6 Best Mini Laptops of 2024, According to Tech Experts

This Microsoft Laptop that runs on Windows 11 is a great choice for professionals and students in need of a zippy, compact device for team meetings, jotting down notes and tackling everyday tasks. What we love most about it is that it’s a tablet and laptop in one, so you can switch between using the 10.5-inch touchscreen along with the compatible stylus pen, or you can set it up as a traditional laptop when you want to type quickly via the detachable keyboard.

Our Lab engineers have tested similar Surface Go models and love their portability. At 1.2 pounds, this mini laptop is super lightweight yet comes with a high resolution, responsive screen as well as 1080p cameras for sharp video quality. With 128GB of storage you should have plenty of space to save documents and photos on your laptop, and 8GB of RAM is adequate for casual use like internet browsing and running a few applications (though you could benefit from more if you plan on editing photos or juggling multiple heavy files).

While our pros haven't tested this exact model, we've been hands-on with multiple Chromebooks and think they're a great choice for a mini laptop. Our pros love that this Chromebook features a unique 360° hinge so you can rotate the display to the angle that suits you best. Whether you want to use it as a laptop or tablet, or you prefer to prop up the screen when streaming shows, it does it all and does so with a long battery life of up to 15 hours, according to Acer.

The 11.6-inch screen is an ideal size for a smaller laptop, and those who are looking for a portable pick will be pleased that the dimensions are actually smaller than a standard A4 piece of paper. Just keep in mind that though this 2-in-1 laptop is affordable, you are sacrificing some power and storage space in comparison to more premium mini laptops.

Apple fans looking for a mini laptop that’s easy to use should look no further than this super sleek MacBook Air that’s available in four metallic shades. Our pros recommend it for anyone that wants quick performance, whether you’re online shopping, researching for an assignment or editing videos. Though this Air isn’t quite as powerful as some of the other MacBooks our engineers tested, it features the M2 chip that guarantees faster performance — 1.4 times faster than the M1 chip, according to Apple.

Our pros were impressed by the laptop’s long battery life and its crisp Liquid Retina display. Plus, it comes with extras like touch ID, a 1080p HD camera for FaceTime chats and more. You can also opt for the 13.3-inch 2020 MacBook Air (M1 Chip) if you don’t mind sacrificing some performance for a few extra bucks.

Can’t decide between a mini laptop or a tablet? With this Lenovo mini laptop, you don’t have to thanks to its 2-in-1 design that lets you switch freely between using it as either a laptop or a tablet. Our pros have reviewed several Chromebooks and appreciate their highly portable design and this one is no exception. Its 10.1-inch screen is smaller than most picks on this list so it may not be ideal for those that need a few extra inches of display, but that’s what helps it maintain such a light weight at just under a pound!

Our pros like that the keyboard is detachable so you can leave it behind on car road trips when you’re streaming shows, and the touchscreen is compatible with a pen for drawing sketches and scribbling. Though this Chromebook comes with 64GB of storage for saving data, you’ll also get a free membership to Google One with 100GB of extra storage for one year. We do wish, however, that it featured more than one USB-C port for better connectivity options.

Featuring a full-sized keyboard and a super slim design, we recommend this mini laptop if you’re looking for one that’s portable enough to bring to the office and back. We've tested a similar laptop from HP, and like the 11.6-inch screen size that should provide ample room for being productive. Plus, over 13 hours of battery life, according to HP, should suffice for a full day of work. While this model could feature additional RAM for more speed and power, we like that it offers tons of connectivity options, including HDMI and at least three USB ports.

Boost your productivity with the 11.6-inch Asus Vivobook. Our product analysts tested a similar (but larger) Vivobook and recommend this slender, mini laptop for students thanks to a few unique features like a 180° hinge so the laptop can lay completely flat when it’s time to create a presentation or collaborate with other peers. Calculations are also made easy thanks to an integrated number pad that can be activated with a quick tap.

For those that need extra space for storage of Word docs, Excel files and more, you can opt for 128GB of memory. Your Vivobook should survive through several lectures and study sessions thanks to up to 12 hours of battery life.