Best travel laptop in January 2024: 5 portable picks

We discuss the contenders for the best laptop for travel - covering different operating systems, budgets, and screen sizes

Table of Contents Table of Contents

If you’re looking for the best travel laptop currently available, we’ve got the best picks on the market here for your consideration. We’ll be covering a range of options including Windows laptops, MacBooks, 2-in-1 convertible devices, a laptop you can game on, and a budget-friendly option.

We regularly keep our buying guides updated with the latest products, should we deem them worthy of inclusion, so you can rest assured that these are the best options available at any given time. If you’re pressed for time, we suggest either the MacBook Air 2022 13.6″ if you’re open to using the Mac operating system, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 if you’re after a Windows laptop, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 if you fancy a 2-in-1, tablet-like device.

Which is the best-sized laptop for travel?

The best size laptop for traveling is subjective to a point, depending on your personal needs and preferences, however, we can say in terms of screen size it’s somewhere in the 12 – 14 inch range. 15.6 inches is the standard laptop screen size and you can travel with these depending on the size of your bag and your own personal willingness/ability to carry larger devices, however, you will find it difficult to use a 15-inch machine on a fold-down tray table on a plane/coach/train for instance, whereas a 14-inch or smaller device should probably work fine for this. All of the laptops in our guide will therefore be within this size range, though by the time you get to 12 inches you’re really dealing with a small display that’s usually too small for most people’s needs.

Today’s best laptop deals

---

Best travel laptop 2024

Best all-round laptop for travel

MacBook Air 2022 (13.6″, M2)

CPU & graphics

M2 chipset

RAM

8GB

Storage

256GB SSD

Max Refresh Rate

60Hz

Resolution

2560 x 1664

Screen Size

13.6-inch

How We Review

Shop on Amazon Check Price

Pros

• fairly powerful M2 chipset
• bright and colorful screen
• excellent battery life
• superb build quality
• solid speakers
• solid webcam
• looks great
• light and portable

Cons

• most options limited to 8GB of RAM
• higher-specced RAM & SSD options can get pricey
• webcam notch on top of screen can be irritating

If you don’t mind using macOS – the Apple operating system – rather than Windows, then the 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air is the best all-round travel laptop on the market. It offers a combination of portability, durability, a great keyboard and trackpad, a nice strong battery life, and a quality webcam.

You can pick up the 15″ MacBook Air with very similar specs for a slightly higher price if your bag has the space for this size, as it remains a very thin and lightweight machine, but for most of those looking for a travel laptop, the 13–inch model offers much better portability.

The M2 chipset the latest MacBook Air comes with delivers impressive performance for such a slim device and can handle non-demanding video editing workflows and light gaming. Despite its power, the chipset is highly energy-efficient, providing the MacBook Air with a fantastic battery life of approximately 11-13 hours for general usage and web browsing. The Liquid Retina IPS display features a high resolution and contrast, with a peak brightness of 500 nits, making it a bright screen suitable for outdoor use.

As is typical with Apple products, these laptops come at a premium. Nevertheless, the MacBook Air is considered one of the more reasonably priced models in Apple’s line-up. If you’re comfortable with 8GB of RAM and the base 256GB SSD size (which you can supplement with an external hard drive), you can get the base model at a fairly competitive price. Keep in mind though that additional RAM and SSD storage upgrades can be costly, and these components cannot be upgraded after purchase, which is annoying because 16GB memory and a 512GB SSD would be our ideal.

The most robust, secure travel laptop with an excellent keyboard

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (14″)

CPU

Intel Core i5-1135G7 / i7-1165G7 / i7-1185G7

graphics

Intel Iris Xe (iGPU)

RAM

up to 16GB LPDDR4x (4266MHz)

Storage

up to 1TB SSD

Max Refresh Rate

60Hz

Resolution

1920 x 1200 / 3840 x 2400

How We Review

Shop on Amazon Check Price

Check price

Pros

• arguably the best laptop keyboard for typing
• matte screen minimises reflective glare
• excellent battery life
• very tough build quality
• additional security features

Cons

• somewhat pricey
• utilitarian aesthetic

The Lenovo ThinkPad series is generally recognized as the leading brand of business laptops; known for producing rugged, secure devices with excellent keyboards that offer arguably the best typing experience, matte displays that reduce glare, and superior file security. The premium option of the range is the ThinkPad X1 Carbon series. The latest iteration, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11, has the most powerful CPU options, specifically Intel’s 13th-gen laptop CPUs, and the latest DDR5 RAM. The generation before, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 featured Intel’s 12th-gen laptop CPUs and also DDR5 RAM. However, our preferred choice remains the Gen 9 due to its cost-effectiveness and superior battery duration. The Gen 9 offers a remarkable 13-15 hours of battery life whereas the Gen 10 model, gives around 8-10 hours, which is still decent.

The keyboard is an unusual design, combining aspects of a low-travel chiclet keyboard, like those on a MacBook, with a tactile mechanical keyboard, making it a very satisfying typing experience. What’s more, the keys are ergonomically shaped with perfect size and spacing to minimize typing errors. The trackpad is also of high quality. The entire laptop is built to military standards, featuring a MIL-STD 810G certified chassis, making it robust enough to endure drops, shocks, and extreme temperature variations, perfect for traveling with.

Other features include an InfraRed webcam with Windows Hello, Kensington lock, fingerprint sensor, and TPM 2.0 data encryption for your files and ThinkShield software – ideal for business users dealing with sensitive documents. You get a decent array of ports and sockets, including an HDMI port and an optional Nano SIM slot, plus an RJ-45 Ethernet port in some models.

This isn’t a nice-looking laptop, unless you’ve got a thing for retro utilitarian business computers. Additionally, the asking price can still be a bit steep, although you do get quality for your money. You could also however, also consider the cheaper ThinkPad E14 G3, another 14-inch option that sacrifices some features such as speaker and webcam quality but retains the advantages of a matte screen, rugged design, security features, and an excellent keyboard.

Best 2-in-1 laptop for travel

Microsoft Surface Pro 8

CPU

Intel Core i5-1135G7 / i7-1185G7

Display

13-inch, 2280 x 1920 pixels, 120Hz

RAM

8GB/16GB

Storage

128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB SSD

Touchscreen?

Yes

Ports

2x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, Surface connect port, Headphone jack

How We Review

Shop on Amazon Check Price

Check price

Pros

• 2-in-1 functionality
• Sharp 120Hz screen with great sRGB color replication
• Solid speakers
• Good build quality
• Now available for a reasonable price

Cons

• No USB-A ports
• Optional keyboard & stylus/pen can get pricey

The Microsoft Surface Pro series is a leading line of ‘convertible laptops’ or ‘2-in-1 laptops’ that are popular with business people – essentially devices that combine the functionality of both a laptop and a tablet. Unlike most 2-in-1 laptop designs where the bottom section hinges back around to create a tablet form factor, the Surface Pro more closely resembles a tablet with a detachable keyboard that clips magnetically to the bottom and also has an in-built kickstand for propping up the screen. Compared to the majority of ‘full’ tablets that are Android-based, the Surface series uses the Windows operating system, giving users a laptop-like experience while offering touchscreen functionality, stylus/pen support, and tablet-like portability.

The model we’ve selected is the Microsoft Surface Pro 8, which isn’t the latest model in the Surface Pro lineup (that would be the Surface Pro 9) but it is the one that makes the most sense for most consumers. The design between these two generations is very similar, with the only big difference being the choice of CPU. The Surface Pro 9 is equipped with options for either Intel 12th-gen CPUs or Microsoft SQ3 processors. In contrast, the Surface Pro 8 features Intel 11th-gen CPUs, but offers better value for users who don’t necessarily require a powerful CPU for their daily work; the available RAM is often more critical for web browsing and general productivity.

Both models come with two USB-C ports and a headphone jack, as well as a 13-inch, 2280 x 1920, 120Hz display. The resolution and pixel density (267ppi) are quite high for a 13-inch device. The screen’s brightness peaks at around 330 nits, which is sufficient, and it covers over 100% of the sRGB color space with a color accuracy of around 1.24 (average deltaE*00), making it suitable for light and accurate color workflows. One drawback is the lack of a USB-A port, but you can address this by purchasing a separate USB hub to connect to one of the USB-C ports.

One final note: make sure your model comes with an included keyboard and pen/stylus, should you want these features. These can often add to the cost substantially, which is annoying, but there are some good deals out there.

Best affordable laptop for travel

Dell XPS 13 (Intel i5-1135G7)

CPU

Intel Core i5-1135G7

Graphics

Intel Iris Xe

RAM

8GB/16GB

Storage

256GB/512GB SSD

Screen Size

13.3”

Max Refresh Rate

60Hz

How We Review

Shop on Amazon Check Price

Pros

• Good quality keyboard & trackpad
• Decent to great battery life, depending on the model
• Looks great
• Terrific overall build quality
• Micro SD card reader

Cons

• Overall port coverage could be better
• Newer models can be pricey

The Dell XPS 13 range covers different generations of laptops that are all great-looking, slimline, well-made devices that seek to offer a Windows alternative to the MacBook series. Although they don’t always quite manage to achieve this aim, they’re definitely quality machines and any one of them you pick, whether it has newer-gen tech or is an older model, will do great as a travel laptop, particularly the more compact 13-inch models

In terms of our specific pick though, we’ve selected one of the slightly older models with an 11th-generation Intel processor as it still offers plenty of power for general productivity but is now available for a very reasonable price. By contrast, the newer models can be quite a bit more pricey, and the upgrades they bring are fairly unnecessary for most consumers.

All versions of the XPS series offer an aesthetically pleasing design. The peak brightness of the display might not quite match that of the MacBooks, but still exceeds the typical brightness levels of Windows laptops in the same price range. The keyboard and trackpad quality are both impressive, although the port selection can be somewhat limited (usually USB-C only), you can always expand this with a USB port hub, should you need to.

Best gaming laptop for travel

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023)

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS / 9 7940HS

Graphics

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 / 4070 / 4080 / 4090

RAM

16GB/32GB/64GB DDR5

Storage

512GB/1TB/2TB SSD

Screen Size

14.3″

Max Refresh Rate

165Hz

How We Review

Hands-on Review

Shop on Amazon Check Price

Check price

Pros

• MUX Switch
• great gaming performance for a smaller laptop
• great response time
• 16:10 screen gives more vertical space
• great color replication
• superb peak brightness
• great trackpad
• good battery life
• good array of ports, including MicroSD slot
• decent speakers
• light and portable
• looks great

Cons

• keyboard build quality and backlighting could be improved
• no ethernet caps your internet to 1Gpbs
• difficult to navigate onboard software

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 has consistently been one of the best gaming laptops year after year. Since its initial release in 2001, it has remained a top choice for those seeking a great 14-inch gaming laptop, and ASUS continues to make improvements with each new model. Its portability, 16:10 display, MicroSD slot, and fairly bright screen also make it an excellent dual-use machine for general productivity and creative use.

The 2023 edition builds on the strengths of its predecessor, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022), which we reviewed and tested in-depth. If you’re looking for a more cost-effective solution, the 2022 model is still a superb mobile gaming device, even the 2001 model is still a solid machine. The latest model however, features several improvements, including a higher maximum refresh rate of 165Hz, upgraded Nvidia GeForce 40-series graphics cards, AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors, and various minor enhancements on top of this. It still offers a vibrant 16:10 display with a fast response time, accurate color reproduction, a good selection of ports given its compact size, and surprisingly impressive speakers, which are not commonly found in gaming laptops.

You have the option to choose between the Ryzen 7 7735HS or 9 7940HS processors, which can be paired with an RTX 4060, 4070, 4080, or 4090 GPU based on your desired level of performance and budget. Regardless of your choice, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 remains an outstanding upper mid-range portable gaming laptop that can also handle creative software workflows with ease.

---

Things to consider before buying a laptop for travel

Have a read of the below points before you pull the trigger on a new travel laptop purchase, just to make sure it’s the right option for you.

Is it better to travel with a laptop or tablet?

Tablets are generally more portable than laptops, however, they do not have the level of functionality you’ll get with a laptop device. As a rule of thumb, if you’re only interested in browsing the web and watching videos on your device, then a tablet is probably the best option to travel with. If however, you plan on working or gaming, or doing anything that requires the use of a keyboard, or you need greater processing power for some sort of creative software or workstation program, then a laptop is the better traveling companion. 2-in-1 laptops / convertible laptops are often a good middle ground, but they’re usually heavier than pure tablet devices.

Best travel laptop FAQs

Should you take a laptop when traveling?

Laptops are obviously expensive devices, so if you’re traveling anywhere where there’s a risk of it getting stolen then you might want to think twice about it. The other risk is the laptop getting damaged when you’re traveling, so we’d suggest a padded case to cover it within your bag, plus you may want to think about a laptop designed with ruggedness in mind (we have one such selection in our guide).

If you’re doing a regular, safe commute though then a laptop can be very useful indeed to maximize your flexibility and the efficiency of your working time.

What is the lightest laptop for travel?

The lightest laptop for travel would be a 12-inch device, though this is usually too small a display for most people’s needs.

The 13.3-inch MacBook Air is a definite contender, however, certainly in terms of being the best light laptop for travel, weighing a mere 2.7 pounds or 1.24kg. Lighter devices do exist but we wouldn’t recommend them over this one.

Best travel laptop 2024: Final Word

We trust you are now fully up to speed on what is the best travel laptop for your needs. Do be sure to have a look at some of our other guides if you’re still not sure, such as our best laptop under $1,000 guide, and our best gaming laptop guide.