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 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon | Business | 14″ matte/touch, recent Intel Core U, 51 Wh battery | 2.39 lbs / 1.08 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 |
| 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 Core 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 |
| 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.
Ellen Berman
April 25, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Hi Andrea, I value your information and insights so much. I put off buying last year because the products are changing so rapidly and are getting lighter which is a high priority. I perused the lists above of ultralightweight computers but did not see specs regarding speed and memory. i want you to recommend a PC under three pounds — I love seeing the new two pounders and they are a real plus — with 12 GB ram and 500GB-1TB of SSD (hard to find except in MAC and I’m a PC’er) or hard drive. If hard drive, I still need the ultralight weight. I am hooked on Windows 7 but understand it won’t be available in these newest machines and I should get with 8.1 or 10. The Microsoft Surface Pro is ultralight and on your list but the keyboard is too flat for good response. I want a backlit keyboard, too. To recap, the minimums are under (1)under three pounds, (2) 12 GB RAM, (3) 500 GB memory (preferably SSD), (4)good keyboard for fast typing (I’m using a 4 year old $250 HP Mini 210-2072CL with great keyboard, great computer in all regards except speed and RAM and hard drive), (5)backlit, (6)fast processing speed, (7) price under $1500 if possible, (8) do not need convertible since I have an ipad mini, (9) touchscreen is a plus since everything is headed that way. Thanks.
Ellen Berman
April 27, 2015 at 10:09 am
Andrei, Did you have thoughts for me? If I missed your response please resend. Thanks. Ellen
Andrei Girbea
April 27, 2015 at 10:42 am
Hi Ellen. You didn’t mention a preferred screen size, please get back to me with this detail.
Ellen Berman
April 28, 2015 at 12:13 pm
Screen size.– 13″ is big enough. 15″ would be fine if weight factor comports.. Under three pounds is a more important factor than screen size. Two pounds would be a plus.
Andrei Girbea
April 29, 2015 at 10:46 am
Hmmm. The only 15 incher that comes close is the Samsung Ativ Book 15, but it’s outside your budget and heavier than 3 lbs.
Those being said, I’d look at the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 3rd gen, but I don’t think you will get a 512 GB SSD under $1500. Still, look for deals.
Another great option could be the Soon to be launched Lenovo Lavie series, very light 13 inchers, but again, those will probably get expensive.
The Dell XPS 13 2015 could be a decent fit as well, especially if you buy a bade model with the FHD matte display and then upgrade the SSD yourself.
All these are only limited to 8 GB of RAM though.
You can get 12 GB of RAM on the Asus Zenbook UX301, which again is very expensive. It’s also powerful though and just around 3 lbs.
Hmmm, so the more I think about it, the more difficult it is to suggest something that would actually fit all the requirements. You’ll need to compromise on Price, or on the amount of RAM and Storage.
Ellen Berman
April 29, 2015 at 5:53 pm
I’ll limit the specs needed. I don’t require a 15″ screen. 13″ is fine. I could even manage with 11″. Under three pounds is a must and the lighter the better. 8 gb of RAM will do. I’d like 512 gb of storage and it can be SSD or hard drive as long as the weight is ultralight. I neglected to mention USB ports. I would like two, one for my indispensable mouse and one for a flash drive or other connection. Does that help you specify something that fits the bill? Thanks!
Andrei Girbea
April 29, 2015 at 7:53 pm
Those that I already did. Check them out.
Kurt
April 27, 2015 at 9:13 pm
Andrei,
I’m looking for a high performance ultra portable with a display of at least 15 inch IPS panel. The notebook should have at least 16GB ram, 512GB SSD or mSata and needs to be as light as possible.
Price is no issue.
Regards,
kurt
Andrei Girbea
April 28, 2015 at 8:01 am
Dell XPS 15 2015, Macbook Pro Retina, Asus Zenbook NX50/UX501, MSIO GS60 – those are your better options
Cheri
April 28, 2015 at 9:50 pm
Hi Andrei – I posted a comment and question a few above. Did you have any suggestions (did I miss a post)?
My question was:
Do you know of any 15+ inch that are lighter weight (around 5lbs), that have a taller screen in 16:10 ratio or any taller size? I’m also looking for a smooth mouse pad surface (not textured). That extra height on the screen is adds so much function.
I can pay what’s needed, but would like to stick with Windows.
So far only the Mac seems to have this combo (tall, lightweight, smooth mouse) and also it’s very pricey at over $2500 once I’ve added Parallels then plus mac accessories.
The taller screen is hard to find, so that’s what I’d compromise on. So if it’s not availabe, can you point me to the 15+” that’s closer to 4.5lbs with a smooth mouse surface?
Any help would be great. Thanks!
Andrei Girbea
April 29, 2015 at 10:52 am
I’m not aware of any A Brand laptop that offers a 16:10 display except for the Macbook Pro.
There are a few other under 5 pounds 15 inchers, but all are premium devices and expensive. Among those, the Asus Zenbook NX500/UX501/G501 , Dell XPS 15 2015, MSI GS60, Samsung ATIV Book 9 2014 NP940X. If I remember correctly, all of them offer smooth glass trackpads, but you should double check on that.
Kenneth
May 14, 2015 at 5:49 pm
Thanks for this great list. Can you also add a column for max memory to the chart. I’m looking for a light laptop that can provide 16gb ram.
Evelyn Livermore
June 19, 2015 at 7:33 am
Hi,
I’ve been an avid Thinkpad/Lenovo-fan the last 16 years. I’ll be going back to university this fall and am looking for a lightweight, i5-ish (or something giving similar performance) computer with battery life of 7 hours+. I do not need much storage space, and will be using it mostly for documents and surfing. I would like 13.3″ or smaller. I have a larger, more powerful PC at home, but its way too heavy to lug around. My budget is $750.
I’ve been trying to look for Lenovos that meet my criteria, but I’m not up to date anymore with the different types of models. I have also heard good things about the Acers and Asus’.
Andrei Girbea
June 20, 2015 at 8:33 am
Hi Evelyn. Your budget is somewhat low for an up-to-date ThinkPad. I would advise going for a THinkPad X240/X250, but the i5 options are significantly more expensive. Lenovo might have some good student discounts, so you could hunt down some sales for the X240.
You could also consider something like the Yoga 3 11 with Core M hardware, or maybe the Asus Zenbook UX305, which is a great bundle for the money ($699 these days). However, make sure you read more about Core M and what it can do. It’s a fanless platform, so quiet, BUT it’s only powerful enough for light-use. From what you’re saying though you don’t need much from this computer, that’s why I think these options should fit nicely with your requirements.
Ralph
August 6, 2015 at 6:37 am
Hi,
Great information here. I’m a IT university student looking for a 14″ or larger light ultrabook, 7hrs> battery life, 128gb> ssd, full HD or better resolution, 8gb> memory and possibly touch screen, I’ve had trouble finding a suitable 14inch or larger ultrabook, I don’t might OS and have a budget around 2000AUD.
Andrei Girbea
August 12, 2015 at 1:06 pm
The Dell Latitude 14 and the Lenovo THinkPad X1 carbon 3rd gen are among the better 14 inchers out there and should fit within your budget. There’s also a detailed list of options here: https://www.ultrabookreview.com/5165-broadwell-ultrabooks/#a2 , try to narrow it down to some of the options that check the right boxes for you.
Ralph
August 6, 2015 at 6:39 am
Hi,
Great information here. I’m a IT university student looking for a 14″ or larger light ultrabook, 7hrs> battery life, 128gb> ssd, full HD or better resolution, 8gb> memory and possibly touch screen, I’ve had trouble finding a suitable 14inch or larger ultrabook, I don’t might OS and have a budget around 2000AUD. What models would you recommend?
Thank you.
Kacey
August 8, 2015 at 3:42 pm
Hi, I am looking for a very lightweight (under 2 kgs) ultrabook which has a 13 in screen and is powerful enough to do multiple multi-tasking jobs (Word, Excel, powerpoint, multiple webpages, but no gaming).
I will be visiting the US in a few weeks and would like to get one there because they are much cheaper than in DK. Can you suggest something?
Thank you! This is a great site!
KC
Andrei Girbea
August 12, 2015 at 1:16 pm
Hi, does it have to be a Windows device? If not, then the Apple MacBook Pro 13 should be the best you can get for what you need.
Otherwise, there are plenty of devices built on Intel Broadwell U hardware, like the Dell XPS 13, Asus Zenbook UX301LA/UX303LA, HP Spectre x360 and many other. Aim for a Core i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM (or more, if available) and fast SSD storage and you should be OK.
Eddie Yong
August 29, 2015 at 4:48 am
Hi,
I think the weight listed for Samsung ATIV Book 9 2014 NP940X 15.6 inch is not correct. Its probably the weight for the 13 inch version. The 15.6 inch version should be 4.4 pounds i.e. 2 kg.
Andrei Girbea
August 29, 2015 at 9:53 am
You’re right, thanks for spotting that, it’s been fixed now
Jake Fernandez
September 7, 2015 at 1:12 pm
No HP Spectre x360?
Andrei Girbea
September 7, 2015 at 9:28 pm
he 360 is a 13-incher and weighs over 3 lbs. See our detailed review here: https://www.ultrabookreview.com/8042-hp-spectre-x360-review/
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.