USB-C port, which was missing in previous iterations. Expect about eight hours of battery life — improving upon previous models. With all the additions, when looking to upgrade, the Surface 5 is a solid choice.
BEST FOR MULTIMEDIA
Macbook Pro M2
Buy Now On Amazon
$1,099 at best buy
Read More: What Is the Apple M2 Chip and Why Should You Care?
Whether it’s editing 4K video or mixing and mastering audio in Pro-Tools, Ableton, or Logic, the MacBook Pro with M2 has the power to keep things moving along steadily. Along with the extra benefits of great processing power, users also enjoy extended battery life with roughly 20 hours before needing a recharge. Not to mention the portability, considering this powerful machine only weighs three pounds.
The Air has a better FaceTime camera than the 13-inch Pro’s 720p, but the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros make the upgrade in the camera, and can get powerful with the spec configurations. To save some coin, go with the 13-inch Pro or Air, but for super processing power, upgrade to the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro.
BEST CONVERTIBLE LAPTOP
Microsoft Surface Pro 9
Buy Now On Amazon
$1,300 at best buy
Half laptop, half tablet, and overall an awesome product from Microsoft. The Surface comes in four colors, while the keyboard has five color options that can make for some unique combinations (although we’re bummed the keyboard and stylus are sold separately).
There are two different processor types available: Intel vs. Microsoft SQ 3. We suggest going with the Intel models – at the sacrifice of a little battery life (15.5 hours down from 19) comes way more processing power. The Surface alone weighs less than two pounds making it incredibly portable. And with the stand paired with the stylus, there are a multitude of creative pathways to explore.
BUDGET PICK
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360
Buy Now
From $450 at Samsung
Read More: The 13 Best Chromebooks Can Help You Get Your Work Done Quickly
Anyone looking to save some coin on an ultra portable small laptop will find their meal ticket with Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360. Aside from being affordable, it also is a dual purpose machine that can operate basically as a tablet or a laptop, providing plenty of utility.
Users can expect about ten hours of battery life, so just enough to get through an entire day in class or at the office. It’s certainly not the most powerful or speedy laptop in the bunch, but those looking for a good daily driver for low-intensive computing tasks can save a good chunk of change going with this Chromebook.
FOR THE OFFICE
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
Buy Now On Amazon
Read More: These 23 Awesome Desk Toys Make Your Day a Little More Bearable
In the event that 2.4 pounds is a little too heavy, consider the ThinkPad X1 Nano over the Carbon. Like the Carbon, it’s scary powerful and incredibly light, only weighing in at 1.99 pounds. It also has powerful internals — 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, plus a great-looking 2,160 x 1,350-pixel 13-inch display.
This is a rare combination of size and power. For those on Team Lenovo, there’s no going wrong with the Carbon or the Nano as solid workplace laptops.
ANTIMICROBIAL PROTECTION
Acer Swift 5
Buy Now On Amazon
$1,100 at adorama
The Acer Swift 5 is certainly light weighing in at 2.31 pounds — not having a fan certainly helps keep the weight down and the noise to a minimum. The processing is comprised of an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor and 16GB of RAM — plenty for daily work and school tasks.
Interestingly, it features silver ion antimicrobial technology that has been applied throughout the laptop’s frame and exterior to help it repel germs. This is an excellent choice for anyone who prefers a PC to Mac, and is looking for a portable mini laptop.
WORKHORSE LAPTOP
Samsung Galaxy Book
Buy Now On Amazon
Read More: Comparing The 10 Best Laptops That Can Do It All
Coming in at the slightest bit over three pounds, the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro is a great choice for professionals who prefer the Android ecosystem to Apple’s. Even though it’s right at the limit of what we’d consider a small laptop, the specs are too good to leave it out.
Powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 paired with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, this can be a daily driver, work computer, and school workhorse. Plus, the 15.6-inch full-HD AMOLED display provides plenty of screen real estate and looks great while in use (not to mention the Mystic Navy color looks about as stylish as a laptop can get).
BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMP
HP Pavilion Aero
Buy Now On Amazon
At a mere 2.2 pounds, the HP Pavilion Aero is one of the lighter laptops on the list, and it sacrifices nothing in the way of speed or performance to make that lower weight.
Everything from word processing and spreadsheet crunching to web browsing and editing videos can happen quickly and smoothly on this little powerhouse laptop, driven by an AMD Ryzen 7 5800U Processor, and the 11-hour battery life is above average.
BEST CHROMEBOOK
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
Buy Now On Amazon
Because some people can make do with a cloud-based device, we decided to include one Chromebook in our guide to the best mini laptops. No surprise, a Samsung Chromebook is our top recommendation. The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 promises high performance at a price that is anything but.
Running on an Intel Celeron CPU may not sound impressive, but since Chrome OS requires less horsepower to run smoothly, an Intel Core i5 CPU is not as necessary. Combined with a form factor that comes in at 2.7 pounds and 0.55 inches, 4 GB of RAM and a highly desirable 13-inch 4K display, this laptop with likely suit any technological need.
BEST SMALL RAZER LAPTOP
Razer Blade Stealth 13
Buy Now On Amazon
Read More: Shop the Best Laptop Deals
It’s no secret that gaming laptops tend to have a very specific aesthetic, and it isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea. But for those looking for a small laptop that makes no compromises when it comes to looks or performance, the Razer Blade Stealth 13 is unquestionably the way to go.
This 13-inch laptop might not have as powerful a graphics card as the Zephyrus G14, and it will cost a little more if the 120 Hz FHD display is top priority (it should be), but it’s nearly half a pound lighter than the Zephyrus G14 and it also won’t scream “GAMER” every time it’s brought out in public. Still, with a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, 16 GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU, we think the performance and quality on display here are worth the cash.
GREAT BUDGET BUY
Asus ZenBook 13
Buy Now On Amazon
This is a great budget option that doesn’t skimp out on performance. It’s a hair more compact and lightweight than the Dell XPS 13, and with a 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, there’s plenty of power to handle any tasks that gets thrown at it. The battery life is rated for up to 22 hours of use, though it likely won’t get quite that much in actual practice. And, there’s no sacrificing trade portability for connectivity either.
The ZenBook 13 has an HDMI port, Micro SD reader, and three USB ports. Plus, the laptop features an intelligent trackpad that will ignore errant palm grazes that send the cursor from one side of the screen to another. There’s plenty to like about this mini laptop, especially the price.
Small Laptops, Thinnest Laptops, Chromebooks & Ultrabooks: What’s the Difference?
Needless to say, it’s a good time to be a laptop user. With so many incredible devices for sale right now, it’s never been easier to find the perfect laptop at the perfect price. However, there are quite a few different variations of laptops on the market — 2-in-1 convertibles, Chromebooks, ultrabooks, gaming laptops, traditional laptops — so a quick refresher on what’s what is helpful as the shopping process begins.
A small laptop is exactly what it sounds like. These are fully powered laptops, albeit ones in a decidedly smaller package (with a screen size of about 13 inches or less, with varying aspect ratios). That smaller screen size also allows for less weight, but these devices still include built-in storage of some kind, as well as some significant RAM.
The thinnest laptops focus more on having razor-thin chassis and profiles, so they can fit in tight spots where thicker-sized laptops couldn’t. One would think a 1-inch thick laptop would be considered thin by today’s standard, but there are even sleeker ones that are under 0.5-inches.
Chromebooks leverage Google’s ChromeOS and Google’s suite of productivity tools like Google Docs, Google Sheets, and so forth. They’re primarily cloud-based in terms of storage, so a persistent and strong Internet connection is a must to get work done. Some Chromebooks do have limited onboard storage, but Chromebooks are seriously lacking in memory and processing power.
Ultrabooks sit at the intersection of portability and performance, often classified as ultraportable laptops as well. If laptops are cars, an ultrabook is like a BMW or any other foreign, exotic car. Users get a premium experience that doesn’t sacrifice performance. But there is a trade-off, of course — the best ultrabooks come with a hefty price tag.
Finally, we should discuss convertible 2-in-1 laptops. Convertible laptops feature a hybrid laptop-tablet design. Typically, the screen folds all the way back so that you can use the touchscreen like a tablet. There’s quite a bit of crossover between convertibles and the small laptop category, and we’ve included some 2-in-1s in our list of the best mini laptops.
To continue the car metaphor, a small laptop is like a reliable sedan that’s got good gas mileage and can get the driver from point A to point B without much concern. There’s not as much storage as an ultrabook, but there’s more than a Chromebook. It’s lighter than an Ultrabook, but not as light as a Chromebook. It’s basically a hybrid option between the two — but still one that’s well worth consideration.
How We Chose the Best Small Laptops
When selecting the best small laptops for this roundup, we considered a range of factors including price, size, weight, battery life, hardware, display quality, and customer reviews. For our purposes, we chose not to include budget Chromebooks and focused instead on true laptops and 2-in-1 convertibles. A few things buyers should look for to ensure they’re getting a powerful-yet-portable small laptop:
One with a 14-inch screen or smaller
One that weighs 3-pounds or less
At least 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage
The best small laptops have at least 10 hours of battery life
Most of the laptops on this list have a 13-inch or 13.3-inch display, although some are even smaller. At the outer limit, we included laptops with 15.6-inch displays, which is the largest size that can still fairly be described as a small laptop. In our experience, 13-inch laptops offer much better portability and convenience on the go.
Speaking of being on the go, battery life is paramount when selecting the best small laptop. Some people literally don’t have enough time to sit down by a plug and wait for their laptop to charge. And if someone works long hours, they’re going to want a computer that can last the duration of a workday. Finding one with at least ten hours of battery life is a good baseline because with non-stop use, a ten-hour battery life will more likely be closer to eight hours, depending on settings and usage patterns.
Finally, it’s worth considering brand reliability, especially if looking for a product that will last four years or more. There are certain brands we trust more than others — Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and Apple laptops are at the top of that list — and these brands are well represented.
Why Trust SPY When Buying a Laptop?
The SPY team is always looking for the coolest tech gadgets to share with our readers, and we put a lot of time and research into all of our shopping guides. We take a lot of pride in covering the latest tech news and product launches, and already this year we’ve been hard at work testing and reviewing the best wearables, smartphones, smart home devices, TVs, speakers, headphones, and video doorbells (that’s our team member above installing a Wyze Video Doorbell Pro outside his home).
When it comes to buying a laptop, we’ve already done all the homework. From hunting down the best laptops for college students to comparing top-rated ultrabooks, we take our job very seriously. We want our readers to make a purchase knowing they’re getting the best possible value for their dollar. So, those who are in the market for a new small laptop will find the right product on this page. Most importantly, we’ll never recommend a product that we wouldn’t buy ourselves.
More Top Deals from SPY
Best of SPY
