10 Best 13-Inch, Lightweight Laptops 2023

06 Jun 2022, by Danielle Slauter, min. read

Big performance in a small package.

If the thought of lugging a giant (and heavy) laptop around campus seems less than appealing to you, then you’re in the right place. Tech is getting smaller and more portable every year, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on quality just because you want something with grab and go ease. We’d like to introduce you to the 13-inch screen laptop.

These 10 computers are the best rated 13-inch, lightweight laptops you can get on the market right now. And just to sweeten the deal, every single one of the laptops listed here is eligible for your Student Beans discount, meaning that back to school shopping bill won’t be nearly as high this year.

1. Apple MacBook Air — $999.00

Apple knows how to craft tech, and there’s not a more obvious example of this than the 13-inch MacBook Air laptop. This is the perfect laptop for students everywhere. All of the qualities MacBooks are known for are packed into this portable 13-inch laptop, along with a huge battery life that will last all day.

If you’re an Apple user, a MacBook should be your choice since it integrates easily with all the tech you already have like iPhones and AirPods. It crushes the competition’s computing speeds thanks to the Apple M1 chip technology, so there really isn’t a better overall pick when it comes to a 13-inch laptop. It’s also one of the most powerful 13-inch laptops on the market.

What’s in the box

MacBook Air
30W USB-C power adapter
USB-C charging cable

Technical specs

Operating system: iOS
RAM: 8GB Unified PDDR4X-4266 MHz SDRAM
Processor: Apple M1 (8-core)
Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD
Screen resolution: 2,560 x 1,600
Screen size: 13.3-inch
Screen type: Retina True Tone display
Touch screen: No
Battery life: 18 hours
Battery type: Built-in 49.9‑watt‑hour lithium‑polymer battery
Audio connections: Stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack
Webcam: 720p FaceTime HD camera
Colors: Gold, silver, space gray

Pros

Phenomenal battery life
Excellent keyboard
Solid build

Cons

Few ports

Save $100 at Apple with Student Beans

2. Dell XPS 13 — $1249.99

If you’re looking for a solid all-around 13-inch laptop that will get the job done, Dell’s XPS 13 has to be a part of the conversation. Lightweight, portable, but still packing a serious punch, this 13-inch laptop is perfect for college students looking for a Windows 13-inch laptop instead of a MacBook.

One of the nice benefits of the XPS 13 is that it only takes two hours to hit a full charge for this 13-inch laptop, which is great if you’re on campus and in need of some extra battery in between classes. The CPU is super power-efficient, but that means it’s best suited for general productivity tasks rather than things like gaming or 4K streaming.

What’s in the box

Dell XPS 13
Charging cable

Technical specs

Operating system: Windows 11
RAM: 8GB 4267MHz LPDDR4x Memory Onboard
Processor: 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7
Storage: 512 GB, M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD
Screen resolution: 3456 x 2160
Screen size: 13.4-inch
Screen type: OLED
Touch screen: Yes
Battery life: 14 hours
Battery type: 4 Cell, 52 Wh, integrated
Audio connections: Stereo speakers professionally tuned with Waves MaxxAudio^® Pro
Webcam: Widescreen HD (720p) 2.25mm webcam
Colors: Platinum, frost

Pros

Streamlined design
Great keyboard
Solid overall performance

Cons

Limited connectivity
Average battery life

Save 10% at Dell with Student Beans

3. HP Elite Dragonfly G2 — $1979.00

A true 2-in-1 laptop, the 13-inch HP Elite Dragonfly G2 is more powerful than ever in this newer version of the original 13-inch laptop. It even has included security software, meaning you won’t have to worry about viruses or anything else sketchy happening while you browse the web.

Being able to convert from a 13-inch laptop to a 13-inch tablet at a moment’s notice is a great feature to have on any laptop, but HP perfects the formula. There’s even a “build your own” option available, allowing you to customize your computer with whatever extras you need, making it worth the higher price tag.

What’s in the box

HP Elite Dragonfly G2
Charging cable

Technical specs

Operating system: Windows 10 Pro
RAM: 16 GB LPDDR4x-4266 MHz
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1145G7
Storage: 512 GB PCIe® NVMe™ TLC SSD
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
Screen size: 13.3-inch
Screen type: BrightView
Touch screen: Yes
Battery life: 16 hours
Battery type: HP Long Life 4-cell
Audio connections: 4 Premium stereo speakers
Webcam: 720p HD IR camera
Color: Black

Pros

Comfortable keyboard
Great screen
Included security software

Cons

Expensive

Save up to 45% at HP with Student Beans

4. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 — $384.99

If you’re shopping for 13-inch laptops on a budget, the Lenovo 13-inch Chromebook Flex 5 is a wonderful option as one of the best cheap 13-inch laptops for students. It has enough performance to get you through the day, but with the lower price comes reduced processing speeds and average displays.

This solid 13-inch laptop is a great option if you’re looking to save money on your computer purchase. While you won’t be getting all the add-ons and enhanced features with some of the other 13-inch laptops on this list, you’ll be paying for exactly what you get—a practical, everyday 13-inch laptop.

What’s in the box

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
45W AC adapter

Technical specs

Operating system: Chrome OS 64 bit
RAM: 4 GB DDR4 2667MHz
Processor: 10^th Generation Intel^® Core™ i3-10110U
Storage: 128 GB PCIe SSD
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
Screen size: 13.3-inch
Screen type: IPS
Touch screen: Yes
Battery life: 10 hours
Battery type: 4 Cell 51Whr internal battery
Audio connections: 2 front-facing 2W speakers
Webcam: 720p with microphone array
Color: Graphite gray

Pros

Impressive performance for price
Great value

Cons

Bad touchpad
Average display

Save 5% at Lenovo with Student Beans

5. Google Pixelbook Go — $781.46

If you love Chromebooks, the Google Pixelbook Pro is the best iteration of the 13-inch laptop line. The Chrome OS platform is able to shine the most in this version, and there’s plenty of little design features that make it worth your time (like a textured bottom so it isn’t always sliding off your lap while you’re working).

The developers clearly took care to implement certain features to make this 13-inch laptop worth your while. Certainly not as impressive as a MacBook, but a step up from your typical Chromebook, the Pixelbook Pro allows you to have the best of both worlds without breaking the bank, making it another great cheap 13-inch laptop.

What’s in the box

Google Pixelbook Go
45 W USB-C™⁵ wall power adapter
USB-C™⁵ charging cable

Technical specs

Operating system: Chrome OS
RAM: 8GB
Processor: 8th Gen Intel® Core™ m3
Storage: 64GB
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
Screen size: 13.3-inches
Touch screen: Yes
Battery life: 12 hours
Battery type: 47 Wh battery
Audio connections: Dual front-firing speakers for better surround sound
Webcam: 2 megapixel, ƒ/2.0 aperture, 1.4μm pixel size
Color: Black

Pros

Colorful display
Powerful speakers
Solid battery life

Cons

No fingerprint scanner

Get 6 free months of Amazon Prime with Student Beans

6. Asus Flow X13 — $1399.99

For all the gamers out there, you don’t need an expensive desktop PC to get your gaming in. The 13-inch Asus Flow X13 packs a serious punch despite its small size. The taller aspect ratio gives you the perfect setup for gaming, along with being a 360 degree convertible 2-in-1.

Words like “thin” and “light” and “portable” aren’t normally associated with gaming laptops, but the Flow X13 isn’t here to be your typical gaming laptop. The setup is slightly compromised due to the smaller 13-inch size, but if you’re dying to game on campus without lugging your PC to your dorm, you need to get your hands on this now.

What’s in the box

Asus Flow X13
Charging cable

Technical specs

Operating system: Windows 11
RAM: ‎16 GB DDR4
Processor: 5th Gen AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS 3.3GHz
Storage: ‎4.6 GHz
Screen resolution: 1920 x 1200
Screen size: 13.4-inches
Screen type: IPS
Touch screen: Yes
Battery life: 10 hours
Battery type: Lithium ion
Audio connections: 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier
Webcam: 720P HD camera
Color: Black

Pros

Super portable
Solid performance
Comfortable keyboard and touchpad

Cons

Mediocre battery life

Get 6 free months of Amazon Prime with Student Beans

7. HP Spectre x360 — $1249.99

Who says style and substance can’t go together? The 13-inch HP Spectre x360 is a gorgeous laptop with serious processing power. The fingerprint scanner means you don’t have to mess with trying to remember all your passwords, and it can easily convert into a 13-inch tablet, too.

The display is one of the best available thanks to an unbeatable OLED screen, but some of the computing power isn’t as strong as it should be compared to other 13-inch laptops on this list. If visuals are at the top of your list, and you’re willing to compromise on a few other areas, this is the perfect 13-inch laptop for you.

What’s in the box

HP Spectre x360
Charging cable

Technical specs

Operating system: Windows 11
RAM: 4.4 GHz
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1235U
Storage: 512 GB PCIe® NVMe™ TLC M.2 SSD
Screen resolution:
Screen size: 13.5-inch
Screen type: OLED
Touch screen: Yes
Battery life: 17 hours
Battery type: 4-cell, 66 Wh Li-ion polymer
Audio connections:
Webcam: HP True Vision 5MP IR camera with camera shutter
Colors: Natural Silver, Nightfall Black, Nocturne Blue

Pros

Feels luxurious
Bright display
Fast performance

Cons

Terrible webcam
Tiny touchpad

Save up to 45% at HP with Student Beans

8. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 — $799.99

For Windows 11 users, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 is one sure to make your MacBook-using friends jealous. The display is more vivid than the newest MacBook Pro, and the processing speed is one of the fastest available in a 13-inch laptop.

The addition of the Intel Skylake Chip, a new Type Cover keyboard, and faster SSD mean that the performance has been elevated above and beyond the previous iterations of the Microsoft Surface. There’s a noticeable difference between the Surface 3 and 4, so spend the extra money for the superior model of this 13-inch laptop.

What’s in the box

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Power supply

Technical specs

Operating system: Windows 11
RAM: 8GB, 16GB or 32GB LPDDR4x RAM
Processor: Quad Core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 processor
Storage: 256GB
Screen resolution: 2256 x 1504
Screen size: 13.5-inch
Screen type: PixelSense™ Display
Touch screen: Yes
Battery life: 19 hours
Audio connections: Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Atmos®⁷
Webcam: 720p HD f2.0 camera
Color: Matte Black, Ice Blue, Platinum, Sandstone

Pros

Sleek design in plenty of colors
Bright display
Long battery life

Cons

Thick bezels

Save 10% at Microsoft with Student Beans

9. Apple MacBook Pro — $1299.00

If you’re needing a powerful 13-inch laptop when you head off to college, your only real option is the MacBook Pro. The M1 processing chip is faster than anything else available, and it’s a whopping $500 cheaper than the Intel version of essentially the same 13-inch laptop.

Apple obviously goes first-class with everything it does, but all of those features can easily drain the battery if you’re not careful. Having three Thunderbolt ports means you can easily hook up your tech without worrying about having enough space to charge all your gear, which is always an added bonus, as 13-inch laptops usually don’t come with very many ports.

What’s in the box

MacBook Pro
USB-C charging cable
61W USB-C Power Adapter

Technical specs

Operating system: iOS
RAM: 8GB
Processor: 8-core GPU
Storage: 256GB
Screen resolution: 1680 x 1050
Screen size: 13.3-inch
Screen type: LED
Battery life: 20 hours
Battery type: 58.2-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
Audio connections: Stereo speakers with high dynamic range
Webcam: 720p FaceTime HD camera
Colors: Space gray or silver

Pros

Insanely fast
Beautiful display
Brilliant speakers

Cons

Touch bar is annoying

Save $100 at Apple with Student Beans

10. Lenovo ThinkPad X13 — $972.60

If you’re going to be running around campus all day, you don’t want a laptop that’s going to weigh you down. That’s why we recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 as a solid 13-inch laptop. Coming in at just under two pounds with a high-end performance that can’t be beat, you can’t argue with a price tag of under $1000 for a solid 13-inch laptop for students.

While the features might not be the most cutting-edge of the bunch, it more than makes up for it with a stunning display that easily supports 4K viewing. Plus, you can’t beat the ultra-light and super portable design of this 13-inch laptop that Lenovo is known for.