How Much Does the Average Laptop Weigh?

How much do laptops weigh? Well, it depends on the type of laptop! Generally speaking, the average laptop weight is between 3-5 pounds.

Depending on what you need it for, having more or less weight can be good. For example, if you plan to carry your laptop around a lot or travel with it, a lightweight laptop is often the best option. On the other hand, if you need something that is sturdy and has excellent cooling, adding a bit of extra weight might be worth it.

Different Types of Laptops – Different Weights

A key factor that will determine the general weight of a laptop is what it’s used for. For example, if you’re a gamer with a gaming laptop with the latest hardware, expect a higher weight than what you see in notebooks made for everyday use. Let’s look at some categories of laptops and what you should expect when it comes to their weight:

Ultrabooks and Chromebooks

Samsung Chromebook 3

The term Ultrabook was created by Intel to describe a certain set of features that laptops must have in order for them to be considered ultrathin. These include SSD storage, powerful CPUs, and fast RAM memory while maintaining relatively low weight (usually about or under three pounds). Chromebooks are mostly known as the lightweight budget laptop alternative. They are typically made of plastic and have an SSD drive, which is why they weigh so little.

These laptops will weigh under three pounds for the most part. However, there can still be a difference in overall laptop weight when comparing different Chromebook models and Ultrabook models against each other.

Everyday Use Laptops

The laptops that tend to fall in this category have more functionality than Chromebooks but are still lightweight and easy enough for most people to use every day at home or work.

Most laptops made for everyday use will have larger screens, have bulkier components, and be heavier than Chromebooks and ultrabooks. Expect a weight of four to six pounds for these kinds of laptops.

Gaming Laptops

2021 Model of the Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop

A gaming laptop is a completely different animal. Gaming laptops tend to have the most powerful components and will almost always be heavier than other laptops. Expect weights of six pounds or more for these devices.

The increased weight is partly because they need larger cooling systems (to keep them from overheating) but also because their internal components require extra power and space.

Desktop replacements

Desktop replacement laptops are more similar to ordinary desktop computers. They’re meant to stay in one place and weigh even more than gaming laptops (but also have the best components). Expect weights of seven or eight pounds for these devices.

Which Hardware Components Increase a Laptop’s Weight?

In general, the more powerful a laptop’s hardware components are, especially its processor and graphics card (for gaming laptops), the heavier it will be.

The size and weight of its batteries and extra hardware components like an optical drive or touchscreen display may also lead to additional weight.

The Material of the laptop will affect its weight

Many laptop manufacturers use lightweight yet durable materials like plastics or magnesium instead of metals to make them lighter for portability; however, this also reduces the laptop’s durability in some cases.

What’s the difference between weight and travel weight?

Travel weight refers to the total weight of the laptop and anything else you need to carry with it, such as power adapters and laptop accessories. Remember that the weight the manufacturer claim is almost always less than the travel weight.

Why Should You Choose a Lightweight Laptop?

A lightweight laptop is an ideal choice for anyone who travels a lot and wants something portable. The lighter your machine, the easier it’ll be to carry around with you on the go and not get tired from lugging its weight around all day long. When choosing a new laptop, consider travel weight as one of many variables when buying a new computer.

Sacrifice extra features for lower weight

If you are looking for thin and light laptops, consider sacrificing extra features such as a larger screen or a cd drive. These features are easy to find on most notebooks, but they do add weight, and you often have to skip them if you want the lightest possible laptop.

The Right Size for Your Laptop

When looking at the weight and size of notebooks, keep in mind that this is often a trade-off. The largest screen and the best processor can cause the laptop to become heavy, so you need to consider what’s going to be most important for your needs. If you only plan to use it as a desktop replacement laptop around the house, go ahead and get one with all of those bells and whistles, but if you’re mainly looking for something that you can take on the go, then don’t worry about those extra features.

Some people want a bigger or faster laptop, while others value portability above all else. So the best for you will depend on what they need from the laptop!

Good Lightweight Gaming Laptops

Acer 5 Slim

Acer Aspire 5

The Acer 5 Slim weighs just 3.97 pounds and is 0.78 inches thin, making it a great choice for gamers on a tight budget. It has an AMD Ryzen 3 processor and AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics card that can handle most popular games on medium graphics settings. Another advantage of the Acer 5 Slim is that it comes with a comfortable keyboard and a high-quality display. The screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1080, making it perfect for watching movies or gaming.

Google Pixelbook

Another excellent lightweight gaming laptop is the Google Pixelbook. It weighs just two pounds and has a 12.29-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 2400×1600 pixels, making it perfect for both work and play. The Pixelbook also comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage space. The keyboard is also comfortable to type on, with a 0.9mm key travel and a tactile click making it one of the best budget laptops for writers looking for a portable option. The operating system of the Pixelbook is Google Chrome OS, which is a lightweight alternative to Windows and macOS. With ChromeOS, you can download apps from the Google Play Store, making it easy to play games or chat with friends online.

Apple Macbook Air

The Macbook Air is another great option for a lightweight laptop. The 11-inch model weighs in at just over two pounds, and the 13-inch model is only a little bit heavier at 2.8 pounds. The Macbook Air comes with an Apple M1 processor, 512GB of storage space, and up to fifteen hours of battery life. The keyboard is also backlit, making it easy to type in low-light conditions. One downside of the Macbook Air is that it doesn’t come with a USB Type-A port like the Acer 5 SLim does; instead, it has a USB C port.

MSI Stealth 15M

If you are looking for a high-performance gaming laptop that is also very light, the MSI Stealth 15M might be perfect for you. It weighs just 3.73 pounds and has a 15.6-inch display powered by an Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card. Combined with its Intel Core i7-11375H processor, this laptop will be able to handle any games you throw at it without lag. This gaming laptop is currently one of the best laptops for gaming under $1500. In addition, many gamers will love the MSI’s 144Hz refresh rate, which will not only give you a better overall gaming experience but is also a must-have for competitive multiplayer games.

Conclusion

So, how much does a laptop weigh? It really depends on the type of laptop that you are looking for. If you want a high-performance gaming laptop, expect it to weigh more than a standard laptop. However, many lightweight laptops are available if portability is your top priority. Ultimately, it is essential to consider what features are most important to you when choosing a product and make sure to consider the pros and cons of each option before making your final decision.