(The MacBook can still be found in refurbished and used form.) Many shoppers don't realize that the 2.8-pound MacBook Air is not Apple's traditionally lightest laptop-that's the now-discontinued 2.03-pound MacBook, though you may prefer the former's 13.3-inch to the latter's 12-inch display.
Most weight-savers, as you'd expect, are smaller than that, though it's up to you how small is too small. The flagship of the lightweight Gram line offers 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 2,560-by-1,600-pixel native screen resolution. If you're cool with an 11.6-inch display, you've got plenty of low-cost ultralights to choose from if you want a jumbo 17-inch screen, your only choice, to our knowledge, is the LG Gram 17, a Core i7 system carved from 2.95 pounds of nano carbon and magnesium. And for a laptop, that correlates with screen size.
How to Choose a Screen Size in a Light LaptopĪt the risk of insulting your intelligence, the biggest factor in laptop weight is the physical size of the chassis. Other choices will be, well, in your face, starting with the obvious one: the display panel. Similarly, virtually all will use solid-state drives rather than cheaper but heavier hard drives for storage, though the upgradability of these drives in the lightest laptops will vary from no-can-do (the storage is soldered down) to potentially upgradable (on a PCI Express M.2 SSD module, if you can crack the case to access it). Some aren't particularly obvious, such as a system's expandability-the lightest machines may have their memory, for instance, mounted directly on the motherboard, rather than in the upgradable SO-DIMM sockets of bulkier models. A touch screen is convenient, but its glass overlay adds a few grams.įor you, shopping for a svelte laptop is all about choices.
Exotic chassis materials like carbon fiber and magnesium alloys weigh less than ordinary notebooks' plastic and aluminum, but they also increase cost.
A smaller battery pack will save weight, but it won't last as long-a risky move in a market where many buyers expect to get through a full workday plus a Netflix movie in the evening. Neither of those figures counts the computer's AC adapter, an often-overlooked bit of baggage that can be anything from a compact shirt-pocket gadget to an ungainly brick.įor manufacturers, crafting an ultralight laptop is all about compromise. What defines a lightweight laptop? Most would agree that the upper limit is three pounds, possibly stretching to four for a system with a big 15.6-inch screen (although the 15.6-inch featherweight champion, the Acer Swift 5, is a remarkable 2.2 pounds). What Weight Should I Look for in a Light Laptop? That's why laptop vendors strive to trim every ounce from their designs, and why we at PCMag pay so much attention to the results-starting with this guide to the lightest laptops you can buy. You probably delegate worries about your plane's range and fuel capacity to the airline, but odds are you hate to carry any excess ballast in your carry-on. (He used a wicker chair.) He even designed special lightweight boots. Louis for his transatlantic flight in 1927, the pilot jettisoned everything-from his parachute and radio to the traditional leather seat. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( See how we test everything we review (Opens in a new window).)Ĭharles Lindbergh knew a thing or two about traveling light.
How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.
How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.