Check out our guide to the best lightweight travel laptops, notebooks and chromebooks with options for all budgets.
Our list includes affordable budget, mid-range and some of the best laptops on the market.
Whether you are a digital nomad, need a laptop for work or just want it to watch films, browse the web or watch movies - you will be able to find something to match your needs and budget. All of the computers we have added to our list are lightweight which makes them perfect for moving around.
View our list of budget and high-end laptops you should consider buying below...
Acer Chromebook 14
Acer are one of the best manufacturers of reliable and stylish laptops. If you are looking for a lightweight and effective laptop without breaking the bank the Acer Chromebook is highly recommended. This laptop is cheap, has a great design (it looks as close to a Macbook as you will get) and is perfect for taking travelling.
- Intel Celeron N3060, 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, 14 inch HD Display, Google Chrome OS
- All aluminium alloy housing. Need we say more? Possessed of style, strength and durability, our Chromebook 14 will go the distance and back again
- As thin, compact and light as the Chromebook 14 is, IPS technology and a low reflection anti-glare screen.
- We figure with up to 12 hours of battery operation, you'll agree we've got you covered.
- The built-in webcam supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) imagining, which will improve your Google Hangouts experience.
- Enjoy fast wireless internet speeds with dual-band MIMO technology and 802.11ac technology.
- Display Screen Type:- Active Matrix TFT Colour LCD
This is one of the best value laptops available and perfect for travelling if you are looking for something lightweigh, fast and reliable. Also this is great to use with a compact and portable travel mouse.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
The Microsoft Surface is a very popular product which mixes both laptop and tablet format. The latest Pro 6 model features is 12.3 Inch Tablet - with Intel 8th Gen Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620 and Windows 10 Home.
The Pro 6 is light and incredibly powerful with faster processing and up to 13.5 hours of all-day battery life. This product is great for browsing the web or getting productive with next-generation Surface Pro 6, featuring the latest 8th Generation Intel Core processor for faster multitasking.
Although on the high price range, this is one our of top recommendations for a laptop to buy due to the weight, speed and design.
Positives:
- Battery life
- Ultra-slim and light, starting at just 771g
- Comfortable keyboard
- The screen doubles up as a tablet
Negatives
- Cost for the new model, although cheaper older Pros are available for a cheaper price
MacBook Air
The newest version of Apple's popular MacBook air was first released in late 2018 and has been upgraded since. The Macbook Air is probably the best Macbook to buy due to the lower price and weight. This is one of the most stylish and also one of the most popular laptops on our list.
This laptop includes:
- Stunning 13.3 Inch Retina display
- Touch ID and the latest Apple-designed keyboard
- Dual-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with Intel UHD Graphics
- Fast SSD storage and 8 GB memory
- Stereo speakers with wider stereo sound
Like all Apple products it does't come at a high cost, but if you can afford it, you really should consider getting one.
Positives:
- Stylish design
- Light and portable
- Long battery life
Negatives:
- Price - expensive compared to similar laptops on the market
Asus Zenbook
The ASUS ZenBook is another very stylish laptop with modern features including a full 14-inch Full HD Nano Edge Screen, Intel Core i5-8520U, Windows 10, and Harman Kardon Speakers.
The all-new ZenBook UX410 brings you elegance, sophistication and superb performance in a gorgeously slim and light design. Crafted from solid aluminum and featuring our iconic spun-metal Zen-inspired finish, ZenBook UX410 is a mere 18.95mm thin. And its travel-friendly weight of just 1.4kg means taking it with you is never a burden, and using it is always a pleasure with its crisp, clear 14-inch wide viewing angle display and 6mm slim bezel.
The Zenbook also features the latest generation of Intel Core processors, powerful graphics and super-fast storage, ZenBook UX410 is no slouch, either - it has all the performance you need to blitz through your working day. ZenBook UX410 makes everything easier, in style.
Positives
- Ultra-Slim bezel with 14 inch screen, in 13.3 inch footprint
- ZenBook UX410 is a mere 18.95 mm thin and its travel-friendly weight of just 1.4 kg
Negatives
- Not the cheapest laptop available
DELL XPS 13
The DELL XPS 13 is the smallest 13-inch on the planet and the new model is thinner and lighter than before. We love this laptop and you will too.
Powered by Intel 8 the Gen Quad Core processors with Dell Power Manager, the XPS 13 is small, but mighty, stay unplugged on the go with up to 19 hours, 46 minutes of battery life.
Expert craftsmanship and innovative, premium materials sets the XPS 13 apart, Recycle-friendly: 90% of the laptop's parts can be easily recycled or reused, and the white bamboo packaging trays are 100% recyclable.
Dell Cinema paired with a stunning HD Infinity Edge display brings you state-of-the-art sound, colour and streaming to elevate your entertainment experience.
Pros:
- Long battery life
- Fast performance
Cons:
- Price quite high
HP Spectre x360
The HP Spectre x360 is an amazing laptop with a 13.3-inch screen, 4K convertible with stylus, intel core i7-8550U, intel UHD graphics 620 and Windows 10 Home. You can get a full day of battery life (16 hours) with a fast charge which makes this laptop really appealing.
The design is beautiful with a nearly borderless 33.8 cm (13.3") diagonal, 4K micro-edge touch display with Corning Gorilla Glass NBT and expert-tuned quad speakers. There is also an added IR camera for secure login, and safe payment with a fingerprint reader.
The laptop has also been innovative engineered to rotate 360º so that you can use your device in four modes. Work in laptop mode, watch in stand mode, play in tent mode, and go in tablet mode.
Positives
- Fast, high tech and fast keyboard
- 16 hour battery!
- Bang and Olufsen speakers
- Multi-function and lightweight
Negatives
- Cost is on the high side
Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA
Asus make great laptops and this is one of the best chromebooks you can get. This Chromebook comes with 64GB storage and 4GB RAM, and is equipped with brilliant and innovative features packed into its compact and stylish design, including a 16:9 HD camera, a 1920 x 1080 Full HD 12.5" display.
With its 10-hour battery life, backlit keyboard with a spacious 104.5mm x 61mm trackpad, this versatile & convertible, touchscreen Chromebook frees you to work or play anywhere, anytime. Extremely lightweight at just 1.2KG with the protection of a sleek aluminium metal chassis.
Pros:
- Light
- Fast performance
- 360 degree rotatable
Cons:
- Battery not as long as some laptops
Huawei MateBook X Pro
The Huawei Matebook X PRO is possibly the best laptop available right now. This laptop is super stylish with an impressive 13.9 inch 3k touch screen, Intel 8th Generation i7-8550U 1.8 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 512GB SDD, Geforce MX150 and Windows 10 Pro.
- Full View Display - World's First Full View Display Notebook, 91% screen-to-body ratio
- 3K Touchscreen - 3000 × 2000 resolution features a Multi-touch screen
- Ultra-slim metallic body - Elegant 14.6mm metallic body
- More Power Inside - Up to 8th Gen Intel Quad Core U Series, 40% faster than the 7th
- Fingerprint-ready power button - Fingerprint-ready power button to login the system within 7.8s
MacBook Pro
This is our 3rd Apple computer added to our list and although the price might put a lot of people off, this is one of the most powerful and most complete all rounders available perfect if you are an experienced travel blogger or are going to be doing video editing.
The MacBook Pro has a 13.3-inch screen, intel i5 processor, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SDD and is a great choice for anyone looking to do more than just casual web browsing.
This model elevates the notebook to a whole new level of performance and portability. It's faster and more powerful than previous models, yet 17% thinner and significantly lighter. With its cutting-edge display, high-performance processor and state-of-the-art storage it'll help you to shape, save and send your ideas.
Positives:
- Super stylish
- Fast, powerful and beautiful design
Negatives:
- Not the lightest or small laptop
- Price is on the high side
Lenovo ThinkPad T470
This 14-inch notebook with an Intel Core i5-7200U Processor, 8 GB RAM and Windows 10 Pro combines power, performance and portability.
It is stylish yet durable and has a great screen due to the anti-glare technology. Lenovo ThinkPad T470 delivers reliable, enterprise-level performance.
Pros:
- A good all rounder
Cons:
- Not the smallest or lightest laptop
Overall
- Best Budget Laptop - Acer Chromebook
- Great All Rounder - Microsoft Surface
- If Money Is No Issue - Macbook Air 2018
- Midrange Choice - Asus Zenbook
Things to Consider Before Buying a Laptop
Price
Knowing what budget you have will really narrow down your search, as if you are restricted by price you will be limited as to which laptop you can buy. You might also need to think what you will be doing and where you will be going. If you are planning to be going backpacking and staying in cheap hostels maybe buying and taking an expensive model e.g. Macbook Pro isn't the best idea unless you take lots of safety pre-cautions.
What will you be using it for
If you are just going to be using the laptop for browsing the web, you probably don't need the latest or highest tech specification. But if you plan on gaming, or working it is usually better to go for an upgraded model.
What size and weight is it
If you are going to be travelling, whether for a short or long duration it is important to get a light portable laptop.
Is the battery life long
This is one of the most important things to consider as you don't want to be reliant on having to be near chargers everywhere you go. The longer the battery life the better.
What storage does it have
Like when purchasing a phone, it is usually best to not to go for the lowest storage especially if you plan to download lots of music or movies.
