Our comparison table only shows our top 5 picks. You can find the other recommendations within this article.
Welcome to our guide of best mini laptops. We’ll review 10 of the best options according to our staff experts. The terms laptop or notebook was coined to describe a versatile and very portable PC which could be utilized on a lap.
Mini laptop is a general name given to small, light-weighted and inexpensive or cheap laptops introduced in the year 2007. They introduced it in the form of tablet computers, Netbooks and Chromebooks.
Mini laptops came with an enhancement of low weight and low cost notebooks precluded certain elements (e.g., the optical drive), highlighted littler screens and consoles, and offered decreased figuring power when compared with a full-sized laptop.
Through the span of their development, notebooks have run in size from beneath 5" screen to 12". A normal weight is 1 kg (2.2 pounds).
Frequently fundamentally more affordable than other laptops, by mid-2009, notebooks started to be offered by some remote information bearers to their clients "for free of charge," with an expanded administration contract purchase.
In a short span of time since their appearance, mini laptops grew in their features but become smaller, lighter and subnotebooks.
The increasing popularity of mini laptops or tablets is due to its increasing computing potential and lower production costs. All the mini laptops or notebooks today support Wi-Fi wireless networking and may be used on mobile networks with data capabilities.
See Also: 5 Best Aluminum Laptops
Our Top Picks for Best Mini Laptops
1. Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Specs:
The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is the fourth version of 2-in-1 mini laptop. It is separable, designed, created, showcased, and produced by Microsoft.
The Surface Pro 4 was launched on October 6, 2015, along with the Surface Book. Both gadgets were accessible for pre-order the next day and accessible for clients undertaking on October 26, 2015.
Surface Pro 4 came with advancement over its predecessor, including Sky Lake processors, more RAM and SSD along with a 12.3-inch display.
The Surface Pro 4 has a better looking display of 12 inches with resolution of 2736 by 1824 pixels and it is highly known for its multi-touch feature. The body is 0.03 inches leaner and 0.03 pounds less, and this is one of the most advantageous features for college going students.
It is thinner than all its previous models and possibly as thin as it could get without disposing the USB port, and we would have been quite disillusioned if the firm had picked thickness over the USB.
Just 8.4mm is truly impressive for a mini laptop with sort of high-end specifications Best thing about it is its weight which is probably because of its fanless design. Overall, it’s extremely light, compact and thin. We believe these reasons are more than enough to list it as the best mini laptops.
Check Also: 5 Best Laptops For Counter Strike: Global Offensive
2. Samsung Chromebook 3
Specs:
Samsung Chromebook 3 was first presented at a San Francisco occasion along with the Samsung Chromebook XE303. It is affordable, thinner and lighter than its previous models. It is marketed as the best mini laptop because of its size, OS and reasonable price.
At first, they mostly targeted students as well as first time PC users. Soon it was a hit among the budget users as it features specifications like Intel Celeron N3060 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 16 GB SSD.
There are number of positive reviews from certified buyers due to its lower price. Chromebook is able to do lots of things including using MS office, browsing, watching movies, etc. We mostly recommend this option to school going kids and as a secondary computer.
Small companies can also utilize such machines and as they need more quantity, it can be pretty affordable as well. It’s a perfect choice for users who mostly browse around the web and don’t want to download additional applications.
It comes with two USB ports which you can utilize for your mouse, pen drive, etc. Almost all the best mini laptops listed in this guide come with a user manual for people who are new to using laptops.
We have listed it in our guide of best laptops for kids due to its spill resistant keyboard which could be very useful with kids.
CNET's review of the Samsung Chromebook 3 is very detailed in case you’d like to learn more about it. This mini laptop is usually recommended to students, elders and everyone else who wants a portable notebook.
It can handle all the Google’s web applications such as Google Drive, Docs, Gmail, etc. Its battery life is great and it switches on within seconds.
Related Reading: See our detailed review of the Samsung Chromebook 3 here
3. ASUS Flip 2-in-1 C100PA
Specs:
The ASUS Flip mini laptop is known for its 360-degree flipping design and it is available in two colors. It’s a very portable device. It's a tablet. It's anything you wish.
Furthermore, Flip C100 is not just budget friendly but also incredibly handy and solid, intended to withstand the harshness of everyday life. With its feather light all-aluminum body and 360-degree pivot, it works the way you need, wherever you need.
Its touch screen works pretty smoothly and it’s very effective while playing touch games.
It receives ASUS IPS multi-touch display to enhance screen clarity, shine, and touch responsiveness. According to the customer’s feedbacks of C100PA, it provides battery life of more than 8 hours while surfing the web or watching the videos on Netflix or Hulu.
The only cons of this laptop are the cooling system and trackpad which could be sorted or fixed by buying a cooling pad and adjusting the fan frequency. Overall, this is among the best lightweight laptops currently available. We highly recommend it as an great option in this price range.
4. Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series
Specs:
The Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series 2-in-1 is a notebook or we can say a mini laptop with a design that turns 360-degree to change over from a notebook, to tablet with the keyboard, to a tablet. It can be marked as two basic gadgets in a single device.
With the implementation of a mini laptop and flexibility of a tablet, this 2-in-1 PC includes AMD Dual-Core A6-9220e processor, Windows 10 and 11-inch touch screen. It has two speakers with Waves Maxx Audio Pro and a combo of headphone/microphone jack.
You can connect it with all your gadgets with the help of USB ports and you can also connect it to a TV using the HDMI port. A USB 3.0 port and SD media card reader save your time while transferring huge files from your external hard drive or phone.
You can tap, scroll and zoom your way around the screen and its touch display is extremely comfortable. The most recent version of Windows 10 gives you a chance to customize your device with new applications and components.
5. Acer Aspire Switch 7
Specs:
Aspire Switch 7 is a stunning device which brings details to your life. It provides flexibility to overcome daily wear and tear. It features a full HD IPS display that is extremely bright and sharp from every angle.
The Switch include an active stylus that will allow you to draw or write on the display. It's great for taking notes without the noise of typing on a keyboard.
The Aspire Switch 7 is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor which provides plenty of computing power to allow you to multi-task whenever you want. You can detach and utilize the display as a tablet. It can be used as a portable laptop, tablet and a tablet with keyboard.
It is one of the slimmest 2-in-1 portable mini laptops with a mere 8.9 mm thin tablet mode.It tips the scale at only 3.5 lbs, so you can easily carry it around with you throughout the day.
The 8 hour battery life is a pleasant surprise given the powerful components used in the Switch's design. We highly recommend this laptop for people who need a flexible and portable computing solution for traveling, studying or working away from the office.
Also Check: 10 Best Thin Laptops
6. Lenovo ChromeBook C330
Specs:
The sleek and stylish 11-inch Lenovo ChromeBook C330 is a small and very portable laptop. Its minimized frame makes it a perfect travel partner whether you're headed toward any meeting or any other nation.
At just 2.5 Pounds, you can easily put it in your backpack or purse; you won’t even feel it’s there. Moreover, you can use it as a tablet while traveling and without wasting any time you can check your emails, play games, browse the web, etc.
At times, you can also use the on-screen keyboard which is very useful in such gadgets.
The keyboard is similar to what Lenovo offers on significantly bigger laptops. What's more, it even features a wide touchpad so you can scroll, point, and snap easily. However, the keyboard is not backlit.
It will provide you with 10 hours of battery life and you can easily use it between flights, on roads, or exactly at the bistro. With 802.11 Wi-Fi accessibility and Bluetooth 4.0, you can be online wherever you go.
Connect to a mouse, a flash drive, or anything else you’d like. Two USB ports and an integrated card reader lets you connect with your external gadgets.
Also, HDMI port will enable you to connect it with larger displays, for example, a screen, TV, or a projector. What's more, the stereo speakers deliver a fresh, clear and immersive sound experience that is second to none.
Note that this is a ChromeBook and not a Windows-based laptop. However, now that you can run Microsoft Office on a ChromeBook, you may be interested in the extra security features offered by ChromeOS.
7. ASUS T100
Specs:
The ASUS T100 comes with a 10-inch separable tablet making it among the best 2-in-1 laptops. You can enjoy all your content and documents even while using just the tablet. It comes with 8 hours of battery life and you can easily spend your day without looking for a power socket.
It’s among the portable laptops and is available for a very reasonable price. When you need to use only the tablet, you can easily separate it from its keyboard.
It is mostly suitable to school and college going students as it can easily fit in your backpack and you won’t even know it’s there. It comes with a one full year of Microsoft Office 365 software and you could easily use apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
It isn't only a tablet with a keyboard dock. It's a complete portable workstation, including an excellent touch screen. It was the right decision by ASUS to make it available with a suitable dock unlike Microsoft.
The keyboard along with touchpad works pretty smoothly and we also recommend it to travel bloggers.
8. Lenovo Idea Pad 210s
Specs:
The Lenovo Idea Pad 210s offers extra-ordinary features for an affordable price. It might be a little too old device that packs great features that include long battery life and Intel Atom processor.
It is packed with Windows 10 that boots and resumes your device just within few seconds. You don’t have to wait anymore for your laptop to start, load and to run explorer.
It’s done almost instantly. Its processor is good enough for tasks like browsing, editing pictures and multi-tasking.
Weighing just about 2.2 lbs. it is among the lightest notebooks available on the market. The 11-inch HD display with 1366 by 768 pixels, Advanced Dolby Speakers, WiFi and Bluetooth features make sure that you enjoy your movies and music effortlessly.
It features a long battery life that can last for around 8 hours while browsing. Its other specs include 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of eMMC flash drive.
You can easily work on spreadsheets even while traveling and it’s a decent option for working professionals. It packs HDMI and USB 2.0 ports for easy connection with your other gadgets.
9. ASUS Vivobook
Specs:
The ASUS VivoBook is pretty similar to T100TA when it comes to looks and design but if we talk about the performance, it has been improved a lot thanks to its Intel Celeron processor.
When it comes to measurements, it is only 0.7 inch thin and weighs only 2.3 pounds. It can be really easy to carry it around with yourself wherever you go as it also has an amazing battery life of 12 hours. The reason behind such a long lasting battery life is certainly the latest Intel’s processor which requires less power. Also thanks to the fast charging technology, it can be fully charged in less than 2 hours.
It has enough RAM and processing power to make your multi-tasking experience a breeze. It is capable of handling all kinds of applications including MS Office, Tally, Skype, etc. making it a perfect for professionals.
Its performance is something we really appreciate and thanks to the inbuilt Intel HD graphics, one can even play some casual games on it.
10. Lenovo idea pad Miix 510
Specs:
The Lenovo idea pad Miix 510 is a 12.2-inch 2-in-1 laptop that comes with a detachable keyboard so that you can easily convert it into a tablet. It also includes a stylus for writing or drawing using the touchscreen.
Its battery life can easily last for up to 8 hours while playing videos and even more while browsing. It’s very easy to carry around just about anywhere. The best features of this mini laptop are certainly its shining body and light weight.
One can easily hold it even single handedly as it weighs less than 3 pounds. It’s highly known for its portability and smooth performance. It fits easily into a backpack or even a suitcase and you won’t even feel it is there.
The separable keyboard makes it really easy to transform it into a tablet and it’s your choice if you want to use it as a tablet or a laptop. You can easily work on it whenever you have to and play games in your free time.
The Intel Core i5 processor included is able to handle your work even while multi-tasking. The 12-inch display with 1920 by 1200 pixels suits perfectly and one will certainly enjoy their favorite movies and TV series’ on it.
Furthermore, the multi-touch technology is extremely helpful giving you full control over your computer. It also comes with two webcams on both sides with 2 MP front one and 5 MP on the rear.
Conclusion
So, it can be concluded that overall reviews for the mini laptops or notebooks are positive. The above discussed mini laptops are the latest and best ones. People nowadays are preferably using these mini laptops instead of those traditional laptops.
The reason for its popularity is its light weight and is more convenient for the students. This is the key reason as there is an enormous waterfall of tablets and notebooks. Moreover, these mini laptops are smaller as well as cheaper than most of the laptops.