Buying a new laptop is always hard, but it’s not for lack of choice. There are lots of fantastic laptops out there, and choosing one can be tricky. There are different form factors, sizes, processors, and many more factors to consider. But one factor that tends to be pretty important when choosing a laptop is its weight. Laptops are meant to be portable, and carrying a heavy device in your backpack gets uncomfortable very quickly. Some of us want something truly portable, and we’re here to help you find it. We’ve rounded up some of the best lightweight laptops you can buy right now.
All the laptops on this list are either shipping with Windows 11 or can get the upgrade for free, so you don’t have to worry about that. If Windows isn’t your thing, you can also check out our list of the best Macs, as well as the best Chromebooks. Windows is generally the operating system that can work well for anyone though, so all the options on this list are great.
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- Best overall: Samsung Galaxy Book Pro
- Best convertible: HP Elite Dragonfly Max
- Best clamshell laptop: Acer Swift 5
- Best 17-inch laptop: LG gram 17
- Best budget laptop: HP Pavilion Aero 13
- Best gaming laptop: ASUS ROG Flow X13
- Best for business: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga
- Best mainstream business laptop: HP EliteBook 840 Aero
- Best tablet: Surface Pro 8
Best overall: Samsung Galaxy Book Pro
Samsung recently returned to making high-end Windows ultrabooks, and the Galaxy Book Pro really knocks it out of the park. It’s one of the best laptops of the year, and one of the most lightweight you’ll find, too.
The Galaxy Book Pro is powered by the latest Intel Core processors up to a Core i7-1165G7, which is a quad-core, eight-thread CPU that can boost up to 4.7GHz. That’s already a very fast CPU, but it also includes Iris Xe graphics, so some lighter GPU workloads are also doable on this machine. Beyond that, the Galaxy Book Pro comes with up to 16GB of RAM (8GB if you want to stick with the lighter 13-inch model) and 512GB of SSD storage, so performance is one thing you won’t be missing here.
One of the things that makes this a special laptop is its display, though. Regardless of the size you choose, you’re getting a Full HD (1920 x 1080) display, and most importantly, an AMOLED panel. A few laptops today offer OLED displays, but the ones that do usually have very high resolutions, which results in much higher battery consumption without a significant boost in image quality. The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro gives you the benefits of OLED – like vivid colors, true blacks, and high contrast ratios – in a much more efficient package that’s still sharp enough for a laptop of this size. It supports touch, too.
The webcam on the Galaxy Book Pro isn’t as impressive, as it’s just a 720p camera without Windows Hello support. 720p cameras are unfortunately still very common in laptops, so this isn’t surprising, but it would be nice to see a better camera in the age of remote and hybrid work. And if you care about Windows Hello, at least the laptop does include a fingerprint reader.
Back on a high note, the design of the Galaxy Book Pro is another one of its major selling points. It’s all because of how incredibly light it is – the 13-inch model weighs a mere 1.92lbs, and even the larger 15-inch version is only 2.31lbs. That’s lighter than many 13-inch laptops, and both sizes are straight-up impressive in terms of their weight. Not only that, it’s also incredibly thin at 11.18mm for the 13-inch model and 11.68mm for the 15-inch model. If portability is your number one concern, this is one of your best choices, and you’re not sacrificing a whole lot.
Finally, in terms of ports the Galaxy Book Pro includes one Thunderbolt 4 port, one regular USB Type-C port, one USB Type-A port, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. For as thin and light as it is, that’s actually not bad, though some may scoff at the lack of HDMI output. Still, you have some bases covered with this laptop, more so than some laptops that aren’t as thin or light.
The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro is a great return to form for Samsung’s Windows laptops, and an easy recommendation overall. In terms of lightweight laptops, it’s certainly one of the best out there. There’s also a convertible version called Galaxy Book Pro 360 if you want something you can use as a tablet.
- The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro is one of the thinnest and lightest laptops around, but it still has high-end specs and a great display.
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Best convertible: HP Elite Dragonfly Max
If you’re specifically looking for a convertible laptop that’s still really thin and lightweight, the HP Elite Dragonfly Max is one of your best options. This is a business laptop, but frankly, it works great for anybody, as long as you can afford it.
Like most modern high-end laptops, the HP Elite Dragonfly is powered by Intel’s Tiger Lake processors, up to a Core i7-1185G7. This is a slightly faster Core i7 processor, with boost speeds up to 4.8GHz and support for vPro technologies, which offer extra security for business users. It also includes Iris Xe graphics, too. In addition to that you get up to a whopping 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, which is more than most will probably ever need. At writing time, the base configuration already includes a Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, which helps explain why it’s somewhat expensive.
The display is also pretty good on the HP Elite Dragonfly Max. It’s a 13.3-inch panel, and it comes in Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, giving it a 16:9 aspect ratio. That resolution is more than sharp enough for a laptop of this size, but there’s more to it. Out of the box, the display includes HP Sure View Reflect, the latest privacy screen technology from the company. This also means the display goes up to 1000 nits of brightness, plus it’s protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which adds to the overall premium feel.
One of the standout features of the Elite Dragonfly Max is its webcam, with HP opting for a 5MP camera that can record 1440p video. This is one of the very best webcams on any laptop, it’s even ahead of Microsoft’s Surface devices. With video calls and meetings becoming a bigger part of users’ lives, this is a fantastic feature to see. Of course, there’s an IR camera for Windows Hello support, too.
Moving on to the design, the HP Elite Dragonfly Max sports a very classic and subdued look. It’s made of magnesium, but it comes in a “Sparkling Black” color, which means it’s black, but if you look closely, you can see little sparkles on the surface. This gives the laptop a bit more character while keeping it classy enough to use in a professional environment. Because it’s made of magnesium, it weighs just 2.49lbs, which is impressive for a convertible. It’s also 16mm thin, so while it’s not on the same level as the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro, it’s still very portable.
Finally, there’s connectivity and ports, and business laptops tend to do very well in this category. The HP Elite Dragonfly Max comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports – though unfortunately they’re both on the same side – USB Type-A, HDMI 2.0, a headphone jack, and a nano SIM slot. And yes, you also get the option for cellular connectivity, with both LTE and 5G options being offered.
This is a truly premium laptop with a classy yet stunning design, high-end performance, and a premium experience overall. If you’re still unsure, you can always read our review of the HP Elite Dragonfly Max, but this is easily one of the best lightweight laptops around.
- The HP Elite Dragonfly Max is a premium business convertible with a classy look and high-end performance.
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Best lightweight clamshell laptop: Acer Swift 5
The Acer Swift 5 is another fantastic laptop, this time for fans of more traditional clamshell designs. It’s light, it looks great and it has solid performance overall, so there isn’t a whole lot more you can ask for here.
Performance-wise, the Acer Swift 5 is very much in line with other thin and light laptops, which is to say it’s powered by an Intel Core i7-1165G7. To be thin and light, most laptops have to use 15W processors like this (or even lower), so that’s a common thread on this list. The Core 7-1165G7 is a powerful processor in this range, and it also includes Iris Xe graphics, as we’ve already mentioned. In addition to that, this model comes with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, which is going to give you great multitasking performance and plenty of storage for years to come.
The display on the Acer Swift 5 is a Full HD (1920 x 1080) 14-inch panel. That resolution is going to give you pretty sharp images considering the size of the screen, plus you get touch support, which can be a more intuitive interaction method sometimes. The display also covers 100% of sRGB, so the visual experience overall should be pretty good.
What’s not as impressive is the webcam on the Acer Swift 5, which is a 720p camera. As we’ve mentioned, this is still very common in laptops, even premium ones, so it’s not totally surprising. There’s no Windows Hello facial recognition support included in this laptop, either, but you do get a fingerprint reader if you want an easier way to unlock the PC.
One of the most unique aspects of the Acer Swift 5 is its design. While lots of laptops opt for single-color designs and often stick close to silver, the Acer Swift 5 uses a stylish combination of “mist green” and copper. The surface of the laptop has a dark green look, which is accented by hints of copper on the hinge, key and port labels, and the Acer logo on the lid. This helps the laptop look that much more unique. As for the dimensions, the Acer Swift weighs just 2.31lbs, and it measures under 15mm in thickness, making this a very portable laptop that you can take anywhere. Also, the laptop is covered in antimicrobial coating, which helps it stay clean and safe over time.
Finally, there’s the matter of ports. You get one Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, and headphone jack, so the Acer Swift 5 actually covers a good chunk of the needs you should have. Whether it’s legacy peripherals, displays, or a full docking station, you have options here.
The Acer Swift 5 is a great laptop in more ways than one, and it’s made even better by its relatively affordable price. This model, with high-end specs, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, is currently under $1,000, and even its regular price of $1,300 is a great deal for everything included here.
- The Acer Swift 5 is a thin and light clamshell with a unique look and high-end specs for everyday use at a reasonable price.
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Best lightweight 17-inch laptop: LG gram 17
17-inch laptops aren’t usually the first that come to mind when thinking of lightweight devices, but that’s the main focus of the LG gram. This lineup of laptops packs solid specs into an incredibly light design, and that includes the 17-inch model.
It starts with overall solid performance, powered by the same Intel Core i7-1165G7 we’ve already seen a few times on this list. Four cores, eight threads, 4.7GHz boost speeds, and Intel Iris Xe graphics make this a fairly powerful machine that doesn’t use up a ton of power, which is why it can be as light as it is. Plus, when you pair that efficient processor with a large 80Whr battery, the LG gram 17 gives you great battery life, too. Aside from that, you get 16GB of RAM and a massive 2TB of storage, making this a fantastic laptop to use throughout college or for work, with enough space for all your files.
The display is one of the big highlights here, being a large 17-inch panel in the 16:10 aspect ratio. This means the screen is taller than your typical 16:9 laptop, and this is fantastic for work since you get extra vertical space for text and other UI elements that might require scrolling. Not only that, but this panel comes in Quad HD+ (2560 x 1600) resolution, meaning it’s a very sharp screen with extra headroom to scale down UI elements to smaller sizes if you want to have even more screen real estate. Beyond that, it covers 99% of DCI-P3, so this is a great laptop for creative work, too.
What isn’t much of a highlight is the webcam, which is a typical 720p camera, and once again, there’s no Windows Hello support. Many laptops in this thin and light category pass up on this, likely due to the additional space required for the IR sensors that power facial recognition. However, you do get a fingerprint reader built into the power button, so logging in is still very convenient.
Design-wise, naturally, the focus is on the weight. At 2.98lbs, the LG gram 17 might not be one of the lightest laptops in general, but when you consider it’s a 17-inch laptop, that’s very impressive. Many 15-inch laptops weigh more than this, so this is incredibly portable for a device of this size. At 17.78mm, it’s not super thin, but it’s still definitely easy to pick up with one hand. Looks aren’t all too noteworthy, but the silver look of the gram 17 at least means it fits in anywhere. There are also black or white versions you may be able to find.
Finally, for ports, the LG gram 17 comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports – both on the same side, unfortunately – two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. That’s a solid supply of connectivity for all kinds of peripherals and displays, so you shouldn’t have any trouble using the gram 17 with your current setup.
No one else is really making lightweight laptops of this size, and for that reason alone, the LG gram 17 would already be the best in this category. But that’s not to say this isn’t a fantastic laptop, and it offers solid performance, great battery life, and a fantastic screen for getting work done. It’s definitely worth it if you need a big screen you can take anywhere.
- The LG gram 17 challenges the conventions of 17-inch laptops by being very light and portable while also offering solid performance and battery life.
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Best budget lightweight laptop: HP Pavilion Aero
HP recently introduced the Pavilion Aero, which the company calls its lightest consumer laptop ever. And while it’s light, that’s far from the end of the story here, and this is in fact one of the best bang-for-the-buck laptops you can get right now. Starting at $750 (that’s the MSRP, the price is often much lower these days), this is a fantastic laptop.
For starters, this is a powerful laptop, coming with up at an AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor, which makes it the first AMD-based laptop on this list. But this Ryzen 7 is a fantastic CPU, featuring 8 cores and 16 threads, double what Intel offers on its 15W processors that compete directly with this one. That means multi-core performance and multitasking on this laptop is going to be a breeze, and AMD’s integrated Radeon graphics are also not far from Intel Iris Xe. In addition to that, you can get up to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. But it’s almost more impressive to look at the base model: The HP Pavilion Aero starts with a six-core Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, which is very impressive at this price.
That’s a consistent theme with the HP Pavilion Aero, and it continues in the display. The HP Pavilion Aero comes with a Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) display at the base level, and that’s already impressive. For starters, that’s fairly sharp, and not every laptop at this price guarantees that, but not only that, it’s one of the very rare laptops in this price range to have a 16:10 aspect ratio. As we’ve said above, this is great for productivity, and you can make it even better by upgrading to a Quad HD+ (2560 x 1600) panel, which is another feature you won’t find on a laptop this cheap.
Of course, sacrifices have to be somewhere, and the webcam here is still 720p and there’s no Windows Hello facial recognition. Seeing as this is very common, it’s not that big of a sacrifice compared to most other laptops, but it’s still a bummer. You do get a fingerprint reader below the keyboard for biometric authentication, though.
Much like other laptops on this list, the HP pavilion Aero’s design is all about being light, and it weighs just 2.2lbs, making it very portable. It’s just over 17mm thin so it’s fairly portable in that regard, too. While the overall design isn’t all that unique, what makes the Pavilion Aero interesting is that it offers four colors to choose from, which is rare for affordable metal laptops. The colors are fairly subdued, but you can choose from silver, white, gold, and pink, which isn’t a bad selection at all.
Finally, in terms of ports, the HP Pavilion Aero has some shortcomings, but it’s not all HP’s fault. Being an AMD-based laptop, it couldn’t have Thunderbolt support, so you get a standard USB Type-C port, two USB Type-A portsm HDMI, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. Without Thunderbolt, it would have been nice if the USB ports were faster, but otherwise, HP offers a solid supply here. While the laptop comes with a barrel-type charger, you can use the USB Type-C port to charge if you want the extra convenience.
Like any laptop, the HP Pavilion Aero isn’t perfect, but for its price, this is one of the best lightweight laptops and it offers incredible value for your money.
- The HP Pavilin Aero is a lightweight and affordable laptop with some of the best specs you'll find at this price.
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Best lightweight gaming laptop: ASUS ROG Flow X13
Gaming laptops are probably not the first kind of PC you think of when your goal is to get something light, but the ASUS ROG Flow X13 is a very impressive machine in that regard. It’s packing some powerful processors, but it’s still sleek and surprisingly light for what it offers.
For starters, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 is the only laptop on this list to pack 35W processors, specifically up to an AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS. The increased power draw means more performance, and with 8 cores, 16 threads, and boost speeds up to 4.8GHz, performance isn’t something you’re going to be missing. This is a fast machine, even if you opt for a model with the Ryzen 7 5800HS. You also get up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics, so you can definitely run modern games on this small and light laptop. Plus, you get up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage depending on your configuration.
If you want more power, the ROG Flow X13 is also sold with the ROG XG Mobile, an external GPU/dock ASUS created specifically for this laptop. It has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, and it’s both heavy and expensive. If portability is your goal, this isn’t something you need, but if you want something that can run more intensive games at home and be lighter on the go, it’s a valid option.
The display on the ASUS ROG Flow X13 is a 13.4-inch panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio, which isn’t all that common for gaming laptops. Gaming displays tend to be wider, but this also means the ROG Flow X13 is great for both work and play. There are two versions – a Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, ideal for gaming, or an Ultra HD+ (3840 x 2400), which is more suited for content creation. Regardless, you’re going to get a great experience here, and Full HD+ is definitely sharp enough for a screen of this size. You also get touch and pen support, because this is actually a convertible laptop.
As usual, the webcam is one area that’s somewhat neglected with the ROG Flow X13, and it’s a 720p camera without Windows Hello support. Again, this is far more common than we’d like it to be, so it’s not like your experience will be much worse than other laptops in this regard. And if you want Windows Hello support, the ROG Flow X13 does have a fingerprint reader built into the power button.
Design-wise, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 is a black laptop, but it still looks pretty unique when you look closely. The lid and the wrist rest area are both covered in diagonal lines engraved into the chassis, giving the laptop a slightly edgier look that helps it stand out. And as far as portability goes, the Flow X13 weighs just 2.87lbs, which is very light for a laptop with this kind of power. Plus, it’s 15.8mm thin. Considering the hardware inside and the fact this is a convertible, those are impressive numbers, even if they don’t rival the thinnest and lightest laptops out there.
As for ports, you get a solid selection. There are two USB Type-C ports, one of which is part of the custom ROG XG Mobile connector, but if you’re not using the external GPU, you can use it as a standard USB Type-C port with power delivery. You also get one USB Type-A port, HDMI, and a headphone jack, which covers most basic needs in terms of connectivity. You don’t get Thunderbolt as this is an AMD-based laptop, but you still have a solid supply of ports and they’re all relatively fast.
This is a laptop I’ve personally bought and own myself (I’m using it to write this text right now), and it’s fantastic. It’s very light and portable, but you can use it to play fairly modern games without a problem. If you want a lightweight gaming laptop, this is definitely one of the best.
- For gamers who value mobility, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 is one of the best lightweight gaming laptops you can find. It's also a convertible, and it's great for work too.
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Best for business: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga
Lenovo’s ThinkPad lineup contains some of the most iconic business laptops out there, and the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga carries that legacy while also injecting some modern DNA into ut all. It’s an incredibly thin and lightweight convertible laptop that’s definitely a ThinkPad, and one of the best ones at that.
Starting with performance, the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is somewhat unique among the laptops on this list. It comes with Intel’s Tiger Lake processors, and you can get it with up to a Core i7-1180G7. This is a quad-core, eight-thread processor, it can boost up to 4.6GHz, and it supports vPro technology. it even includes Iris Xe graphics, but there’s a big difference – this processor comes from Intel’s low-power lineup, even lower than the typical 15W processors we’ve seen so far. That’s part of what enabled this ultra-thin design, and while performance isn’t as good as the 15W processors, it’s not as far as it used to be, and you’re still going to get good performance this way. In addition to that, you can configure it with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, which should serve you well for a long time to come.
One area where the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga does exceptionally well is the display. Lenovo made some great choices with this panel, which is a 13.5-inch display with an extra tall 3:2 aspect ratio. This is even taller than 16:10, and for many, it’s even better for productivity because of it, but that’s not the whole story. The display comes in a very sharp 2256 x 1504 resolution, which is the sweet spot for a display of this size. It’s even sharper than Full HD, but it doesn’t go all the way to unnecessary resolution like 4K, so it strikes a great balance of power consumption and display quality. Plus, it has up to 450 nits of brightness and Dolby Vision support, and all of this is standard across the board, so you can always expect a great experience. Off course, touch and pen support are also included.
Once again, we’re looking at a 720p webcam on the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga, but at least this time we have Windows Hello facial recognition built-in. This is arguably the best method for logging into your PC quickly, and it’s always nice to see. If that’s not your thing, though, there’s also a fingerprint reader included for an alternative login method.
The design of the X1 Titanium Yoga carries classic elements of the ThinkPad lineup, including the iconic red accents, the pointing stick, and the duplicated touchpad buttons just below the keyboard. However, it’s also modernized in many ways, For starters, it comes in a titanium color instead of the classic black, and it’s made with unique materials, too. The lid uses a combination of titanium and carbon fiber, while the base is made of a magnesium and aluminum alloy, making for something of a dual-tone look even though the laptop come in a single color. All of this allows this laptop to be incredibly thin at 11.5mm, and its weight starts at just 2.54lbs.
Thanks in part to how thin it is, the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga doesn’t have a ton of ports. You get two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack, and that’s it. Of course, you can use Thunderbolt to connect docks and all sorts of peripherals, but if you want to use an HDMI display or a USB Type-A accessory, you’ll need some sort of adapter. You also get the option for cellular network support, with the choice of either LTE Cat9 or 5G, which is great for business users who need to work on the road.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is one of the very best business laptops of this year, and it offers a fantastic combination of lightweight portability, business features, and performance.
- Business laptops don't get much thinner than the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga, but it still offers great performance and the classic ThinkPad features you'd expect.
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Best lightweight business clamshell: HP EliteBook 840 Aero
If you want something a little more traditional, the HP EliteBook 840 Aero is another great business laptop, but it offers more options out of the box so you can order it to your liking. It’s a powerful business laptop that’s lightweight, but still very customizable and upgradeable, and it’s one of the best you can buy today.
In regards to performance, the HP EliteBook 840 Aero is a bit more traditional than the aforementioned ThinkPad, featuring Intel’s latest 15W processors up to a Core i7-1185G7 with vPro technology. vPro includes a series of enhanced security features designed for businesses, but you can opt for a standard processor if you don’t need them. You can also configure it with up to a whopping 64GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage, making this an extremely capable laptop. Not only that, but these components can be combined in any way you prefer, so you can get a Core i5 processor with 64GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, for example. These components are also upgradeable by the user after the fact.
The display is a 14-inch panel and it comes in the more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio, which some may find unfortunate, but it’s still a good screen. It comes in Full HD resolution, and you can’t go higher than that, but there are a few upgrades you can make. The base model has 250 nits of brightness, but you can upgrade to 400 nits or add an HP Sure View privacy screen, which includes a 1000-nit display.
Unfortunately, we’re still dealing with a 720p camera here, but at least there’s Windows Hello facial recognition included by default. It’s unfortunate this is one area without any upgrade options available. If you prefer a fingerprint reader, there’s also the option to add one, but it’s not in every configuration.
The HP EliteBook 840 Aero is exactly what you’d expect from a business laptop. It’s silver, and it looks clean, albeit potentially boring to non-business users. It even includes a pointing stick and mouse buttons above the trackpad, a business feature that’s most popular in Lenovo’s ThinkPads. At 17.78mm, it’s not incredibly thin, but it does start at 2.5lbs of weight, so it’s still very portable. Plus, the extra room inside allows for more components to be replaceable by the user, which is great news if you like upgrading and repairing things yourself.
The larger dimensions also make room for plenty of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 connections, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, and an optional Smart Card reader. Of course, there’s also optional support for LTE Cat9 or 5G, and you can even add NFC support. You have plenty of connectivity options that are valuable to businesses, and you can choose the ones you need.
All of this comes at the cost of… well, the cost. It’s an expensive laptop, but if you want the out-of-the-box customization options, the ability to upgrade or repair the laptop yourself, and high-end performance in a lightweight and portable package, this is one of your best options.
- For users who want upgrade options before and after buying a product but still value portability, the HP EliteBook 840 Aero is a fantastic business laptop.
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Best lightweight tablet: Surface Pro 8
It took a few years for Microsoft to truly push the Surface Pro lineup forward, but the Surface Pro 8 was truly a step in the right direction, and it’s one of the very best Windows tablets you can buy today. With upgraded specs, a new design, and a great screen, there’s a lot to love here.
Let’s start by looking at those specs, which are pretty much what we’ve come to expect from the best lightweight laptops. You get the latest Intel Core processors up to a Core i7-1185G7 with four cores, eight threads, and boost speeds up to 4.8GHz. Despite being a tablet, Microsoft is still using 15W processors, so you’re going to get solid performance overall. Additionally, you can configure the Surface Pro 8 with up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, making this a very powerful machine that should last you a long time.
But one of the true highlights of the Surface Pro 8 is its display. This is a 13-inch panel and it comes in the signature 3:2 aspect ratio every Surface device has. The resolution is very high – 2880 x 1920 – making this an extremely sharp display right off the bat. On top of that, this is one of the very few non-gaming laptops that comes with a 120Hz display (though it’s set to 60Hz by default). This makes animations and transitions look much smoother and makes for an overall more pleasant experience. There’s also Dolby Vision support, and of course touch and pen input support. In fact, the Surface Pro 8 has another unique feature – it supports tactile signals (haptic feedback) on the Surface Slim Pen 2, creating the feeling of writing with a pen on paper.
Something else that’s great about the Surface Pro 8 is the camera setup. The front-facing camera is a 5MP sensor and it supports 1080p video, making it one of the best you can find on any laptop. Plus, it supports Windows Hello facial recognition, too. But on top of that, you also get a rear camera, and that one is a 10MP sensor with 4K video support.
In terms of design, the Surface Pro 8 finally changes how the main Surface Pro line looks, drawing inspiration from the Surface Pro X. It now has rounded edges and smaller bezels compared to the Surface Pro 7, which also means you can’t snap the Surface Pen on the side anymore. Instead, you can store the Surface Slim Pen in the new Surface Pro Signature Keyboard. With this new chassis, the Surface Pro 8 is a bit heavier than its predecessor, but at 1.96lbs, it’s still very portable. It’s also just 9.3mm thin, though that will naturally increase if you add a keyboard to it. Still. this is one of the easiest devices to take with you anywhere.
As for the ports, the Surface Pro 8 finally brings Thunderbolt support to the Surface family, and you get two whole Thunderbolt 4 ports. There’s also a Surface Connect port for charging (and docking, if you’re not into Thunderbolt yet) and a headphone jack. In typical Surface fashion, that’s not a lot of ports, and you’ll need adapters if you have an HDMI display or a USB Type-A peripheral. It’s unfortunate, but at least it’s somewhat understandable for a tablet.
The biggest downside of the Surface Pro 8 is that it’s a bit expensive, especially when you remember you have to buy the keyboard separately if you want it. But if you’re looking for a capable and lightweight laptop, this is still one of your best options.
- The Surface Pro 8 is a high-end premium tablet with a fantastic display and a lightweight design.
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These are all some of the very best laptops you can buy today, so if you want something lightweight, you can’t go wrong with any of them. While all these are light, they do come in various sizes, so you can definitely find something that still suits your tastes. We chose the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro as our top pick because it’s one of the lightest laptops you can find, but it still includes a keyboard and fast 15W processors. Plus, it has a great AMOLED display.
Another thing that’s worthy of appreciation is some devices at least still try to look a little different. It’s great to see PCs like the HP Pavilion Aero and the Acer Swift 5 that deviate a bit more from the typical silver and black colors most laptops tend to have. If you want something that stands out from the crowd, those are two great options, too.
The post These are the best lightweight laptops you can buy in 2021 appeared first on xda-developers.
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