6 Best Mini Laptops of 2024, According to Tech Experts

When the test engineers and product analysts at the Good Housekeeping Institute evaluate laptops and mini laptops, we consider everything from their ease of use to performance, appearance and ergonomics. Over the past six months, our pros have tested around 15 various laptops, and our picks include a combination of top-performing brands, road tests and rave consumer reviews.

To determine how easy a mini laptop is to use, we consider key factors such as the device’s weight, screen size, screen angle range, keyboard or touchpad areas (if applicable), ease of charging, the number of ports and more. To assess performance, our experts run a variety of speed tests including file transfer speeds as well as how long the device takes to boot up or shut down. We also consider the laptops’ screen resolution and display, battery life and other vital specs such as hard drive size, memory, RAM and sound quality.

✔️ Size: A mini laptop should be smaller and more compact than an average laptop, with a screen size under 13 inches. Thanks to a diminished design, mini laptops are lightweight and oftentimes slim so they’re easily transportable.

✔️ Battery life: Some mini laptops have 10 hours of battery life, while others reach up to 18. Decide how much battery power you think you’ll need before making a purchase, and whether a charger will be easily accessible.

✔️ Operating system: While you cannot go wrong with any OS, those already in the Apple ecosystem may prefer sticking with Apple’s OS for easy integration across apps like FaceTime, Photos and more. Windows is a great choice for students and professionals who rely on the Microsoft Office suite, while Chrome OS is ideal for everyday use like browsing the web, streaming, accessing Google Docs and the like.

✔️ Storage space: The amount of storage in your mini laptop determines how many files, photos, videos and other data it can store. Our pros recommend choosing a mini laptop with at least 64 GB, if possible. If the laptop you choose doesn’t offer as much memory as you’d like, consider using it alongside an external SSD in which you can store extra files.

✔️ RAM: RAM is temporary storage that enables your mini laptop to have both power and speed. It helps prevent your computer from freezing up or slowing down. The more RAM, the easier it will be to open up multiple tabs at once and switch among applications, browsers and documents.

✔️ Connectivity: Double-check how many ports are available on your mini laptop as most of the time there won’t be quite as many options as you’d get with a standard laptop. Some users may be satisfied with one or two USB-C ports for plugging in a cellphone or a hard drive, but our experts always recommend opting for a device with several connectivity options so you’re not limited.

✔️ Versatility: Some mini laptops look more like tablets than laptops (or vice versa) and may feature detachable keyboards or other accessories that make them extremely versatile. Decide what you plan on using your mini laptop for and purchase one that works best in those scenarios. For instance, students may prefer a mini laptop with a keyboard for quick typing or a stylus for notetaking, while casual users may prefer a mini laptop with an adjustable stand so you can modify the angle while streaming videos or tutorials on YouTube.

A mini laptop is similar to a traditional laptop except it features a smaller screen size that ranges anywhere from 10 to 13 inches, on average. What sets mini laptops apart from larger models is their portable nature and lightweight design, making them easy to bring along with you whether you want to set it up at the office or use it on a flight. Some mini laptops have a 2-in-1 design so they can be used either as a laptop or a tablet.

On the downside, mini laptops likely come with shorter battery life than their larger counterparts, as well as less power, memory and ports. “In terms of power and storage capacity, it stands to reason that the smaller the laptop, the less of everything there will be,” says Alec Scherma, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s test engineer. Before purchasing a mini laptop, it’s imperative that you decide how you plan on using it so you can choose one that supports your needs.

Our most recent round of laptop testing was led by test engineer, Alec Scherma, who brings all his mechanical engineering knowledge to help rigorously test new products like laptops as well as Nikolas Greenwald, a Lab assistant in the Good Housekeeping Institute who works to develop our testing protocols and manage data collection and analysis.

GH Institute analyst and writer Olivia Lipski wrote this guide based on the Media & Tech Lab’s extensive testing data. She regularly covers consumer electronics like audio equipment, smart home devices and more for GH.