New Delhi: Ultraportable laptops have become increasingly capable while continuing to shed weight. For students, professionals and frequent travellers, today’s thin-and-light machines can combine compact designs with capable processors, long battery life and high-resolution displays.

Unlike traditional laptops, ultraportable models are designed around mobility. Most have screens of 14 inches or smaller and weigh around 1.5kg or less, making them easier to carry between home, office, college and travel destinations.

The segment now includes everything from relatively affordable everyday laptops to premium business machines and 2-in-1 models. Here are 10 ultraportable laptops worth considering in 2026 for different requirements.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5

The 13-inch MacBook Air with Apple’s M5 chip combines a compact design with performance aimed at everyday productivity and more demanding creative workloads. The laptop has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display and supports up to 18 hours of battery life, according to Apple.

The M5 MacBook Air also starts with 512GB of storage, supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports alongside MagSafe charging. Apple positions it for students, professionals and creative users who need a portable macOS machine.

Apple MacBook Neo

The MacBook Neo is positioned as a more affordable entry point into Apple’s laptop range. It has a 13-inch Liquid Retina display and uses Apple’s A18 Pro chip.

The machine comes with 8GB unified memory and either 256GB or 512GB SSD storage. Apple claims up to 16 hours of video streaming and up to 11 hours of wireless web use. It also has two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Its compact size makes it suitable for students and everyday users handling web browsing, documents, online classes, video calls and other routine workloads.

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13 remains a compact Windows option for users who want a small laptop without moving to a larger screen. The 2026 model weighs around 1kg and is available with Intel processors, with configurations offering up to 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage.

The display can be configured with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Its compact chassis makes the XPS 13 suitable for students, office workers and people who regularly move between different work locations.

ASUS Zenbook A14

The ASUS Zenbook A14 places particular emphasis on low weight and battery endurance. The laptop weighs around 990 grams, while ASUS claims more than 33 hours of continuous video playback on supported configurations.

It features a 14-inch OLED display and Snapdragon processors, with current configurations offering up to 18 CPU cores and an integrated Qualcomm NPU. ASUS also highlights its lightweight Ceraluminum construction and support for USB4 connectivity.

The combination makes the Zenbook A14 particularly suited to frequent travellers and users who prioritise battery life.

ASUS ExpertBook Ultra

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is designed primarily for business and professional users who need a highly portable Windows laptop.

It weighs around 0.99kg and features a 14-inch OLED touchscreen. Depending on the configuration, ASUS claims battery life of up to 26 hours. Connectivity includes Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI, giving professionals several options for connecting external displays and accessories.

Its lightweight construction is particularly useful for people who regularly travel for meetings or work across multiple locations.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 is another business-focused ultraportable. The laptop weighs around 977 grams, keeping it below the 1kg mark in its lightest configuration.

Lenovo offers configurations with up to 64GB RAM and 2TB SSD storage, while a 14-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate is available on select configurations.

The laptop is aimed at professionals who need a portable machine for office applications, communication and travel without sacrificing memory or storage options.

HP OmniBook 5 14

The HP OmniBook 5 14 is designed to balance portability with everyday performance. The Snapdragon-based version weighs around 1.35kg and features a 14-inch 2K OLED display.

Configurations can offer up to 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage. This gives users enough headroom for office applications, studies, browsing, entertainment and multitasking.

Its combination of a relatively lightweight design and OLED screen makes it an option for users who want more display space than a typical 13-inch ultraportable.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is aimed at users who want the flexibility of a laptop and tablet in one device. Its 360-degree hinge allows the screen to fold backwards into different modes.

The machine weighs around 1.35kg and has a 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreen. It can be configured with Intel Core Ultra processors, up to 32GB RAM and up to 2TB storage.

The convertible design makes it useful for presentations, note-taking and media consumption in addition to conventional laptop work.

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 14

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 14 combines a lightweight design with a high-resolution AMOLED touchscreen. It weighs around 1.23kg and features a 14-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2880×1800 resolution.

The laptop uses Intel Core Ultra processors and supports technologies including Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4. Its display makes it particularly appealing to users who place a high priority on screen quality for entertainment, productivity and creative work.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch

The 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop is another compact Windows option for people who prioritise portability. It weighs around 1.34kg and features a touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Microsoft claims up to 20 hours of battery life for the 13.8-inch model. Connectivity includes two USB-C/USB4 ports, one USB-A port and a headphone jack.

The combination of a compact screen, touchscreen functionality and multiple ports makes the Surface Laptop suitable for students and professionals who want a portable Windows machine.

Choosing the right ultraportable laptop

The right ultraportable laptop depends largely on how it will be used. Students and everyday users may prioritise battery life and affordability, while business travellers may place greater importance on weight, connectivity and durability.

Users who spend significant time watching content or working with visuals may prefer an OLED display, while those handling larger workloads should pay attention to the processor, RAM and storage configuration rather than weight alone.

Battery-life figures should also be viewed as manufacturer claims, as actual endurance can vary depending on brightness, applications, connectivity and workload.

With modern processors delivering more performance in increasingly compact designs, ultraportable laptops are no longer limited to basic productivity. The category now covers machines for study, office work, travel, entertainment and a range of creative tasks.