Verdict
All guidesMethodologyAboutContact
The Best 5Reviewed by Mike Hun·May 20, 2026

Best Thin and Light Laptops

Top 5 thin and light laptops reviewed and ranked.

Quick answer

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 is our top pick for thin and light laptops — an averaged 4.8/5 across 1 published review at about $1,899. Runner-up: Apple MacBook Air M4 (~$1,099).

Read the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 review →$1,899 · Check Price on Amazon

At a glance

Tap any product for the full review
1Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14Top Score
(1 source)
$1,899Best for: business travelers, developers, and writers who value keyboard quality and long-term durability
$1,899 · Check Price on Amazon
2Apple MacBook Air M4
(1 source)
$1,099Best for: Apple-ecosystem users who want battery life, silence, and the M4 chip
$1,099 · Check Price on Amazon
3Dell XPS 14 (2026)
(1 source)
$1,499Best for: Windows users who want the iconic XPS design and the option of a discrete GPU
$1,499 · Check Price on Amazon
4LG Gram Pro 17
(1 source)
$1,599Best for: users who want a desktop-replacement display in a luggable weight
$1,599 · Check Price on Amazon
5ASUS Zenbook S14
(1 source)
$1,299Best for: Windows users who want OLED display and a distinctive design
$1,299 · Check Price on Amazon
Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.
Reviews aggregated from
TechozeaUltrabookreviewTom's GuideTom's Hardware

The full ranking

How we rank →
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14
#1 · Top Score
Best for: business travelers, developers, and writers who value keyboard quality and long-term durability
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14
from 1 source$1,899

The X1 Carbon Gen 14 is the best-overall thin-and-light pick. Lenovo's flagship business ultrabook at 2.17 lb. Class-leading keyboard, repairable internals, and a 5-year support cycle make it the long-term durable pick.

Strengths
  • — 2.17 lb — lightest 14" laptop in this lineup, period
  • — Carbon-fiber lid and magnesium-alloy chassis
Watch-outs
  • — $1899 is the most expensive pick — ThinkPad pricing has always been a premium
  • — Display is matte 1080p IPS standard — pay extra for 2.8K OLED upgrade
$1,899 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Apple MacBook Air M4 →
Apple MacBook Air M4
#2
Best for: Apple-ecosystem users who want battery life, silence, and the M4 chip
Apple MacBook Air M4
from 1 source$1,099

The MacBook Air M4 is the macOS pick. M4 chip plus 18-hour battery plus fanless design — the spec sheet that no Windows laptop has matched yet. Best for Apple-ecosystem users, students, and anyone who values battery and silence above raw multicore numbers.

Strengths
  • — M4 chip delivers desktop-class single-core performance in a fanless 2.7-lb chassis
  • — 18-hour rated battery / 11-13 hours real-world
Watch-outs
  • — macOS-only — Windows software requires Parallels or other workarounds
  • — 8GB base RAM is real — bump to 16GB+ for serious workloads
$1,099 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 →
Dell XPS 14 (2026)
#3
Best for: Windows users who want the iconic XPS design and the option of a discrete GPU
Dell XPS 14 (2026)
from 1 source$1,499

The XPS 14 is the Windows premium-design pick. Dell's signature InfinityEdge plus the optional RTX 4050 makes it the only thin-and-light here that can game and create on the side. Reliability concerns from prior generations are partly addressed in the 2026 refresh.

Strengths
  • — Edge-to-edge keyboard + capacitive function row — iconic XPS aesthetic refined
  • — InfinityEdge 4-side narrow bezel display
Watch-outs
  • — Capacitive function row remains polarizing — no tactile feedback
  • — Thermal throttling under sustained load
$1,499 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 →
LG Gram Pro 17
#4
Best for: users who want a desktop-replacement display in a luggable weight
LG Gram Pro 17
from 1 source$1,599

The LG Gram Pro 17 is the large-screen-but-light pick. 17" at under 4 lb is unique — no competitor matches the size-to-weight ratio. Best for users who want a desktop replacement they can actually carry.

Strengths
  • — 17" display in a 3.84 lb chassis — lighter than many 14" laptops
  • — LG's proprietary Aerominum™ chassis material
Watch-outs
  • — 17" footprint doesn't fit in standard backpack laptop sleeves
  • — Battery (10 hours) trails MacBook Air M4
$1,599 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 →
ASUS Zenbook S14
#5
Best for: Windows users who want OLED display and a distinctive design
ASUS Zenbook S14
from 1 source$1,299

The Zenbook S14 is the Windows OLED pick. 3K OLED in a 2.65-lb chassis with Ceraluminum finish — a different aesthetic from ThinkPad business and Apple minimalism. Best for design-conscious Windows users who want OLED at this size.

Strengths
  • — Ceraluminum chassis — ceramic-aluminum composite that resists scratches
  • — 14" 3K OLED display
Watch-outs
  • — Ceraluminum finish shows fingerprints easily
  • — Keyboard travel is shallow even by ultrabook standards
$1,299 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 →

Spec comparison

5 products
SpecLenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14Apple MacBook Air M4Dell XPS 14 (2026)LG Gram Pro 17ASUS Zenbook S14
CPUIntel Core Ultra 7Apple M4Intel Core Ultra 7Intel Core Ultra 7Intel Core Ultra 7
Weight2.17 lb2.7 lb3 lb3.84 lb2.65 lb
Display14" 1080p IPS (OLED upgrade)13" / 15" Liquid Retina14.5" InfinityEdge17" WQXGA+ IPS14" 3K OLED
Build—100% recycled aluminumMachined aluminum——

Frequently asked questions

What is the best thin and light laptop?
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 is our top pick for thin and light laptops, with an averaged rating of 4.8/5 from 1 published reviews. The X1 Carbon Gen 14 is the best-overall thin-and-light pick. Lenovo's flagship business ultrabook at 2.17 lb. Class-leading keyboard, repairable internals, and a 5-year support cycle make it the long-term durable pick.
Is there a cheaper alternative worth considering?
Apple MacBook Air M4 (around $1,099) rates 4.8/5 in our analysis. The MacBook Air M4 is the macOS pick. M4 chip plus 18-hour battery plus fanless design — the spec sheet that no Windows laptop has matched yet. Best for Apple-ecosystem users, students, and anyone who values battery and silence above raw multicore numbers.
How does Verdict rank these products?
Every rating on Verdict is the numerical average of scores published by independent review sites, YouTube reviewers, and Reddit buyer reports. No editor adjusts the order — the ranking is whatever the source data produces. See our methodology page for the full process.
When was this guide last updated?
This guide was last re-checked in May 2026. We re-run our research pipeline for each category on a rolling basis so prices and rankings reflect current market reality.

Related guides

Browse all →