Notebooks or laptop computers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, just like people. Some are bigger, some are smaller, and some are somewhere in the middle. One defining trait of a laptop is the size of the display screen.
There has been a rising trend among manufacturers to shoehorn the largest screen they can fit into a portable computer. However, for most users, a 13-inch laptop hits the sweet spot between portability and usability.
Luckily for users on the hunt for a 13-inch laptop, there is a good selection to choose from, and it all boils down to personal choice. To aid you in your search for the perfect 13-inch laptop, we’ve prepared a list of some of the best laptops you can buy in Malaysia that fall into this category.
Editor
Mae An NG chevron_right
Table of Contents
Top 8 13-Inch Laptops in Malaysia 2024
Why It’s Our Top Pick
The latest Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320) manages to make its predecessor proud. Starting with its good balance of sweet design and performance, it can deliver enough power to drive CPU/GPU-demanding software and games. In short, it is an ideal laptop with all-around performance.
Overview
This generation's performance is powered by a 13th-generation Intel Core i7, which is further boosted with 16GB RAM + 512GB SSD. While the former is more than enough for most average users, it would be nice if the memory wasn’t the soldered type.
Besides that, the 13.4” FHD+ bezel-less display is vibrant while offering more viewing space for better productivity. Plus, it weighs just 1.24 kg, with its overall build sturdy yet thin and lightweight.
Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320) Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1360P
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB
- Display: 13.4” FHD (1920x1200p), 500 nits
- Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) with DisplayPort and Power Delivery
- Weight: 1.24kg
- Dimensions: 295.30 x 199.04 x 15.28 mm
Who is this for?
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is a solid workhorse for handling intensive programs. Its battery life is a star, too, clocking up to 14 hours. Its keyboard, a silver backlit with a fingerprint reader, is just as great, being evenly spaced and tactile. In terms of gaming, the Intel Iris Xe Graphics can run AAA titles when graphic settings are tweaked to medium-to-low levels, so overall, it’s a good choice for anybody looking for a laptop.
Overview
The second generation to possess a CPU designed by Apple, the M2 chip excels in performance and power efficiency. The base variant comes with a respectable 8GB unified memory and 256GB SSD, which can be upgraded to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB. You can achieve up to 18 hours of battery life when running the Apple TV app movie playback on the MacBook Air on a single charge.
Apple MacBook Air (M2) Specs:
- CPU: Apple M2
- GPU: 8-core GPU
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Display: 13.6-inch, IPS Liquid Retina Display (2560x1664 native resolution)
- Ports: 2x Thunderbolt / USB-4, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
- Weight: 1.24kg
- Dimensions: 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm
Who is this for?
Do you enjoy a simple operating system with timely software updates? If so, you may want to consider the Apple MacBook Air 13" 2022. Even though the price tag is above RM4,000, it's still worth considering, especially if you prefer macOS.
Overview
Not surprisingly, the laptop is designed primarily for gaming. The Flow X13 comes with a 13.4-inch Full HD IPS WUXGA display with one of the thinnest and lightest laptop designs ever. As expected, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 equips the latest AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS Mobile processor and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050, one of the best GPUs for laptops. With this powerful configuration, you'll hardly experience sluggish moments, even when running heavier games and video rendering tasks.
The Flow X13 is not only a compact gaming laptop but also a 360° convertible 2-in-1, making it the best companion for tasks that require productivity.
ASUS ROG Flow X13 Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 6800H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU
- RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 512GB
- Display: 13.4” FHD+ 16:10 (1920 x 1200, WUXGA), 120Hz Touch screen
- Ports: 1x ROG XG Mobile Interface, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
- Weight: 1.3kg
- Dimensions: 299 x 222 x 15.8 mm
Who is this for?
Gaming laptops are notorious for being bulky. Luckily, that's changing soon. The small but powerful 2-in-1 ASUS ROG Flow X13 has made waves for its sleek body and ability to be a beast for gaming.
Overview
Do more in less time with the ultra-fast 2-in-1 laptop, Lenovo Yoga 6, powered by an AMD Ryzen 7000 series processor. Featuring an all-day battery plus rapid charge for a quick boost, you are free to work and play anywhere, anytime you wish to.
The Yoga 6's thin, light frame makes it easy to carry around. The 13.3-inch IPS display provides rich, accurate colors and crisp, vibrant visuals and supports 10-point multi-touch for more interactive on-screen navigation.
Lenovo Yoga 6 Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7730U
- GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
- Display: 13.3”, WUXGA (1920x1200), IPS, 300nits, Glossy, 100% sRGB, Dolby® Vision™, TÜV Low Blue Light, 10-point multi-touch
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On), 2x USB-C® 3.2 Gen 1 (support data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort™ 1.4), 1x HDMI®, up to 4K/60Hz, 1x microSD card reader, 1x Headphone/microphone combo jack (3.5mm)
- Dimensions: 304.0 (W) x 218.0 (D) x 17.36 (H) mm
Who is this for?
The Lenovo Yoga 6 is the best 13-inch 2-in-1 laptop for daily performance. It has solid processing power yet is incredible in power efficiency. With Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos technologies, you can immerse yourself in a fully cinematic space with beautiful visuals and encompassing sound.
Overview
Being only 13.9mm thin, the ASUS ZenBook 13 is in fact one of the world’s first thinnest 13-inch laptops that has a full set of I/O ports. The ASUS ZenBook 13 comes with a 13.3-inch FHD display with anti-glare. With a slim bezel display design, it creates an 88% screen-to-body ratio for a more immersive viewing experience. For your comfort, this laptop has a precision-engineered ErgoLift hinge to lift the bottom of the laptop in order to tilt the keyboard for an optimum typing angle.
Asus ZenBook 13 Specs:
- CPU: Intel i5-1135G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 512GB
- Display: 13.3' FHD 1920x1080, 16:9 Anti-Glare
- Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, microSD reader
- Weight: 1.1kg
- Dimensions: 304.2 x 203 x 13.9mm
Who is this for?
As a student, you'll want a computer that's not too light in processing power yet is reasonable enough in its value. Well, the compact, thin and ultralight ASUS ZenBook 13 is an ideal companion for your school life. It has a solid performance, amazing battery life, and also a good price.
Overview
Just like the premium air that Microsoft brings to its laptops for work, we aren't surprised that this model sports the same lightweight chassis. That means it has high portability and is perfect for programmers on-the-go.
Its 13.5-inch PixelSense display can support a high resolution of up to 2256x1504. If you need simpler and faster navigation, this laptop comes with a touch display option. It utilises the latest 11th-generation Intel Core i7, which can manage basic tasks such as web browsing to heavier ones like professional software and programming. Multitasking is effortless as it packs 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD under the hood.
Microsoft Surface 4 Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4680U
- GPU: Radeon Graphics Microsoft Surface Edition
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Display: 13.5” PixelSense Display (2256 x 1504), multi-touch support
- Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x Surface Connect Port
- Weight: 1.26kg
- Dimensions: 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm
Who is this for?
The Microsoft Surface 4 is the perfect programming machine for both beginners and experts alike. If you're going to be disappointed, it'll likely be over the syntax errors in your coding and not the laptop itself.
Overview
The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is incredibly lightweight and packs a punch for the most demanding tasks. Its optimized metal design is thinner and lighter while providing durability.
For the display, you get a brilliant 13.3-inch micro-edge IPS display with flicker-free technology for more comfortable viewing. With 100% sRGB, you can enjoy visuals with maximum color broadness and accuracy in beautiful details. The AMD Ryzen 5 processor delivers exceptional multi-threaded processing yet maintains an amazing battery life of up to 12 hours and 45 minutes.
HP Pavilion Aero 13 Specs:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7535U
- GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
- Display: 33.8 cm (13.3") diagonal, WUXGA (1920 x 1200), IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, 400 nits, 100% sRGB
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Ports: 1x USB Type-C® 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort™ 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge), 2x USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x AC smart pin, 1x headphone/microphone combo
- Dimensions: 297.6 (W) x 209.0 (D) x 16.9 (H) mm
Who is this for?
Built for all-day productivity, the HP Pavilion Aero 13 gives you impressive notebook performance and the confidence to unplug and go further. Thanks to the HP Dual Speakers with custom tuning by the B&O experts, you can experience rich, authentic audio. The Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 combo keep you connected with an ultra-fast gigabit data rate for a wider boost in productivity.
Overview
As always, Microsoft went all out with their devices' build quality. The brushed metal body is aesthetically appealing and doesn’t attract fingerprints. Its kickstand also feels sturdy to use, and its weight of less than 900g means you can carry it comfortably anywhere.
The specs inside are nothing to scoff at, either. The Intel Core i5-1135G7 is a serious powerhouse of a processor capable of running on low consumption, saving you precious battery life. For photographers who want an editing machine for their photos, the 1080p panel's color accuracy will please them.
Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Display: 13” HDR (2880 x 1920 pixels), 120Hz
- Ports: 2x USB-C with USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover port
- Weight: 0.9kg
- Dimensions: 287 x 208 x 9.3 mm
Who is this for?
Microsoft is arguably the best when it comes to 2-in-1 laptops, from their premium build quality to their excellent Windows experience, so there’s a lot to like with the Microsoft Surface 8 Pro. In fact, photographers looking for their next Lightroom machine might want to consider this.
FAQs
- Does laptop screen size matter?
A laptop's screen size can greatly affect how well a user experiences the device. Varying sizes are better suited for various tasks and preferences.
Small screens (11-13 inches) are typically lightweight and ideal for traveling. On the other hand, a medium screen size (14-16 inches) is perfect for office use, as it can provide a larger space. Large screens (17 inches and up) perfectly fit gamers, graphic designers, and web developers. They are also ideal for multitasking.
- Is a bigger laptop screen better for the eyes?
Laptop use can compromise eye health. Before getting a laptop, consider the screen size. Larger screens allow you to see text and images more clearly, lessening eye strain. They may also benefit your eyes since they can be placed farther away from your eyes while still being viewable.