A spacious laptop screen is a nice feature to have, but it’s not convenient when you’re on-the-go or tight on space. Say hello to the mini laptop. Unlike a standard laptop, a mini laptop features a smaller screen size that’s typically around 11 to 12 inches. These petite devices are an excellent choice for frequent travelers, commuters and students thanks to their lightweight, compact design that makes them both highly portable and versatile. Some mini laptops are so slim that they’re easy to squeeze into the smallest of backpacks, while others double up as a tablet thanks to a detachable keyboard.
1
Best Overall Mini Laptop
Microsoft Surface Go 3
Pros
- Compact, lightweight design
- 2-in-1 tablet and laptop
- Detachable keyboard
- Compatible with stylus pen
Cons
- Could benefit from 2 USB-C ports
This Microsoft Laptop that runs on Windows 11 is a great choice for professionals and students in need of a zippy, compact device for team meetings, jotting down notes and tackling everyday tasks. What we love most about it is that it’s a tablet and laptop in one, so you can switch between using the 10.5-inch touchscreen along with the compatible stylus pen, or you can set it up as a traditional laptop when you want to type quickly via the detachable keyboard.
Our Lab engineers have tested similar Surface Go models and love their portability. At 1.2 pounds, this mini laptop is super lightweight yet comes with a high resolution, responsive screen as well as 1080p cameras for sharp video quality. With 128GB of storage you should have plenty of space to save documents and photos on your laptop, and 8GB of RAM is adequate for casual use like internet browsing and running a few applications (though you could benefit from more if you plan on editing photos or juggling multiple heavy files).
| Dimensions | 9.65” x 6.9” x 0.33” |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 10.5” |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs. |
| Battery life | Up to 11 hours |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1280 pixels |
| Operating system | Windows 11 |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Connectivity | USB-C, headphone jack, Surface connect port (charger), MicroSDXC card reader |
2
Best Value Mini Laptop
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
Pros
- Affordable
- 360° versatile screen
Cons
- Not as powerful as other mini laptops
While our pros haven’t tested this exact model, we’ve been hands-on with multiple Chromebooks and think they’re a great choice for a mini laptop. Our pros love that this Chromebook features a unique 360° hinge so you can rotate the display to the angle that suits you best. Whether you want to use it as a laptop or tablet, or you prefer to prop up the screen when streaming shows, it does it all and does so with a long battery life of up to 15 hours, according to Acer.
The 11.6-inch screen is an ideal size for a smaller laptop, and those who are looking for a portable pick will be pleased that the dimensions are actually smaller than a standard A4 piece of paper. Just keep in mind that though this 2-in-1 laptop is affordable, you are sacrificing some power and storage space in comparison to more premium mini laptops.
| Dimensions | 11.65 x 8.11 x 0.79” |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 11.6” |
| Weight | 2.3 lbs. |
| Battery life | Up to 15 hours |
| Resolution | 1366 x 768 pixels |
| Operating system | Chrome OS |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Connectivity | 2 x USB 3.1 Type-C ports, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, and a microSD slot |
3
Best Apple Mini Laptop
Apple MacBook Air 13” (M2 Chip)
Pros
- Fast performance
- Crisp screen resolution
- Sleek design
Cons
- Larger than most mini laptops
Apple fans looking for a mini laptop that’s easy to use should look no further than this super sleek MacBook Air that’s available in four metallic shades. Our pros recommend it for anyone that wants quick performance, whether you’re online shopping, researching for an assignment or editing videos. Though this Air isn’t quite as powerful as some of the other MacBooks our engineers tested, it features the M2 chip that guarantees faster performance — 1.4 times faster than the M1 chip, according to Apple.
Our pros were impressed by the laptop’s long battery life and its crisp Liquid Retina display. Plus, it comes with extras like touch ID, a 1080p HD camera for FaceTime chats and more. You can also opt for the 13.3-inch 2020 MacBook Air (M1 Chip) if you don’t mind sacrificing some performance for a few extra bucks.
| Dimensions | 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6” |
| Weight | 2.7 pounds |
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 pixels |
| Operating system | MacOS 12 Monterey |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB |
| RAM | 8GB, 16 GB or 24GB |
| Connectivity | 2 x Thunderbolt or USB 4 ports, MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
4
Best 2-in-1 Mini Laptop
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Pros
- Extremely lightweight and portable
- Detachable keyboard
- Compatible with stylus pen
Cons
- Only one USB-C port
Can’t decide between a mini laptop or a tablet? With this Lenovo mini laptop, you don’t have to thanks to its 2-in-1 design that lets you switch freely between using it as either a laptop or a tablet. Our pros have reviewed several Chromebooks and appreciate their highly portable design and this one is no exception. Its 10.1-inch screen is smaller than most picks on this list so it may not be ideal for those that need a few extra inches of display, but that’s what helps it maintain such a light weight at just under a pound!
Our pros like that the keyboard is detachable so you can leave it behind on car road trips when you’re streaming shows, and the touchscreen is compatible with a pen for drawing sketches and scribbling. Though this Chromebook comes with 64GB of storage for saving data, you’ll also get a free membership to Google One with 100GB of extra storage for one year. We do wish, however, that it featured more than one USB-C port for better connectivity options.
| Dimensions | 9.44″ x 6.29″ x 0.29″ |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 10.1” |
| Weight | 0.99 lbs. |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Operating system | Chrome OS |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Connectivity | 1 x USB-C |
5
Best Portable Mini Laptop
HP Stream 11
Pros
- Portable design
- Tons of connectivity options
Cons
- Could be more powerful
Featuring a full-sized keyboard and a super slim design, we recommend this mini laptop if you’re looking for one that’s portable enough to bring to the office and back. We’ve tested a similar laptop from HP, and like the 11.6-inch screen size that should provide ample room for being productive. Plus, over 13 hours of battery life, according to HP, should suffice for a full day of work. While this model could feature additional RAM for more speed and power, we like that it offers tons of connectivity options, including HDMI and at least three USB ports.
| Dimensions | 11.08 x 7.59 x 0.66 inches |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 11.6” |
| Weight | 2.37 lbs. |
| Battery life | Up to 13 hours and 15 minutes |
| Resolution | 1366 x 768 pixels |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Connectivity | 1 x HDMI, 2 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C, audio jack, microSD media card reader |
6
Best Mini Laptop for Students
ASUS Vivobook L210
Pros
- Laptop can lay completely flat
- Integrated touch pad and number pad
- Up to 128GB of storage
Cons
- Design could be more appealing
Boost your productivity with the 11.6-inch Asus Vivobook. Our product analysts tested a similar (but larger) Vivobook and recommend this slender, mini laptop for students thanks to a few unique features like a 180° hinge so the laptop can lay completely flat when it’s time to create a presentation or collaborate with other peers. Calculations are also made easy thanks to an integrated number pad that can be activated with a quick tap.
For those that need extra space for storage of Word docs, Excel files and more, you can opt for 128GB of memory. Your Vivobook should survive through several lectures and study sessions thanks to up to 12 hours of battery life.
| Dimensions | 0.98″ x 7.52″ x 0.67″ |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 11.6” |
| Weight | 2.31 lbs. |
| Battery life | Up to 12 hours |
| Resolution | 1366 x 768 pixels |
| Operating system | Windows 10 S |
| Storage | 64 GB or 128 GB |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Connectivity | 2x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1 x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x DC-in, MicroSD card reader (select models) |
