Best lightweight laptops 2024

Having the best lightweight laptop is great for travelling and working on the go, and it can benefit your back in the long run too.

When you're looking at investing in laptops as light as these, you need to consider a few things. First of all, how much do you value the weight of a device over things like the size of the screen? Secondly, you really need to know what you want it for, as different needs will be answered by different devices.

To help you out here, we've put together a list of the best around based on specs, features, price, and reviews, covering all kinds of categories and performance. Some double up as the best budget laptops, while others make for great gaming laptops. However, we do believe that whatever you need, we've got you covered with our list.

Without further delay, let's dive into our top picks...

Best lightweight laptops

1. ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED - a well-rounded option for everyday tasks
2. Apple MacBook Air - best choice if you're a fan of Apple products
3. Acer Swift Go 14 - a solid choice for students
4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon - top pick for work
5. Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook - best lightweight Chromebook

Credit: ASUS

1. ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED

Best lightweight laptop overall

First up, we have the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED, which is a truly mighty laptop that's not only not going to break your back but is also under $1,000, which is more affordable compared to some laptops in this field.

This thing has a powerful 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, meaning it's basically got it all. It can be fast, it can be powerful, and it sure is pretty with a 2880x1800 resolution. It's just really good, and it comes with plenty of ports for peripherals as needed, and it even has a backlit keyboard.

If you want to get one of the best lightweight laptops for general use, then you'll want to grab this ASUS Zenbook because we think it fits the bill nicely.

Read More: Best budget lightweight laptops

Credit: Apple

2. Apple MacBook Air

Best lightweight laptop for Apple users

Apple users don't need to suffer weighty devices just because they love a specific company. In fact, Apple makes some of the best lightweight laptops going at the moment, with the most recent MacBook Air being a titan.

This device has a high resolution on its Retina display, meaning it's great for watching films, TV shows, anime, and more, while also being a little bit easier to use for design or image editing. That resolution just shines when you're in a creative flow, and it helps that it's got 8GB of RAM too, because you'll need that to power all your programmes.

Throw in the usual Apple style, and this MacBook Air has everything you need to be creative, especially now Apple has added its new, extremely fast M3 chip into the mix.

Read More: Best laptops for illustrators

Credit: Acer

3. Acer Swift Go 14

Best lightweight laptop for students

Studying can be hard enough without having a laptop that's going to let you down. If you're someone who needs a little bit of oomph when you're on the go and trying to work, then the Acer Swift Go is an excellent choice.

This incredibly light laptop has everything most people will need to do a little work, research, or chill out while in bed, in a dorm room, on a train, or anywhere else really. That's mostly because it's got a nice 1920x1200 screen alongside some solid stats, including 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD too.

It's even got a fingerprint reader to turn it on, meaning that it's safe, even if you live with other people who might be inclined to mess with your stuff. Your dissertation, coursework, or school projects are all safe and easy to work on using this Acer Swift Go 14.

Read More: Best budget laptops for graphic design

Credit: Lenovo

4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Best lightweight laptop for work

Lightweight doesn't have to mean middling levels of power. If you want a device that can handle basically any piece of work you could throw at it, then you want the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, because it is truly mighty.

With 32GB of RAM and an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, it has plenty of processing power to ensure it's almost faster than you could ever want it to be. That's just the beginning too, because it also has a beautiful screen with a 2880x1800 resolution, and a huge 1TB SSD as well. It's got it all.

Now, all of that power comes at a price, in a very literal sense, but if you want one of the best lightweight laptops out there, and you're certain you're going to need some high specs, then this is the one for you.

Read More: Best gaming laptops under 300

Credit: Lenovo

5. Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook

Best lightweight Chromebook laptop

Sometimes, you want the convenience of a tablet, and sometimes the functions of a laptop. For those times, getting a Chromebook is often a great idea.

The Lenovo Flex 3 is a great device that's not only very affordable but can also do a little bit of everything. While the stats on it aren't the most impressive out there, it still has a reasonable 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It's aimed more at those working on the cloud, or just watching streaming shows, but that only means it's cheaper than some other options you can consider.

It does still manage to have a fair few features, though, including HDMI ports, a webcam, a touchscreen, and slots for headphones and microphones, too. It's a good little device that doesn't weigh much but can help you pass the time or answer some emails on the go.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Sometimes life hands you questions you don't have the answer to yet, and that's why we've answered some commonly asked questions below.

What are the advantages of a lightweight laptop?

The weight is obviously the biggest one, but why is that? Well, a lightweight laptop means that you don't need a heavy-duty backpack to carry it in, nor do you need a heavy-duty back. If you regularly transport around things like books and lunchboxes, or files, or anything really, then cutting down weight where you can is a great idea.

They can also save space, as they're often thinner and a little bit more flexible in some cases. That means you can fill those gaps with other essentials when travelling around, without packing your bag to its bursting point.

It's not as though these lightweight laptops lack the stats of bigger, bulkier models these days either, with most of the options we've picked out more than capable of running multiple programmes, smooth video playback, and so much more. Technology has evolved, and thankfully, laptops, including the weight of them, have benefitted.

What weight is a lightweight laptop?

We'd say it's under 2kg, but a lot of people have different ideas on this. If the weight is the only thing that you're really concerned about, just make sure to check that part of our list and you'll be able to see which one is lightest from there. However, we'd highly recommend considering the other specs too, because you'll want to make sure you get something capable of performing whatever you need it to well.