10 Best Mini & Small Laptops UK 2023
After a small or mini laptop? Look no further.
Mini laptops can be really useful for students as their small size makes them ideal for travelling and carrying around all day. The smaller size of mini laptops makes them slimmer, more lightweight and often cheaper making them a great option for students on a budget who need a laptop for both working and watching Netflix.
Mini laptops and 2-in-1 laptops are ideal for campus life and won’t take up too much space in your rucksack. If you’re looking at mini laptops and want to invest in one, we’ve picked out our favourite models based on screen size, battery life and budget to help you find a model that will work best for you!
Check out our favourite mini laptops for 2023 UK below:
In this guide:
- Best overall mini laptops UK 2023
- Best 10-inch mini laptops UK
- Best 11-inch mini laptops UK
- Best mini laptops for battery life UK
- Best touchscreen mini laptops UK
- Best budget mini laptops UK
- FAQS
Best overall mini laptops UK 2023
1. ASUS CX1400 14in Celeron Chromebook — Argos, £139
The Asus CX1400 Chromebook is a good overall choice if you’re shopping for mini laptops. This laptop is specifically designed for boosting productivity, so it’s perfect for students who spend their time working on a laptop.
It’s lightweight and ultraportable, so you can chuck it in your uni bag and go, without the back or shoulder strain from the weight. The battery lasts 12 hours — ideal for pulling all-nighters in the library. It also offers a 180-degree lay-flat hinge so you can have the laptop fully opened and flat on the table if you need it for sharing ideas with a group.
What’s in the box:
- 1 x Asus Chromebook
- 1 x Power adaptor
Technical specs:
- Operating system: Chrome OS
- RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4
- Processor: Intel® Celeron® N4020 Processor
- Storage: 64 GB
- WiFi: Yes
- Ethernet: Yes
- Battery life: up to 12 hours
- Disc drive: Yes
- Memory card reader: Yes
- 4 USB 3.2 ports
- Audio connections: combo mic/headphone port
- Webcam: HD webcam
- Colour: Black
Screen specs:
- Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Screen size: 14
Pros
- Designed for working
- Lightweight and portable
- Flexible
- Long battery life
Cons
- Not touchscreen
Get a student discount at Lenovo
2. ASUS Chromebook CX1100- Amazon, £217.99
This Chromebook is a nice all around option if you’re considering buying a mini laptop. It’s lightweight, has a 11.6-inch screen and a long battery life for working all day long. Being a Chromebook it benefits from being able to run Google apps to help boost your productivity when it comes to working. The thin casing also makes it easy for travelling if you plan on carrying your laptop around in your bag all day.
What’s in the box:
- 1 x ASUS Chromebook CX110
- 1 x Power adaptor
Technical specs:
- Operating system: Chrome OS
- RAM: 4G LPDDR4
- Processor: Intel® Celeron® N3350 Processor 1.1 GHz (2M Cache, up to 2.4 GHz, 2 cores)
- Storage: 64G eMMC
- WiFi: Yes
- Ethernet: No
- Battery life: up to 12 hours
- Battery type: 2-cell lithium-ion
- Disc drive: No
- Memory card reader: Yes
- HDMI: no
- Audio connections: 3.5mm jack
- Webcam: HD webcam
- Colour: Silver
Screen specs:
- Screen resolution: Full HD 1366 x 768
- Screen size: 11.6
- Screen type: Anti-glare LED Backlit
- Touch screen: No
Pros
- Lightweight
- Decent specs
Cons
- On the more expensive end of the spectrum for mini laptops, but still affordable
Get a student discount at Amazon Prime
Best 10-inch mini laptops UK
3. IdeaPad Duet 3i 10- Lenovo, £199
The Lenovo Duet 3i is a convertible laptop, so the keyboard detaches and the screen can be propped up by a built in kickstand. This makes it a really great option if you like flexibility and want a laptop for both working and for entertainment purposes. The screen is just 10.3 inches, but it still has a whole host of good features including HD webcam, a FHD screen and the ability to use it as a tablet.
After more touchscreen options? Check out our guide.
What’s in the box:
- 1 x Lenovo Duet 3i
- 1 x Power adaptor
Technical specs:
- Operating system: Windows 10
- RAM: 4 GB DDR4-2400MHz
- Processor: Intel® Celeron® N4020 Processor (1.1 GHz up to 2.80 GHz)
- Storage: 64 GB
- WiFi: Yes
- Ethernet: No
- Battery life: up to 9 hours
- Battery type: 2-cell lithium-ion
- Disc drive: No
- Memory card reader: No
- HDMI: unknown
- Audio connections: 1 x headphone/mic combo
- Webcam: HD webcam
- Colour: Grey
Screen specs:
- Screen resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1200
- Screen size: 10.3
- Screen type: IPS
- Touch screen: Yes
Pros
- Small and portable
- FHD screen despite small size
- Convertible and can be used as a tablet
- Affordable
Cons
- Fairly basic specs and features
Get a student discount at Lenovo
4. IdeaPad Duet Chromebook– Amazon, £279.99
The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook has a screen of just 10.1-inches, and can be used as a tablet or laptop thanks to the detachable keyboard and kickstand. Despite being small, this laptop is still fast and powerful and will boot up within 8 seconds and has a long battery life. It’s also small, lightweight and portable so you can easily carry it around in your bag all day. At an additional cost you can purchase the Lenovo USI or Precision Pen to use as a stylus with this laptop.
What’s in the box:
- 1 x Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
- 1 x Power adaptor
Technical specs:
- Operating system: Chrome OS
- RAM: 4 GB
- Processor: MTK P60T Processor (2.00 GHz )
- Storage: 64 GB
- WiFi: Yes
- Ethernet: No
- Battery life: up to 10 hours
- Battery type: unknown
- Disc drive: No
- Memory card reader: No
- HDMI: unknown
- Audio connections: no
- Webcam: HD webcam
- Colour: Ice Blue and Iron Grey
Screen specs:
- Screen resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1200
- Screen size: 10.1
- Screen type: IPS
- Touch screen: Yes
Pros
- Small and portable
- Convertible
- Touchscreen
Cons
- Small memory and storage space
- Need to purchase pen additionally
Get a student discount at Lenovo
Best 11-inch mini laptops UK
5. Acer Chromebook Spin 511 Convertible- Acer, £379.99
This 11.6-inch Acer Chromebook is speedy, reliable, and built for all day productivity thanks to the long battery life meaning you won’t need to carry the charger around with you. Chrome OS comes with plenty of built in apps to help you work better, or apps you can download from the Google Play store to help you improve your productivity while you’re working. You can also rotate the laptop to convert it into a tablet or tent display to help you improve the way you work.
What’s in the box:
- 1 x Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C1Y0
- 1 x Lithium Ion battery
- 1 x AC adaptor
Technical specs:
- Operating system: Chrome OS
- RAM: 4 GB, LPDDR4
- Processor: Intel® Celeron® N4020 processor Dual-core 1.10 GHz
- Storage: 32 GB
- WiFi: Yes
- Ethernet: No
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Battery type: 3-cell lithium-ion
- Disc drive: No
- Memory card reader: Yes
- HDMI: no
- Audio connections: no
- Webcam: HD webcam
- Colour: Black
Screen specs:
- Screen resolution: Full HD 1366 x 768
- Screen size: 11.6
- Screen type: IPS
- Touch screen: Yes
Pros
- Touchscreen
- Multiple ways to have your screen set up
- Good battery life
Cons
- Small memory and storage
Get a student discount at Acer
6. Acer Chromebook Spin 311– Currys, £279
Despite being small, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 packs in a lot of features. With a long battery life, fast processor and speedy processor, you’ll be able to get all your daily tasks done effortlessly. This Chromebook is smaller than an A4 sheet of paper and weighs around 1kg, so it’s super lightweight and easy for travelling or working away from home. It’s easily one of the best mini laptops in the UK right now.
What’s in the box:
- 1 x Chromebook 311
- 1 x Lithium Ion Battery
- 1 x AC Adapter
Technical specs:
- Operating system: Chrome OS
- RAM: 4 GB, LPDDR4X
- Processor: MediaTek MT8183 processor 2 GHz
- Storage: 32 GB Flash Memory
- WiFi: Yes
- Webcam: HD webcam
- Colour: Black
Screen specs:
- Screen resolution: Full HD 1366 x 768
- Screen size: 11.6
- Screen type: LCD
- Touch screen: Yes
Pros
- Long battery life – up to 15 hours
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- 64GB storage
Cons
- Not the most impressive specs compared to other mini laptops on this list
Get a student discount at Acer
Best mini laptops for battery life UK
7. Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Convertible- Acer, £299.99
Good battery life is something you probably want out of a laptop, especially if you’re using it to work on while you’re away from home. This Acer Chromebook has a battery life of up to 15 hours so you won’t have to worry about running low or finding a plug socket to charge it while you’re out and about.
It weighs just 1.05kg so is extremely lightweight, but it’s still a super speedy and powerful laptop. You can rotate the screen and benefit from Chrome OS apps to boost your productivity.
What’s in the box:
- 1 x Chromebook Spin 311 CP311-3H-K5M5 2 in 1 Chromebook
- 1 x Lithium Ion Battery
- 1 x AC Adapter
Technical specs:
- Operating system: Chrome OS
- RAM: 8 GB DDR4
- Processor: – Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 Processor – Quad-core – 2.4 GHz / 4.2 GHz – 8 MB cache (some may just say “Intel Core i5”)
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- WiFi: Yes
- Ethernet: No
- Battery life: 16 hours
- Battery type: 2-cell lithium-ion
- Disc drive: No
- Memory card reader: No
- HDMI: unknown
- Audio connections: unknown
- Webcam: HD webcam
- Colour: Silver
Screen specs:
- Screen resolution: Full HD 1366 x 768
- Screen size: 11.6
- Screen type: IPS LCD
- Touch screen: Yes
Pros
- Touchscreen
- Really good battery life
Cons
- Not the best memory
Get a student discount at Acer
Best touchscreen mini laptops UK
8. IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook 11– Amazon, £259.99
This is a 360° convertible laptop that is a great all round option for a mini laptop. The screen is 11.6-inches and benefits from a streamlined interface and a touchscreen to help you drag and drop files and be creative with your work. While you’re working your changes will be saved automatically (so you never have to worry about losing your work ever again!) and you can work offline too. You can also choose from two different colour options, so you can choose the one that best suits your personal style.
What’s in the box:
- 1 x IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook
- 1 x Power adaptor
Technical specs:
- Operating system: Chrome OS
- RAM: 4 GB DDR4-2400MHz (Soldered)
- Processor: Intel® Celeron® N4020 Processor (1.10 GHz up to 2.80 GHz)
- Storage: 32GB
- WiFi: Yes
- Ethernet: No
- Battery life: up to 10 hours
- Battery type: 3-cell lithium-ion
- Disc drive: No
- Memory card reader: Yes
- HDMI: unknown
- Audio connections: 1 x headphone/mic port
- Webcam: HD webcam
- Colour: Abyss Blue or Almond
Screen specs:
- Screen resolution: Full HD 1366 x 768
- Screen size: 11.6
- Screen type: IPS
- Touch screen: Yes
Pros
- Touchscreen
- 2 colour options
Cons
- On the more expensive spectrum compared to other mini laptops on this list
Get a student discount at Lenovo
9. ASUS Touchscreen Chromebook C204MA– Ebay, £200
If you’re looking for a smart touchscreen mini laptop, this ASUS Chromebook is a good choice. You can benefit from Google Assistant to help you work smarter, along with Chrome OS apps and G Suite to help you work collaboratively and across devices. You’ll also get up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, so you won’t have to worry about running out of battery when you’re not in the house.
What’s in the box:
- 1 x ASUS Touchscreen Chromebook C204MA
- 1 x Power adaptor
Technical specs:
- Operating system: Chrome OS
- RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4 2400MHz SDRAM Onboard memory
- Processor: Intel® Celeron® Dual-Core N4000 Processor, 1.1 GHz (4 M Cache)
- Storage: 16GB/32GB
- WiFi: Yes
- Ethernet: No
- Battery life: 12 hours
- Battery type: 3-cell lithium-ion
- Disc drive: No
- Memory card reader: Yes
- HDMI: unknown
- Audio connections: 1 x combo audio jack
- Webcam: HD webcam
- Colour: Black
Screen specs:
- Screen resolution: Full HD 1366 x 768
- Screen size: 11.6
- Screen type: LED Backlit
- Touch screen: Yes
Pros
- Touchscreen
- Long battery life
Cons
- Not a lot of memory or storage
Get a student discount at Amazon Prime
Best budget mini laptops UK
10. IdeaPad 3 Lenovo — Amazon, £124.99
If you’re on a budget and you don’t want to shell out too much on a mini laptop, the Lenovo IdeadPad 3 is a great affordable choice. It’s smaller than a piece of A4 paper, but it’s still reliable, fast and powerful. Chome OS and G Suite allows you to work collaboratively and you can work offline too. It costs just £199.99 which is one of the cheapest mini laptops on this list, so you won’t have to break the bank to benefit from having a great laptop.
What’s in the box:
- 1 x Lenovo IdeaPad 3
- 1 x Power adaptor
Technical specs:
- Operating system: Chrome OS
- RAM: 4 GB Soldered LPDDR4 2400MHz
- Processor: Intel®️ Celeron®️ N4020 Processor
- Storage: 64 GB eMMC 5.1
- WiFi: Yes
- Ethernet: No
- Battery life: up to 10 hours
- Battery type: 3-cell lithium-ion
- Disc drive: No
- Memory card reader: Yes
- HDMI: unknown
- Audio connections: 1 x headphone/mic combo jack
- Webcam: HD webcam
- Colour: Onyx Black
Screen specs:
- Screen resolution: Full HD 1366 x 768
- Screen size: 11.6
- Screen type: TN Anti-glare
- Touch screen: No
Pros
- Affordable and budget friendly
- Good battery life
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not a huge amount of memory or storage
Get a student discount at Lenovo
Frequently Asked Questions
Benefits of mini & small laptops
Mini laptops have lots of benefits, mainly the price. Because the laptop is smaller and more compact mini laptops tend to be much cheaper and more budget-friendly compared to laptops with larger screens, and the compact size makes them ideal for travelling or carrying around all day.
Mini laptops also tend to be slimmer and less chunky than laptop models with larger screen sizes, so they’re ideal for someone who only needs a small and portable laptop.
Drawbacks of mini laptops
The obvious drawback of small laptops is the screen size. While this might not be a problem for some people, for people who use their laptops for creative projects and like to have a lot of tabs open, or just want to enjoy movies on a big screen this could be a disadvantage. As mini laptops are often much cheaper, the specs might not be that impressive and you might find it’s worth investing in a bigger model just to benefit from extra storage or features.
How long do mini laptops last?
Laptops are an investment and it’s understandable that if you’re going to be spending a lot of money on a product you’re going to want it to last for a long time. If you take good care of your laptop (being careful to avoid scratches and screen cracking, and not drinking near it) there’s no reason why a laptop can’t last at least 5 years before the operating system starts to slow down and you may start to notice issues or want to upgrade to a new one.
What’s the best laptop under £400?
Some affordable brands for cheap mini laptops under £400 are:
- Acer
- Lenovo
- ASUS
- HP
- Dell
What are the sizes of small laptops?
Laptop screen sizes are measured diagonally and come in a few different sizes.
Mini and small laptops typically measure around 11″-13″, whereas large laptops are around 14″-17″ and above. Smaller screens are great for small workloads, browsing the web, and perfect for taking to university with you.
What is a Netbook?
Back in the day, a Netbook was a small and fairly cheap laptop that was designed mostly for browsing the internet. They don’t really exist anymore and were sold between 2007 and 2013 — before smartphones and more advanced technology were common.
Don’t miss out on top laptop deals and features you never knew you needed — check out our handy guide to buying laptops.
