The 6 Best 13-14 Inch Laptops of 2024

The best 14-inch laptop we've tested is the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024), a premium 14-inch model. Designed for general productivity and various demanding workloads like content creation, 3D graphics, and simulations, it has tons of processing power to tackle nearly anything you throw at it. The overall user experience is amazing, as it sports a sturdy all-aluminum chassis, a sharp 120Hz Mini LED display, an easy-to-use haptic touchpad, and among the best speakers on the market. You also get a wide port selection for peripherals and external displays, comprising three USB-Cs, an HDMI 2.1, and a full-size SD card reader.

Aside from the expected performance increase over its M3 predecessor, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023), this 2024 model brings a few noteworthy upgrades and new features. These include a higher peak display brightness of 1000 cd/m² in SDR (when outdoors or in very well-lit settings), a new nano-texture display that can further cut glare, and a 12 MP camera with Center Stage support, a feature that keeps you centered in the camera frame when you move around. Finally, the USB-C ports on the Pro and Max models now support Thunderbolt 5, tripling Thunderbolt 4 speeds, and the base M4 model gains an additional USB-C port with the same external display support as the Pro models.

If you have a lighter workload and don't need all the processing power of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024), get the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024) instead. This thin and lightweight ultraportable feels just as well-built as the MacBook Pro above and provides a great user experience with its bright display (not Mini LED or 120Hz, unfortunately), spacious keyboard, and gigantic haptic touchpad. While the speakers aren't as clear or full-sounding as the MacBook Pro 14's, they're still among the best you can find on most thin and light laptops. You get an excellent 1080p webcam for video calls as well as a fingerprint sensor for quick logins.

Its performance is great: Apple's base M3 SoC can easily handle general productivity tasks and even some light video editing and 3D graphics. This is a fanless device, though, so while it's good for those who prioritize low fan noise, it'll cause noticeable performance drops in heavy workloads, so if sustained performance is important to you, the MacBook Pro 14 above is still the better choice. Port selection is also a weakness, as it only has two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports and can only output to two external displays with the lid closed. The battery lasts around 11 hours of light use but charges slowly, taking up to three hours to reach a full charge.

The best 14-inch laptop we've tested in the mid-range category is the Acer Swift Go 14 (2024), a compact and lightweight ultraportable. While not as premium-feeling as the Apple MacBook Air 13 (2024) above, it feels sturdily built for the price, exhibiting only a small amount of flex on the lid and keyboard deck. It has a spacious, albeit slightly mushy keyboard, a responsive touchpad, Wi-Fi 6E, a great 1080p webcam, and a wide port selection that includes two Thunderbolt 4s and an HDMI. Its battery life is excellent at around 11 hours of light use, and you can charge the laptop via USB-C, eliminating the need to carry around a proprietary charger.

Configurable with Intel's Meteor Lake CPUs, this laptop can easily handle tasks like text processing, web browsing, spreadsheets, and presentations, as well as more demanding workloads like programming and photo editing. RAM and storage max out at 32GB and 2TB, respectively; the RAM is soldered, so ensure you get enough for your needs upfront. You can choose between an FHD+ IPS and a 2.8k OLED panel for the display. Both look sharp and get bright enough for use in most indoor settings, but remember that the OLED will drain the battery faster, and unlike the IPS panel, the OLED panel flickers, which might bother people sensitive to screen flickering.

If you're shopping on a small budget and want something even more affordable, check out the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023). This compact 14-inch model is a great option if you only need a simple device for light tasks. It's available with an Intel N100, N200, or Core i3 processor; we recommend the latter paired with 8GB of RAM, which you can regularly find on sale via Lenovo. You can probably get by with an Intel N100 or N200 CPU and/or 4GB of RAM if you have an extremely light workload but know that they'll get bogged down quickly when multitasking, resulting in noticeable stutters and slowdowns.

As for the display, we highly recommend getting a model with a 1080p IPS screen. Not only does it look sharper than the 768p TN panel, but it also has better viewing angles and color reproduction. Above the display sits a surprisingly excellent 1080p webcam, one of the best you can find on budget-friendly Chromebooks. Its port selection is decent; you get two USB-As, a USB-C (supports charging and video output), an HDMI, and a headphone jack. Unfortunately, the keyboard feels a tad mushy, and the touchpad is small and sometimes unresponsive.

If you like 2-in-1 convertibles, check out the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024). This premium, well-built model provides a great user experience with its 120Hz 2.8k OLED display, tactile keyboard, and haptic touchpad. It also has an excellent 4k webcam, a rarity among laptops, even in the high-end tier. You get the latest Wi-Fi 7 wireless connectivity and a decent port selection that includes two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s. The display supports pen input, though you may have to buy the pen separately, depending on the retailer. Intel's Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 CPU perform well, and they also sport an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) that can help with some AI-based tasks, like background blurring on video calls and image generation in photo editing apps. You can get this laptop from HP if you have trouble finding it elsewhere.

Another option to consider is the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition (2024). This 13-inch model is a better option if you mainly use the device as a tablet because you can detach the keyboard. This makes the device easier to hold as a tablet and also helps save space when you're only watching videos on a small table, like an airplane or bus. Along with the tablet, there's a new Flex-type cover keyboard, which now sports a haptic touchpad and Bluetooth support. The latter lets you use the keyboard when detached from the device, giving you more flexibility to position the tablet to your liking. The downside is that the keyboard is expensive and a separate purchase. This Surface Pro has many other new features, so make sure to check out our full review for more details. The last thing to mention is that this device runs on an ARM-based SoC. Its performance is great, but since most Windows programs don't run natively on ARM, it's best to check for app compatibility first.

The best 14-inch gaming laptop we've tested is the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024). This compact model feels sturdily built and is easy to carry around. It has a 120Hz 2.8k OLED display with a fast response time and VRR support, so you get a clear image in fast-moving games with minimal screen tearing. It also sports a tactile keyboard and one of the best speaker systems you can find on a Windows machine. There's a wide port selection for peripherals and external displays, including four USBs, a MicroSD card reader, and an HDMI 2.1. Unfortunately, there's no Ethernet port, but you do get Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity.

Configuration-wise, you can choose between an AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 CPU paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 4060, or 4070 discrete GPU. Every configuration can handle gaming at 1080p, but if you want to play at 1440p (or at the display's native 2.8k resolution), it's best to upgrade to a 4060 or 4070. Storage configuration maxes out at 1TB, which will fill up quickly considering the size of most modern titles, but thankfully, the SSD is user-replaceable. Unfortunately, the battery life lasts less than two hours when gaming, so you'll need to bring the charger when gaming on the go.