Lightweight laptops are great if you have to lug one around all day, but what about price and battery life?
Consumer Reports checked out all the new laptop models, from MacBook Air to Lenovo. An ultra lightweight laptop may be the lightest thing in your backpack this fall.
At around two pounds, the latest Apple MacBook weighs less than the MacBook Air.
Consumer Reports recommends either the MacBook or the LaVie Z, or Samsung ATIV. All these models could really lighten the load for students.
"These ultra lightweights did really well in our performance tests and they also did really well in our portability tests," said Richard Fisco, Consumer Reports. "And if you take your laptop with you frequently in a backpack or some kind of carrying case, you'll notice the difference, even if it is only a few ounces."
You'll have to pay a premium for shedding those ounces.
The Samsung goes for $1,100, and the Apple is $1,300. The Lenovo – $1,500.
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Aside from weight, battery life is also important if you're on the go.
To test, Consumer Reports continuously cycles through a series of web pages until the battery dies.
The MacBook has a battery life of more than 16 hours. The Samsung delivers 10 hours and the Lenovo seven.
"Lightweight laptops are great if you're carrying them around with you, but if it's just sitting on a desk, it's not going to matter," said Fisco.
If price is more important than portability, Consumer Reports named two Best Buys: The 14-inch Lenovo Flex 3 at $650, and the 15-inch Acer Aspire at $500.
