The 5 Best Thin Laptops from HP

While the high-end laptops of old were bulky, cumbersome machines, technological advances mean manufacturers can now cram top-end hardware into a tiny package. Razor-thin, ultra-lightweight laptops are faster and more functional than ever. 

The most compact laptops weigh well under 2 kg and measure under 20 mm thick. Even gaming laptops now boast slim profiles, featuring tiny high-tech cooling systems so gamers can take their hobby on the road.

Thin laptops aren’t only for heavy-duty users. The Chromebook is an affordable, lightweight machine using Google’s web-based Chrome OS to negate the need for high-end specs. You’ll also find ultraportable 2-in-1 devices that offer a laptop and a tablet in one slimline package.

With so many unique devices appealing to a broad range of users, there’s no definitive “best” slim laptop—it depends on what you want out of your machine.

In this guide, we’ll cover the key features when shopping for a thin laptop and present five of HP’s finest ultra-light devices.

• Things to consider when purchasing a thin laptop
• The 5 best portable laptops from HP
• Choosing the best ultraportable laptop for you

Before perusing our suggestions, consider your top priorities. Work out which factors matter most for you and use this to whittle down a shortlist.

A larger screen will always equate to added weight, so find the sweet spot that works for you. If you struggle to focus on a small screen, aim for a thin laptop with a 14-inch screen or larger.

On the other hand, if portability is your main priority, a 14-inch (or smaller) screen is the better choice.

Width and weight are equally important. If you’re always on the go, look for a laptop under 1.5 kg with a slim profile less than 15mm thick.

There’s no need to purchase a top-end next-gen machine just to check emails and run Microsoft Word. In the same vein, if you’re using intensive, data-crunching applications or browsing dozens of tabs at once, a low-spec laptop won’t cut it.

As a rule of thumb, aim for at least an i5 processor (or equivalent) and 8GB of RAM. Any less than that, and you’ll find the user experience too lethargic. Chromebooks are the exception to the rule.

If you love the mobile-like feeling of scrolling on a touch screen, consider a 2-in-1 device. These powerful, slim units function like a regular laptop but double back on themselves to become an impromptu tablet. Alternatively, detachable laptops pull apart to become ultra-portable tablets.

However, 2-in-1 functionality adds extra weight and expense. Give it a miss if you think you’ll seldom use the touch screen.

Users with enormous video collections or high work-related data requirements should aim for 1TB or more. But for many, a mammoth hard drive is a waste of money (and weight). Think about how much you need and tack on a little extra for wriggle room.

If budget permits, always spring for a solid-state drive (SSD). These modern, high-tech drives use digital flash memory instead of a traditional spinning platter to achieve rapid loading speeds. 

Video editors, animators, and gamers must invest in a laptop with a dedicated graphics card. However, graphics cards vary widely; not all will run the latest AAA games. Research your requirements carefully.

An integrated graphics card does the trick for videos or casual gaming. These cost-effective options come built into the processor and afford better battery life and lower weight.

Are you forever on the move, or do you work in the same place?

Good battery life is essential for highly mobile users who don’t always have access to a charging port. But for those who only use their laptop at home, it’s not a deal breaker. In either case, aim for at least five hours.

Now you’ve considered your priorities, let’s look at the best thin laptops from HP.

• Width: 16 mm
• Weight: 1.62 kg
• Screen: 14”
• Processor: Intel® Pentium® Silver
• RAM: 8GB
• Battery life: 11 hours
• Hard drive: 128GB eMMC
• Graphics card: Intel® UHD Graphics (integrated)

Budget-conscious consumers looking for a functional yet razor-thin machine can’t go past the HP Chromebook x360 14b. As HP’s thinnest Chromebook, this slender device spans just 16 mm, so it’s small enough to slide into your narrow pack.

The laptop relies on the web-based applications of Chrome OS, which means most processing occurs in the cloud. That way, the Chromebook offers a fast, user-friendly computing experience with low-end specs—no-frills hardware equates to a lower price.  

The main drawback is you won’t be able to install Windows applications, though most popular programs are now available for Chrome. Also, you’ll need a reliable internet connection to get the most out of the machine. However, that’s rarely a problem in 2022.

Wondering why it’s called 360?

The screen flips back over the keyboard to become a fully-functional 2-in-1. Not bad for a laptop that costs under a thousand dollars.

• Width:  18.6 mm
• Weight:  1.76 kg
• Screen: 15.6”
• Processor:  8th Gen Intel® Core™ i5
• RAM: 8GB
• Battery life: 10 hours
• Hard drive: 256GB SSD
• Graphics card: Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 620

On the other end of the spectrum, the HP ZBook 15U offers top-end built-in specs for Windows users. As one of HP’s thinnest and lightest workstations, this high-powered machine is designed with the mobile professional in mind.

From graphic designers to data analysts and software developers, a host of processing power-hungry pros will make the most of this laptop. A lightweight design and respectable specs make it an attractive option for students.

Should you want even more power, you can customise it to include extra RAM, a speedy i7 processor, or a massive 2TB SSD. Other enticing add-ons include a 4K UHD LED display, an easy-to-see backlit keyboard, or even a dedicated AMD Radeon™ Pro WX 3100 GPU.

• Width: 6.8 mm
• Weight:  1.2 kg
• Screen: 12.3”
• Processor: 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i5
• RAM: 4GB
• Hard drive: 128GB SSD
• Graphics card: Intel® HD Graphics 615 (integrated)

Need something super compact?

Laptops don’t get much thinner than the HP ENVY x2. At just 6.8 mm, it’s slightly thicker than your average magazine. And despite weighing a meagre 1.2 kg (being HP’s lightest laptop), this slender machine has enough power to handle your everyday needs. 

While the i5 processor and 4GB of RAM will struggle with intensive computational tasks, the laptop wasn’t designed for high-demand users. Rather, it’s the perfect portable machine for managers, administrators, and communications pros on the go. If you want something functional to whisk between meetings, the HP ENVY x2 is a top choice.

What’s more, as a fully detachable laptop, you can slip the screen off and use it like a tablet. A high-resolution WLED-backlit display and crisp Bang & Olufsen audio make it ideal for videos.

• Width: 14 mm
• Weight: 1.34 kg
• Screen: 13.5”
• Processor: 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7
• RAM: 16GB
• Battery life: 11 hours
• Hard drive: 1TB SSD
• Graphics card: Intel® Iris® Xᵉ Graphics (integrated)

We say “almost all” because the laptop has an integrated graphics card that isn’t intended for GPU-intensive tasks. Nonetheless, you can expect -smooth performance for anything other than heavy-duty gaming or video editing.

Lightweight and nimble, it’s one of HP's most powerful compact 2-in-1 laptops. Despite the top-end specs, the battery lasts an impressive 11 hours—perfect for professionals on the go. The device automatically adjusts its settings to squeeze even more life out of the battery.

All in all, it’s an excellent alternative to the ENVYx2 for users with more demanding processing needs.

• Width:  23 mm
• Weight: 2.3 kg
• Screen: 16.1”
• Processor: 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7
• RAM: 16GB
• Battery life: 5.5 hours
• Hard drive: 512GB SSD
• Graphics card: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3070 (8GB)

Under the hood, there’s an 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7, 16GB of RAM, and an 8GB NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3070, a winning combo that achieves a great frame rate for even the most demanding AAA games. What’s more, it’s got a zippy  512 SSD to store your treasured gaming library and reduce level loading times.

The crisp QHD (2560 x 1440) display offers gorgeous HD gaming, while the large screen size (16.1”) brings you a step closer to the desktop experience. When you’re not rocking your headset, Bang & Olufsen audio help bring the soundtrack to life.

Although the width and weight are notably higher than other options on this list, it’s still remarkably slender as far as gaming laptops go.

Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or an office worker on the move, HP® has a fantastic thin laptop for you. But with so many incredible portable laptops on the HP® catalogue, it takes time to find the ideal option.  

Create a shortlist of your top priorities—weight, processing power, battery life, graphics, etc.—and use it to pinpoint the most suitable laptop in this list.