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What even counts as a mini laptop? It's not a real well-defined category, so Google "Best Mini Laptop," and you will get a slew of different interpretations. From tablets , to 2-in-1's , to thin gaming laptops that get as large as your MacBook Pro. When it comes to what we know our readers are here for, it's simplicity. Simply, put these devices ditch processing power in favor of portability.
These are not great gaming laptops , so they won't replace your high-processing computers , nor will they be able to edit big photo or video files. When it comes to specs, we have some preferences but the picks aren't tied down to them. We like to see screens that measure 13 inches or less. We're typically looking at RAM between 4 and 8 GB. Somewhere between 128 and 256 gigs of storage is ideal. These computers are perfect for students, older folks who don't care about performance, or anyone who travels for a living and still needs to access the web. Even if that's not you, these laptops are for perfectly portable for moving from the WFH office to the office office. From lounging on the sofa to catching up on emails in your reading chair , to watching tv in bed , these will be your all-in-one companions.
Surface Pro 2-in-1 Copilot+ PC
In my comparison of the latest generation of Surface devices, I said that the Surface Pro was "fast enough to act as a real computer." I stand by that—I mean, not that much has changed in the past six months. This is one of the most serious tablets around—and it comes with one of the best keyboards . Why it's sold separately and costs twice as much as most regular keyboards? I couldn't tell you, call it an Achilles' heel for this otherwise perfect product.
Seriously, you don't need to upgrade to the Snapdragon X Elite core to see the power of Copilot+PC. The X Plus equipped in this model will still provide an impressive upgrade when it comes to battery life and responsiveness.
2024 Vivobook Go
If you're thinking the purest definition of Good Miniature Laptop, this is what you're picturing. The Vivobook Go ticks all the boxes. It ain't got a touch screen and it's not 2-in-1 tablet masquerading as a laptop. It's a small, modern computer with an impressive 11.6 inch screen.
This laptop takes portability seriously. ASUS makes other laptops if you want something fancier , but for something portable and bare-bones that will still last you a couple years, there's the Vivobook Go. This is the smallest one it makes.
MacBook Air M2 chip
If you are all "rah, rah Apple," I guess I should give a MacBook option. It's not that I dislike MacBooks—on the contrary, I use them for work everyday—I just think they are overpriced and silo you off in your own ecosystem, away from many of the joys of the internet.
Of all the ones you can get that are small and light, the 13-inch MacBook Air M2 is still your best bet. You can get it for $800, so there's that. It's not quite as powerful (or quiet) as the M3, but for the way most people use small laptops, they are identical. Save your cash and get the model from a couple years ago for the best MacBook deal there is.
Chromebook Spin 513
The 360-degree hinge on this Acer Chromebook kinda is great for people who get bored easily. You know who you are. It's a good option for people who like changing up their working or entertainment positioning from sitting at a desk to sitting on the floor to straight up sprawled out on the couch. You can use the computer as a notebook, stand-up display, tent, or tablet.
So, that's the versatility play. For the price it's also a damn good touchscreen, and offers solid performance—more akin to a laptop than a tablet. It's a straight up two-in-one, so if you don't want that steer clear, but it's one with a quality build that you can find at a more than reasonable price. The only downside? Google's ChromeOS is not as sophisticated as Windows.
Chromebook Laptop
If I'm being honest here, this isn't my top pick for everyone. But, in what I hope my editors believe to be a stroke of genius, I've thought outside of my own narrow mind and came to something I've begun to realize. The Esquire reader is not a monolith, but many of you do have children. As such, it can be difficult to know what computer to get for your kid when they get that age—which gets increasingly younger each time I check.
For a teenager that needs something for during or after school, I recommend the HP Chromebook. Earlier I decried ChromeOS, but for a first-timer it's at least user-friendly. For keeping kids safe and on-task, it's not half bad.
ThinkPad Yoga 500w 2-in-1 Laptop
Another three years pass in the blink of an eye and boom, you're touring colleges. University students need something different from high schoolers—much different, depending on their major. The MacBook Air is the obvious route to go, but if you want to instill your love of Windows to your progeny, go with this ThinkPad from Lenovo.
This micro-machine runs Windows 11 and is built tough for students. Compared to the average notebook, it's going to survive coffee spills my college laptops simply didn't. With an emphasis on battery life, it stays charged through an undergrad's busiest days. And it's got Wi-Fi 6, which means a more reliable and high-speed connection.
Chromebook 516 GE
Listen, gaming and portable are not usually compatible. There are some great gaming laptops out there, but they are heavy—with an emphasis on power over portability. Inherently, you also need a screen that is at least 15 inches. Typically, a good one will usually cost you over $100. None of these are qualities you'll find throughout this list. So, while it doesn't tick every single one of the boxes, it's impressive to read that Acer has finally made something bridging the gap.
This is one of the first positively reviewed laptops I've seen built for gaming. It's got a slick 2K screen that can hit a 120Hz maximum refresh rate. The integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics are optimized specially for NVIDIA's GeForce NOW cloud streaming service. And that's great. If you're doing cloud streaming as your primary way of playing games, GeForce NOW is the way to go. This is a dedicated gaming machine. And it's relatively portable—just not compared to a Steam Deck .
GPD Micro PC
Lanruo's micro PC is one of the smallest mini laptops out there, coming in at a 6-inch display. It's so perfectly reminiscent of a Sidekick. (Google it, kids) Think of it like typing on a bigger cellphone keyboard rather than a tiny laptop one.
That said, it's got great specs for being far-and-away the smallest modern(ish) machine we could find. I say ish, because this tiny notebook runs on Windows 10 Pro. While still supported, Microsoft is sunsetting that OS in October this year. Meaning it's going to be obsolete soon, unless you're technical enough to figure out how to get Linux running on the thing.
How We Picked Mini Laptops
Testing out computers takes time and while I have used several of these, I couldn't get to them all. But I've spent years working on MacBook Air and Pro models. I'm deeply in love with Microsoft's latest line of Surface Copilot+PC devices and the Pro is no exception. I also have plenty of hands-on experience with the 2024 ASUS lineup of notebooks including the Zenbook and Vivobooks.
For others, like Acer's Chromebook 516 GE, I rely on the trusted opinions of colleagues at credible outlets who do have the time to review these products.
Hearst Owned
What to Look for In a Mini Laptop?
As with buying anything, looking for the perfect small-screen laptop is a slog through ad jargon and marketing speak. To keep you on the right path, here's what to look for:
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Processing power:A lot of complex stuff goes into the measurement of a computer's speed or power, but for the average consumer looking at processors, you can use brand recognition. Intel is the biggest name, and it's used by almost all PC brands that don't use AMD. (Apple used Intel Core processors until very recently.) Anything from the "Intel Core," series is their flagship and worthy of your money. Nowadays, there is big competition from Apple, because the new M2 and M3 chips are a triumph which has impressed a lot of tech nerds.
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Size:Given the Mini Laptop category, we are worried about size here. Screens under 14-inches and weights under 3-pounds will definitely feel mini, but you have some wiggle room to go over that.
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RAM:This is your computer's temporary storage. Kind of like its short-term memory. The short of it is that higher RAM (measured in gigabytes) makes for a more powerful, faster computer. For mini laptops, 8GB is great, and finding anything higher than that is unlikely.
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Storage:This is what you're most familiar with. Just straight up, how much data can your computer keep. Anything above 256GB is good, above 512GB is great.
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Operating System:Knowing your OS isn't just for the nerds. If you are going to feel comfortable operating your new laptop you'll probably want it to use the OS you're used to. Whether that be Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, or MacOS.
Hearst Owned
Why Trust Esquire?
Here at Esquire, we compile our guides by performing heavy research and testing, and the gadgets we choose to award are what we'd spend our own money on. We choose the best tech for you based the hands-on experience of our writers. When it comes to laptops, there's no way we can have tried them all, but we've spent times with the brands that count. Beyond just Microsoft and Apple, we know who makes good laptops and what specs to look for.
Hearst Owned
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