Last Updated on August 28, 2020 by Karen Maldonado
Exploring the best 13 inch laptop
The 13 inch laptop form factor is very popular especially among frequent travelers. It is also favored by those who value mobility and freedom.
At TechGadgetsToday we researched the latest 13 inch laptops available on the market today. See our recommendations below and find the best 13 inch laptop that meets your needs.
The best 13 inch laptop at a glance
Why choose a 13 inch laptop
The 13 inch laptop are the sweet spot between the 15/17 inch and the 11 inch screen sizes. Bigger screen sized laptops can be heavier and bulkier to lug around. Smaller screen sizes such as the 11 inch laptops can be too small to be productive.
Who needs a 13 inch laptop?
Students are the number one target market for 13 inch laptops. A 13 inch laptop makes a perfect laptop for students who want a smaller and lighter laptop to carry around between classes. Business people who travel a lot are also candidates for a smaller 13 inch laptop.
A 13 inch laptop is best for air travel as it fits nicely on airplane trays. But in general, for anyone who likes to use a laptop in different rooms around the house or on the porch or backyard.
What is the best 13 inch laptop?
The best 13 inch laptop is one that has a good display, a long battery life and enough processing power.
At Tech GadgetsToday we picked the latest and best of class 13 inch laptops. Most of the laptops we picked have an Intel i7 processor, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD Solid State Drives.
Some of the laptops we recommend have a 4K display – such as the Dell XPS and the HP Spectre x360. You may ask “is 4k worth it on a 13 inch laptop?” and yes, we think it is worth it. When you have a small screen you may need the highest quality screen to make up for the smaller size. This will add more functionality to your laptop. You may use it for photo editing, or other creative work.
We recommend five 13 inch laptops that are powerful and capable each in its own way. Each of the Dell, HP and Lenovo 13 inch laptops are convertible, so you can use it as a tablet as well. The XPS and the Spectre also feature a 4K touch screen display.
To save our readers some time, we did the research and picked 5 laptops to help you choose the best 13 inch laptop that fits your specific needs.
For students majoring in engineering see: 5 Best Laptops for Engineering Students
THE BEST 13 INCH LAPTOP YOU CAN BUY TODAY
1. DELL XPS 13 INCH LAPTOP
Our overall winner
The Dell XPS 13 is one of the most powerful 13 inch laptops available today. A 10th Generation Intel Quad Core processor powers the laptop. This allows you to run more than one application at the same time.
You can equip your Dell XPS with up to 32GB of RAM, which gives you the freedom to multitask. Storage goes up to 2TB of solid state drive storage. This is more than enough to store larger files such as videos.
A brief look at some of the Dell XPS features:
The screen, especially the 4K display, is very vivid and bright. you can even use it outdoors. The colors are vibrant and life-like thanks to the 100% sRGB color spectrum and a 1500:1 contrast ratio.
Add to that a small screen bezel – InfinityEdge display- with an 80.7% screen to body ratio. This allows you to enjoy the high resolution screen in a smaller form factor.
Webcam is high quality with a 4-element lens which delivers sharp video and reduces noise.
Longer battery life – with the new Dell XPS 13 you can get up to 19 hours on the Full HD model, and up to 11 hours on the 4K model.
Advanced Wi-Fi 6 technology of up to 2.4 Gbps. It is perfect for streaming video, online games and video conferencing.
Build: The XPS 13 is well built and sturdy and lightweight (2.7 lbs) Constructed of a single block of aluminum. The Corning Gorilla glass screen is strong and less prone to breakage
Design: The design is clean and the laptop has a modern look and feel. It has a small footprint. You can use it on a small coffee table or on an airplane tray table.
Efficient cooling technology. The Dell 13 inch XPS has dual fans and cooling pipes to keep your laptop cool during intensive computing.
Security – You can use the built-in Fingerprint sensor to login and out of your laptop. This adds an extra layer of security.
Voice activation – The XPS 13 laptop has 4 built-in microphones. You can control your laptop by using your voice from up to 14 feet away.
Connectivity – 3 USB-C ports allow you to connect up 2 two 4K monitors, as well as other devices.
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 13.3” 4K Ultra HD (3840×2160) Touch
- Storage: 512GB SSD
PROS
- 4K touch screen
- Quality HD webcam
- Long battery life
- Stylish and elegant
- Sturdy construction
CONS
- Price
TODAY’S DEAL
2. HP SPECTRE X360
A close runnerup
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 13.3″ 4K UHD touch
- Storage: 512GB SSD
PROS
- 4K touch screen
- Convertible 2 in 1
- HP Digital Pen
- Fullsize back-lit keyboard
CONS
- Battery life
- No SD card reader
TODAY’S DEAL
3. LENOVO YOGA C640
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i7 10th Gen
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4 2400MHz
- Screen: 13.3″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, anti-glare, touch
- Storage: 512 GB PCIe SSD
PROS
- Super light, weighing just 2.98 lbs
- 2-in-1 laptop
- Dolby Atmos™ speakers
- Privacy & security features
CONS
- RAM is soldered on motherboard
TODAY’S DEAL
4. MACBOOK AIR
Best Selling 13 inch laptop
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i3 10th Gen with Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
- Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- RAM: 8GB
- Screen: 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone technology
- Storage: 512GB SSD
PROS
- Backlit Magic Keyboard and Touch ID
- 12 hours wireless web battery life
CONS
- SSD and RAM soldered on motherboard
- All ports are USB-C
TODAY’S DEAL
5. ASUS ZENBOOK 13
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i7 10th Gen
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 16GB
- Screen: 13.3 inch Full HD NanoEdge bezel display
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
PROS
- Touchpad with switchable numeric keypad
- ErgoLift hinge and Ergonomic keyboard
- Optimized cooling system
- Enhanced audio performance
CONS
- Keyboard layout
- No touch screen
TODAY’S DEAL
Final Thoughts
Our top recommendation for the best 13 inch laptop is the Dell XPS 13. The newest XPS is a well balanced laptop. It combines power and portability in a durable and stylish machine.
The XPS screen is stunning, especially the 4K model. The webcam is precise and produces sharp images. Battery power is admirable. All this makes the XPS a very practical tool for education, business and social media.
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Roundup of today’s best deals on 13 inch laptops
Last update on 2020-09-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API