Ranking of the best 12-12.9 inch laptops in 2024

The modern world offers a huge selection of various equipment, gadgets and devices designed to help us in everyday life, study, simplify work tasks and simply diversify our leisure. The laptop is one such useful device. What are its advantages over other devices? First of all, it is autonomy and compactness, which is irreplaceable not only in trips, business trips, travel and other trips, but also in everyday life. It is much more convenient and more comfortable to work where you want, because with a laptop you can, for example, go to your favorite place in the city, or just sit comfortably with it on a soft sofa.

The computer technology market offers a large selection of laptops from well-known and popular companies. In this rating of quality devices, compact and lightweight devices with a screen diagonal of 12 to 12.9 inches will be considered.

Inexpensive and high quality laptops

Lenovo THINKPAD X250 Ultrabook (base model)

This ultra portable laptop is a lightweight, high-quality device perfect for work and play, and surf the Internet. The filling of the device has quite high performance: a dual-core processor Core i3, with a frequency of 2100 MHz, an integrated Intel HD Graphics 5500 graphics card allows not only running work programs, videos, but also casual games. Heavy games like World of Tanks start but freeze. But fans of World of Warcraft are a little more fortunate - the game runs quite stable, so the laptop is quite suitable for gamers. The device has 4 GB of RAM and 500 GB of hard disk. As for the autonomy, this is one of the best models. The screen is matte, widescreen, with a resolution of 1366 × 768 pixels and a diagonal of 12.5 inches. The average cost is 19,150 rubles.

• productive and nimble;
• the keyboard is moisture resistant;
• well implemented Touchpad;
• reliable device, has protection against shocks and falls;
• powerful battery;
• high quality screen.

• non-standard power connector;
• easily soiled cover;
• lack of HDMI.

Chuwi LapBook 12.3

Compact in size laptop, lightweight and thin - 29.90 x 22.20 x 1.75 cm with a weight of 1.38 kg. This makes the device easy to carry with you. The model has a nice design, the body is made of brushed aluminum. The speakers are located on the left and right side of the device, they have good sound, sufficient volume and pronounced stereo effect. On the sides are USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 connectors; 3.5 mm (for headphones); slot for microSD 128 GB.Also available mini HDMI, which provides the ability to connect the device to a TV.

This model is equipped with a quad-core Intel Celeron N3450 (Apollo Lake) processor with a frequency of 2.2 GHz, the amount of RAM is 6 GB, the built-in 64 GB. Also, the filling is made up of an Intel® HD Graphics 500 Gen 9 graphics card and an 8000 mAh battery. The device is equipped with a 12.3 diagonal screen with a resolution of 2736 × 1824 pixels. The screen features a high level of detail and overall image quality.

The touchpad of the device has optimal sensitivity and good positioning. The pre-installed operating system is Windows 10 Home edition, 2 megapixel webcam. The average cost of the device is 29,000 rubles, it is also possible to order this device on the aliexpress website.

• the body is not easily soiled, does not slip;
• good battery life (approximately 5 hours of operation at a high brightness level);
• productive, fast and multitasking;
• well suited for travel use;
• great screen.

• not suitable for games;
• English keyboard layout;
• the touchpad sometimes misidentifies gestures;
• no keyboard backlight.

Mid-range devices

Lenovo THINKPAD X200

This popular model, which has gained a lot of positive reviews, is available in different modifications that differ in their technical characteristics. The performance indicators are as follows: a Core 2 Duo processor is installed here, the frequency of which is 1860 or 2530 MHz (depending on the modification) The amount of RAM (DDR2 type) varies from 1 to 4 MB. The integrated video card for all modifications of the device is of the same type - Intel GMA 4500MHD.

The range of hard disk capacity is from 160 to 320GB, while there is support for SD cards. The diagonal of the widescreen display is from 12 to 12.1 inches, the resolution for all modifications is 1280x800 pixels. In general, this is an ultra portable device with a durable "indestructible" case, high performance combined with good battery life. At the same time, the device has an attractive design. Its average cost is 39,150 rubles.

• good call quality;
• reliability;
• comfortable keyboard;
• light weight (1.5);
• good autonomy;
• "Brutal" design.

• not found.

DELL LATITUDE 5290

A convertible device, which is a Windows tablet with a docking station, which, if necessary, can be transformed into a full-fledged laptop. Its stand flexes 150 degrees so you can conveniently adjust the viewing angle you want. On the back of the device are slots for microSD and microSIM. In addition to these slots, the laptop is equipped with numerous ports: two USB-C connectors, a slot for smart cards, NFC.

The user can easily connect an additional device to a laptop and a charger at the same time. A 12.5-inch display with a resolution of 1366x768 (there is also a modification with a widescreen display with a resolution of 1920x1080 inches). In terms of performance, the device is equipped with a dual-core Core i3 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 500 GB of storage (HDD, SSD). There is also a webcam (5 MP or 8 MP, depending on the version). The average cost of a laptop-transformer is 35,990 rubles.

• compact and lightweight device (weight 1.36 kg);
• the screen is bright, has a high contrast;
• keeps the battery charge well;
• robust construction;
• attractive design;
• great for solving work tasks.

• not intended for use on uneven surfaces;
• very easily soiled surface;
• little RAM;
• not suitable for gamers.

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air

A very popular device that has a powerful dual-core Intel Core i3 processor, 1000 MHz, and is distinguished by high build quality. The integrated graphics card is Intel HD Graphics 615, the amount of built-in memory is 4 GB (DDR3 type), while there is a special slot for a 128 GB SSD drive. The 12.5-inch wide screen has a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels and has a good viewing angle.

The body of the device is made of metal, glass and plastic are also present, in terms of its dimensions this model is quite compact - length 292, width 202, depth 12.9 mm, with a low weight of 1.07 kg. The right side houses the USB Type-C and USB 3.0 connectors, as well as an LED battery indicator. The 3.5mm audio jack and HDMI output are located on the left side. Operating system -Windows 10 Home. As far as the design of the device is concerned, it is simple, but quite attractive, without anything superfluous. The keyboard is backlit. The average cost of a laptop is 40,450 rubles.

• excellent sound quality;
• Dolby Digital Surround Sound support;
• nice design;
• silent work;
• does not heat up:
• high level of performance and speed;
• little weight;
• high image quality;
• well suited for home and office;
• battery life is about 7 hours.

• not suitable for active heavy games;
• the keyboard backlight sometimes goes out on its own;
• insufficient number of USB ports
• webcam is only 1 megapixel.

Google Chromebook Pixel

A laptop made in a strict, dark design. The body is made of aluminum alloy, it looks restrained and neat - the mounts are well hidden. On the right side are USB 2.0 ports, as well as a charger jack, Mini Display Port and a standard headphone jack. Slots for microSD and memory cards are located on the left side of the device. The laptop is quite thin (16 mm) and light (weighs only 1.52 kg).

The screen has excellent characteristics - a resolution of 2560x1700 megapixels, with a display size of 12.85 inches, covered with a protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 2. The keyboard is adapted for the preinstalled Chrome operating system, has a backlight. The characteristics of the filling of the device are as follows: dual-core processor Intel Core i5, 1.8 GHz, integrated video card Intel HD Graphics 4000. The amount of RAM is 4 GB, and the capacity of the SSD is 32 or 64 GB. Cost - 49 490 rubles.

• natural colors, good image quality in general;
• compactness;
• good performance and autonomy;
• elegant design.

• little RAM.

Premium Laptops

HP EliteBook 820 G2

A reliable model with a 12.5-inch display, attractive design and state-of-the-art technology. The laptop is equipped with a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, with a clock frequency of 2200 MHz, has 4 GB of RAM and an integrated Intel HD Graphics 5500 graphics card, which allows you to solve everyday tasks, process photos and videos, and run not too heavy games. This is a mid-range device in terms of performance. The 1366 × 768 megapixel widescreen display has a matte finish that prevents reflections. Operating system - Windows 7 Professional 64bit. There is also a 1.3 megapixel webcam, and audio support for DTS Studio Sound. The average price of the model is 71,850 rubles.

• high performance;
• comfortable waterproof keyboard, has a two-level backlight;
• reliability and durability;
• good screen quality.

• easily soiled case;
• small amount of RAM;
• not suitable for gamers.

DELL LATITUDE 7280

Laptop model from DELL, belonging to the Latitude business series. Since the device is designed more for work and web surfing than games and entertainment, the key advantages here are autonomy and compactness. In addition, the device has a stylish design in a simple style. The body material is soft-touch plastic, there is nothing superfluous on the outside of the device, the main connectors are on the side edges (including slots for SD, SDHC, SDXC memory cards). There are two speakers on the back.

The filling of the laptop is a top-end dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, with a frequency of 2300 MHz, an integrated Intel GMA HD video card, Intel HD Graphics 520, an amount of RAM - 8 GB (DDR4 memory type), a hard disk capacity - 512 GB, there is also an active cooling system ... Preinstalled operating system Windows 10 Pro.The display is matte, 12.5 inches, its resolution is 1920 × 1080 (multi-touch touch screen). Input Devices - backlit island keyboard and touchpad, which is a quality replacement for a mouse. The average price of the device is 76,540 rubles.

• capacious battery and excellent indicators of autonomy;
• lightness and compactness;
• good quality Full HD IPS display;
• quiet, ergonomic;
• stylish design.

• active games are launched only at low detail settings and medium resolution;
• easily soiled case;
• the biometric sensor works slowly and incorrectly;
• average sound quality.

Apple MacBook Mid 2017

12-inch laptop, ultra-thin metal case (13mm thick), lightweight and compact, it weighs only 920g.It is equipped with 1200MHz dual-core Intel Core m3 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD ... Integrated graphics processor - Intel HD Graphics 615. Another advantage of this model is long battery life.

The screen, which has a resolution of 2304x1440 pixels, is framed by thin bezels, and the color quality is at the highest level. In addition, the brightness of the display makes it easy to use the device in bright sunlight - even if the rays fall on the screen, it does not affect the clarity of the image. For all its obvious advantages, the laptop also has a pleasant design, not overloaded with unnecessary details - only a USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack are located on the case. The average price of the device is 78,980 rubles.

• great screen;
• long operating time without additional battery charging;
• comfortable backlit keyboard;
• high performance;
• lightness and compactness.

• the body is quite fragile, afraid of dirt and physical damage;
• the need to additionally purchase a USB Type-C adapter.

ASUS ZenBook 3 UX390UA

A prestigious powerful super-thin laptop from the famous ASUS company. The body of the device is made of metal, the design is elegant and has several unusual colors: "Royal blue", "Rose gold" and "Gray quartz". At the same time, the case is made of durable materials, one of which is aviation aluminum, and the laptop glass is reliably protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. The device is compact, lightweight, its dimensions are 296 × 191.2 × 11.9 mm, and its weight is only 910 g. The device is equipped with a USB port. 3.1 Gen1 Type-C, located on the right side, on the other side there is a 3.5mm headphone and microphone jack.

The filling of the laptop is as follows - a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, with a clock frequency of 2500 MHz, an integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 video card, a hard disk capacity of 512 GB, and an amount of RAM is 8 GB. The preinstalled operating system is Windows 10 Home. The display is 12.5 inches with a resolution of 1920X1080 and an IPS matrix. The screen coating is matte, the contrast, brightness, color rendering are at a high level. Webcam with a resolution of 640 x 480. There are also four speakers, two of which are located under the screen, and the other two at the bottom of the device. The average cost of a device is 99,990 rubles.

• full-size keyboard with bright white backlighting;
• nice design;
• excellent build quality;
• high quality touchpad, with support for multi-touch gestures;
• surround sound and clear
• high performance;
• autonomy;
• suitable for gamers.

• low quality webcam;
• the case is easily soiled, subject to physical damage.

Criteria for choosing a laptop for quality and price

Since there can be quite a few purposes of this useful and convenient device - study, work, creativity, entertainment, games - all the parameters that should be paid attention to when choosing should be considered in detail.

CPU

The quality of the process affects the speed of the laptop. Different processor models differ in the type of architecture, number of cores, and clock frequency. The larger number of cores, the relevance and modernity of the architecture, and a high clock rate guarantee the speed of the entire system. Intel processors are the most popular as they belong to the mid-price segment. AMD is more common among low-cost and budget device models. For gaming, you need a laptop with powerful hardware, an Intel processor or higher, with at least four cores and equipped with active cooling.

RAM indicators

The large amount of RAM is also responsible for the speed and multitasking of the device. If the volume is small, it should be possible to expand it using microSD. 2GB of RAM is the minimum amount that will be enough to solve simple tasks. Such devices are usually designed for study and work, running heavy programs, games will demonstrate certain difficulties. 4 GB is the standard and most optimal amount of RAM, which is enough for both work and play. Expensive laptops and premium models have 12 and 16 GB of RAM.

Battery

The most suitable for performing various tasks is the battery, the capacity of which will be 2500 - 3500 mAh, and the operating time without additional charging from 4 to 5 hours.

Hard disk space

Internal drives are of the type HDD, which has a simple design and is equipped with active cooling, as well as SSDs, which are more capacitive and faster. The SDD type is more expensive. Hybrid hard drives are of average cost.

Integrated graphics

If you are buying a laptop for office tasks, study, work, then a low or medium quality video card will be quite a suitable option. Hi-End video cards are great for working with graphics.

Screen

The choice of display size depends on the user's personal preferences - how comfortable it is to work with one or another screen size. A large screen means a large size of the entire device, which can be inconvenient when using the device on the move, on trips. Another important display parameter is its coverage. The glossy screen has richer and more contrasting colors, but it easily “catches” glare and reflections. The matte screen is most useful for the eyes, it is convenient to read text and work with graphics.

Assembly materials

The most popular material from which the laptop case is made is aluminum. This means reliability, such a laptop heats up less. As for the dimensions of the device, it is worth choosing the most optimal option - not too heavy, with a small thickness. If the laptop will not leave the home of its user, you can stop at a weight of about 1.5 kg or more.

Software

The presence of a pre-installed licensed OS protects against possible difficulties and surprises ("glitches") in the future. It also means after-purchase warranty service, unlike the pirated version. However, the most advanced users and professionals can afford such a whim. As for the type of operating system, the leader here is the familiar and native Windows for many, which has a large number of programs, a friendly interface, and also supports most of the games and other software.

The "Apple" device also has a variety of (but not as rich in comparison with Windows) software, is quite reliable and easy to use. A laptop with Mac OS will be appreciated by those who work with design programs and graphics.

"Penguin" Linux is not very popular among ordinary people, it is preferred by professionals - system administrators, programmers. Linux is often installed on budget notebook models, as it is a free operating system.

A brief overview of the five most popular firms

How to decide on the choice of a laptop and the best manufacturer? A quick overview of the most popular brands will help you understand the features of their products.

1. ASUS. A popular Chinese brand whose products - tablets, smartphones and laptops - are well-built, reasonable price-quality ratio, and constant product updates and improvements. Special attention is paid to the quality of the screen - it is comfortable to read text from the monitors of ASUS devices, the eyes do not get tired or strained.
2. DELL. A rapidly developing company that controls the quality of its products at every stage of production. The company offers budget laptops, mid-range devices, powerful gaming devices and premium laptops. DELL products are distinguished by their reliability and high performance, wide functionality, as well as unusual design, bright and rich colors.
3. HP. The well-known American brand Hewlett Packard, whose products will satisfy even the most demanding user, are modern, inexpensive notebooks for entertainment, business, touch and ultrabooks. Productive, reliable and at the right price.
4. LENOVO. A popular brand, whose laptops are distinguished by high-quality assembly and ergonomics, equipped with powerful processors, versatile and durable. The products of this well-known company are in great demand among users.
5. APPLE. The world famous brand produces convenient, compact, well-designed devices with a reliable system, high-quality software and serious protection against viruses. In addition, these are prestigious devices with excellent performance and a fairly high cost.

Before choosing the best laptop, you should carefully read the technical characteristics of the device, as well as study user reviews that will tell you about the practical side of the device used. And, of course, in the first place, personal needs and tasks, in accordance with which the desired device is selected.