The Best 13 inch Laptop You Can Buy in 2023
Last Updated on December 5, 2022
Smaller laptops used to mean fewer features and lower performance, but that’s no longer the case. These days, you can find some of the best laptops on the market in the 13-inch category. If you’re looking for a balance between capability and bulkiness, this is a perfect size.
Looking for the perfect gift idea this holiday season? Try this FREE AI-powered gift-finding tool at Giftly.ai, an intuitive tool that personalizes gift suggestions based on a person's interests and your budget. Try it now, and experience the ease of finding the ideal gift in seconds!
The best 13 inch laptops offer a good balance of capability and convenience – they’re not as bulky as most 15-inch laptops, but they still pack a punch in terms of performance and features. So, if you’re in the market for a new laptop and don’t want to compromise on size, then check out our list of the best 13 inch laptops currently available.
Which 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 Gadgets Today we’ve picked the latest and best of class 13 inch laptops. Read on…
1. Dell XPS 13 Plus
Best Laptop Overall
PROS
+ Lightweight
+ Carbon fiber touch
+ Aluminum body
+ Small form factor
+ Extremely quick
CONS
– Battery life can be improved
– Gets warm
– No headphone jack
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is our pick for the best laptop overall because it ticks so many boxes. It’s stylish and well-built, with a great selection of ports and a stunning display. Plus, it’s powered by a 12th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and has 16GB of RAM, making it one of the more powerful machines on our list. It’s also affordably priced, making it a great value for your money. In short, if you’re looking for the best all-around laptop experience, the Dell XPS 13 Plus should be at the top of your list.
2. MacBook Air 13 inch M2
Best 13 inch Laptop for Mac
PROS
- Strikingly thin design
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera
- Four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio
- Up to 18 hours of battery life
- MagSafe charging port
- Big, beautiful display
CONS
- Not ideal for gaming
- lacks a cooling fan
The MacBook Air 13 inch M2 has several features that make it an ideal laptop for anyone looking for a portable and powerful device. Firstly, its design is incredibly thin and lightweight, making it easy to carry around with you. Secondly, the newly released M2 chip provides enhanced performance, meaning you can get more done faster. Finally, the battery life is excellent, allowing you to use the laptop for up to 18 hours without needing to recharge.
In terms of connectivity, the MacBook Air 13 inch M2 comes with two Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack, making it easy to connect to other devices. It also has a MagSafe charging port, so you can easily charge your laptop when needed. In terms of audio and visuals, the laptop has a beautiful 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with over 500 nits of brightness. This new model has a FaceTime Full HD 1080p Camera which is an upgrade from the previous model that only had a 720p camera. The audio is also excellent, thanks to the built-in stereo speakers.
Overall, the MacBook Air 13 inch M2 is an excellent laptop that is perfect for anyone who needs a lightweight and reliable device. It has a stunning design, great performance, and long battery life, making it a great choice for anyone who needs a laptop that can do it all.
3. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
Best Business 13 inch Laptop
PROS
- Extremely lightweight and portable
- Good keyboard and touchpad
- Powerful processor and plenty of RAM
- Solid security features
CONS
- Battery life could be better
- Keyboard is a bit cramped
The first thing that you’ll notice about the ThinkPad X1 Nano is its stunning 13″ Dolby Vision display. Whether you opt for the touchscreen or non-touchscreen version, this laptop’s visuals are sure to impress. Powered by up to 12th Gen Intel Core i7 vPro processors and up to 32GB of memory, the ThinkPad X1 Nano zips through everything effortlessly.
Designed with on-the-go performance and responsiveness in mind, this 13″ laptop comes with two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, so you can enjoy lightning-fast data transfers and the flexibility of multiple hi-res displays. The fingerprint reader ensures that only you can access your ThinkPad X1 Nano, keeping your data safe and secure.
Whether you’re in the office or on the go, the ThinkPad X1 Nano is the perfect business companion.
4. MacBook Pro 13 M2
Best Apple 13 inch Laptop – Read full review
PROS
- Apple M2 chip
- Simple and easy to use
- Cooling fan
- Long battery life
CONS
- Only two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
- Same design as the previous generation
The MacBook Pro 13 inch M2 is a powerful and portable laptop. It has a next-generation 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU and up to 24GB of unified memory. It also has up to 20 hours of battery life.
The MacBook Pro 13 inch with the M2 chip is also sustainably performing with an active cooling system that allows it to run CPU- and GPU-intensive tasks for hours on end. In addition, the MacBook Pro 13 inch M2 has a brilliant Retina display. It is also versatile with two Thunderbolt ports that let you connect and power high-speed accessories.
Lastly, the MacBook Pro 13 inch M2 is simply compatible with all your go-to apps including Microsoft 365. It is a great laptop for Zoom, and many of your favorite creative apps.
5. Asus ROG Flow X13
Best 13 inch Laptop for Gaming
PROS
- Powerful processor and graphics card
- Lots of ports
- Can be used with an external graphics card for even more power
- XG Mobile
- Lightweight and portable
CONS
- Some might find the 13 inch screen too small for gaming
- Combined microphone/headset port
- Battery could be better
The Asus ROG Flow X13 is one of the best 13 inch laptops for gaming. It is ultralight and compact, yet still packs a punch with its cutting-edge processors up to a Ryzen 9 6900HS. The discrete GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU makes everyday play smooth and silky.
The ROG XG Mobile reinvents external graphics by combining performance and versatility with true portability. Despite being 7% of the size of typical eGPUs, this device harnesses up to an AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. The Asus ROG Flow X13 is truly a versatile gaming machine that can handle any task thrown its way.
6. HP Pavilion Aero 13
Best Budget 13 inch Laptop
PROS
- Ultra-lightweight design
- HP Pavilion Aero 13
- Enjoy remarkable life-like visuals
- Powerful AMD Processor
- Fast Wi-Fi speeds
- HP Fast Charge
CONS
- keyboard markings/colors
The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is one of the best budget 13 inch laptops you can find. It’s incredibly lightweight and portable, making it perfect for carrying with you on the go. The 16:10 micro-edge display is stunning, with superb color, brightness, and a flicker-free screen.
The AMD Processor provides ample power for all your needs, while the fast Wi-Fi speeds allow you to connect to the internet quickly and easily. HP Fast Charge ensures that your laptop always has plenty of power, even when you’re on the go. 100% sRGB means that your creations will look their best, with beautiful detail and accurate colors.
The 400 nits of brightness make this laptop perfect for use in any lighting conditions. Overall, the HP Pavilion Aero Laptop 13 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a powerful and portable laptop that won’t break the bank.
7. Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
Best 13 inch Chromebook
PROS
- Battery life is great,
- Touchscreen display allowing you to use the laptop as a tablet when needed.
- Lightweight
CONS
- 128 GB of storage space may not be enough for some users.
The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook is a great choice for anyone looking for the best 13 inch laptop under $500. It comes with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, making it a great choice for students or anyone who needs a reliable and fast laptop. The touchscreen display is also a nice feature, allowing you to use the laptop as a tablet when needed.
One of the best features of the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook is its battery life. With up to 10 hours of battery life, you can easily use this laptop all day without having to worry about recharging. This is perfect for students who need to be able to take their laptops with them to class all day.
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.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the best 13-inch laptop on the market, then our top pick is the Dell XPS 13 Plus. It’s a great all-rounder that offers excellent performance, a beautiful design, and a great range of features. If you’re a Mac user, then our pick for the best 13-inch MacBook is the MacBook Air 13 inch with the new M2 chip. It’s incredibly lightweight and portable, yet still packs a punch in terms of power and features.
And if you’re looking for a business-oriented 13-inch laptop, then our pick is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano. It’s incredibly thin and light, yet still offers all the features and performance you need for business use. Whichever option you choose, you’re sure to find a great 13-inch laptop that meets your needs.
Last update on 2023-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
