Tested: The Lightest Laptops for 2024

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406) is the best lightweight laptop we've reviewed for most folks, taking on the like-priced competition with a powerful AMD Ryzen 8000-series processor. The peppy performance is matched by long battery life and a scintillating OLED touch screen with better-than-1080p resolution. The slim 2.82-pound design is super-easy to carry, and the variety of ports is anything but lightweight. And, at just $850, its value equation is more compelling than you might think.

Everyday users who appreciate speed and a great screen will find plenty to love in this Zenbook, from the potent performance and premium display to the lightweight design and robust port selection. But bargain hunters will also appreciate the under-$900 price, and frequent flyers will be grateful for the slim, light chassis.

Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 works hard to escape the long shadow cast by its Gen 11 predecessor, and while the newest model doesn't quite blow out the previous one, it's still the best ultraportable for business released this year. With an elegant, carbon-fiber-infused ultralight design, this slim machine pairs a top-notch keyboard with a sharp, vivid OLED display and a robust collection of ports. The price is a bit rich for our liking, but it's hard to deny that this is still an Editors' Choice-award-winning business laptop for many reasons, among them the addition of Intel's new Core Ultra processors, enhanced with hardware-based AI acceleration.

If you're a professional who needs a Windows laptop that's just as useful on a cross-country flight as on your desk in the office, start your search at the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. This is as effective as a lightweight productivity laptop gets. From the immensely portable design to the ultra-comfortable keyboard, it's our favorite business laptop, especially for users who spend most of their time on the go.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is the latest in a growing string of superb gaming laptops with near-ultraportable size and weight. The 14-inch gaming machine packs an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU for exceptional gaming speed and overall performance, and it's equipped with an excellent 120Hz OLED panel with G-Sync support for an immersive gaming experience. The compact metal chassis is appealing and durable without most gaming systems' chunky size or blaring RGB flair. The laptop's port selection is decent, and its battery life is better, making this one of the few gaming laptops you'd consider using on the go.

The clear target for this laptop is mobile gamers, especially those who value portability over screen size. The Zephyrus' lightweight, compact design delivers a high-end gaming experience without compromising performance. But other shoppers looking for a straight-up ultraportable might want to pick it up for the extra graphics performance and sleek design.

For under $500, the Acer Chromebook Plus CX34 delivers incredible value, making it the best lightweight Chromebook on the market and the best light laptop for budget shoppers. Its speedy performance and excellent features exceeded our expectations for an affordable ChromeOS laptop, ramping up the processing power and boosting the feature set with plenty of ports. Equipped with a superb 1080p display, a sturdy MIL-SPEC-certified frame, and a generous 13-hour battery, the CX34 is our favorite ultraportable Chromebook of the moment and an easy recommendation for any value shopper who wants a light and capable laptop.

Budget shoppers and Google fans will love the affordable Acer Chromebook Plus CX34. As lightweight laptops go, this one provides potent ChromeOS performance and an excellent feature set, all for an affordable price.

If you want the top lightweight MacBook, then go straight for the MacBook Air 13-inch (2024, M3). Equipped with the same ultra-slim, super-light design as the 2022 redesigned Air, which slimmed down with a smaller logic board and chassis, the newest Air beefs up in all the ways that matter. That includes enhanced M3 performance, extended battery life, and new dual-display support. It's a predictable update to an already excellent laptop, but it keeps Apple high on the list of lightest laptops that pack a punch.

This MacBook Air isn't the most powerful MacBook, but it’s clear that this is easily the best Mac laptop for everyday users. If you need to save some money, check out the older MacBook Air (the 2022 M2 version); otherwise, it's possible to scale up with the equally awesome new M3 version of the Apple MacBook Air 15-Inch. More-premium MacBook Pro models are always available if you’re willing to pay more for extra power. But for the average Mac user working from home, taking a laptop to the classroom or office, or traveling for work, this is the MacBook to get.

Lenovo's Yoga 9i Gen 9 is our top pick for lightweight 2-in-1 laptops, thanks to its superb 14-inch OLED touch display with pen support. Leading performance bolsters this laptop's claim, too. The Yoga 9i showcases the power of Intel's Core Ultra silicon, providing enduring battery life and punchy performance. With its all-metal chassis, the Yoga 9i exudes elegance while maintaining a slim profile, weighing a mere 2.98 pounds. It even comes with a pen for handwritten digital notes and on-screen sketching.

For a lightweight laptop that doubles as a slick tablet for notetaking and sketching, Lenovo's Yoga 9i Gen 9 is the best option. It appeals to everyone, from office professionals to college students who want something light to carry to class.

The Intel Core-based version of the Surface Pro 9 is the best 2-in-1 tablet you can buy, thanks to its impressive laptop-grade performance, outstanding battery life, and pen-friendly 3:2 screen that's exceptional for drafting and taking notes. With a sleek design, upgradable storage, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, the Surface Pro 9 is easily the most capable 2-in-1 on the market. The device's engineering and design have no real rivals, making it a highly practical tablet with the performance to reliably replace a laptop. Although it has a high starting price, the Surface Pro 9 remains the best choice among high-end Windows tablets, and the best light detachable 2-in-1.

Microsoft's Surface Pro 9 is an ideal choice for tablet-first users who still want the full power and capability of a laptop. The combination of powerful performance and intuitive hands-on use makes it perfect for use on the go or at a desk, and the extended battery life means you can do both without being tied to a power outlet. The tablet's superb digital inking makes it an ideal choice for users who prefer taking handwritten notes, but support for keyboard accessories and docking solutions makes it a practical laptop, too.

The 15-inch MacBook Air is the larger sibling to the well-known 13-inch model, now updated with the latest M3 processor in the same ultra-light design. Despite the spartan port selection, the new MacBook Air adds more external monitor support, along with robust six-speaker audio and a generously sized touchpad. The sleek, lightweight machine features the same processing hardware as the entry MacBook Pro, giving you a potent productivity laptop that's lighter than most 15-inch systems.

Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air gives you a bit more power than the 13-inch model along with better sound and longer battery life. This makes it a smart choice for Mac fans and a safe buy for anyone looking for a powerful and reliable 15-inch ultraportable.

Lightweight laptops are usually small and compact, but the aptly named LG Gram Pro 17 defies expectations with a spacious 17-inch panel, a full keyboard, upgraded hardware, and an unexpectedly rich port selection. From the carbon-magnesium alloy construction to the bright, colorful display, it's everything we loved about the previous Gram 17, but with the added power of a discrete Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics chip for content creation and even light gaming.

If the 13- and 14-inch models on this list leave you feeling cramped, the LG Gram Pro 17 will give you room to stretch. Despite its big display and spacious keyboard, the new Gram weighs just 3.2 pounds, with nearly 18 hours of battery life, making it the lightest big-screen laptop, but also one of the longest lasting.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 3 scores a spot on this list by coupling lightweight portability with MIL-STD 810H durability. Made for extreme lightness, the design features ultralight magnesium and carbon fiber and weighs barely more than two pounds. Despite this, the laptop still includes a satisfying keyboard, a sharp-looking display that's well-suited to productivity, and a bunch of business-friendly features including optional 4G LTE mobile broadband.

This machine is built for business travelers and professionals who are frequently working from planes, trains, and automobiles, delivering powerful productivity anywhere. Whether you want a lightweight laptop for the office or the airport, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 3 is the lightweight business laptop to get.