A laptop’s overall weight is one of my main concerns when shopping for a highly portable computer, the kind I’ll constantly grab along to work or school or during my commute, or something I can comfortably bring with me when traveling. In fact, a lightweight and sturdy build matter more to me than having the most compact footprint or the thinnest design, although in most cases the lightest laptops are also some of the thinnest and most compact as well.
Manufacturers rarely advertise the weight of their laptops, but since I’d reckon many of you out there are interested in this sort of lightweight computers, I’ve put together a few lists of the lightest options you can find in stores all around the world based on a couple of criteria.
We’ll be looking at regular clamshell ultrabooks, 2-in-1 convertible laptops, Windows tablets, and a few Chromebooks, snappy and well-priced options for everyday use these days, so there’s something in here for each and every one of you.
I’ll also add that only the latest versions of each device are included in these lists, which I update periodically with new entries. At the same time, this article is not a top or classification of the best lightweight laptops out there, a subject you’ll find more thoroughly covered in this separate article here on the site.
To make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for, I’ve split the post into several different sections, starting with:
- the lightest overall laptops that weigh less than 2.2 pounds (or 1 kg),
- compact 10 to 12-inch options under 2.6 pounds (or 1.2 kg),
- as well as lists of the lightest sub-14-inch, 15-inch, and 16 & 17-inch laptops.
We’re doing our best to keep the article up-to-date, but if you spot anything that’s light enough to be included and is not, please tell us about it in the comments section at the end of the article so we can add it up.
I’ve also included details on the important hardware specs, screen size, and battery size for each unit, and the latter is particularly important when it comes to lightweight laptop computers, as some units skimp on long battery life in order to weigh as little as possible, and that’s not something I’d sacrifice on my everyday computer.
Ultra-lightweight laptops under 2.2 pounds / 1 Kg
These are the lightest laptop computers you can find in stores these days that weigh less than 1 kilo. I’ve included mostly complete laptops in here, but also a few tablet formats that keep under the 1 kilo limit with their included keyboard folios/docks.
As a heads-up, make sure to look into reviews for more details on the overall build and feel of these laptops, as some of the ultra-light products are also somewhat lacking in those regards.
| Model | Type | Specs | Weight |
| Fujitsu Lifebook UH-X | Business | 13.3″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 25 Wh battery | 1.39 lbs / 0.64 kg |
| Fujitsu Lifebook UH75 | Business | 13.3″ matte, recent AMD Ryzen U, 25 Wh battery | 1.71 lbs / 0.784 kg |
| Fujitsu Lifebook UH90 | Business | 13.3″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 54 Wh battery | 1.84 lbs / 0.84 kg |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 | Business | 13.3″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 33 Wh battery | 1.92 lbs / 0.87 kg |
| Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 13 | Ultrabook | 13.3″ AMOLED glossy, recent Intel Core U, 63 Wh battery | 1.92 lbs / 0.87 kg |
| Acer Swift 7 | Ultrabook | 14″ matte, older Intel Core Y, 32 Wh battery | 1.96 lbs / 0.89 kg |
| Dynabook Portégé X30L | Business | 13.3″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 53 Wh battery | 2.0 lbs / 0.9 kg |
| Vaio SX12 | Ultrabook | 12.5″ matte, recent Intel Core U, ?? Wh battery | 2.02 lbs / 0.9 kg |
| Apple Macbook 12 | Ultrabook | 12″ glossy, older Core Y, 41.4 Wh battery | 2.05 lbs / 0.92 kg |
| Lenovo Chromebook Duet | ChromeBook Tablet + Folio |
10.1″ 16:10 touch, Mediatek, 27 Wh battery | 2.05 lbs / 0.92 kg |
| Fujitsu Lifebook U9310 | Ultrabook | 13.3″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 50 Wh battery | 2.05 lbs / .92 kg |
| Microsoft Surface Go | Tablet + Folio | 10.5″ 3:2 touch, Intel Pentium or Core i3, 27 Wh battery | 2.07 lbs / 0.94 kg |
| HP Pavilion Aero 13 | Ultrabook | 13.3″ 16:10 matte, recent AMD Ryzen U, 43 Wh battery | 2.1 lbs / 0.95 kg |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano | Business | 13.3″ 16:10 matte/touch, recent Intel Core U, 48 Wh battery | 2.11 lbs / 0.96 kg |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon | Convertible | 13.3″ 16:10 touch, recent Intel Core U, 50 Wh battery | 2.13 lbs / 0.96 kg |
| Samsung Galaxy Book S | Ultrabook | 13.3″ touch, Qualcomm hardware, 42 Wh battery | 2.13 lbs / 0.96 kg |
| LG Gram 13 | Ultrabook | 13.3″ glossy, recent AMD Ryzen U, 51 Wh battery | 2.16 lbs / 0.98 kg |
| Asus ZenBook 14 Ultralight | Ultrabook | 14″ matte, recent Intel Core U + MX450, 63 Wh battery | 2.16 lbs / 0.98 kg |
| LG Gram 14 | Ultrabook | 14″ glossy, recent Intel Core U, 72 Wh battery | 2.2 lbs / 0.99 kg |
| Acer Travelmate P6 | Ultrabook | 14″ 16:10 matte, recent Core U, 56 Wh battery | 2.2 lbs / 0.99 kg |
| Acer Swift 5 15 | Ultrabook | 15.6″ matte, older Core U, 54 Wh battery | 2.2 lbs / 0.99 kg |
| Asus ExpertBook B9 | Business | 14″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 66 Wh battery | 2.2 lbs / 0.99 kg |
| Dynabook Portégé X30W | Convertible | 13.3″ touch, recent Intel Core U, 53 Wh battery | 2.2 lbs / 0.99 kg |
| HP ProBook 635 Aero | Business | 13.3″ touch, recent AMD Ryzen U, 53 Wh battery | 2.2 lbs / 0.99 kg |
| HP Elite Dragonfly | Convertible | 13.3″ touch up to 4K, recent Intel Core i7 + Iris Xe, 56 Wh battery | 2.2 lbs / 0.99 kg |
| LG Gram 14 2-in-1 | Convertible | 14″ touch, recent Intel Core U + Iris Xe, 72 Wh battery | 2.2 lbs / 0.99 kg |
Some of the lightest uncompromised laptops of this generation: Fujitsu LifeBook UH90, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, and the HP ProBook Aero
Ultra-Compact options that weigh less than 1.2 kilos /2.5 lbs
This is a list of mini ultrabooks, Chromebooks, and 2-in-1s with sub-13-inch displays that weigh between 2.2 and 2.6 lbs (1 to 1.2 kg). The lighter variants that weigh less than 1 kilo have been included in the first subsection of this article.
| Model | Type | Specs | Weight |
| Asus Laptop L210 | Ultrabook | 11.6″ matte, older Intel Celeron, 38 Wh battery | 2.3 lbs / 1.05 kg |
| Microsoft Surface Pro X | Tablet + Folio | 13″ 3:2 touch, recent Qualcomm, 39 Wh battery | 2.32 lbs / 1.06 kg |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 | Tablet + Folio | 12.3″ 3:2 touch, recent Intel Core U, 45 Wh battery | 2.38 lbs / 1.08 kg |
| HP EliteBook x360 1020 | Convertible | 12.5″ touch, older Intel Core U, 49 Wh battery | 2.45 lbs / 1.11 kg |
| Fujitsu Lifebook U729 | Business | 12.5″ matte, older Intel Core U, 45 Wh battery | 2.46 lbs / 1.11 kg |
| Lenovo Tablet 10 | Tablet + Folio | 10.1″ touch, older Intel Celeron, 27 Wh battery | 2.48 lbs / 1.12 kg |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 8 | Tablet + Folio | 13″ 3:2 touch, recent Intel, 51 Wh battery | 2.65 lbs / 1.2 kg |
The lightest 13 and 14-inch ultrabooks under 1.2 kilos / 2.5 lbs
This section includes lightweight 13 to 14-inch laptops that weigh between 2.2 and 2.6 lbs (1 to 1.2 kg). Just as before, the lighter variants that weigh less than 1 kilo have been included in the first subsection of this article.
| Model | Type | Characteristics | Weight |
| Acer Swift 5 14 | Ultrabook | 14″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 56 Wh battery | 2.27 lbs / 1.03 kg |
| Fujitsu Lifebook U9310X | Convertible | 13.3″ touch, recent Intel Core U, 50 Wh battery | 2.25 lbs / 1.02 kg |
| Samsung Galaxy Chromebook | Chromebook 2-in-1 | 13.3″ 4K OLED touch, recent Intel Core U, 49 Wh battery | 2.3 lbs / 1.04 kg |
| Samsung Galaxy Book Pro x360 13 | Convertible | 13.3″ AMOLED touch, recent Intel Core U, 63 Wh battery | 2.3 lbs / 1.05 kg |
| Vaio Z | Ultrabook | 14″ matte up to 4K, recent Intel Core U + Iris Xe, 54 Wh battery | 2.32 lbs / 1.06 kg |
| Google Pixelbook Go | Chromebook | 13.3″ touch, recent Intel Core Y, 41 Wh battery | 2.4 lbs / 1.09 kg |
| Schenker Via 14 | Ultrabook | 14″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 73 Wh battery | 2.4 lbs / 1.09 kg |
| System76 Lemur Pro | Ultrabook | 14″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 73 Wh battery | 2.4 lbs / 1.09 kg |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon | Business | 14″ matte/touch, recent Intel Core U, 57 Wh battery | 2.5 lbs / 1.14 kg |
| Asus ZenBook 13 OLED | Ultrabook | 13.3″ OLED glossy, recent AMD Ryzen U, 67 Wh battery | 2.5 lbs / 1.14 kg |
| Asus ZenBook 13 | Ultrabook | 13.3″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 67 Wh battery | 2.5 lbs / 1.14 kg |
| Acer Swift 3 14 | Ultrabook | 14″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 48 Wh battery | 2.5 lbs / 1.14 kg |
| HP Elite Dragonfly | Convertible | 13.3″ touch, recent Intel Core U, 56 Wh battery | 2.5 lbs / 1.14 kg |
| ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 | Chromebook 2-in-1 | 14″ touch, recent Intel Core U, 42 Wh battery | 2.58 lbs / 1.17 kg |
| Asus ZenBook 14 | Ultrabook | 14″ matte, recent Intel Core U, 67 Wh battery | 2.62 lbs / 1.19 kg |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Carbon |
Convertible | 13.5″ 3:2 touch, recent Intel Core U + Iris Xe, 44.5 Wh battery | 2.62 lbs / 1.19 kg |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i | Convertible | 14″ touch, recent Intel Core U, 63 Wh battery | 2.65 lbs / 1.2 kg |
| Acer Book RS Porsche | Ultrabook | 14″ touch, recent Intel Core U, 56 Wh battery | 2.65 lbs / 1.2 kg |
These aside, check out our more detailed analysis on 13-inch ultraportables for a few more options that do not meet the strict weight limits chosen for this selection, but are still among the best ultrabooks money can buy these days, such as the Dell XPS 13, Microsoft Surface Laptop or the Apple MacBook Air. You should also check our Chromebook Buying guide for some more options in that class.
The lightest 15-inch laptops under 4 lbs
While full-size 15-inch laptops are not primarily designed with a lightweight chassis in mind, some of you might actually want a thin-and-light laptop with a bit more power and a larger screen, that’s why I’ve compiled the following list of 15-inch notebooks that weigh less than 4 pounds (roughly 1.8 kilos).
You’ll mostly find two types of laptops in this class. On one hand, there are the 15-inch models based on Intel Core i5/Core i7 U or AMD Ryzen 5/7 U hardware platforms with Intel/AMD integrated graphics, and I’ve only included those options that weigh less than 3.5 lbs in this class, in order to keep to a more manageable selection. On the other, there are the more powerful models built on Intel Core H/U or AMD Ryzen HS/H platforms with some sort of mid to high-level Nvidia GeForce dGPUs, and in this case, I’ve included those that weigh 4 lbs or less, as I feel slightly sacrificing on the portability is compensated by the vastly superior performance with these products.
If you’re looking for a more ample selection of excellent thin-and-light laptops with 15+ inch displays, this article is a must-read for you, as it also covers those options that go slightly over the limits we’ve set for this article, but compensate for it with higher-quality constructions, extra features, and capabilities that some of these ultra-lightweight models might not completely check for you.
| Model | Type | Characteristics | Weight |
| Acer Swift 5 15 | Ultrabook | 15.6″ matte, older Intel Core U, 54 Wh battery | 2.2 lbs / 0.99 kg |
| Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 15 | Ultrabook | 15″ AMOLED glossy, recent Intel Core U, 68 Wh battery | 2.35 lbs / 1.07 kg |
| LG Gram 15 | Ultrabook | 15″ glossy, recent Intel Core U, 72 Wh battery | 2.42 lbs / 1.1 kg |
| Samsung Galaxy Book Ion 15 | Ultrabook | 15″ touch, recent Intel Core U, 69 Wh battery | 2.78 lbs / 1.26 kg |
| Samsung Galaxy Book Pro X360 15 | Convertible | 15″ AMOLED touch, recent Intel Core U, 68 Wh battery | 3.07 lbs / 1.39 kg |
| Schenker VIA 15 | Ultrabook | 15.6″ matte, recent AMD Ryzen U, 91 Wh battery | 3.07 lbs / 1.39 kg |
| Dell Latitude 15 9510 | Ultrabook | 15″ 16:10 matte, recent Intel Core U, 52 Wh battery | 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg |
| Dell Latitude 15 9510 2-in-1 | Convertible | 15″ 16:10 touch, recent Intel Core U, 52 Wh battery | 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg |
| Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 15 | Convertible | 15″ touch, recent Intel Core U, 69 Wh battery | 3.35 lbs / 1.52 kg |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 15 | Ultrabook | 15″ 3:2 touch, recent AMD Ryzen U, 45 Wh battery | 3.4 lbs / 1.54 kg |
| Huawei MateBook D 15 | Ultrabook | 15.6″ matte, recent AMD Ryzen U, 56 Wh battery | 3.5 lbs / 1.55 kg |
| Asus VivoBook Pro 15 OLED | Ultrabook | 15.6″ glossy, recent Intel or AMD H + GTX 3050, 63 Wh battery | 3.7 lbs / 1.65 kg |
| Asus Zenbook 15 | Ultrabook | 15.6″ glossy, recent Intel Core U + GTX 1650 MQ, 71 Wh battery | 3.72 lbs / 1.69 kg |
| Lenovo ThinkPad P1 | Business | 15.6″ matte/touch, recent Intel Core HK + Quadro T2000, 80 Wh battery | 3.77 lbs / 1.71 kg |
| Eluktronics Max 15 | Gaming | 15.6″ matte, recent Intel Core H + up to Ryzen 2080 Super MQ, 62 Wh battery | 3.82 lbs / 1.73 kg |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 | Ultrabook | 15.6″ matte, recent Intel Core U + MX350 or Ryzen U, 56 Wh battery | 3.9 lbs / 1.8 kg |
| Asus Zenbook Pro 15 | Multimedia | 15.6″ OLED glossy, recent Intel Core H + GTX 1650Ti MQ, 96 Wh battery | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
| Lenovo Yoga Creator 7 15 | Multimedia | 15.6″ matte, recent Intel Core H + GTX 1650 MQ, 70 Wh battery | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
| Dell XPS 15 | Multimedia | 15.6″ matte/touch, recent Intel Core H + RTX 3050Ti MQ, 86 Wh battery | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme | Business | 15.6″ matte/touch, recent Intel Core H + RTX 3080 MQ, 90 Wh battery | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
There’s also a wide range of 15-inch laptops that weigh between 4 and 4.4 lbs, including both multimedia and gaming models. Check out this post for my detailed list of recommended 15-inch portable laptops.
The lightest 16-inch and 17-inch laptops
In case you’re interested in a lightweight laptop with a larger 16-inch or 17-inch display, the following table includes the few portable options out there.
The limits are aggressively set at 4 lbs (1.8 kg) for 16-inch models, and more permissively at 5.5 lbs (2.5 Kg) for 17-inch models, regardless of the hardware specs, and that’s because many of these larger products are full-performance laptops with powerful specs and modern features, the kind I’d expect you’d want in a larger-screen computer.
| Model | Type | Characteristics | Weight |
| LG Gram 16 | Ultrabook | 16″ glossy 16:10, recent Intel Core U + Iris Xe, 80 Wh battery | 2.65 lbs / 1.2 kg |
| LG Gram 17 | Ultrabook | 17″ glossy 16:10, recent Intel Core U + Iris Xe, 80 Wh battery | 3 lbs / 1.35 kg |
| LG Gram 16 2-in-1 | Convertible | 16″ touch 16:10, recent Intel Core U + Iris Xe, 80 Wh battery | 3.2 lbs / 1.45 kg |
| Honor Magicbook Pro | Multimedia | 16.1″ 16:9, recent AMD Ryzen H + Vega, 48 Wh battery | 3.74 lbs / 1.7 kg |
| Acer Swift 3 16 SF316-51 | Ultrabook | 16″ glossy 16:10, recent Intel Core U + Iris Xe, 56 Wh battery | 3.7 lbs / 1.7 kg |
| Xiaomi Redmibook 16 | Multimedia | 16.1″ 16:9, recent AMD Ryzen U + Vega, 48 Wh battery | 3.96 lbs / 1.8 kg |
| Asus VivoBook Pro 16X | Multimedia | 16″ 16:10, recent Intel Core H + RTX 3050, 96 Wh battery | 4.27 lbs / 1.94 kg |
| Asus VivoBook Pro 16X | Multimedia | 16″ 16:10, recent AMD Ryzen H + RTX 3050Ti, 96 Wh battery | 4.27 lbs / 1.94 kg |
| Apple Macbook Pro 16 | Workstation | 16″ 16:10 retina glossy, recent Intel Core H + Radeon Pro, 99 Wh battery | 4.4 lbs / 2 kg |
| Eluktronics Max 17 | Gaming | 17.3″ matte 240 Hz, recent Intel Core H + up to Ryzen 2080 Super MQ, 91 Wh battery | 4.71 lbs / 2.13 kg |
| MSI GS75 Stealth | Gaming | 17.3″ matte 240 Hz, recent Intel Core H + up to RTX 2080 Super MQ, 80 Wh battery | 5.03 lbs / 2.28 kg |
| Asus VivoBook S17 | Ultrabook | 17.3″ matte, older Intel Core U, 42 Wh battery | 5.1 lbs / 2.3 kg |
| Asus StudioBook Pro 17 | Workstation | 17″ 16:10 matte, Recent Intel Core H + Quadro RTX 3000, 57 Wh battery | 5.35 lbs / 2.42 kg |
| Dell Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1 | Convertible | 17″ 16:10 touch, recent Intel Core U + MX350, 68 Wh battery | 5.4 lbs / 2.45 kg |
| Dell XPS 17 | Multimedia | 17″ 16:10 matte, Recent Intel Core H + RTX 2060 MQ, 97 Wh battery | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg |
Some of the lightest 17-inch laptops: MSI GS75 Stealth, Dell XPS 17, and the LG gram 17
Here’s a short glossary of the terms mentioned above:
- Types:
- Ultrabook: standard shaped clamshell computer;
- Convertible: 2-in-1 laptop with 360-degree convertible display;
- Detachable: 2-in-1 laptop with detachable stand-alone display;
- Chromebook – a laptop running Google’s ChromeOS operating system;
- Business – everyday laptop with a tougher chassis and a few features that make it best fir for business environments (fingerprint readers, vPRO, TPM, etc);
- Multimedia – complete all-day performance laptops meant for daily use, demanding work-loads and light gaming;
- Workstation – performance laptops meant for demanding work-loads and creative work;
- Gaming – ultraportable laptops with powerful graphics chips, able to deal with games;
Wrap up
This pretty much wraps up these lists of lightweight and portable laptops. I might have left some of them out, so if you spot anything that’s missing and should be in here, let me know in the comments below.
Furthermore, for more details about ultrabooks, check out all the other articles here on the site. And if you have any questions or need any help picking the best thin-and-light laptop for your needs, drop me a line in the comments section or by email, I’ll be around to reply.
Mushtaq
September 13, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Hi Andrei,
I’m a grad student in US now and after I finish my grad I will teach in collage and I want to build a laptop from a company, so may I ask which brand you think is better and what most important details I need to tell them (Like CPU, RAM, drive…). I want it very fast, light, thin and for math and photo editor programming, no gaming or movies a lot could you help me please.
Thanks in advance
Jerome
September 24, 2015 at 3:41 pm
Hi Andrei,
I currently have a Smasung Series 9 900X3C, and I upgraded my SSD to 512Gb and my RAM to 16Gb. I love this laptop apart from the fact that the paint is peeling off the keys and the battery now only lasts 1.5 hours.
Ideally I’m looking for a direct replacement for this, preferably with an i7 processor, but the biggest requirement is the same size and weight and the ability to support 16GB RAM as I run virtual machines which I need to assign 8Gb RAM.
I am looking at the XPS 13, but this maxes out at 8GB RAM and isn’t upgradeable.
Is there anything you can recommend which would satisfy my requirements?
I am willing to pay whatever it costs to find such a machine
Andrei Girbea
September 24, 2015 at 8:27 pm
Hi Jerome,
My advice would be to wait for the new Skylake ultraportables to hit the stores, quite a few of them will support 16 GB of RAM. The XPS 13 might not be one of them, but many will.
Jerome
September 24, 2015 at 8:30 pm
Thanks Andrei, great site by the way, really helpful!
Jerome
September 24, 2015 at 8:17 pm
Hi Andrei,
I currently have a Smasung Series 9 900X3C, and I upgraded my SSD to 512Gb and my RAM to 16Gb. I love this laptop apart from the fact that the paint is peeling off the keys and the battery now only lasts 1.5 hours.
Ideally I’m looking for a direct replacement for this, preferably with an i7 processor, but the biggest requirement is the same size and weight and the ability to support 16GB RAM as I run virtual machines which I need to assign 8Gb RAM. Also availability in the UK and a UK keyboard
I am looking at the XPS 13, but this maxes out at 8GB RAM and isn’t upgradeable.
Is there anything you can recommend which would satisfy my requirements?
I am willing to pay whatever it costs to find such a machine
Mushtaq
September 26, 2015 at 4:36 pm
Hi Andrei,
I’m a grad student in US now and after I finish my grad I will teach in collage and I want to build a laptop from a company, so may I ask which brand you think is better and what most important details I need to tell them (Like CPU, RAM, drive…). I want it very fast, light, thin and for math and photo editor programming, no gaming or movies a lot could you help me please.
Thanks in advance
Yan
September 30, 2015 at 3:45 pm
Why not include the 11-inch Asus X200CA?
Vurz
October 1, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Could you add the Dell Precision M3800? It does seem to fit the bill for this list, with its 15″ and some versions of it weighing under two kilograms. It’s expensive though.
Andrei Girbea
October 1, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Done. And thanks, I wasn’t aware of it. Too bad it only comes with Haswell hardware, but I’d reckon Dell will have a Skylake update soon. Also, a version without the Quadro graphics would be really nice as a thin and light multimedia 15-incher.
Andrei Girbea
October 2, 2015 at 2:03 pm
BTW, Dell just announced a follow-up for the M3800, the Precision 15 5510: smaller, lighter and faster. Should have improved battery as well and an option for a 100% adobe RGB screen.