Looking for an ultraportable laptop? We’ve got you covered with the top 13-inch laptops under $1,000 available now. After testing over 50 models this year, we’ve identified five standout options that deliver impressive performance, solid battery life, and great value.
Currently, we recommend the Apple MacBook Air as the best choice for most people. It’s lightweight, easy to carry, and powered by Apple’s M1 chip, which brings both speed and exceptional battery life. For Windows users, the Dell XPS 13 is an excellent alternative. While its design may not be for everyone, its performance and battery life—outlasting even the MacBook—are hard to beat.
Top pick
MacBook Air
Editor’s choice
Dell XPS 13
Best value
ROG Flow X13
If you’re a fan of DIY and value repairability, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 might be for you. This powerful 13-inch laptop is designed for easy customization, letting you swap out ports, components, and even the screen, keyboard, and webcam.
Read on for a detailed breakdown of why we recommend these and other top 13-inch laptops under $1,000 right now.
1. 2020 Apple MacBook Air
The 2020 Apple MacBook Air with the M1 chip is a game-changer in the laptop market. Its 13.3-inch Retina display offers vibrant colors and sharp text, making it ideal for both work and entertainment. The M1 chip, with its 8-core CPU, delivers impressive performance, handling everything from professional-quality editing to gaming with ease. This laptop is equipped with 8GB of unified memory, ensuring smooth multitasking and quick access to files.
Battery life is another highlight, lasting up to 18 hours on a single charge, which is perfect for long workdays or travel. The MacBook Air’s fanless design keeps it cool and quiet, even during intensive tasks. The backlit keyboard and Touch ID add to the convenience and security, while the FaceTime HD camera ensures clear video calls.
Compatibility is seamless with existing apps, including Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365, and it works perfectly with iPhone and iPad apps. The lightweight design, weighing just 1.27 kg, makes it highly portable. Overall, the 2020 MacBook Air combines power, efficiency, and portability, making it a top choice for anyone in need of a reliable and high-performing laptop.
2. Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 (9310) is a premium laptop that excels in both performance and design. Featuring a 13.4-inch FHD+ touch display, it offers stunning visuals with vibrant colors and sharp details. Powered by the Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor, this laptop handles demanding tasks effortlessly, making it suitable for both professional and personal use.
With 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and a 512GB SSD, the XPS 13 ensures fast boot times and smooth multitasking. The Intel Iris Xe graphics provide excellent performance for everyday graphics tasks and light gaming. The laptop’s sleek and lightweight design, weighing just 2.8 pounds, makes it highly portable and perfect for on-the-go use.
The XPS 13 also boasts impressive battery life, allowing you to work or play for extended periods without needing to recharge. The backlit keyboard and precision touchpad enhance the user experience, while the built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 ensure fast and reliable connectivity.
Additionally, the laptop’s build quality is top-notch, with a durable aluminum chassis and a carbon fiber palm rest that adds a touch of luxury. The Dell XPS 13 (9310) is a versatile and powerful laptop that meets the needs of a wide range of users.
3. ASUS ROG Flow X13
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is a versatile 2-in-1 gaming laptop that combines power and portability. It features a 13.4-inch 4K UHD+ touch display, providing stunning visuals and a responsive touch experience. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS processor and GeForce GTX 1650 GPU ensure smooth performance for gaming and other demanding tasks.
With 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, this laptop offers ample memory and storage for multitasking and storing large files. The ROG Flow X13’s lightweight design, weighing just 2.9 pounds, makes it easy to carry around, perfect for gamers on the go. The battery life is impressive, allowing for extended use without frequent recharging.
The laptop’s build quality is excellent, with a durable chassis that can withstand daily wear and tear. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, and the touchpad is precise and responsive. Additionally, the ROG Flow X13 supports the optional XG Mobile eGPU, which can boost graphics performance with a GeForce RTX 3080, making it even more powerful for intensive gaming sessions.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 is a top choice for gamers and professionals looking for a high-performance, portable laptop.
4. Acer Spin 5
The Acer Spin 5 Convertible Laptop is a versatile device designed for both productivity and entertainment. It features a 13.5-inch 2K IPS touch display with a resolution of 2256 x 1504, delivering crisp and vibrant visuals. The 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor ensures smooth performance, making it suitable for multitasking and demanding applications.
Equipped with 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD, the Spin 5 offers fast boot times and ample storage for files and applications. The laptop’s lightweight design and 360-degree hinge allow it to be used in various modes, including laptop, tablet, tent, and stand, providing flexibility for different tasks and environments.
The Spin 5 also includes a rechargeable active stylus, which is perfect for note-taking, drawing, and other creative tasks. The backlit keyboard enhances usability in low-light conditions, and the fingerprint reader adds an extra layer of security. With Wi-Fi 6 support, the laptop ensures fast and reliable internet connectivity.
Overall, the Acer Spin 5 Convertible Laptop combines powerful performance, a high-resolution display, and versatile usability, making it an excellent choice for students, professionals, and creatives alike.
5. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a groundbreaking 2-in-1 laptop that offers a unique dual-screen experience. It features two 13.3-inch PureSight OLED displays, providing stunning visuals and versatile usage options. Powered by the 13th Gen Intel Core processors and the Intel Evo platform, this laptop delivers exceptional performance for both productivity and entertainment.
The Yoga Book 9i includes a detachable Bluetooth keyboard, a stylus pen, and a folio stand, enhancing its functionality and making it ideal for creative professionals and multitaskers. The dual-screen setup allows for seamless multitasking, whether you’re working on multiple documents, sketching, or streaming content.
With 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, the Yoga Book 9i ensures fast and efficient performance, ample storage, and quick access to your files. The laptop’s lightweight and slim design make it highly portable, perfect for on-the-go use. Additionally, the battery life is impressive, allowing for extended use without frequent recharging.
The build quality is robust, with a sleek and modern design that stands out. The Yoga Book 9i also supports Wi-Fi 6E, ensuring fast and reliable internet connectivity. This laptop is a versatile and powerful device that caters to a wide range of user needs.
How to Choose the Best 13-Inch Laptop Under $1,000
Determine Your Power Needs
If you’re mainly browsing the web and streaming, consider a Chromebook like the Galaxy Chromebook 2 or an affordable Windows laptop. For a faster, more capable device that can handle multitasking beyond basic browsing and typing, look for specs like an Intel Core i5 CPU, 8 to 16GB of RAM, and 256GB to 512GB of SSD storage. Most laptops on our list meet or exceed these specs, making them some of the best-performing 13-inch models we’ve tested.
Consider Your Gaming Requirements
Mainstream laptops typically include integrated graphics, which can handle less demanding games like Minecraft and Fortnite. However, for graphically intense games or heavy visual work, you’d need a laptop with a discrete graphics card—not a feature on the current models in this list.
Choose Your Operating System: Chrome OS, macOS, or Windows
Windows is the most versatile and widely used OS, while macOS is ideal if you’re already invested in Apple’s ecosystem. Chrome OS is a lightweight OS that powers quick, budget-friendly systems and now supports full Android apps, adding versatility.
No matter which laptop you choose, consider investing in a quality mouse and keyboard for a more ergonomic setup, making your new device even more comfortable and productive.
