Buy 12-inch Laptops

Lenovo 12-inch laptops: Built for portability

Looking for a 12-inch laptop? Something that's lightweight and fits easily into a small bag or briefcase? You've come to the right place. This page is dedicated to Lenovo 12-inch laptops.

First, however, you should understand that a 12-inch laptop isn't a common size. They're available, but display manufacturers mostly focus on a few standard dimensions, with the closest mass-produced screens typically measuring 11.6 inches. Laptops with these screens are often called "11-inch" models, but when you think about it, their displays are closer to 12 inches than 11.

So, when shopping for a 12-inch laptop, don't forget to consider 11.6-inch laptops, too. Or if you're comparing 12.5-inch laptops, take a look at some 13-inch models. The frame sizes and system weights could be nearly identical.

Advantages of a 12-inch laptop

Laptops in the 12-inch range are sometimes called mini laptops, micro laptops or just small/ultraportable laptops. The category is very popular with highly mobile professionals, students who must carry their PCs around campus all day, or anyone who regularly works in tight spaces (conference room tables, airline seat trays, etc.).

Prices for 12-inch laptops vary widely. At the top end are advanced models with high-performing, low-heat processors and solid state storage drives that offer great performance despite the tight interior space. Other models, built more for affordability, are ideal for home office and family use.

Here are some of the reasons consumers browse the 12-inch laptop category:

• Light weight and superior portability: Small laptops go just about anywhere.
• Variety of prices and features: It's a popular size, so many different models are built.
• Long battery life: Small laptops boast some of the industry's longest unplugged times.

Many 12-inch systems are combination laptop/tablet models called 2-in-1s. Their small size makes them ideal for use in tablet mode, which can be inconvenient if the system weighs too much.

Display size or frame size?

Remember that while the size of a laptop is usually described in terms of the size of its display, it's the size of the overall laptop frame that matters most in terms of usability and portability. In other words, two 12-inch laptops can be significantly different in terms of overall dimensions, system weight, and so on.

Think about it. If one laptop surrounds its 12-inch display with a thick plastic bezel, the overall frame size will likely be larger than a laptop whose 12-inch screen is wrapped in a thinner bezel (sometimes called an "edgeless" display). Similarly, a 12-inch model with a solid state drive will be lighter than one with a traditional hard drive. A system boasting extra-long unplugged time might use a battery that's heavier than a competing model.

With this in mind, if you're shopping our 12-inch laptops for their superior portability, be sure to look at the specifications for overall system dimensions and weight. The numbers can vary widely. Even if every model you're considering has an identical 12-inch display, their "footprints" could be quite different.

One final point: Before investing in a highly portable laptop, make sure the smaller system fits the way you use your computer, not just how you carry it. Will your wide, multi-column spreadsheets still be easy to use on a smaller screen? What about typing? Smaller systems often have smaller, tighter keyboards, too. The same goes for movie streaming: a small display works well in an airplane seat but might be less convenient in the family room at home.