10 Best Lightweight Laptops

The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) with its midrange price offers a balance between cost and features. It has 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, powered by the Apple M2 chip, which includes a 10-core GPU. This makes it well suited for general use and capable of handling some engineering tasks. Although its graphics performance may be limited for intensive 3D and machine learning applications, it offers excellent screen quality and a high-resolution IPS display. It does not have a touchscreen but boasts a 16:10 aspect ratio and a bright display with wide color coverage, good for media and design work. The MacBook is known for its premium build, silent operation, and a battery that can last for an impressive 20 hours of typical use. With its lightweight design, it scores well on portability. Additionally, it has two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt support, but lacks a dedicated number pad, Ethernet, and support for hardware ray tracing and DLSS, which are more relevant for gaming laptops. It charges via USB-C and offers a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for convenient security. This model is ideal for users looking for a portable laptop with long battery life and a focus on general use, productivity, and some creative tasks. However, if the focus is on gaming or GPU-intensive machine learning or 3D rendering work, it may not be the best fit.

The HP EliteBook 845 G9 is set at a lower midrange price and targets business users with its premium features. Its 14-inch IPS display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and above HD resolution is crisp and offers good color coverage, making it suitable for general work and some image editing. The combination of a capable AMD Ryzen 5 processor and AMD Radeon graphics can handle everyday tasks easily and even provide fair performance for 3D rendering and light engineering work. However, for tasks that require high-end graphics processing like intensive gaming or advanced machine learning, the performance may not be optimal. The 512 GB storage and 16 GB RAM are sufficient for most users, but if you require more space, there is an available storage slot for upgrades. With its backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and a good selection of ports including USB-C, this laptop has modern connectivity options. This laptop is relatively lightweight at just over 3 pounds, making it very portable for on-the-go professionals. Its battery life is solid, allowing for up to around 12 hours of typical use, which is beneficial for long workdays away from the charger. Overall, the HP EliteBook 845 G9 is an excellent choice for business and general use, offering a balance of performance, portability, and features, though it's not the best choice for high-end gaming or the most demanding engineering simulations.

The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is a midrange laptop that offers a solid blend of performance and portability, making it a good choice for general use. Its main processor and GPU are both Apple's M2 chip, which provides good general performance and can handle some lighter engineering tasks. Keep in mind, for 3D rendering, machine learning, or heavy gaming, the performance might not meet the demands of those intensive tasks. It features 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, which is ample for everyday tasks, but may be limiting for more demanding applications. The battery life is commendable, providing up to 15 hours of typical usage, and its fanless design ensures silent operation. Its 13.6-inch IPS display with a high resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio delivers clear and vibrant images with wide color coverage, but it does not have a touchscreen or high refresh rate. The MacBook Air is highly portable, weighing just 2.7 pounds and with a thickness of 0.44 inches, enhanced by its sleek build quality. For connectivity, it includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports but lacks Ethernet or HDMI ports. The keyboard and webcam quality are rated as excellent, adding to the appeal for professionals on the go. Notably, there are no available slots for RAM or storage expansion. If you prioritize a balance of portability, build quality, and overall performance for everyday tasks, the MacBook Air (2022) is a compelling option.

The Acer Swift 3 comes at a lower midrange price with a solid balance of features for general consumers. Its Intel i5 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics offer good performance for everyday tasks and some light gaming or creative work but aren't optimized for more demanding 3D, machine learning, or engineering software. Equipped with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, it should handle multitasking and ample data. The 14-inch IPS display provides decent color accuracy and viewing angles, though it's not the best choice for color-critical work. The laptop is quite portable, weighing under 3 pounds, and has a good battery life that can support typical usage for around 12 hours. Additionally, build quality and heat management are rated good, making it suitable for mobility and use in different environments. With a variety of ports including USB-C and Thunderbolt, connectivity is versatile, but the absence of an Ethernet port might be a drawback for some. A backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader enhance usability, although if you're looking for a laptop with a higher refresh rate, better speakers, or dedicated gaming features, other models may be more fitting.

The Lenovo Flex 5 14 is a 2-in-1 convertible that can be used as both a laptop and a tablet, making it versatile for various tasks. It's priced in the lower midrange and offers a fair balance of performance and features. With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and 16 GB of RAM, it's a good choice for general use and capable of handling some engineering and 3D tasks, though not optimized for intensive gaming. It has a 14-inch IPS touchscreen display, a decent battery life, and is lightweight for portability. It also features a decent spread of ports including USB-C, and it charges via USB-C as well, but it lacks a dedicated number pad, yet it includes a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for convenience and security.

The Lenovo Yoga 6 is a versatile 2-in-1 convertible laptop that can function as both a laptop and a tablet, suitable for general users who appreciate flexibility and moderate performance. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor with integrated Vega 8 graphics, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage, which should handle everyday tasks and light engineering work well. The Yoga 6's 13.3-inch IPS touchscreen with a 1920 x 1200 resolution offers good screen colors and is comfortable to use for general purposes. Its lower midrange price makes it an economical option considering its capabilities. A backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader add to its practical features. However, it is not the top choice for intensive gaming or complex 3D/machine learning tasks due to the integrated graphics. With over 12 hours of battery life, a weight of just over 3 pounds, and a solid build quality, it is also quite portable.