If you're on the hunt for the best lightweight laptop but are looking to stick to a budget, we've got you covered right here.
Generally, lightweight laptops come at a more premium price range...think MacBook Air, and you get an idea of what we're talking about.
That being said, there are some options if you want something that will be lightweight enough to carry around all day, which are especially useful if you're a student or traveling often for work.
At the more 'budget' end of the scale, you'll generally find Chromebooks are the best way to go. They're lightweight as they forego some of the more bulky components in favour of operating over the internet via apps.
On the slightly higher end of the budget scale, you can find more 2-in-1 options or even laptops with 'flip' functionality too. While these aren't traditional laptops, they are often on the lighter side when it comes to weight.
With lightweight budget laptops what you won't tend to find is super high performance. Yes, they're good, but if you're a video editor, gamer, or someone who simply has countless tabs open, you may want to go for a bigger (and heavier) laptop instead, such as any of the best budget gaming laptops.
But for those of you looking for something for everyday use to sling a bag that won't weigh you down, we've selected a few laptops that we think should be well-suited to your needs, based on specs, features, and anything else that made them stand out from the crowd.
Let's take a closer look at what's out there right now.
Best budget lightweight laptop
Best Chromebook budget lightweight laptop - Acer Chromebook 311
As mentioned previously, Chromebooks count as some of the best easily affordable lightweight laptops around, and this Acer Chromebook 311 seems like a particularly good option to go for.
It looks nice and sleek with a thin body, and because it’s a Chromebook, it means you can set it up using your Google account (if you have one).
Similar to setting up a MacBook using an already existing Apple ID, this should make life easier for you, as any information you had on your Google account should automatically be transferred onto the laptop and can be accessed immediately once you’ve signed in.
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In terms of specs, the Chromebook 311 has a 32GB eMMC hard disk, meaning it comes with a fairly decent amount of storage space. Therefore, you should be able to use it for saving work documents and information, as well as for casual gaming.
Best budget lightweight laptop for travel - Lenovo IdeaPad 3
If you’re after a laptop that is small, lightweight and easy to carry around with you - for example if your work requires you to travel a lot - then getting the 11-inch Lenovo IdeaPad 3 laptop should work out very well for you.
Because it’s a Chromebook laptop, it’s extremely useful if you already have a Google account. This is because all you should need to do when initially setting up your laptop is log into your existing Google account, and then you can be instantly ready to go with all of your information saved on it.
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With 32GB of storage, a 720p webcam and a 1.80 GHz Intel Celeron Processor, the IdeaPad 3 should have enough capabilities to be good enough to use for your work, or even to play basic games on if that’s one of your hobbies.
It also has up to 10 hours of battery life after a full charge, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it failing on you when you’re using it on the go.
Best 14-inch budget lightweight laptop - HP 14-dq0030nr
At 14 inches, the HP 14-dq0030nr is on the bigger side compared to most of the other laptops on our list. Despite the larger screen size, though, it’s still fairly light and should be easy to carry around with you where necessary.
The slightly larger screen size will give you a better viewing experience than, say, an 11 or 12 inch laptop. This means that if you’re into playing games, it should allow for a little more immersion, too.
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Another added bonus when it comes to viewing experience, is that it has Intel UHD Graphics 600, which means, despite the technical difference between UHD and 4K resolutions, you should be able to stream 4K content on it.
And with a 64GB hard disk and 4GB of RAM, this HP device should have enough capacity to allow you to download basic games. Plus, if you’d simply like to use it for work, there should be more than enough space to store your documents and files on it.
Best touchscreen budget lightweight laptop - ASUS Chromebook Flip C433
The ASUS Chromebook Flip has a 14-inch touchscreen, so if you’re someone who finds it easier to control a laptop simply by pressing on the screen rather than using the touchpad or one of the best wireless mouses, then this might be a good option for you.
The device actually acts as a 2-in1 laptop and tablet, as it can be flipped (hence the name) into either a tent, stand or tablet mode because of its 360 degree hinge.
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Because it comes with 62GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, it should be a fairly powerful laptop that you can run low capacity games on, such as Fortnite.
If you want to use the Chromebook Flip for work, though, it should have the capability to store everything you need on it, and it should still be quite easy to transport around with you if you need to travel for your job.
Best 2-in-1 budget lightweight laptop - Microsoft Surface Go 2
Acting as a 2-in-1 laptop and tablet, the Microsoft Surface Go 2 is easily convertible and can be used however you please.
It’s the most lightweight option on our list, weighing only 1.2 pounds, which means it should be very convenient if you’re always on the go and want to take it with you.
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You can use the Surface Go 2 for certain hobbies, such as writing or drawing, or you can even use it for basic work purposes, such as creating presentations or checking and replying to emails.
It can also be a good choice if you primarily want it for your kids, as with 64GB it has plenty of storage on it for downloading photos, YouTube videos or basic games on it. And, for peace of mind, it has parent-managed screen time limits, spending control, and content filtering on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a lightweight laptop weigh?
Any laptop that weighs 1.5kg or under usually counts as being ‘lightweight’ and should be easy enough to carry and transport around with you.
However, the very lightest laptops available on the market today tend to weigh even less than that, at under 1kg.
How much should I spend on a budget laptop?
What actually counts as 'budget' for a laptop may well vary from person to person. We'd say that, generally, any laptop under $500 or $600 is a decent price, as you can see from our best budget laptop guide.
Picking anything within that price range should ensure you still get a good device with a decent amount of storage space and RAM.
How much does a 14-inch laptop weigh?
Usually, a 14-inch laptop should weigh somewhere between 1.5kg and 2kg. Generally speaking, a laptop tends to weigh more if it has a larger screen size, due to the amount of material needed to construct it.