Products at a Glance
How we pick
For this guide, we have looked at several mini laptops and selected some of the best ones. We have chosen these laptops based on specs such as processors, RAM, storage, and other important aspects. Also, we regularly add new products to our guides to keep as updated as possible – so check back with us again soon.
Product Reviews
- 12.45-inch display
- Intel i5-1135G7 processor
- 14-hour battery life
- No backlit keyboard
If you’re looking for a mini laptop that can perform quite a few tasks, then you should consider the Microsoft Surface Go 2.
This is one of the smallest laptops with a decent processor, which should be useful if you are planning to go beyond just emailing and browsing. With a quad-core Intel i5-1135G7 processor, tasks should run smoothly as long as you’re running apps within the laptop’s capacity. Plus, you get 8GB of RAM, which should help with multitasking. The base model has a 128GB SSD that helps with boot speeds – and you can choose to upgrade it at an additional cost.
The laptop sports a 12.45-inch screen, which is smaller than the regular small-sized 13.3-inch laptop. Plus, the display has a native 1536×1034 pixels resolution, which translates to 147 pixels per inch, which isn’t the most vivid but should be good enough for most users.
Given the screen size, the laptop’s 2.45-pound weight doesn’t come as a shock, which should make it portable. With a width and length of 8.96 inches and 11.86 inches, the Go 2’s size is comparable to an A4 paper and should fit into purses and small bags. To add to the portability factor, the laptop has a 14-hour battery life, which should make it one of the best laptops for travel.
One drawback of the 12.45 screen size is that it makes typing uncomfortable for most users, excluding those with smaller hands. Also, the lack of a backlit keyboard makes working at night a hassle.
- 11-6-inch display
- Lightweight
- 13 hour battery life
- HD resolution
If you have a limited budget, you should check out the HP Stream 11.
The unit is fitted with Intel’s Celeron N4020, which is a dual-core processor that works best for basic tasks like word processing or single-tab web browsing. Plus, you get 4 GB of DDR4 RAM and 64 GB of storage, underscoring the fact that this laptop is meant for light tasks.
The laptop sports an 11.6-inch HD screen, which might be a drawback for some, as FHD resolution is becoming a standard for most devices. However, the keyboard and touchpad do not seem cluttered (as is the case with many mini laptops).
For better connectivity, the HP Stream 11 seems to have quite a bunch of ports – an HDMI port, a headphone jack, and an SD card slot. While most manufacturers are either sticking with type A ports or ditching them altogether for type C ports, this laptop is equipped with both.
Unsurprisingly, the laptop weighs in at 2.37 pounds, which makes it easy to carry without feeling burdened. To add to the portability factor, HP claims that the laptop’s battery lasts for over 13 hours, which makes it fit for commuters and students.
- Lightweight
- Plenty of ports
- 15-hour battery life
- HD resolution
If you want a 2-in-1 mini laptop, then we think that the Lenovo 2022 Chromebook Flex 3 is a solid choice, and we think it’s a good 2-in-1 contender for one of the best laptops under $300.
The laptop is powered by an octa-core MediaTek MT8183 processor that can clock up to 2GHz, which should give you a responsive user experience. Also, it’s equipped with the standard 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage for entry-level mini laptops, which suffice for everyday tasks.
The laptop sports an 11.6-inch HD display, which is not the best resolution out there, but it should be good enough for most people. Plus, this display is touch-enable, which should boost accessibility for users.
Much like some of the best Chromebooks, this device is also quite lightweight and weighs just 2.64 pounds, which should be portable. To add to that, the laptop has a battery life of 15 hours, so you should be able to get a day’s worth of usage.
In terms of connectivity, the laptop has two type-A, one type-C, one SD card slot, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack, which should make it convenient for you to connect peripherals.
- Powered by M2 chip
- 18-hour battery life
- Lightweight and portable
- Expensive
If you want the best laptop for students, then we think that the Apple Macbook Air is a solid option.
The 2022 version of Macbook Air is powered by the M2 chip that has an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, which should handle even the most demanding tasks effortlessly.
On the outside, the laptop sports a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, so you can expect the device to deliver stunning visuals. Plus, you get a P3 color gamut, which should give you better color accuracy. You also get 500 nits of brightness, which should make it suitable for use under daylight.
Another notable feature of this laptop is that the Macbook Air is portable. The device weighs only 2.7 pounds, which makes it one of the best lightweight laptops. Plus, it has a battery life of 18 hours, which should last you for a day or more.
- 13.4-inch QHD display
- NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU
- Intel Core i9-13900H processor
- Heavy
If you’re looking for a mini gaming laptop, then you should look at the Asus ROG Flow Z13, which we think deserves to be one of the best gaming laptops.
The laptop sports a 13.4-inch display and has a QHD resolution, so you can expect the laptop to deliver clear and stunning picture quality. Plus, you get a 165Hz refresh rate, which should run your games smoothly without any stutter. As this is a touch screen, you can use your fingers and stylus, which should give you intuitive controls.
On the inside, the laptop has an Intel Core i9-13900H processor, which is one of the latest CPUs from Intel that can handle demanding tasks well. Plus, you get an NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU, which should give you a good graphics experience with your video games.
As far as cooling is concerned, the laptop comes with liquid metal on the CPU and a custom vapor chamber module, which should maintain optimal temperatures even when the laptop is under pressure.
How to pick the best mini laptop
To make shopping easier, we have listed a few pointers that will help you narrow down your choices.
Processor
Now, many mini laptops will have entry-level Celeron series processors, which are great for performing light tasks like browsing, typing, and emailing. If that is your use case, then you can go for a laptop that has an entry-level chip. However, if you’re looking to execute a bit more complicated tasks, then you should consider getting slightly more advanced chips like 11th gen i5 or i7.
Display
Now, most mini laptops have a screen size of around 11-inch or 12-inch – you can pick a size depending on your preference. Usually, these screens have an HD or FHD resolution, and, of course, the latter one will give you sharper and more detailed picture quality.
Battery life
Typically, a laptop’s battery life is about 8 hours, which is sufficient for a day’s worth of usage. However, there are laptops that offer longer battery life, which is suitable if you are someone who travels around a lot.
Weight
In general, mini laptops are not heavy. Most laptops will weigh around 2 pounds, which is quite portable compared to regular-sized laptops.
Our Verdict
After looking at several mini laptops, we’d say that the Microsoft Surface Go 2 will fit the bill for many. The laptop comes with a 12.45-inch display with a decent resolution, which should be sufficient for many people. Plus, the device weighs 2.45 pounds, and the battery lasts for up to 14 hours, which makes it quite portable.
On the inside, the device has a quad-core Intel i5-1135G7 processor, which should run most tasks smoothly. Plus, you get 8GB RAM and an upgradeable 128GB SSD, so you can expect sufficient efficiency and storage capacity.