One of the most popular laptop sizes on the market now is the 13-inch model. Although most 13-inch computers are small and can easily fit into most purses, they aren’t too small to feel uncomfortable. As gaming laptops and mobile workstations—devices meant for more demanding workloads—tend to be 14 inches or larger so that they can fit in a more robust cooling system, they are primarily thin and light laptops designed for ordinary productivity and media consumption. Given the vast 13-inch laptop market, selecting the best laptop for your requirements and price range can be challenging. To make the process easier, we’ve compiled a list of our top selections. Although the list is currently modest, it will expand as we review additional laptops.
2013 Apple MacBook Air
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (2022), the replacement for the well-liked M1 MacBook Air from 2020, is the best 13-inch laptop we’ve evaluated so far. You can tell right away that this is a high-quality item because of how thin and little it is; this makes it convenient to carry everywhere. The bezels on this new model are slimmer, it has a better 1080p webcam, and it has a more potent M2 SoC. The touchpad is enormous and quick, the keyboard is roomy and tactile, and the display is bright enough to be used outside. Just having two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports, a headphone jack, and a MagSafe charging port is the primary drawback. It’s a little bit stingy while being superior to its predecessor.
You can still get the Apple MacBook Air 13 if the price of the M2 MacBook Air is a little off-putting to you (M1, 2020). It is less expensive and frequently on sale. Even if it doesn’t have a brand-new, sparkling design, this laptop is nonetheless one of the most streamlined ones available today. Its battery lasts just over 13 hours of light productivity, and its M1 SoC is more than capable of handling common productivity activities. Even though the display doesn’t get as brilliant, sight isn’t a problem until you’re in full sunshine.
Choose the Dell XPS 13 (2021) if you use Windows instead. Also, it is a high-end ultraportable that offers a wonderful user experience. It may be configured with an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 from the 11th generation, as well as up to 32GB of memory and 2TB of storage. The Core i3 only has two physical cores, which isn’t much for Windows in 2022, therefore it’s advisable to acquire a Core i5, unless your workload is quite light. It only has two USB-C ports, just like the MacBook Air 13, although they are Thunderbolt 4 compatible.
Chromebook Spin 713 from Acer
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (2020) is a fantastic mid-range option if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a high-end gadget. Because it has a 360-degree hinge and is a 2-in-1 convertible, you can turn the screen around and use it as a tablet. It boasts a long battery life, a thin and light design, and a solid construction. Because you don’t have to scroll as much when reading a paper or webpage, its 3:2 QHD display is fantastic for productivity. It gets bright enough to fight glare and offers a little more vertical space than a typical 16:9 screen.
Since this laptop is an older model from 2020 and supplies are running low, it’s possible that you won’t be able to receive the exact configuration you want. The Core i5 model on Amazon appears to be the sole option right now among the main online marketplaces and shops. The price is reasonable for a Chromebook, but if you have that much money to invest, you might want to choose for the more recent Acer Chromebook Spin 714. The Intel 12th Gen. CPUs are significantly faster than the Intel 10th Gen. CPUs, despite the fact that we haven’t tested this latest model. The addition of a stylus for pen input, Wi-Fi 6E, Thunderbolt 4, and a more streamlined design with reduced bezels are other upgrades.
Chromebook Flex 5 from Lenovo
The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is our top choice for around $100. (2020). It’s a 13-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook, just like our mid-range pick. It seems solidly constructed despite being made completely of plastic, and its thin and light design makes it highly portable. The keyboard is comfortable to type on and the touchpad is a reasonable size, albeit not one that is very accurate. The display is bright enough to be used in most indoor environments. Both the Intel Celeron and 10th Gen. Core i3 CPU options are fast enough to give Chrome OS users a fluid desktop experience. Because there is only 4GB of RAM available, you must be careful how many apps are running at once.
The battery life is just over seven hours, so you will eventually need to plug it in for a rapid charge. Unfortunately, there is no biometric for quick logins and it is not capable of exporting to an external monitor.
Conclusion
We have listed the top 13-inch laptops we believe are currently available in the suggestions above. We take into account the cost (a less expensive laptop wins over a more expensive one if the price difference isn’t significant), comments from visitors, and availability (no laptops that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
Here is a list of all of our 13-inch laptop reviews, arranged by price from low to high, in case you would rather make your own choice. The table only displays the results of the model we tested; for details on other variations, it is best to read the complete evaluation. Keep in mind that the majority of laptops come in a variety of configurations.
