Ultraportable laptops are the perfect computers for anyone who is always on the go. The best ultraportable laptops are incredibly thin, lightweight, and powerful laptops are often equipped with batteries that stay charged all day and a wide array of special features.
In this article, we’ve collected a list of some of the best ultraportable laptops on the market and are providing this guide to help you find the laptop that’s best suited to your productivity needs. Read on to find the best ultraportable laptop for you!
2020 Apple MacBook Air Laptop
Best Overall
Lightweight Apple M1 Chip Laptop
This ultraportable laptop is thin and sleek. It features the powerful new M1 chip from Apple, which delivers faster performance, and comes with 8GB of memory to keep your laptop responsive.
Pros:
- Offers up to 18 hours of battery life with a single charge
- Features a Retina display that guarantees a vivid and bright screen experience
Cons:
- Touch keypad is not very sensitive
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
Runner Up
Smart Ultraportable Laptop
This thin yet powerful laptop comes with a dual-core processor and 4GB of memory to keep your computer running seamlessly. It also comes with seven and a half hours of battery life.
Pros:
- Features a large screen for crisp and immersive visuals
- Keyboard is backlit for easy working in any lighting
Cons:
- Screen dims when computer is not plugged in
ASUS Laptop L210 11.6” Ultra Thin
Top Contender
Efficient & Ultraportable Laptop
This incredibly lightweight laptop weighs just over two pounds, making it perfect for on-the-go use. It also has an impressive 64GB of storage and comes with an efficient Intel processor.
Pros:
- Slim so that you can take it with you everywhere
- Designed to rotate up to 180 degrees
Cons:
- Number pad included on trackpad is very sensitive
Lenovo Chromebook S330 Laptop
Honorable Mention
Sleek Multi-Use Laptop
This three-pound laptop features a 14-inch HD screen and a powerful processor that make it great for everyday home or office use. It also pairs seamlessly and quickly with WiFi and Bluetooth.
Pros:
- Comes with a strong and clear webcam
- Features strong virus protection mechanisms
Cons:
- Screen may appear gray or washed out
Dell ChromeBook 11.6 Inch HD Laptop
Also Consider
Refurbished & Lightweight Laptop
This Chromebook is the perfect basic or starter laptop for a wide variety of uses. It’s a high-quality, compact laptop that is perfect for surfing the web, working on documents, and staying productive.
Pros:
- Comes with a USB port for easy connectivity to laptop accessories
- Easily connects to Google profile and apps
Cons:
- Slower than other laptop models
FAQs
How can you find the best laptop for your needs?
Finding the best laptop for your needs is an incredibly personal endeavor. When buying an ultraportable laptop, it’s important to ask yourself what you need out of a laptop. The best laptops are those that help you stay on top of all your different projects, have the battery life to meet your needs, and come with the special features that you need to power through your to-do list items.
Which computer operating system is best for you?
Most laptops come with one of three operating systems: Windows, Chrome OS, or macOS. Choosing the right one is a matter of personal preference, and there are pros and cons associated with each operating system. When choosing, look into the consistency of each operating system’s performance, speeds, security features, and storage and memory sizes.
Buying Guide
All the different choices on the market can make the laptop selection process overwhelming. To help you focus on the right things as you search for an ultraportable laptop, check out our guide to some of the features that you should keep in mind as you shop:
- Size: One of the first things that you should consider as you search for the perfect ultraportable laptop is how thin you’d like your laptop to be. Laptops are typically categorized by their display sizes.
- Screen Resolution: Ultraportables’ displays come in an increasingly varied array of resolutions, from standard high definition to full HD, to Ultra HD or 4K. Lower-resolution screens work well enough for reading and typing text. Full HD screens are now the norm in most laptop models. However, if you’re looking for the sharpest display experience, look for laptops with Ultra HD or 4K resolution.
- Design: Many ultraportable laptops are convertible and can be utilized as a laptop and as a tablet. Some of these hybrid laptops rotate around a hinge, while others have a separate keyboard base that can be stowed away.