6 Best Aluminum Laptops – 2021

TOP PICK
Apple MacBook Pro (13-Inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage) - Silver (Previous Model)
HP - Spectre x360 2-in-1 13.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 8GB Memory - 256GB Solid State Drive - Natural Silver/Black
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop 13.3" FHD Display, Intel 8th gen Core i5-8250U, 8GB RAM, 256GB M.2 SSD, Win10, Backlit KB, FP, Icicle Gold, UX331UA-AS51
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage, 1.6GHz Intel Core i5) - Space Gray (Previous Model)
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop, 13.3” Full HD, 8th Gen Intel i5-8250U Processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB M.2 SSD, Backlit Kbd, Fingerprint Reader, Windows 10, Grey, UX330UA-AH55
BLW's Score
91
90
88
85
81
MSRP
Price not available
Price not available
$499.99
Price not available
$333.00
Processor
Intel Core i5
Intel Core i7-7500U 2.7 GHz
Intel Core i5-8250U (up to 3.4 GHz)
Intel Core i5 1.6 GHz (boost to 3.6 GHz)
Intel Core i5-8250U
RAM
8GB DDR4
8GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
8GB DDR4
8GB DDR3
Hard Disk
256GB SSD
256GB SSD
256GB Flash Memory
128GB SSD
256GB SSD
Display
13.3" Retina Display (2560 x 1600)
13.3" FHD (1920 x 1080)
13.3" FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
13.3" Retina (2560 x 1600)
13.3" FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
Intel HD Graphics 520
Intel UHD Graphics 620
Intel UHD Graphics 617
NVIDIA GeForce MX150
OS
OS X
Windows 10
Mac OS X
macOS
Windows 10
Weight
3.02 pounds
3.3 pounds
2.1 pounds
2.75 lbs
2.6 pounds
Battery Life
10 hours
12 hours
12 hours
12 hours
12 hours
TOP PICK
Apple MacBook Pro (13-Inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage) - Silver (Previous Model)
BLW's Score
91
MSRP
Price not available
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i5
RAM
8GB DDR4
Hard Disk
256GB SSD
Display
13.3" Retina Display (2560 x 1600)
Graphics
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
OS
OS X
Weight
3.02 pounds
Battery Life
10 hours
HP - Spectre x360 2-in-1 13.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 8GB Memory - 256GB Solid State Drive - Natural Silver/Black
BLW's Score
90
MSRP
Price not available
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i7-7500U 2.7 GHz
RAM
8GB DDR3
Hard Disk
256GB SSD
Display
13.3" FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 520
OS
Windows 10
Weight
3.3 pounds
Battery Life
12 hours
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop 13.3" FHD Display, Intel 8th gen Core i5-8250U, 8GB RAM, 256GB M.2 SSD, Win10, Backlit KB, FP, Icicle Gold, UX331UA-AS51
BLW's Score
88
MSRP
$499.99
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U (up to 3.4 GHz)
RAM
8GB DDR3
Hard Disk
256GB Flash Memory
Display
13.3" FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 620
OS
Mac OS X
Weight
2.1 pounds
Battery Life
12 hours
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage, 1.6GHz Intel Core i5) - Space Gray (Previous Model)
BLW's Score
85
MSRP
Price not available
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i5 1.6 GHz (boost to 3.6 GHz)
RAM
8GB DDR4
Hard Disk
128GB SSD
Display
13.3" Retina (2560 x 1600)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 617
OS
macOS
Weight
2.75 lbs
Battery Life
12 hours
ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop, 13.3” Full HD, 8th Gen Intel i5-8250U Processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB M.2 SSD, Backlit Kbd, Fingerprint Reader, Windows 10, Grey, UX330UA-AH55
BLW's Score
81
MSRP
$333.00
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U
RAM
8GB DDR3
Hard Disk
256GB SSD
Display
13.3" FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce MX150
OS
Windows 10
Weight
2.6 pounds
Battery Life
12 hours

Welcome to our guide of best aluminum laptops, and here you will find all the best options. Laptops with plastic chassis are a thing of past and now everyone wants to own a laptop with a full aluminum body.

I believe it was the Apple to first introduce us to MacBooks with full aluminum bodies and now almost every brand has their machine with a metal body. 

Even though plastic laptops are durable and lighter compared to aluminum laptops but when it comes to design, overall look, finishing, durability and temperature control we suggest going with the latest aluminum body laptops.

Best Aluminum Laptop

I understand these kinds of notebooks might be a little too expensive and fit in the ultrabooks category, but if you can afford it, then you won't find anything better than these. Usually, they are more sturdy, lightweight, and slim plus have a long battery life.

Also note that if you're a fan of Apple's MacBooks, then you should certainly go with it, but if you're looking for a Windows option, then we might have a couple of great laptops for you.

You May Also Like: 5 Best Laptops For Counter Strike: Global Offensive

Why go with Aluminum Laptop over Plastic?

If I am going, to be honest here, there are countless benefits of owning an aluminum laptop such as glossy finishing, sturdy chassis, lightweight body and better grip.

We also suggest that you go with a device that includes the latest hardware such as 7th generation processor and an SSD for a storage drive. Such laptop will cost you a little extra compared to the regular notebook, but it's surely worth the money.

You will also find some of the best 2-in-1 aluminum laptops on the market that are totally worth considering. Below we have reviewed 5 of the best aluminum laptops so you can decide which one is suitable for you.

Our Top Picks for Best Aluminum Laptops

1. Apple MacBook Pro

Specs:

  • Intel Core I5 Processor
  • 256GB SSD
  • 8GB DDR4 RAM

This 13.3-inch MacBook Pro is a great performer for the price and is topping our list of best aluminum laptops. This laptop has a beautiful display, is durable and we feel it's one of the best looking laptops on the market.

It is among the best-selling laptops on Amazon, and it comes with an Intel Core i5 processor. Its other hardware includes 8 GB of RAM, Intel Iris Plus 620 graphics and 256 GB of fast SSD Storage. A 128GB SSD model is also available.

Although a MacBook is not the best laptop for playing high-end demanding games, it's one of the best choices or just about anything else. The Retina display is amazing and with the USB-C Thunderbolt connectivity, you can easily attach high-speed external drives or large monitors.

These laptops have a fingerprint reader for extra security and convenience. The optional touch bar, which is basically a small touch screen above the keyboard, can be useful depending on the applications you use. If you don't need that feature, you can save a bit of money with a model that doesn't include it.

If you're looking for a beautifully designed aluminum laptop, then you won't go wrong with this one. It's light, portable and it's our favorite MacBook model. If you are looking for something even more portable, you should consider the MacBook Air (also on our list).

2. HP Spectre x360

HP Spectre x360

Specs:

  • Intel Core i7-6500U processor
  • 256GB SSD
  • 8GB DDR3 RAM

If you're looking for the best aluminum laptop, then you certainly can't go wrong with this gem from HP Spectre series. It's highly known for being one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, and it features a natural silver color.

While comparing it with Apple's MacBook, we were confused as it has similar specifications, touchscreen display and 12 hours of battery life. Its 256 GB of SSD will help you with boosting your loading time, and the Intel Core i7-6500U is good enough to take on anything you'd expect.

It also includes an 8 GB of RAM and Intel HD 520 graphics which makes it a perfect choice for power users. Unfortunately, it will cost you a little over than $1000, and we firmly recommend it to users looking for a robust aluminum notebook.

One can easily convert it into a tablet or any other position for your comfort. So if you need something that's portable as well as fast, then you won't be disappointed with the HP Spectre X360.

3. ASUS ZenBook 13

ASUS ZenBook

Specs:

  • Intel Core i5-8250U processor
  • 256GB Flash Memory
  • 8GB DDR3 RAM

Here comes another one of the best aluminum laptops and this one is from ASUS ZenBook series. It is priced very well and comes with 13.3-inch full HD IPS display which is encased in Gorilla Glass 4.

It also includes a fingerprint reader and four speakers from Harman Kardon. Its battery life is outstanding, and it weighs only about 2 pounds. For handling most of the programs, it comes with 8th generation Intel Core i5-8250U processor, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD.

It's as thin as a laptop can get and we will make sure to add it in our upcoming guide of best small laptops. Not just thin, but it's also a lightweight and robust machine that features a spectacular display with 178-degree viewing angle.

The backlit keyboard is yet another reason to go with this, and I loved writing and working on it. So if you're coming from a large 15-inch laptop to this, then you will see a vast improvement while using it. All in all, it's an excellent choice for people who need an ultraportable, thin and aluminum laptop.

4. ASUS ZenBook UX330UA-AH55

Specs:

  • Intel Core i5-8250U
  • 256GB SSD
  • 8GB DDR3 RAM

SSUS has also introduced some of the high-end laptops that come with a full aluminum body. The ASUS ZenBook UX330UA-AH55 is a stylish and portable laptop that comes with powerful hardware and a backlit keyboard.

It also includes in-built speakers from Harman Kardon, and it's an excellent choice for users that need a lightweight yet solid machine. Its 13-inch full HD display boasts a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels, and it runs on Windows 10.

While its 256 GB SSD offers incredibly fast performance and quick booting, it might not be enough for many users that love to save their games and movies. It comes with weak graphics that are no good for running games but can handle most of the applications and HD movies.

Its insides pack Intel Core i5 processor along with 8 GB of DDR3 RAM. It's one of very few aluminum laptops from ASUS and is used for many tasks including watching movies, playing games, writing, browsing, etc. While being ultra-slim, the ASUS ZenBook UX330UA offers superior performance, bright display, and crisp sound quality.

5. HP Pavilion 15

Specs:

  • 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor
  • 16 GB RAM
  • 512 GB SSD

Several of HP’s more popular laptop lines have for some time been plated in metal, taking advantage of its strength and malleability to make their clamshells both more aesthetically appealing and able to withstand more damage than a plastic one might realistically absorb and keep functioning. The Pavillion line, aimed at midrange, well-rounded performance, is one example of this decision; whether it is particularly impressive among other aluminum cases remains to be seen. 

Aside from being made of aluminum, the casing measures 15.6 inches on the diagonal and is seven-tenths of an inch thick when closed, making it of average portability as long as one has a dedicated laptop bag. The whole machine weighs nearly four pounds, making it somewhat heavier than most mobile users would like unless there is very little else to be carried. 

External connectivity is acceptable, with several full-size ports of various kinds; of particular note are the USB-C plug and microSD card readers that allow for greater mobile transfer by making this computer compatible with the majority of phone media these days. It’s got a decent eight-hour battery life as well, so you should be able to go a full day on one or two charges if you use it sparingly. 

The system specifications are definitely a cut above, with Windows 10 Pro  running on Intel Core i7 11th Generation processors and 16 gigabytes of RAM; that much processor memory is frequently enough to run modern video games without a graphics card, at least on low settings. A 512 gigabyte solid state drive has been included for storage, giving this computer a measurable speed boost over machines with a conventional hard disk drive. 

One fault in this machine is the lack of a dedicated graphics card, which would add some much-needed gaming capacity to this unit; most users will want their computer to run at least a few games, and a dedicated GPU is becoming essential as games get more complicated. It would also have been nice to have a few more ports; another USB port per side would not have gone amiss. 

6. Apple MacBook Air Retina

Specs:

  • Intel Core i5 Processor
  • 128GB SSD
  • 8GB DDR4 RAM

The Apple MacBook Air is one of the first aluminum laptops, and it's one of the best portable notebooks of all time. Apple is always on top when it comes to innovation, and they have made many things possible in last few years that weren't even imaginable.

Since its launch, it has been in demand, and it's highly appreciated for its design, performance and battery life. Compared to earlier models, this one features upgraded specifications and comes with a beautiful Retina display, Intel Dual-Core i5 processor, 8 GB DDR4 RAM, and 128 GB flash storage.

Its battery life of up to 12 hours is extremely useful for people on the go as well as students that need to use their computer in classrooms. It has 13-inch of a display with a resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels, which is far better than most of the laptops here.

One of the best features of MacBook Air is its backlit keyboard which is very attractive as well as helpful. Additionally, it packs Intel UHD 617 graphics and runs macOS.

Conclusion

I believe now you fully understand what laptops are good and bad for you. Most of the aluminum laptops are known as ultrabooks and come with high-end specifications. We highly recommend Apple’s MacBook since it not only features a beautiful design, but it’s also able to handle anything you throw at it.

You can also check our other guides such as best travel laptops, and in case you’re confused with what brand you should go with then feel free to check our guide to find best laptop brands.

About the Author Marcus

Marcus has a graduate degree in computer engineering and has many years of experience in cutting-edge technology research and development in both startups and Fortune 500 corporations. In his free time, he enjoys RTS gaming.

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