Looking to get a 13-inch laptop for yourself but are still confused with so many options with different screen sizes? Well, that is what we are here for. Right from Windows laptops like Dell’s XPS series and Surface Book 2 to Apple’s MacBook Pro, there are a lot of best 13-inch laptops available to buy, but the first thing that you should keep in mind is your use case scenario. For instance, a student has different needs than, say a businessman or a writer.

With that in mind, indulge us in explaining what to look for when deciding a screen-size for your next laptop.

All the 15 and 17-inch laptops are powerful but at the same time, carrying them on-the-go is a real task, let alone working in transit. The other thing to note is based on a simple fact that not all users require a large screen laptop that excels in brute force. Sure the 15-inchers have a decent sized screen to play around and are packed with great hardware, but imagine a writer or a businessman working on a powerful 15-inch laptop without actually using it to its full capabilities.

Next up, the ultraportable 11-inch laptops which are built for working on-the-go are strikingly underpowered. While these laptops offer users with portability, they cannot be depended upon for productivity tasks as they lack in performance.

So, what is the optimal screen-size that also makes up a well-balanced laptop?

It’s the 13-inch laptops.

Laptops that have a 13-inch display are more comfortable to carry along as they are lightweight, though that doesn’t mean that they compromise on power. They are very well equipped to handle tasks ranging from simple writing to editing pictures and videos and even gaming.

To make it easy for our readers, we have handpicked a select few 13-inch laptops that we consider to be the best portable laptops one can buy right now.

Best 13 Inch Laptops – Top Picks

1. Dell XPS 13 Best Overall

Quite possibly the smallest 13-inch laptop, Dell XPS 13 is an elegant machine, one that’s equally powerful. The XPS 13 comes in different configurations for users to choose from. Starting from around $900 right up to $2000, the XPS 13 offers a choice between 13.3-inch full HD+ (touch or non-touch) Infinity Edge display or a 13.3-inch 4K UHD+ (3840 x 2400 pixels) InfinityEdge Touch display.

However, based on the type of usage, user’s can upgrade a few components. For regular to mid-level use case scenarios, the XPS 13 with 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor is a value for money option. However, for a little more demanding tasks we would suggest to go with the variant with 10th generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor. Similarly, 8GB RAM with 256GB SSD makes up for a fairly good configuration but users have an option to choose up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB SSD. Like we mentioned earlier, the most value for money proposition is the XPS 13 with Core i5 and 8GB of RAM which fulfills the needs of students and businessmen alike.

The Dell XPS 13 (2020) comes in two color variants, standard platinum silver with black carbon fiber palm-rest and all-new frost finish with alpine white woven glass fiber palm-rest. The body of the laptop is crafted from CNC milled aluminum and the display is topped with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 6. The XPS 13 has a full-size chiclet keyboard which is backlit. All of this makes the Dell XPS 13 the most balanced 13-inch laptop out there, don’t let that slim form factor make you think otherwise.

Hardware Specifications of Dell XPS 13 9300 (2020) Processor Intel Core i5-1035G1 1.0 GHz Quad-Core Processor (Turbo up to 3.6 GHz) RAM 8GB LPDDR4 3733MHz RAM Storage 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD Graphics Intel UHD Graphics Display 13.4 Inch Full HD+ InfinityEdge Display (1920 x 1200) Operating System Windows 10 Home 64-bit Battery Life Up to 12 Hours Weight 2.6 lbs

The 2020 Dell XPS 13 with our recommended specs — Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD cost well over $1200, however, if you don’t mind a year-old model, then it gets you the same specs for under $1000! You get the similar 13.3-inch infinity edge display; however, it comes with standard full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, which is still excellent for everyday usage and on par with other laptops in the segment. As far as hardware specifications is concerned, you can configure the 2019 XPS 13 with up to 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and 2TB of PCIe NVMe SSD. So, if you want to save, then this is a more value deal on one of our most favorite 13-inch laptop. | Check Price on Dell

2. Microsoft Surface Book 2 Best 2-in-1

The Surface Book 2 is a super portable laptop that is also easier to work on when in transit. It features a 13.3-inch PixelSense display which is touch supported. The display can also be detached from the rest of the body leaving the Surface Book in a tablet mode. Throw in the Surface Precision Mouse, Surface Pen, and Surface Dial, and it becomes a machine fit for creators.

For about $1300, you get a 13.3-inch display, 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor with 256GB storage and 8GB of RAM. This setup is powerful and can handle intensive applications like Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Autodesk SketchBook among others. For power users, the Surface Book 2 can also be configured with 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 GPU which can even churn through titles like Forza 7 with ease (Configure yours at Microsoft).

Overall, it is a perfect 2-in-1 13-inch laptop for college students or for the people interested in art and designing. However, its steeper price tag may not make it a right fit for everyone’s budget here.

Hardware Specifications of Microsoft Surface Book 2 Processor Intel Core i7-8650U 1.9GHz Quad-Core Processor (Turbo up to 4.2 GHz) RAM 8GB LPDDR3 RAM Storage 256GB SSD Graphics Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 2GB DDR5 Graphics Display 13.5 Inch PixelSense Display with 3000 x 2000 Resolution Operating System Windows 10 Pro Creators Update 64-bit OS Battery Life Up to 9 Hours Weight 3.3 lbs

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is also a great option if you prefer the clamshell design over 2-in-1 (convertible). The laptop comes with an aluminum casing and interior of the laptop comes finished in soft Alcantara. It comes with 13.5-inch touchscreen PixelSense display with slightly less resolution (2256 x 1504), but, it is equally bright and colorful panel as Surface Book 2. The laptop can be bought with 10th generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and can be configured with up to 16GB RAM and up to 1TB of mammoth SSD storage. | Check Price on Amazon

3. Apple MacBook Pro 13

Perhaps the default 13-inch laptop for people looking to invest in a MacBook. The MacBook Pro 13 is a beast as it comes with the powerful 8th gen Intel processors and a touch bar which is standard across all the 13″ models now. The MacBook Pro is available with up to 16GB of memory, 4.7GHz Turbo Boost courtesy of Intel’s new chipsets, up to 3.2GB/s SSD read speeds depending upon the storage option you choose (128GB/256GB/512GB) which can further be customized up to 2TB. All of this is backed by up to 10 hours of battery life.

Doesn’t it have the perfect combination of beauty and brains? Now, we get that a few of you might be thinking to go with the MacBook Air. Well, it’s also a great machine but only if you don’t need pro-level hardware. The new MacBook Air is powered by the Y-series Intel chips which are good enough for everyday productivity tasks, but for anything more than that it will be highly underpowered. That said, it’s still good enough for students or anyone who wants a portable 13-inch MacBook with retina display.

Coming back to the MacBook Pro, it also features a new True Tone Retina display which adjusts the color according to ambient lighting for the better viewing experience. However, if you have to edit photos or do anything that requires to see the accurate colors, then you might have to turn the True Tone feature off. The MacBook Pro 13 powered by 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor with Touch Bar and Touch ID starts at $1,299. For those who want the most powerful 13-inch MacBook, the top-of-the-line model costs $2,499 and comes with 512GB of SSD storage.

Hardware Specifications of MacBook Pro 13 Processor Intel Core i5 2.4 GHz Quad-Core Processor (Turbo up to 4.1 GHz) RAM 8GB LPDDR3 2133MHz RAM Storage 256GB SSD Graphics Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 Display 13.3 inch Retina True Tone Display with 2560 x 1600 Resolution Operating System MacOS Catalina Battery Life Up to 10 Hours Weight 3.02 lbs

4. HP Envy 13t Best Value for Money

A beautiful laptop from the house of HP, the Envy 13t features an all-aluminum design which helps in keeping the laptop durable but lightweight. As such, the laptop weighs just 2.71 lb. It is also extremely thin at 0.59 inches. The hinge of the Envy 13t has also been completely modified and now features this new design which elevates the base of the laptop a bit to make way for air flow. This in turn also raises the keyboard a bit which enables an ergonomic typing experience.

The Envy 13t is available in many configuration sets. The default configuration which costs under $1000, comprises of an 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10510U processor backed by UHD Graphics and 8GB of RAM. It rocks a beautiful 13.3-inch full HD display with narrow bezels and 256GB of SSD storage, making it one of the best value for money 13-inch laptop.

Adding in $80, users can upgrade to dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX250 2GB graphics which would make it a much capable ultrabook, while for $160 over the default price you get an additional 8GB of RAM, totaling it to 16.

If a user wants the touchscreen on the Envy 13t, they can get it for an additional $50 but that’s not even it. HP allows you to go way past the full HD display which is why users can upgrade to a touch 13.3-inch 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) IPS edge-to-edge display for $140 more.

All in all, the HP Envy 13t is a gorgeous and a very apt 13-inch laptop that packs one of the most powerful processors. It’s customizable as well, so it’s a win-win for consumers.

Hardware Specifications of HP Envy 13t Processor Intel Core i7-10510U 1.8 GHz Quad-Core Processor (Turbo up to 4.9 GHz) RAM 8GB DDR4 RAM Storage 256GB Intel SSD with 16GB Intel Optane Memory Graphics Intel UHD Graphics Display 13.3 inch Diagonal Full HD IPS WLED-backlit Display with 1920 x 1080 Resolution Operating System Windows 10 Home 64-bit Battery Life Up to 10 Hours Weight 2.5 lbs

Acer Chromebook R13 - Best Budget 13-inch Laptop If you don’t want to dig deep into your pocket, then Acer Chromebook 13 is the best 13-inch laptop you can buy for around $500. It comes with a premium aluminum chassis and is powered by a MediaTek 8173C quad-core processor with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage. This isn’t a workhorse laptop to run the demanding apps, but it is the perfect option for those whose work is mostly internet oriented. It offers a 13.3-inch 1080p IPS touch display which has great viewing angles, and it can be rotated to use it as a tablet. Moreover, its battery can last up to 12 hours on a single charge. What else do you want?

5. Lenovo IdeaPad 730s

If you are looking for a MacBook alike Windows running machine, then Lenovo Ideapad 730s is probably as close as it can get. It has got a slim profile just like MacBook Air and a beautiful 13-inch display with small bezels.

The laptop being a similar thin and light machine as the MacBook Air still has a keyboard with decent traveling keys. It is very comfortable to type and its touchpad is also spacious with pinpoint accuracy.

However, performance is where IdeaPad 730S completely outshines the MacBook Air. It comes powered by the latest Whiskey Lake Intel processors which are a lot powerful than the Y-series Intel processors on MacBook Air. Moreover, it also costs a lot less than the entry-level MacBook Air!

Lenovo Ideapad 730s may not be the unique looking ultrabook, but it is easily one of the most premium 13-inch windows ultrabooks you can buy right now. Although it is a clone of Apple’s MacBook Air, it certainly has an improved keyboard and internals that delivers adequate performance to get you through almost anything, at least by ultrabook standards.

Hardware Specifications of Lenovo Ideapad 730s Processor Intel Core i5-8265U 1.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor (Turbo up to 3.9 GHz, 6MB Cache) RAM 8GB DDR4 RAM Storage 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD Graphics Intel UHD 620 Graphics Display 13-inch full HD IPS Display with 1920 x 1080 Resolution Operating System Windows 10 Home 64-bit Battery Life Up to 10 Hours Weight 2.4 lbs

Lenovo ThinkPad L13 - Best 13-inch Business Laptop If you’re looking for a no-nonsense business laptop with the 13-inch screen, then Lenovo ThinkPad L13 is the one you need to look at. It offers all the security and durability of a ThinkPad in a thin and light form-factor at a surprisingly reasonable price. You can purchase the ThinkPad L13 with Intel Core i5 Comet Lake processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD for about $800. That’s a pretty good value considering its other features such as rapid charging functionality, a fingerprint scanner and not to forget a class-leading backlit keyboard.

CLEARANCE DEAL

Lenovo ThinkBook 13s with Intel Core i7-8565U quad-core processor, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD for just $721 from Lenovo ($320 OFF)

6. ASUS Chromebook 13 C300SA

This is the cheapest 13-inch laptop on our list which is best for the casual users and content consumers whose workflow involves minimal laptop usage. The Asus Chromebook C300SA is a more favorable device for media consumers with its loudspeakers and 13.3-inch HD (1366×768 pixels) display.

It is powered by Intel Core Celeron N3060 processor clocked at 1.6GHz. The CPU is backed by 4GB of RAM and 16GB of eMMC storage. Being a Chromebook, it runs on Google’s Chrome OS and provides up to 10 hours of battery life. It provides HDMI and USB 3.0 ports and thankfully it also has an SD card reader to expand its low storage space.

The ASUS Chromebook C300SA can be a perfect option for college students to take notes and complete assignments and also for the businesspeople who are looking for a long-lasting, lightweight computer that can let them access internet and Google’s suite of web applications.

Hardware Specifications of ASUS Chromebook 13 C300SA Processor Intel Celeron N3060 1.6 GHz Dual Core Processor (Turbo up to 2.4 GHz) RAM 4GB DDR3L 1866 MHz RAM Storage 16GB eMMC (Free Google Drive 100GB Storage) Graphics Intel HD Graphics 400 Display 13.3 Inch HD Display with 1366 x 768 Resolution Operating System Chrome OS Battery Life Up to 10 Hours Weight 3.1 lbs

You may like to check out: Top 10 Best Cheap Netbooks & Chromebooks Under $200

For those who require a little more oomph, the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 is a great option if you don’t mind spending about $650 on a Chromebook. It comes with an Intel Core i5-8250U processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD. That’s a lot of power to run Chrome OS if you ask me. To match the price tag, Acer has packed this hardware inside a svelte looking all-metal chassis and has paired it with a beautiful 13.5-inch 2K touchscreen display that supports Acer stylus which comes included in the box. | Check Price on Amazon

MORE: Our Most Recommended Laptops Under $500 – Top Picks of 2020

7. ASUS ZenBook UX331FA 13-inch Ultrabook Best for Students

The Asus ZenBook 13 UX331FA is the company’s latest ZenBook powered by Intel’s 8th gen Core i5-8265U processor and is supported by 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD storage. This setup makes it our choice as the best 13-inch laptop for students overall.

The ZenBook 13 is just 0.55-inches thin and weighs less than 2.5 lb thanks to the aluminum build. It features 13.3-inch full HD display and has minimal side bezels that represent the modern notebook design. Moreover, the laptop has a backlit keyboard and it charges up to 60% in just 49 minutes.

This configuration, perfect for college students is available for about $700. Another variant which brings a dedicated Nvidia MX150 to the table, Asus ZenBook 13 UX334FLC-AH79, costs $1000. Both the variants are complete value for money offerings and hence they are perfect buys for all college students who are looking for a 13-inch laptop under $1000 price range.

Hardware Specifications of ASUS ZenBook 13 UX331FA-AS51 Processor Intel Core i5-8265U 1.6 GHz Quad-Core Whiskey Lake Processor (Turbo up to 3.9GHz) RAM 8GB LPDDR3 RAM Storage 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD Graphics Intel UHD Graphics 620 Display 13.3 Inch Full HD wide-view NanoEdge Display with 1920 x 1080 Resolution Operating System Windows 10 Home Battery Life Up to 15 Hours Weight 2.5 lbs

8. HP Spectre x360 Best 13-inch Convertible Laptop

If convertibles are your thing, you’re in for a treat with HP’s 2020 Spectre x360 13-inch convertible laptop. It looks premium in its new design and it carries that elegance with it. The Spectre x360 features a 13.3-inch full HD IPS touchscreen display with Gorilla Glass NBT. Buyers can choose to upgrade this to a 4K display or get it with a privacy screen to stay protected from the peeping colleagues.

It comes with HP active pen in the box which is perfect for taking notes, and it supports up to 2048 different pressure levels, so it is also suitable for drawing and sketching. The base variant of the Spectre X360 which costs $1100 is powered by Intel Core i5-1035G4 processor, Intel Iris graphics, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage.

Power users can also upgrade various hardware components right from the processor to the storage capacity. The top-of-the-line variant of the Spectre x360 features a 10th gen Intel Core i7 with 16GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage.

Hardware Specifications of HP Spectre x360 (2020) Processor 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G4 1.1 GHz quad-core Processor (Turbo up to 3.7 GHz, 6MB Cache) RAM 8GB DDR4 2133MHz RAM Storage 256GB PCIe NMVe M.2 SSD Graphics Intel Iris Plus Graphics Display 13.3 Inch diagonal Full HD IPS micro-edge WLED-backlit multi-touch Display Operating System Windows 10 Home Battery Life Up to 12 Hours Weight 2.8 lbs

We want to give a special mention to the Lenovo Yoga C640 (13″) and Acer Spin 5 which are also on par with the Spectre x360. Both the laptops have an all-aluminum chassis which looks premium, and they are also priced competitively with Spectre X360. Doesn’t matter which one you go with both are one of the best budget 13-inch convertible laptops you can buy right now.

9. LG Gram 13 Thinnest & Lightest

Going by its name, the Gram 13 from LG weighs in just under a kilogram or specifically 2.13 lbs. It features a 13.3-inch full HD IPS display that supports touch input. The Gram 13 is powered by 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor which is backed by 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The LG Gram 13 is an extremely light laptop with its body made from an alloy of carbon and magnesium and as such we understand the accompanying durability factor. However, the Gram 13 is MIL-STD-810 certified, so it’s durable and provides up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge.

The LG Gram 13 costs around $1000, so it definitely offers a lot more than its other counterparts like Dell XPS 13 but its USB-C port doesn’t support Thunderbolt 3 connections.

Hardware Specifications of LG Gram 13 Processor Intel 8th Generation i5-8265U Quad-Core Processor (Turbo up to 3.9 GHz) RAM 8GB RAM Storage 256GB SSD Graphics Intel UHD Graphics 620 Display 13.3 Inch Full HD IPS Touchscreen Display Operating System Windows 10 Home Battery Life Up to 20 Hours Weight 2.1 lbs

You may like to check out – The Best 14-inch Laptops of 2020 – Top 10 Midsize Laptops

10. Razer Blade Stealth 13 Best 13-inch Gaming Laptop

Hands down the best 13-inch gaming laptop available today. Razer makes gaming laptops that are a dream of every gamer in the world. The Razer Blade Stealth is no different. It features a 13.3-inch display with full HD or 4K resolution and it has wide viewing angles and excellent color reproduction. The keyboard which the company calls Chroma Keyboard supports 16.8 million colors. A different color for each key and you’re still left with millions.

The Blade Stealth is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum and is then CNC milled that results in this sleek, 0.58-inch beautiful machine. The laptop is powered by 8th gen Intel Core i7-8565U processor with up to 4.6 GHz on Turbo Boost. This is further supported by 16GB of RAM and SSD storage of your choice (256GB, 512GB or 1TB).

As far as graphics are concerned, it has a dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX150 GPU which is efficacious for everyday productivity tasks and light photo editing. However, if you need more power, then this ultrabook also comes with GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU or it can be converted into a complete beast by plugging in the Razer Core X external GPU which of course costs extra ($300 at Razer Store + GPU of your choice).

So, the Razer Blade Stealth 13 is not only a perfect coffee table laptop, but it’s also a well-suited machine for power users and gamers when connected to the eGPU. However, all these bells and whistles come with a premium price tag which can go up to $2500 or even more, making it out of reach of budget buyers.

Hardware Specifications of Razer Blade Stealth 13 Processor Intel Core i7-8565U 1.8 GHz quad-core Processor (Turbo up to 4.6 GHz, 8MB Cache) RAM 16GB LPDDR3 2133 MHz RAM Storage 256GB PCIe M.2 SSD Graphics Nvidia GeForce MX150 4GB DDR5 Graphics + Razer Core eGPU Display 13.3 Inch Full HD 60Hz Display with 100% sRGB Operating System Windows 10 Home Battery Life Up to 11 Hours Weight 2.9 lbs