If you're looking for a laptop to take on the go, size and weight should be at the top of your priority list. A lightweight laptop is able to disappear into your bag and won't leave you with a sore shoulder at the end of the day. And unlike past years, opting for a thin and light design doesn't necessarily mean that you're trading-off on performance. These are the best lightweight laptops of 2025 so far I'd recommend you buy.
TL;DR - The Best Lightweight Laptops:
While it used to be true that opting for a lightweight laptop meant sacrificing performance and limiting the types of tasks you were able to accomplish, laptop hardware has advanced to the point where that just isn't the case anymore. It's still true that if you're working on high-intensity tasks like video editing or gaming, thicker designs can offer better ventilation and overall performance. But thanks to more advanced hardware and assistive technologies like frame generation and neural processing units (NPUs), lightweight laptops are better than ever before.
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Like shopping for any laptop, there are many different things to consider when looking for the lightweight machine of your dreams. Here are the most important things to keep in mind:
Processor: A laptop's processor is like its brain and controls how quickly and efficiently it can take on different tasks. The two main brands of processor are Intel and AMD. However, Qualcomm has recently entered the field with its power-efficient Snapdragon Plus and Snapdragon Elite processors. For productivity use, I recommend looking for at least six cores, regardless of which brand you're considering. For gaming, I suggest looking to eight cores or higher, and a clock speed of at least 4.5GHz, and preferably higher than 5GHz.
Memory: Memory, or RAM, refers to your system's capacity to rapidly access important information for programs to run smoothly, as well as it's ability to run multiple applications or tasks at one time (such as rendering a video in the background while using a web browsing at the same time). Heavier programs, like Adobe Premiere Pro, require more memory than simpler applications like Microsoft Word, but it's possible to use a surprising amount of memory simply by keeping lots of tabs open in your browser of choice. Lower cost laptops (and especially those from third-party sellers on Amazon Marketplace), often skimp on memory capacity. While Windows 11 will technically run with 8GB of memory, it's just not enough to have a great experience, so I recommend looking for a laptop with at least 16GB of memory for productivity and 32GB for gaming.
Storage: Storage refers to how much data your laptop is able to store locally at any given time. Try to find a laptop with a minimum of 512GB of storage and preferably more. This is less important if you plan on storing most of your data to the cloud or won't be doing more than creating documents and web browsing, which both have a very low storage footprint.
Display: Laptop screens come in a number of different forms, but the two to look out for here are IPS LCD displays and OLEDs. OLED displays work on an entirely different principle and offer the best picture quality thanks to their improved contrast but are often much more expensive. LCD screens are more affordable and can still look very good. If you'll be taking in a lot of media, such watching movies or playing games, an OLED can be a great choice. If you're mainly working on productivity, IPS LCDs are a good bet.
Battery Life: Battery life can be difficult to get a bead on through product listings alone. Manufacturers often quote battery life using settings scenarios that aren't true to how most people use their laptops (50% brightness, constantly looping video, performance limitations, etc.). Instead, I recommend reading a mix of professional and user reviews to get an idea of what real people are seeing and choose a lightweight laptop that offers enough life to meet your needs. It can also be wise to overshoot your needs a bit, as lithium batteries decrease in lifespan over time. Aiming higher than what you need right now can help ensure the battery is able to last as long as you need it to, even several years into the future.
Are lightweight laptops good for gaming?
While it's true that thin and light designs often demand trade-offs in gaming performance, that doesn't mean you can't have a great experience. Mobile gaming hardware and supportive technologies like DLSS and frame generation have advanced to the point where even very thin laptops are still able to offer great gaming experiences. As is always the case with gaming laptops, however, this will depend on the specs of the specific system you choose.
Are MacBooks better than Windows laptops for weight and portability?
The latest Apple MacBooks are well known for being lightweight and portable, but it's not like Apple has a monopoly on lightweight laptop designs. Many Windows laptops are as light or even lighter than the latest MacBook Air, but you may need to search to find one with comparable specs and battery life. MacBooks excel at balancing processing power, battery life, and in the case of the MacBook Air, silent operation alongside their fantastic portability.
How long do lightweight laptops last?
With proper care and maintenance, there's simply no reason that a lightweight laptop should last any less than a less portable laptop. It's all about how well you take care of it and the type of conditions it's used in. A laptop that's allowed to run hotter for extended periods of time likely won't last as long as one that has ample ventilation during heavy workloads. Be sure to give your laptop space around its intake and exhaust vents (easily accomplished with one of the best laptop cooling pads), take the time to clean dust buildup, and treat it with care, and a lightweight laptop can easily last many years.
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