The best 13-inch laptop 2020: the top 13-inch laptops we've reviewed

The best 13-inch laptops are among the most portable laptops you can get. Surprisingly, they’re also very capable machines, able to keep up with a lot of their larger counterparts. Somehow, they manage to pack a lot of power into a very slim portable. That makes them ideal for anyone wanting something that can handle a workload and can be easily used on the go, whether that’s professionals who need a little more power or students looking for the most affordable portables.

Obviously, a bigger screen and more space for powerful internals will come with 15-inch laptops, but if a thinner form factor and portability are priorities, then you can't beat the best 13-inch laptops. That doesn’t mean that these portables are weak. In fact, they come equipped with a surprising amount of performance, able to take on some light gaming, music production, and photo editing. There’s a reason that you’ll find more than a few of them on best business laptops, best Ultrabooks, or best laptops lists. 

Regardless of if you’re looking for a specific brand like the best Acer laptops, a specific form factor like a 2-in-1 laptop, or trying to choose between the best Windows laptops or the best Macs, you’ll find one of the best 13-inch laptops here to match your needs.

Best 13-inch laptops on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Much like last year, many of the best 13-inch laptops are getting deep discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You should be able to find a 13-inch laptop on this list for much less, saving you more money to use for something else.

Whether you’re buying one of the best 13-inch laptops for you or as a gift for someone, it would be wise to wait until the major deal event of the year. Luckily, Black Friday and Cyber Monday rolls around at the end of November, so you won’t have to wait for long.

HP Spectre x360 (2020)

(Image credit: HP)

1. HP Spectre x360 (2020)

HP’s flagship 2-in-1 gets a 2020 refresh

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with Max-Q design | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, 3840 x 2160 pixels touch | Storage: 512 GB – 2TB SSD

Stylish and high-quality finish
Great all-around performance
Built-in security features are useful
Battery life takes a hit
Can run hot at times

HP’s beloved and highly praised 2-in-1 is back with a vengeance, this time with more powerful components like the 10th-generation Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Plus graphics. Of course, that impeccable 2-in-1 design and pristine gem-cut chassis are back, as are its security features and Bang & Olufsen speakers. That killer combination makes it, now more than ever, one of the best Windows laptops out there. Is it a wonder that this is one of our favorite laptops of 2020? If you care about aesthetics as much as you do performance and overall quality, this is the laptop for you.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 (2020)

Google Pixelbook Go

Google Pixelbook Go boasts many of its high-quality features, but without that steep price tag. (Image credit: Google)

2. Google Pixelbook Go

The best mainstream Chromebook

CPU: Intel Core m3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch Full HD – 13.3-inch 4K Ultra HD Molecular Display | Storage: 64GB – 256GB

Amazing ‘Hush’ keyboard
Rare 1080p webcam
No biometric login

If you’ve long been admiring Google’s premium Chromebook but the price is holding you back, then you might want to consider the new Google Pixelbook Go instead. Freshly-baked by Google, this alternative to the manufacturer’s pricey Pixelbook boasts many of its high-quality features, but without that steep price tag – namely, an incredible battery life and that coveted keyboard. If your computing use is limited to sending and responding to emails, creating documents and excel sheets on Google Docs and Sheets, and streaming movies and videos after work, then this one’s a winner.

Read the full review: Google Pixelbook Go

Dell XPS 13 (Late 2020)

(Image credit: Dell)

3. Dell XPS 13 (Late 2020)

Dell does it again

CPU: Up to 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 | Graphics: Up to Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: Up to 32GB 4267MHz LPDDR4x | Screen: 13.4" FHD+ (1920 x 1200) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500-Nit – 13.4" UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge Touch Anti-Reflective 500-Nit Display | Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe

Stunning design
Gorgeous 16:10 display
Excellent battery life
Sound quality is just OK
Pricey

At this point, we doubt that the Dell XPS line can do anything wrong. Its yearly updates have consistently made it to our best laptops list, and they’re only getting better. The Dell XPS 13 (2020) is not only a gorgeous piece of kit. It also comes, as expected, with excellent performance, a stunning display and long battery life, alongside a few others. Much like its predecessor, it’s a pricey investment – but that is barely reason enough for us to discourage Ultrabook fans. This is among the best 13-inch laptops of 2020, and it’s worth every penny.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2020) 

Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13-inch)

Surface Book 2 will handle your daily workload effortlessly and in style. (Image credit: Microsoft)

4. Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch)

Bigger isn’t always better: a memoir

CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD 620 – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch, 3,000 x 2,000 PixelSense display | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD

Very good battery life
Powerful 
Very expensive 
Not as powerful as 15-inch model

While the 13-inch version isn’t the most powerful Surface Book 2, it still makes for one of the best 13-inch laptops on the market. Whether you’re a professional or a creative or even a student, the Surface Book 2 will handle your daily workload effortlessly and in style. What’s more, the dynamic fulcrum hinge is much improved this time around, complementing the robust quad-core processor. And, unlike many other 2-in-1 laptops, the keyboard is removable to make it much more manageable, as well as thinner, when in tablet mode.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2

Surface Laptop 2 is one of the best 13-inch laptops right now. (Image credit: Microsoft)

5. Surface Laptop 2

Faster. Better. Stronger.

CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch, 2,256 x 1,504 PixelSense display | Storage: 128GB – 1TB SSD

Improved power
New black color scheme
Still no Thunderbolt 3

The early Surface Laptop had our vote for one of the best 13-inch laptops, due to its stunning screen, competent internals and solid build quality. We are, therefore, happy to see its sequel, the Surface Laptop 2, doing everything better and taking some features to a new level. You won’t find any major changes, but the faster 8th-generation CPUs, 8GB of RAM and, most importantly, the removal of Windows 10 S all add up to making the Surface Laptop 2 one of the best 13-inch laptops right now.

Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2

Razer Blade Stealth 13 (2019)

Razer has spruced up its Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook with the latest internal components without affecting its super-quiet operation. (Image credit: Razer)

6. Razer Blade Stealth 13 (2019)

Lightweight Razer style, now in white

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics – GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 13.3" FHD Matte w/ 4.9mm slim side bezel – 13.3" 4K Touch w/ 4.9mm slim side bezel | Storage: 512GB SSD

Top-notch build quality
Runs quietly
Battery life is solid 
Decidedly expensive
Limited storage space
Lacks a discrete GPU

The “world’s first gaming ultrabook” doesn't just talk the talk; it also walks the walk. Razer has spruced up its Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook with the latest internal components without affecting its super-quiet operation. Packed with a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and better graphic options, 13-inch laptop delivers and much better than its predecessor. In fact, it might just be the best gaming experience we’ve ever had on integrated graphics with the Iris Plus configuration. Round that out with extremely quiet fans, low thermal power, extended battery life and that delightful Mercury White color, and we are sold. You will be too, if you can afford the price.

Read the full review: Razer Blade Stealth 13 (2019) 

Lenovo Yoga C940

Lenovo Yoga C930 has a few aces up its sleeve. (Image credit: Lenovo)

7. Lenovo Yoga C940

The Lenovo Yoga is back and it means business

CPU: up to 10th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: up to 16GB | Screen: 14” FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, touchscreen, glossy, 400 nits –14" UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS, touchscreen, glossy, HDR 400, 500 nits | Storage: up to 2TB SSD PCIe

Excellent design
Great performance
Comfy keyboard
Expensive
Battery life

With the Lenovo Yoga C940, the company continues with its tradition of making elegant and stunning Ultrabooks. And, don't be thrown off by its looks, there's plenty of power hiding inside. With a comfortable keyboard, stylus, TrueBlock Privacy Shutter and rotating soundbar, it's quite a feature rich machine as well. It's not perfect - that soundbar is a work in progress and the battery life could be better - but it's a great portable that can stand up to the competition.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C940

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)

(Image credit: Apple)

8. MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)

Worth the upgrade at the highest configuration

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – 10th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 | RAM: up to 32GB | Screen: 13-inch Retina display with True Tone | Storage: 256GB – 4TB SSD | Dimensions (W x D x H): 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61 inches

Improved specs (on some models)
Larger capacity SSD for starting model
New keyboard is great
Entry-level model still has 8th gen Intel CPU
You still only get Thunderbolt 3 ports

The MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)’s entry-level model may miss out on some of the lineup’s new toys. However, going for the higher-end configurations will get you new (and powerful) Intel processors and improved RAM speeds for better performance, all packed into the 13-inch incredibly svelte body. Apple rounds it all out with that incredible Magic Keyboard from the new 16-inch, finally getting rid of that problematic keyboard. Even if you don’t go for the 10th-generation Intel Core configurations, you might still appreciate the fact that all models come with more storage capacity for the same price as their predecessors.

Read the full review: MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)

Lenovo Yoga C630

(Image credit: Lenovo)

9. Lenovo Yoga C630

Windows on Snapdragon redeemed?

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 Processor | Graphics: Integrated Qualcomm Graphics | RAM: up to 8GB | Screen: 13.3" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS multi-touch | Storage: up to 256GB SSD | Connectivity: Qualcomm Snapdragon X20 LTE | Camera: 720p HD Camera

4G connectivity
Huge battery life
Thin and light design
Windows 10 S mode useless
Limited app compatibility

Though previous Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops have fallen short in terms of performance, the Lenovo Yoga C630 has proven otherwise, offering users with an excellent performance for daily workloads, power-hungry tasks and even intensive games. It’s not perfect, but it does the job. And the integration of 4G connectivity is highly useful when you’re on the go and need an Internet connection. If you’re looking for one of the best 13-inch laptops that’s lightweight, both inside and out, this is a top choice.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C630

HP Envy x360 13 (2019)

HP Envy x360 13 (2019) boasts a premium build, 9 hours of video playback and a stellar performance. (Image credit: HP)

10. HP Envy x360 13 (2019)

HP gives its slimline laptop an AMD upgrade

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3300U – AMD Ryzen 7 3700U | Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 6 – Radeon Vega 10 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3" diagonal FHD IPS (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 256 GB – 1TB SSD

Slim and sleek for a 2-in-1
High quality chassis
Improved battery life
CPU performance merely adequate
Graphics performance disappointing

Thanks to its sleek 13-inch design, this 2-in-1 is slimmer that you would have expected, which works in your favor when using it in tablet mode. There are other excellent reasons why you must consider the HP Envy x360 (2019) when sorting through the best 13-inch laptops on the market. This one boasts a premium build, 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, all without burning a hole in your pocket.

Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019)

Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/36LzOTG

Comments

Popular Posts