DEAL EXPIRED
The Best 13-Inch Laptops for every need and budget, based on the hundreds of laptops we’ve researched.
Best Overall: Dell XPS 13 (9370)
+What We Like
- Several customizable models
- Great Infinity Edge display
- 4K touch screen
-We Don’t Like
- Battery life could be better
If you’re looking for one of the most tried-and-true laptops for business and personal use, then Dell’s XPS 13 line is worth looking into. You also get options from Full HD panel to 4K resolution, battery life of up to 21 hours, plus touchscreen configurations are available. Whatever your needs, the XPS 13 should be able to fit them.
+What We Like
- Strong performance
- Excellent SSD options
- Great high-res display
-What We Don’t Like
- Stingy port selection
The MacBook Pro is for professionals and power users and the MacBook Air for everybody else. If you’re in that first category, the 13-inch MacBook Pro won’t disappoint you.
You get an 8th-generation 2.4 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, which can burst up to impressive speeds of 4.1GHz, and if you need more than that, you can get it with a custom upgrade to a Core i7 2.8 GHz that will top out at 4.7GHz. It also has 8GB of RAM, upgradeable to 16GB, and a choice of SSDs from 256GB and 512GB right up to 1TB and 2TB variations. For most folks, however, the base models will be more than enough, especially with the four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports in mind.
+ What We Like
- Reasonably priced
- Highly portable
- Beautiful Retina display
– What We Don’t Like
- Slightly slower CPU than the Pro
The MacBook Pro for those with high-end needs, and the MacBook Air for everybody else. While there’s no doubt that Apple’s MacBook Pro has beefier specs, the MacBook Air wins on price and especially on portability, and it’s definitely no slouch in performance. So unless you know why you need a MacBook Pro, it’s safe to say that you’ll be fine with a MacBook Air.
+What We Like
- Perfect 2-in-1 flexibility
- Beautiful touchscreen display
- 10 gen Intel processor
-What We Don’t Like
- Slightly lower resolution
If you want more versatility from your 13-inch laptop, you should consider a 2-in-1. Excelling both as a laptop and tablet, the latest Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) has been fitted with the most recent Intel Core processor as well as top-of-the-line memory and storage.
What We Like
- Handy S-Pen
- Full 360-degree rotation
- 512GB SSD
What We Don’t Like
- Slightly older processor
The popularity of tablets has led to the emergence of 2-in-1 devices, which work equally well as both laptops and tablets. There are quite a few 2-in-1 laptop-tablets you can consider, but we recommend Samsung’s Notebook 9 Pen.
+What We Like
- Gorgeous design
- Highly portable
- Solid power
-What We Don’t Like
- Underwhelming GPU
The Razer Blade Stealth features a small footprint that makes it highly portable while still having decent power. The design includes a 13.3-inch display that can either come in Full HD or a 4K touch panel. All of the versions offer 100 percent coverage of the sRGB color space, making them solid options for web design. In practical terms, the Razer Blade Stealth is capable enough to carry to work or school with up to 13 hours of battery life, and its lower power internals will help it last throughout the day.
+What We Like
- Simple, elegant design
- Touch-enabled panel
- Solid connectivity options
-What We Don’t Like
- Divisive Chrome operating system
It may not be as popular as traditional operating systems like Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s macOS, but Google’s Chrome OS is still a great option for anyone who wants a no-frills computing experience. The browser-based operating system works great even with low-specced notebook PCs (also called ‘Chromebooks’), such as the Acer Chromebook R13. The Chromebook R13’s hinge can rotate a full 360 degrees, allowing you to use the laptop as a tablet as well. You also get all the usual features of the Chrome OS, including quick access to all of Google’s services, such as Gmail and YouTube, and the ability to run selected Android apps.
+What We Like
- Visually striking
- Great FHD touch display
- Solid performance specs
-What We Don’t Like
- Older, 8th gen processor
Laptops nowadays come with some pretty great design elements, including everything from premium construction materials to unique color options. With competition getting stiffer by the day, it’s difficult to come up with a product that visually stands out from the rest. And yet, HP’s Spectre Folio manages to do just that. The laptop’s 13.3-inch touch-enabled display has a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Our recommended configuration of the Spectre Folio includes an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. For external input/output, you get a combo 3.5mm audio port, a USB 3.1 Type-C port, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports.
+What We Like
- Visually striking
- Great FHD touch display
- Solid performance specs
-What We Don’t Like
- Older, 8th gen processor
Laptops nowadays come with some pretty great design elements, including everything from premium construction materials to unique color options. With competition getting stiffer by the day, it’s difficult to come up with a product that visually stands out from the rest. And yet, HP’s Spectre Folio manages to do just that.
