Key Points
- Our choice for the number #1 Best 14-inch laptop is the Apple MacBook Pro (M2 Pro).
- The 14” laptop is unique because of its versatility. It can comfortably accommodate high-end components like larger laptops while maintaining a light, slim build.
- Consumers like 14” laptops because they can handle intense tasks without overheating. These laptops also have lightweight components that make them easy to carry around.
- When shopping for a 14” laptop, the following factors should come to mind: the laptop’s purpose, its operating system, central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) specifications, memory capacity, and price.
Most manufacturers produce 14-inch laptops as the standard size. They also build 15-inch and 17-inch laptops to cater to customers who like big screens and 13-inch laptops for those who prefer small-sized ones. However, one of the reasons why consumers like 14-inch laptops are because they combine compactness with performance, factors which are rare in the smaller 13-inch and larger 15-inch and 17-inch laptops.
Given the 14-inch laptop’s growing popularity, we’ve reviewed some of the best available laptops in this category. Learn what the 7 best 14″ laptops you can buy in 2023 are!
- Best Overall: Apple MacBook Pro (M2 Pro)
- Best Premium Option: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10
- Best Budget-Friendly: Acer Swift 3
- Best Mid-Range: Acer Swift 5
- Best for Gaming: Razer Blade 14
- Best Lightweight Option: HP Elite Dragonfly G3
- Best for Content Creators: Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED
- Apple14-in MacBook Pro: M2 Pro
- 10-core CPU
- 16-core GPU
- 32GB 4TB
- Space gray
- 67W
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 Laptop
- 14" FHD touchscreen
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Intel Core i7-1270P
- 32GB RAM
- 2TB PCIe SSD
- Backlit keyboard
- Fingerprint reader
- Windows 11 Pro
- Black
- With MTC Stylus Pen
- Acer Swift 3 Intel Evo Laptop
- Thin and lightweight
- 14" QHD 100% sRGB
- Intel Core i7-1260P
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 16GB LPDDR4X
- 512GB SSD
- Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675
- Windows 11 Home
- Acer Swift 5 Intel Evo Laptop 14"
- Thin and lightweight
- 14" WXGA IPS 100% sRGB touchscreen
- 12th Gen Intel i7-1260P
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 16GB LPDDR5
- 1TB Gen 4 SSD
- Killer HDMI, Wi-Fi 6E AX1675
- Razer Blade 14 Gaming Laptop
- 14" QHD screen
- 165Hz
- AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
- 16GB DDR5 RAM
- 1TB PCIe SSD
- Windows 11
- Ultra thin
- HP Elite Dragonfly G3 13.5" Touchscreen Notebook
- 13.5" 1,920 x 1,280p
- Intel Core i5 12th Gen i5-1245U 10-core
- 16GB total RAM
- 16GB on-board memory
- 512GB SSD
- Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED 14.5” 2.8K OLED Touch
- 14.5" 2.8K OLED touchscreen
- 120Hz refresh rate
- ScreenPad Plus
- Intel evo platform
- i7-12700H CPU
- 32GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- Windows 11 Home
- Tech Black
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We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Best Overall 14” Laptop: Apple MacBook Pro (M2 Pro)
Apple has almost perfected the art of making a 14-inch laptop, so we consider the MacBook Pro (M2 Pro) the best 14″ laptop overall.
It boasts a sleek design that oozes sophistication and has the requisite supporting hardware and software. The MacBook Pro satisfies one of the key benefits of a 14-inch laptop: compactness. The device measures 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches and weighs 3.5 pounds, making it easier to carry around than other devices in the category.
Moreover, it has macOS, one of the best desktop operating systems (OS). macOS is easy to learn and use, making it ideal for people from all walks of life, like students and business people who need to navigate through loads of data daily.
Regarding hardware, the MacBook Pro has an Apple M2 Pro chip, which is available in two iterations. The first is a ten-core CPU split into six performance cores, four efficiency cores, and a sixteen-core GPU. The second is a twelve-core CPU divided into eight performance cores and four efficiency cores, respectively, and a nineteen-core GPU. Both iterations deliver immense power and performance, which is excellent for multitasking and intense activities like video editing.
As for memory, the MacBook Pro has RAM of 16GB, expandable to 96GB, and internal storage of 512GB, expandable to 8TB. That is enough RAM to facilitate faster application launches and enough storage to support large data-generating programs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Apple M2 Pro Chip offers fast and reliable performance. | The standard 512GB internal storage is slightly disappointing, considering some competitors provide standard 14” laptops with 1TB internal storage. |
| The MacBook Pro has an extensive battery life of at least 12 hours. | The Macbook Pro is costly. |
| The device has a 1080p camera. | |
| It has a liquid retina XDR display with adaptive refresh rates. |
Best Premium Option: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10
- 14" FHD touchscreen
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Intel Core i7-1270P
- 32GB RAM
- 2TB PCIe SSD
- Backlit keyboard
- Fingerprint reader
- Windows 11 Pro
- Black
- With MTC Stylus Pen
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is the best premium 14″ laptop, packing all the best features and adding extra features unavailable on other devices.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is one of the lightest laptops we’re reviewing today. It weighs 2.48 pounds, light enough to carry around all day without feeling exhausted. Despite being lightweight, Lenovo made the ThinkPad using materials that withstood military spec tests and tests in extreme conditions, so the device is quite durable.
The ThinkPad X1 is compatible with Windows 11 and Linux operating systems, which should entice those looking for various working platforms. Moreover, it uses a 12th-generation Intel chip. Buyers can choose between two Intel Core i5 options and three Core i7 options, yet another area where its variety stumps the competition.
Though less impressive than in the Apple MacBook Pro, the RAM and storage in the ThinkPad are also ideal for heavy workloads. It supports RAM of up to 32GB and internal storage of up to 2TB. Other notable specifications include its security features. The device has a fingerprint scanner on the power button and facial recognition supported by a full HD camera, among others.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Lenovo ThinkPad X Carbon Gen 10 is a lightweight device. | It is expensive for its level of performance. |
| It can operate under extreme conditions. | It has limited expandable internal storage. |
| It is available in a variety of 12th-generation Intel processors. | |
| It has a fingerprint scanner and facial recognition features. |
Best Budget-Friendly: Acer Swift 3
- Thin and lightweight
- 14" QHD 100% sRGB
- Intel Core i7-1260P
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 16GB LPDDR4X
- 512GB SSD
- Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675
- Windows 11 Home
The Acer Swift 3 is the best 14″ laptop under $1,000, ideal for college students or first-time buyers.
The Swift 3 is the perfect device for those who cannot afford a pricey device like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1, as it offers satisfactory performance for its price. Some features that make the Acer Swift 3 ideal for students include its weight and battery life. At about 2.7 pounds, the Swift 3 is light enough to carry around throughout a college day’s schedule, while its 10.5-hour battery life means you do not have to seek a charging spot in the middle of a school or work day.
Another student-friendly feature is its Full HD front-facing camera with AI Noise Reduction, which is suitable for attending Zoom classes and making video calls to classmates. For processing, the Swift 3 has an Intel Core i7 CPU, which is impressive considering the Core i7 line is the second-best performing Intel processor, as well as an Intel Iris GPU for graphics. It also has 8GB RAM, expandable to 16GB, and 512GB internal storage, which is expandable to 1TB.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Acer Swift 3 has a market price of around $900, making it fairly affordable. | The Acer Swift 3’s 10.5-hour battery life can be limiting, especially on busy days. |
| It has a Full HD camera with noise-reduction technology. | The 8GB RAM and 512GB ROM are average at best. |
| It weighs less than three pounds. | |
| It has an Intel Core i7 processor. |
Best Mid-Range: Acer Swift 5
- Thin and lightweight
- 14" WXGA IPS 100% sRGB touchscreen
- 12th Gen Intel i7-1260P
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 16GB LPDDR5
- 1TB Gen 4 SSD
- Killer HDMI, Wi-Fi 6E AX1675
Acer has a reputation for making affordable high-powered devices, and the Acer Swift 5 is no different.
It has a sleek design and a body made from aerospace-grade aluminum, contributing to its light weight of just under 2.6 pounds. The device’s power stems from a 12th-generation Intel core processor, while its GPU is an Intel Iris. Given the processor’s immense power in such a small device, the Acer Swift 5 has a TwinAir Cooling system that helps prevent the device from overheating. Additionally, as part of the hardware, it has an Antimicrobial Corning Glass display with a 2,560 x 1,600p resolution and a Full HD front-facing camera. Lastly, it comes equipped with 16GB RAM and internal storage of 1TB.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Acer used aerospace-grade aluminum to make the Swift 5. | The Acer Swift 5 does not have the most durable battery. |
| It has a TwinAir cooling system. | |
| It has a 12th-generation Intel CPU. |
Best for Gaming: Razer Blade 14
- 14" QHD screen
- 165Hz
- AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
- 16GB DDR5 RAM
- 1TB PCIe SSD
- Windows 11
- Ultra thin
The Razer Blade 14 is the best 14″ laptop for gaming, checking the most important boxes when looking for a gaming laptop.
The Razer Blade 14 can handle the CPU and GPU demands of an AAA-rated game like Call of Duty without undermining your gaming experience. The Razer Blade 14 measures up to the task thanks to its AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX with eight cores made using the 6nm process. The processor also has a max boost of 4.9GHz, making it one of the best-performing CPUs in the market. For graphics, it uses an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series GPU, a world leader in graphics processing.
The Razer Blade 14 also has a vapor chamber liquid cooling system that guarantees faster cooling than traditional cooling systems. In terms of build, the laptop has a CNC aluminum body to ensure durability and a display that offers quarter HD (QHD) at 165Hz refresh rate or full HD at 144Hz refresh rate.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor has a max boost of 4.9GHz. | Despite the advanced cooling system, the device can get slightly warm. |
| It has a vapor chamber liquid cooling system. | |
| It has a tough CNC aluminum build. | |
| It has a refresh rate of 144Hz in full HD mode. |
Best Lightweight Option: HP Elite Dragonfly G3
- 13.5" 1,920 x 1,280p
- Intel Core i5 12th Gen i5-1245U 10-core
- 16GB total RAM
- 16GB on-board memory
- 512GB SSD
The HP Elite Dragonfly G3 should be the device you choose if you want a highly portable laptop.
It exemplifies one of the main reasons for buying a 14-inch laptop: to avoid bulkier devices. The Dragonfly G3 weighs 2.2 pounds, making it the lightest laptop featured in this article.
Despite its small weight, the G3 offers adequate performance for most tasks thanks to an Intel Core i5 processor and an Intel Iris Xe graphics card. It also has 16GB RAM and an internal storage of 512GB, expandable to 1TB.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The device weighs 2.2 pounds, lighter than most 14″ laptops. | At over $2,000, the G3 is expensive for its size and performance. |
| Its 16GB RAM is above average for its size. | |
| It has a decent CPU and GPU. |
Best for Content Creators: Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED
- 14.5" 2.8K OLED touchscreen
- 120Hz refresh rate
- ScreenPad Plus
- Intel evo platform
- i7-12700H CPU
- 32GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- Windows 11 Home
- Tech Black
The Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is the ideal 14-inch laptop for content creators like animators, videographers, and photographers looking for laptops with high-quality specs to improve their output.
This laptop stands out for the 14.5-inch OLED touchscreen display paired with a 12.7-inch ScreenPad Plus. Both screens have a 2,880 x 1,800p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate to guarantee clarity and help achieve detailed results. It also comes with the Asus Pen 2.0, which can be helpful to artists when drawing, animating, or making edits.
The Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED uses the 13th-Gen Intel Core i9-13900H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 for graphics rendering. In addition, it has up to 32GB RAM and 2TB internal storage to allow creators to store as much work as necessary.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The device has a secondary 12.7-inch display. | It is expensive. |
| It has a stylus pen. | |
| It has a 13th-generation Intel CPU and a NVIDIA GPU. | |
| Its screens have amazing resolutions and refresh rates. |
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How to Pick the Best 14-Inch Laptop: Step-by-Step
Buying a laptop can be quite a dilemma, given the wide variety of devices in the market. As such, it becomes very easy to overlook the specs that matter and settle for a laptop based on first impressions, like a sleek design. This section highlights the essential factors to consider when comparing 14-inch laptops.
Operating System
The operating system (OS) is the first factor when picking a 14-inch laptop. There are four major OS options when buying a laptop.
The first and most common OS is Windows by Microsoft. Windows offers the best versatility and provides easy access to Microsoft programs like Microsoft Word, Access, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Then, there is macOS, which is better than Windows OS in terms of simplicity, so using it is more effortless. Unfortunately, macOS is only available on Apple devices, which is limiting.
The third and fourth options are ChromeOS and Linux. Both OSes have more limitations than Windows and macOS. For example, you cannot use Microsoft software on either OS and may have to use open-source software to get work done.
Central Processing Unit
The central processing unit (CPU) dictates how well your device will perform when handling various tasks. An underpowered CPU can cause several issues on your laptop, like excessive heat generation, programs hanging, and booting issues. Therefore, it is crucial to understand your performance needs.
If you perform simple tasks on your laptop, like creating Microsoft Word documents, making Excel spreadsheets, and browsing the web, you can opt for a low-range or mid-range processor. However, you require a high-performance CPU to handle heavy tasks like gaming or video editing.
The two most popular CPU manufacturers are Intel Corporation and AMD. Both companies make several processor series. For example, Intel makes the Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9, with the latter being the most powerful. Once you determine your performance needs, you should cross-reference them with the performance of various CPUs to land on a laptop that will comfortably meet your needs.
Graphics Processing Unit
The graphics processing unit (GPU) generates imagery in computers. More often than not, manufacturers bundle together the GPU with the CPU to create a processor with integrated graphics. For most laptop users, a chip with integrated graphics is enough to meet their needs, such as streaming high-definition video content.
However, people who use their laptops for gaming and content creation require better graphics rendering capabilities. That is why they must find laptops with graphics cards separate from the central processor to create better graphics. The most known graphics card manufacturers are AMD and NVIDIA. AMD often pairs its Radeon GPUs with its Ryzen CPUs, while laptops with NVIDIA GPUs often have Intel CPUs.
What to Know Before Buying a 14″ Laptop
Laptops within the same category will often have similar specifications. However, they also have distinguishing factors that you can focus on to help you make an informed decision.
Let’s break down some key factors below.
Price
Price is the first distinguishing factor you should account for when shopping for a 14″ laptop. The price often dictates the kind of specifications to expect from a laptop. A cheap laptop often means you should expect little in terms of performance, while an expensive laptop often means the device has high performance and premium hardware. However, price and performance are not always proportional, so do not base your decision solely on price.
Memory
There are two categories of memory to consider: random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). RAM stores short-term memory that act as a laptop’s working memory, while ROM stores long-term data files like audio, documents, and videos.
Knowing the RAM and ROM allows you to determine whether the device can meet your data generation and storage needs.
Screen Resolution and Refresh Rate
You should consider screen resolution because it dictates the image sharpness and clarity you can expect on your laptop. On the other hand, a high refresh rate determines the smoothness of image transitions which is crucial, especially when watching high-resolution content or gaming. You do not want a laptop that keeps lagging as it will undermine your gaming experience.
Using a 14-Inch Laptop: What It’s Like
The first thing that comes to mind when using a 14-inch laptop is comfort and convenience. For example, a 14″ laptop guarantees eye comfort as you do not have to strain like you would when using a smaller laptop. It also does not overwhelm your eyes after prolonged use, as would be the case with a large-screen laptop.
Using a 14″ laptop also offers comfort to the hands as it has an appropriately sized keyboard, meaning you do not have to stretch out your fingers when typing. Lastly, most 14″ laptops are lightweight, easing their portability when traveling or during your daily commute to work.
