The Best Thin Laptops in 2023

When the first laptop hit the markets, a whole new world in personal computing was opened up. From today’s perspective, the first mass-market laptops had plenty of drawbacks.

However, at the time they were considered wonders of portability in many ways, revolutionizing how humans were able to use and interact with computers.

In the decades since, the laptop has seen incredible advances in nearly every area, including processing power, screen quality, resolution, and of course, connectivity.

The defining feature of a laptop—it’s ability to be taken on the go and used virtually anywhere—has been honed to the point that many laptops have stopped including things like optical drives and multiple USB ports in favour of being more slender and lightweight.

If you’re on the lookout for a high-quality but thin laptop, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to give you an overview of what to look out for in a thin laptop, as well as a look at some of the best thin laptops on the market today.

So let’s get started!

How we chose the best thin laptop

Choosing a new laptop can be daunting. There are so many choices on the market, and so many constellations of features to consider, that it can be hard to narrow down the options.

However, five features stand out when you’re looking for a thin laptop.

Keep these in mind as you look for the perfect match:

• Size

• Storage

• Display

• Weight

• Battery Life

We determined this final list by gathering feedback from laptop users, tech reviews, and industry experts to find out what the most important considerations are when choosing a thin laptop.

The five best thin laptops

Here’s a list of the five best thin laptops:

The most important consideration when choosing the best thin laptop

If you’re looking for a thin laptop, the most important consideration to keep in mind is.. Well.. just how thin the laptop is!

With the rise of ultrabooks and the era of sheik and sexy well underway, laptops are thinner than they’ve ever been.

Some people might be thinking, what is an ultrabook? The ultrabook v laptop debate has been around for a while now with plenty of people on both sides of the argument.

An ultrabook is basically a super thin, ultraportable laptop designed to look good and be easy to carry around.

Ultrabooks are typically the lightest laptops on the market. There can be some downsides to these laptops however, sometimes they’re more prone to getting damaged or have reduced specs.

Obviously if you’ve decided to read this article, you’re after a thin laptop, so the thickness of each laptop is at the forefront of our choices.

Other considerations when choosing the best thin laptop

Storage

Another consideration is storage. These days, laptop storage comes in two forms: HDD and SSD. Hard disk drives, or HDDs, are affordable and can be quite large, often up to 1 Terabyte in laptops.

However, they have their downsides as well. HDDs involve moving parts, so they can be more easily damaged. They also load more slowly and can be less reliable than SSDs, in the long run.

Solid state drives, or SSDs, have some distinct advantages. They involve no moving parts, so they’re often a better choice for users on the go, especially if you like to bike or jog to work with your laptop and don’t have a laptop bag.

They also offer much improved read-write speeds and are more reliable overall than their HDD counterparts. On the other hand, SSDs are more expensive than HDDs, and you’ll usually find fewer options for large storage capacity in laptops.

Some laptops offer the best of both worlds, placing an HDD and an SSD into a single device. With three options to choose from, which route you go will be up to you, your intended use, and your budget.

Display

The quality of your display is another important consideration. Just because a laptop is lightweight doesn’t mean it can’t be a contender for great screen quality.

Factors to consider include size and resolution, as well as what type of screen would best fit your needs.

These days, there are many screen options to choose from. Do you want a touchscreen, or would a traditional screen better suit your needs? Do you prefer glossy or anti-glare?

Many screens today are built with IPS panels, which offer wider, more comfortable viewing angles as well as cleaner and more accurate colors.

These can be important qualities, especially if you are a gamer or graphics designer. However, they will also add to the overall cost.

We recommend choosing a laptop with a display of at least FHD, or 1920 x 1080 pixels. Beyond that, what kind of screen you choose will depend largely on your intended use case and budget.

Weight

When it comes to thin laptops, weight is an important consideration as well. After all, you probably aren’t in the market for a thin laptop so that you can carry around a clunker.

If you want a sleek, portable device, then chances are you don’t want one that’s overly heavy.

Thinner laptops do tend to be lighter than others in general, but even within this category of devices there can be a lot of variation.

We recommend choosing a laptop that is under five pounds, to maximize your machine’s portability.

Battery Life

One of the primary reasons consumers buy thin laptops is because of they want portability. But slimness and weight aren’t the only features that affect your device’s portability profile.

A final consideration is battery life. If you’re looking for a thin laptop, you’ll want to choose one that has plenty of juice.

If your device has to be plugged in for frequent use, you’ll be tied to the outlet and unable to enjoy the full benefits of a device with great portability.

Keep in mind that any laptop’s battery life will vary depending on how you use it. Streaming a movie or running a word processor will keep the battery running longer than, say, a hard-core gaming session.

A battery that lasts ‘up to’ 4 hours, for example, may be alright if you don’t run a lot of demanding tasks on your laptop, but insufficient for heavier applications.

We recommend choosing a thin laptop with a posted battery life of at least 5 hours, and the more the merrier.

The best laptop for thin laptop

The #1 pick for best thin laptop is the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. This device is a great option for those who want a slim laptop that can double as a tablet.

The Surface Pro comes with plenty of options for both processing power and storage space, so there are a number of choices for your budget.

One thing they all have in common is that they’re sleek and effective, with a beautifully slim 0.33 inch profile.

With a 6th generation Intel M, i5, or i7 CPU and up to 16 GB of RAM, you’re sure to find a Surface Pro configuration that meets your needs. SSD storage comes in four options from 128 GB to a full TB, enough for almost all users.

The low-glare 12.3” display has brilliant resolution at 2736 x 1824. Depending on your configuration, this laptop weighs between 1.69 and 1.73 pounds, making it the lightest on our list even at its heaviest. The battery life is no laughing matter either, lasting up to nine hours.

You will need to purchase a keyboard for this ultrathin laptop, but the Surface Pro 4 Type Cover offers comfort and convenience while adding just .19 inches to the Surface Pro’s already uber-slender thickness. It’s also just 0.68 pounds, keeping the total weight under 2.5.

The four other thin laptops we tested

HP Spectre 13

The HP Spectre is one of the thinnest laptops ever. At just 0.4 inches thick, the spectre is an ultraportable laptop that looks and feels sleek.

Under the hood, an Intel i7-6500U 2.5GHz processor and 8GB of RAM ensure that your laptop can adequately handle anything you throw at it, even some games.

A modest 512GB SSD lends both adequate storage space and speedy boot times.

The Spectre comes with a 13.3” Full HD Display with an IPS panel for impressive viewing angles. The screen is also coated in Corning Gorilla Glass to help limit the amount of scratches.

Weighing in at 2.5 pounds means the laptop is easily transportable and you’ll get approximately 8 hours of battery life without needing a charger.
This laptop lacks a CD/DVD drive but has plenty of ports for any external drives or peripherals. The backlit keyboard is a pleasure to type on and is incredibly useful if you often work at night.

Those looking for an aesthetically pleasing laptop won’t be disappointed with this sleek machine.

Apple MacBook Pro 15.4”

Apple may have made some controversial changes with the new MacBook Pro, but however you feel about Apple’s latest moves, it can’t be denied that the MacBook is an impressive example of a thin laptop.

The MacBook Pro is a mere 0.61 inches slim, beautifully sleek, and hits the mark on each of our five criteria. From processing power to battery life, this laptop won’t disappoint.

With an Intel i7 CPU and 16 GB of RAM, this laptop has got you covered. The 512 GB SSD storage offers excellent read-write speeds and more than enough space to keep you running.

The Retina display on this MacBook Pro is a stunning 15.4 inches, with 2880 x 1800 resolution and improved color brilliance.

At just over four pounds and with a battery life around eight hours, this laptop is an especially good choice for those who want a thin, portable laptop with decent screen size.

Razer Blade 14″

The Razer Blade RZ09-01952E73-R3U1 is a powerful laptop suited to the most demanding users. At 0.7 inches slim, it’s quite sleek for a thin gaming laptop.

The Razer Blade offers a 6th generation i7 CPU with 16 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of SSD storage, as well as a combined SSD/HDD option.

The Full HD 14” IPS display offers incredible clarity and color accuracy, as well as wider viewing angles for a fantastic viewing experience, whether you’re watching movies, gaming, or working on graphic design projects.

Weighing just 4.25 pounds and offering a battery life of around six hours, this device is nicely portable and won’t let you down when you’re on the go.

Asus ZenBook UX330UA-AH54

At just 0.5 inches thin, the ASUS ZenBook UX330UA-AH54 is another excellent choice. This laptop comes complete with an i5 processor and 8 GB RAM. While this is less processing power than other laptops on our list, it’s more than enough for many users.

If you have low to average processing needs, this device will keep you up to speed at a cheaper price than many i7 laptops.

The ZenBook also has a 256 GB SSD. This will give you efficient, fast storage, although you’ll have to upgrade to a model with more space or use an alternative method if you have heavy storage needs.

This laptop offers a smaller display at 13.3 inches, adding to its overall portability. With FHD resolution and wider viewing angles, you’ll experience excellent picture quality.

The ZenBook is just four pounds light. With battery life over five hours, you’ll get plenty of use in between charges.

Overall, the ZenBook is an excellent choice for those who want to balance high-quality features and budget. It’s especially well priced for an i5 Ultrabook.

The bottom line

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 flew into first place as our #1 pick for best thin laptop, thanks to its incredible portability profile, versatility, and options for processing power.

It comes with a hearty stamp of approval from users and tech experts alike, so don’t forget to give this laptop a look during your search.

Not to be outdone, the HP Spectre, MacBook Pro, Razer Blade, and Asus ZenBook also beat out many laptops in our comparison to place on our top five list.

Any one of these devices would make an excellent choice, and each has something to offer those in the market for a thin laptop.

As you make your decision, keep in mind all of the great features and portability that every one of our top 5 comes with.