Almost every laptop claims to be thin, but few are among the true lightweight elite. “Light” has come a long way: At PCMag, we’ve been reviewing PCs since 1982, when “portable” meant suitcase-size. Here, we’ve gathered today’s best light laptops from dozens of contenders across all categories: business, gaming, convertible, and more. Our collective decades of expertise help us evaluate laptops based on raw performance, build quality, screen fidelity, connectivity, and value. Our current favorite for most people is the under-$900 Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch, an excellent 2.8-pound ultraportable with a brilliant touch screen and a powerful AMD processor. It’s a stunning value of a laptop, one of the best overall, period, not merely for its weight. Read on for the rest of our top picks in super-light laptops for other budgets and usage cases, followed by a detailed buying guide and a spec breakout of all recommended models.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Light Laptop for Most Buyers
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406)
- Peppy performance
- High value
- Long battery life
- Lots of ports for its size
- Just a 1200p display
- No WWAN option or SD card slot
- Face login only—no fingerprint reader
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406) is the best lightweight laptop we’ve reviewed for most folks, taking on the like-priced competition with a powerful AMD Ryzen 8000-series processor. The peppy performance is matched by long battery life and a scintillating OLED touch screen with better-than-1080p resolution. The slim 2.82-pound design is super-easy to carry, and the variety of ports is anything but lightweight. And, at just $850, its value equation is more compelling than you might think.
Everyday users who appreciate speed and a great screen will find plenty to love in this Zenbook, from the potent performance and premium display to the lightweight design and robust port selection. But bargain hunters will also appreciate the under-$900 price, and frequent flyers will be grateful for the slim, light chassis.
Class
Ultraportable
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Screen Size
14 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1200
Panel Technology
OLED
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
AMD Radeon 780M Graphics
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (HWD)
0.59 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches
Weight
2.82 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
19:56
Learn More
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406) Review
Best Light Laptop for Work
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
- Elegant and light design
- Fabulous keyboard
- Sharp, vivid OLED screen
- USB-A, HDMI, and USB-C ports
- Sky-high price
- Decent but not class-leading performance and battery life
- No SD or microSD card slot
Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 works hard to escape the long shadow cast by its Gen 11 predecessor, and while the newest model doesn’t quite blow out the previous one, it’s still the best ultraportable for business released this year. With an elegant, carbon-fiber-infused ultralight design, this slim machine pairs a top-notch keyboard with a sharp, vivid OLED display and a robust collection of ports. The price is a bit rich for our liking, but it’s hard to deny that this is still an Editors’ Choice-award-winning business laptop for many reasons, among them the addition of Intel’s new Core Ultra processors, enhanced with hardware-based AI acceleration.
If you’re a professional who needs a Windows laptop that’s just as useful on a cross-country flight as on your desk in the office, start your search at the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. This is as effective as a lightweight productivity laptop gets. From the immensely portable design to the ultra-comfortable keyboard, it’s our favorite business laptop, especially for users who spend most of their time on the go.
Class
Business, Ultraportable
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
14 inches
Native Display Resolution
2880 by 1800
Panel Technology
OLED
Variable Refresh Support
Manual
Screen Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel Arc Graphics
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.59 by 12.3 by 8.5 inches
Weight
2.47 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
13:51
Learn More
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 Review
Best Light Gaming Laptop
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)
- Elegant, compact redesign with metal chassis
- Powerful all-around performance and gaming speed
- Brilliant 1800p 120Hz OLED panel with G-Sync support
- Wide selection of ports
- Long battery life
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is the latest in a growing string of superb gaming laptops with near-ultraportable size and weight. The 14-inch gaming machine packs an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU for exceptional gaming speed and overall performance, and it’s equipped with an excellent 120Hz OLED panel with G-Sync support for an immersive gaming experience. The compact metal chassis is appealing and durable without most gaming systems’ chunky size or blaring RGB flair. The laptop’s port selection is decent, and its battery life is better, making this one of the few gaming laptops you’d consider using on the go.
The clear target for this laptop is mobile gamers, especially those who value portability over screen size. The Zephyrus’ lightweight, compact design delivers a high-end gaming experience without compromising performance. But other shoppers looking for a straight-up ultraportable might want to pick it up for the extra graphics performance and sleek design.
Class
Gaming
Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
14 inches
Native Display Resolution
2,880 by 1,800
Panel Technology
OLED
Variable Refresh Support
G-Sync
Screen Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Graphics Processor
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU
Graphics Memory
8 GB
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.64 by 12.2 by 8.7 inches
Weight
3.3 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
11:52
Learn More
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) Review
Best Light Budget Laptop
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
- Affordable price even with improved specs
- Leading performance in every test
- High-quality FHD display
- Decent port array, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2
- Durable MIL-SPEC-certified design and antimicrobial coating
- Average battery life
- No touch capability (at this price)
- Limited UFS storage is just adequate
For under $500, the Acer Chromebook Plus CX34 delivers incredible value, making it the best lightweight Chromebook on the market and the best light laptop for budget shoppers. Its speedy performance and excellent features exceeded our expectations for an affordable ChromeOS laptop, ramping up the processing power and boosting the feature set with plenty of ports. Equipped with a superb 1080p display, a sturdy MIL-SPEC-certified frame, and a generous 13-hour battery, the CX34 is our favorite ultraportable Chromebook of the moment and an easy recommendation for any value shopper who wants a light and capable laptop.
Budget shoppers and Google fans will love the affordable Acer Chromebook Plus CX34. As lightweight laptops go, this one provides potent ChromeOS performance and an excellent feature set, all for an affordable price.
Class
Chromebook, Budget
Processor
Intel Core i3-1215U
RAM (as Tested)
8 GB
Boot Drive Type
UFS (Universal Flash Storage)
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
128 GB
Screen Size
14 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1080
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel UHD Graphics
Wireless Networking
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions (HWD)
0.73 by 12.9 by 8.4 inches
Weight
3.17 lbs
Operating System
Chrome OS
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
12:46
Learn More
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 Review
Best Light Mac Laptop
Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2024, M3)
- Impressive blend of portability and power
- Capable graphics performance
- Slim, lightweight all-metal design
- Expanded support for external displays
- Speedy and versatile Thunderbolt 4 ports
- All-day battery goes and goes
- Distracting camera notch
- Lower peak display brightness than expected
- Limited monitor support when laptop is open
If you want the top lightweight MacBook, then go straight for the MacBook Air 13-inch (2024, M3). Equipped with the same ultra-slim, super-light design as the 2022 redesigned Air, which slimmed down with a smaller logic board and chassis, the newest Air beefs up in all the ways that matter. That includes enhanced M3 performance, extended battery life, and new dual-display support. It’s a predictable update to an already excellent laptop, but it keeps Apple high on the list of lightest laptops that pack a punch.
This MacBook Air isn’t the most powerful MacBook, but it’s clear that this is easily the best Mac laptop for everyday users. If you need to save some money, check out the older MacBook Air (the 2022 M2 version); otherwise, it’s possible to scale up with the equally awesome new M3 version of the Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch. More-premium MacBook Pro models are always available if you’re willing to pay more for extra power. But for the average Mac user working from home, taking a laptop to the classroom or office, or traveling for work, this is the MacBook to get.
Class
Ultraportable
Processor
Apple M3
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Screen Size
13.6 inches
Native Display Resolution
2560 by 1664
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Apple M3 (10-core)
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (HWD)
0.44 by 11.97 by 8.46 inches
Weight
2.7 lbs
Operating System
Apple macOS Sonoma
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
21:38
Learn More
Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2024, M3) Review
Best Light Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 (2024)
- Striking OLED touch screen
- Snappy performance
- Lengthy battery life
- Svelte design with remarkable soundbar hinge
- USB-A and USB-C ports
- Slightly pricey
- No HDMI port or SD/microSD card slot
- No mobile broadband option
- Can’t cap the stylus pen
Lenovo’s Yoga 9i Gen 9 is our top pick for lightweight 2-in-1 laptops, thanks to its superb 14-inch OLED touch display with pen support. Leading performance bolsters this laptop’s claim, too. The Yoga 9i showcases the power of Intel’s Core Ultra silicon, providing enduring battery life and punchy performance. With its all-metal chassis, the Yoga 9i exudes elegance while maintaining a slim profile, weighing a mere 2.98 pounds. It even comes with a pen for handwritten digital notes and on-screen sketching.
For a lightweight laptop that doubles as a slick tablet for notetaking and sketching, Lenovo’s Yoga 9i Gen 9 is the best option. It appeals to everyone, from office professionals to college students who want something light to carry to class.
Class
Convertible 2-in-1
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
14 inches
Native Display Resolution
2880 by 1800
Panel Technology
OLED
Variable Refresh Support
Manual
Screen Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel Arc Graphics
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (HWD)
0.64 by 12.4 by 8.6 inches
Weight
2.98 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
17:52
Learn More
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 (2024) Review
Best Light Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop
Microsoft Surface Pro (2024)
- Improved battery life
- Option for high-quality OLED display
- Slim, versatile 2-in-1 design
- Improved Flex Pro wireless keyboard
- Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and monitor support
- Essential accessories still sold separately
- Windows on Arm adds compatibility complexity
- Underwhelming AI features
- Limited port selection
Microsoft’s Surface Pro for 2024 dropped Intel processing for Qualcomm’s new laptop-ready Snapdragon X mobile processors, which improve battery life and meet today’s performance expectations in the ultraportable segment. Better yet, the worry of whether your favorite apps will work is addressed with boosted emulation and further-reaching app support than ever. This model’s top-end connectivity and improved wireless keyboard cover seal the deal. It’s just 1.97 pounds without the keyboard attached, and therefore worthy of this list.
This slate targets trend-setting mobile professionals in chic offices or client-facing pros in fields where appearance is important, like real estate and sales. Its lengthy battery life and state-of-the-art connectivity are also helpful for regular commuters and fliers. If you often travel on business trips and meet with especially stately clients or contacts in your work, then the 2024 Surface Pro is a fine first stop in your search.
Class
Detachable 2-in-1, Ultraportable
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E80100)
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Screen Size
13 inches
Native Display Resolution
2880 by 1920
Panel Technology
OLED
Variable Refresh Support
Dynamic
Screen Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno GPU
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Dimensions (HWD)
0.37 by 11.3 by 8.2 inches
Weight
1.97 pounds
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
14:23
Learn More
Microsoft Surface Pro (2024) Review
Best Light 15-Inch Laptop
Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2024, M3)
- M3 processor brings marked improvements
- New support for two external displays
- Thin and light, despite its footprint
- Same competitive price as first generation
- No changes to design
- Too few ports for its size
- Running two external displays requires lid to be shut
The 15-inch MacBook Air is the larger sibling to the well-known 13-inch model, now updated with the latest M3 processor in the same ultra-light design. Despite the spartan port selection, the new MacBook Air adds more external monitor support, along with robust six-speaker audio and a generously sized touchpad. The sleek, lightweight machine features the same processing hardware as the entry MacBook Pro, giving you a potent productivity laptop that’s lighter than most 15-inch systems.
Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air gives you a bit more power than the 13-inch model along with better sound and longer battery life. This makes it a smart choice for Mac fans and a safe buy for anyone looking for a powerful and reliable 15-inch ultraportable.
Class
Desktop Replacement
Processor
Apple M3
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Screen Size
15.3 inches
Native Display Resolution
2880 by 1864
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Apple M3 (10-core)
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.45 by 13.4 by 9.4 inches
Weight
3.3 lbs
Operating System
Apple macOS
Learn More
Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch (2024, M3) Review
Best Light 17-Inch Laptop
LG Gram Pro 17 (2023)
- Remarkably light for a 17-inch laptop
- Big, beautiful 16:10 display with variable refresh
- Long battery life
- GeForce GPU suitable for light gaming
- Flexible bordering on flimsy
- Awkward top-row keys
- Poor audio
Lightweight laptops are usually small and compact, but the aptly named LG Gram Pro 17 defies expectations with a spacious 17-inch panel, a full keyboard, upgraded hardware, and an unexpectedly rich port selection. From the carbon-magnesium alloy construction to the bright, colorful display, it’s everything we loved about the previous Gram 17, but with the added power of a discrete Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics chip for content creation and even light gaming.
If the 13- and 14-inch models on this list leave you feeling cramped, the LG Gram Pro 17 will give you room to stretch. Despite its big display and spacious keyboard, the new Gram weighs just 3.2 pounds, with nearly 18 hours of battery life, making it the lightest big-screen laptop, but also one of the longest lasting.
Class
Desktop Replacement
Processor
Intel Core i7-1360P
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
17 inches
Native Display Resolution
2560 by 1600
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
Manual
Screen Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Graphics Processor
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050
Graphics Memory
4 GB
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.7 by 14.9 by 10.2 inches
Weight
3.2 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
17:55
Learn More
LG Gram Pro 17 (2023) Review
Best Light Enterprise Laptop for Extreme Weight Savings
Panasonic Let’s Note FV4
- Handsome 3:2 display
- Clever circular touchpad
- User-replaceable battery
- Plenty of ports
- Expensive
- Awkward non-backlit keyboard
- Tepid performance
- Unimpressive build
The Panasonic Let’s Note FV4 scores a spot on this list of lightweights thanks to its undeniably ultra-light design. Made for pros in fields like health care and government (for the latter, it complies with the US Trade Agreements Act), this quirky business laptop borrows the design of one of Panasonic’s top laptops from Japan, including a funky circular trackpad and an exceptionally light and sturdy magnesium alloy chassis. It’s not without its issues, but that 2.4-pound weight earns its way on this list, undercutting top ultraportables on weight and pairing it with a swappable battery and extensive port selection. If cutting weight is the topmost priority, this is the business laptop to get.
The Panasonic Let’s Note FV4 is ideal for professionals who want a lightweight laptop for on-the-go use that stands out from typical business laptops (with that quirky touchpad and keyboard). If portability, weight savings, and novelty are more important than raw speed and price, this featherweight might be worth the expense.
Class
Business, Ultraportable
Processor
Intel Core i7-1370P
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Screen Size
14 inches
Native Display Resolution
2160 by 1440
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (HWD)
0.7 by 12.1 by 9.2 inches
Weight
2.4 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
15:16
Learn More
Panasonic Let’s Note FV4 Review
Buying Guide: Tested: The Lightest Laptops for 2024
What defines a lightweight laptop? Most would agree that the upper limit is three pounds, possibly stretching to four for a system with a big 15.6-inch screen. Neither of those figures counts the computer’s AC adapter, an often-overlooked bit of baggage that can be anything from a compact shirt-pocket gadget to an ungainly brick.
For manufacturers, crafting an ultralight laptop is all about compromise. A smaller battery pack will save weight, but it won’t last as long—a risky move in a market where many buyers expect to get through an entire workday plus a Netflix movie in the evening. Exotic chassis materials like carbon fiber and magnesium alloys weigh less than ordinary notebooks’ plastic and aluminum but also increase cost. A touch screen is convenient, but its glass overlay adds a few grams.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
For you, shopping for a svelte laptop is all about choices. Some aren’t particularly obvious, such as a system’s expandability—the lightest machines may have their memory, for instance, mounted directly on the motherboard rather than in the upgradable SO-DIMM sockets of bulkier models. Similarly, virtually all now use solid-state drives (SSDs) rather than cheaper but heavier hard drives for storage. However, the upgradability of these drives in the lightest laptops will vary from no-can-do (the storage is soldered down) to potentially upgradable (on a PCI Express M.2 SSD module, if you can crack the case to access it).
Other choices will be in your face, starting with the obvious one: the display panel.
What Screen Size Is Best in a Light Laptop?
At the risk of insulting your intelligence, the biggest factor in laptop weight is the physical size of the chassis. And for a laptop, that correlates with screen size. If you’re cool with an 11.6-inch display, you’ve got plenty of low-cost ultralights to choose from; if you want a jumbo 17-inch screen, look to LG (oddly enough) with its LG Gram Pro 17 weighing a feathery 3.2 pounds.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
As you’d expect, most weight-savers are smaller than that, though it’s up to you how small is too small. The most popular panel sizes for light laptops are 13.3 and 14 inches. Resolution is usually 1080p full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels), 1440p (2,560 by 1,440 pixels), or 4K UHD (3,840 by 2,160 pixels). Many laptops fall somewhere in between, with a better-than-FHD resolution that’s still less detailed than 4K.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
While it can be tempting to revel in the ultrafine detail of a 3K or 4K display for applications such as image editing or video streaming, don’t be ashamed if your needs (and budget) favor the everyday productivity of a 1080p panel. Besides getting a perfectly adequate screen (something that can’t be said for the older standard of 1,366 by 768 pixels), you’ll get substantially better battery life, all else being equal.
Light Laptop Trends This Year: Slim Bezels, Squarer Screens
Excess bulk is the enemy of light weight, so look for a laptop with a high screen-to-body ratio—in other words, thin rather than thick bezels surrounding the display. (Ditto for a unit without wide borders on either side of the keyboard.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Another detail related to screens and bezels concerns a panel aspect-ratio migration underway. A big trend recently is the move of many popular laptops (from Dell, HP, Lenovo, and others) away from the typical 16:9 screen aspect ratio to a squarer 16:10 or 3:2. This allows for more vertical viewing space for web page viewing, spreadsheet browsing, and more. It’s something to watch for, especially if you’ll use your light laptop more for productivity work than video viewing. (The 16:9 ratio is the best literal fit for the latter, but not much else.)
Light Laptops That Turn Into Tablets: Detachable 2-in-1 Laptops
What if you’d like to indulge your inner Lindbergh and redesign your laptop for travel? There used to be notebooks that let you replace their optical drives with empty weight-saving slices, but designs of that kind (not to mention optical drives) are history.
However, you can opt for a tablet that lets you remove its keyboard cover. This gives you two choices: carry just the tablet if you’re viewing videos or jotting short notes with a stylus, or take both parts if you need to type something. A tablet and its thin keyboard cover or folio usually weigh less than a conventional clamshell laptop.
(Credit: Brian Westover)
Of course, detachables aren’t the only 2-in-1 hybrid laptops—there are convertibles whose screens flip and fold from laptop to tablet mode, propping up for kiosk or easel-like presentation modes in between. Several of these qualify as light, though their versatile hinges add some weight compared with clamshells.
What Are the Features to Look for in a Light Laptop?
If you’re an avid gamer, you should know that nearly all ultralights rely on their processors’ integrated graphics instead of faster-dedicated graphics—a discrete GPU is one of the first things that gets taken off the cargo roster when designers are trying to hit a weight target. Light laptops also tend to have fewer ports and expansion options than their heavier cousins. Having just a couple of ports is common.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Shop carefully if you’re looking for, say, an HDMI video output or a full-size SD card slot. Also, realize that some ports seen on larger laptops (such as an Ethernet port for wired networks) are seldom found on the lightest laptops.
Fortunately, the days when light laptops lacked battery life are more or less over. Though a beefy battery pack is still the easiest route to extended run time, today’s lithium-polymer cells are both weight- and energy-efficient. You can cross-index this guide against our roundups of the best battery-life laptops and the best ultraportables. But rest assured that we factored battery life into our top picks here.
Ready to Buy the Right Light Laptop for You?
By now, it’s clear—you don’t have to strain your arm and shoulder to carry real productivity power. To go deeper with the models we selected, check out the detailed spec breakout included here of the best light laptops we’ve tested. It’s not comprehensive for every light model we’ve tested since we review so many systems, but we refresh it frequently with the best of the best. Meanwhile, safe travels and happy landings.
