Are you looking for a smaller laptop? In this guide, we’ve rated and reviewed seven of the best mini laptops money can buy.
If you’re in the market for a new laptop, your two prime considerations should be what you’re going to use your laptop for and how much you have to spend. A gaming laptop is going to cost a whole lot more (and serve a completely different purpose) than a laptop that is better-suited for work or casual use.
If you’re looking for a laptop that is purely for work or casual use, a more compact mini laptop might make more sense for you. At a cheaper price than most laptops, mini laptops are also more portable than your average laptop.
In most cases, they don’t offer the same performance as a standard size laptop. However, if you’re just looking for something that can be used for sending emails, word processing, and browsing the internet, you don’t necessarily need a powerful high-end gaming laptop.
And, in this guide, we’ve reviewed some of the top mini laptops on the market today and have cut it down to seven picks, ranging across various budgets. So if you’re considering buying a mini laptop, this list is for you. Check out our picks below.
Table of Contents
1. Quick-Look: The Top Mini Laptops
2. Top Pick: Microsoft Surface Pro 6
3. For Apple Fans: Apple MacBook Air
A Quick Look at the Best Small Laptops
For a quick view of our picks for the best small laptops on the market, the table below highlights our selections for the best mini laptop overall, the best option for Apple fans, the best small laptop with a 4K display, and the best budget option.
| | NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOP PICK |  | Microsoft Surface Pro 6 |
| /10 | |
| APPLE |  | Apple MacBook Air |
| /10 | |
| VALUE |  | DELL XPS 13 9380 |
| /10 | |
| BUDGET |  | Samsung Chromebook 3 |
| /10 |
*To read our overviews on the mini laptops listed above, click on the “Read Review »” link. You can also scroll down on this guide to see out our Honorable Mention picks.
Best Mini Laptop:
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
The best overall laptop has to go to the Microsoft Surface Pro 6. It has a wide variety of features that you can choose from. It’s touch-screen and you can use the pen that comes with it to help you do your work.
Furthermore, with a 2736 x 1824 resolution, you’re going to be experiencing little to no glare. Instead, the screen has a high contrast and this will keep your eyes relaxed when you have to use your laptops for long periods of time throughout the day.
It’s also extremely flexible with the keyboard since you can maneuver it around as you wish; and coming in at only 1.7 pounds, it won’t be a burden to carry around.
This is your best overall pick since it has great battery life, even better display, and a flexibility that allows you to work from anywhere.
Best Apple Mini Laptop:
Apple MacBook Air
Apple has developed a reputation for having some of the best laptops for professionals. Their MacBook Air is one of Apple’s top laptop options.
One of the MacBook Air’s best features is the Touch ID which allows users to simply press the Touch ID sensor in order to unlock security systems. Now, you no longer need a password. All you need is your fingerprint.
On top of that, the storage and memory of the MacBook are insane. You can choose between 128GB or 256GB of storage and 8GB of memory on Amazon, but if you buy through Apple you can get up to 1.5TB of storage and up to 16GB of memory. The best part of all of MacBook Air? It only weighs 2.75lbs.
Of course, the MacBook Air is definitely much more expensive than your typical mini laptop, averaging about $1,000 depending on your configuration. This is usually a hefty price to pay, especially considering that notebooks tend to be cheaper than regular laptops.
But if you’re willing to pay the cash for this Apple laptop, you’re going to be making a good investment for the future.
Small 4K Laptop:
DELL XPS 13 9380
The Dell XPS 13 9380 is a laptop that sits on the edge between laptop and mini laptop because while it may have the dimensions of a notebook, it can perform like a high-quality laptop.
The laptop has an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor so you can game with the Dell XPS 13 as well as work on projects and assignments. This is something that you can’t do with most mini laptops.
Furthermore, with a 4K Ultra HD Display and an average battery life of 10 hours, the Dell XPS 13 has the durability to allow you to finish those long assignments without a break.
Of course, this Dell model is a little more expensive than most notebooks but it’s still a great purchase. If you buy it, you’ll be getting one of the most portable devices Dell has ever created along with all the features of a high-quality Dell laptop.
Budget Mini Laptop:
Samsung Chromebook 3
While the Samsung Chromebook 3 may not have a true standout feature, its extremely affordable and will work well for basic tasks like sending emails, web browsing, and word processing.
The Samsung Chromebook 3 is great for reliability and dependence. Like the ASUS Chromebook listed below, it has its own water-resistant keyboard. It’s been kid-proofed, meaning that accidents such as spills and drops will have little to no effect on the Samsung Chromebook 3.
The Chromebook 3’s battery is also exceptional. Testing has shown that the battery can last up to 11 hours on its own. Of course, there are outside factors that you have to take into account such as network connection and how old the device is. But overall, this laptop has proven that it won’t fail you.
And at just under ~$180 on Amazon, you’re definitely going to get your money’s worth.
Honorable Mention #1:
Lenovo Flex 11
The Lenovo Flex 11 just adds on to Lenovo’s reputation of creating extremely reliable laptops every single year. It’s a budget pick that provides every feature you’ll need to succeed whether it’s at school or in the workplace.
The Lenovo Flex 11 is the perfect alternative to the Microsoft Surface Pro 6. It’s inexpensive but it doesn’t act cheap as some laptops might. What I mean by Lenovo Flex 11 being an alternative to the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is that the Lenovo Flex can act as a tablet by flipping around the keyboard.
This gives it way more functionalities than your average notebook. But one problem that keeps Microsoft fans from buying Lenovo is that Lenovo’s Flex 11 has struggled to keep its brightness and resolution at a sustainable quality.
It’s darker than usual but that doesn’t overshadow all of the wonderful features of the Flex 11. You can easily switch the laptop to a tablet with one flip. Plus, with all the portability it has thanks to its 2.75 pound body and 11.6” screen display, you won’t be feeling bogged down by this Lenovo.
Honorable Mention #2:
ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02
A strong pick for anybody, the ASUS Chromebook has its own set of standout features. It has a robust build, lightweight portability, and its own high-quality HD anti-glare display. Plus, with an average battery life of 10 hours on the ASUS Chromebook, you’re going to be able to get serious work done.
Its compact and strong design can allow the ASUS Chromebook to be dropped from up to 120 centimeters. Furthermore, the keyboard is spill-resistant. The ASUS Chromebook is arguably one of the most child-proofed mini laptops out there.
The ASUS Chromebook is a laptop that can help you be as productive as possible. This ASUS model has an average battery life of 10 hours, its own HD anti-glare display, and a weight of 2.2 pounds, making it a great pick for your everyday needs.
Honorable Mention #3:
HP ProBook x360
The HP ProBook has a little bit of everything to it. You get a great screen display with its HD LED feature. That means you won’t be feeling much glare or strain on your eyes whenever you’re using the laptop.
Furthermore, because it’s touchscreen, the HP ProBook makes tasks ten times easier to complete. It’s the perfect hybrid between laptop and tablet just like the Lenovo Flex 11. These HP ProBooks are built for safety as well.
The HP ProBook can survive the classroom and it can survive the workplace. It’s an all-around great computer for whatever you need to do.
Of course, I don’t recommend buying this computer for gaming since the laptops featured on this list are mostly for casual use. Other than that, this HP ProBook is great option for anyone who doesn’t want to be limited to only using Google products, but who needs a cheap mini laptop.
Need A Compact Laptop? Check Out These Mini Laptops
If you’re in the market for a new laptop and you need as compact of an option as possible, one of the mini laptops listed above in this guide should work for you. Whether you’re looking for an affordable mini Chromebook for casual use, a MacBook for work, or a high-end laptop with a 4K display, there’s a mini laptop out there for you. If you need help finding the best small laptop for your needs and budget, let us know in the comments below.
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