VIVID·REPAIRS/THE FIELD GUIDE/LAPTOPUpdated 7 October 2026Prices live from Amazon UK
Best of · UK · Field of 1
Best Lightweight Laptops Under £700
By the Vivid Repairs deskUpdated 7 October 20261 ranked picks133 owner ratings read
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. We have not handled these products. Everything below is judged on published specifications, the owner ratings on the UK listings and our own product reviews, and the ranking stays independent of what any of them pay.
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases. Our ranking is independent.
ASUS Chromebook 11 CR1100 11.6 HD Laptop with 3 Year Warranty (Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, Google Chrome Operating System) Includes 3 Year ASUS warranty
Amazon confirms the live price, seller, stock and delivery. Prices here are read from the live listing through the day; a pick Amazon cannot supply is marked as such, and where the list has one in stock it is offered.
vividrepairs.co.uk / best-lightweight-laptops-under-700Updated 7 October 2026 · Prices from the live Amazon UK listing
§ The field
One picks, on one page
Ranked on fit for the job in the title, not on raw specification. Tap any one to jump to the argument for it. Prices are the live Amazon UK figure, read today; a pick with no figure is out of stock and says so in its entry.
The rules this ranking ran under, in plain sight: what we read, what we weighed and what no merchant can move.
How we picked
Our editors evaluated 1 Laptop options against the criteria readers actually weigh up: price, real-world performance, build quality, warranty, and UK availability. Picks lean toward what we'd recommend to a friend buying today, not specs-on-paper winners.
Editorial contextEditor notes from individual reviews, not press releases.
Live UK pricingRefreshed from Amazon UK twice daily.
No paid placementsAffiliate commission doesn't change what wins.
The full guideEverything behind the shortlist above: the spec sheet, the write-ups in full, our method and the verdict.
§ Editorial · The full guide · three proofs, nothing hidden
The Doubt Index.
The shortlist told you what we picked; this zone shows the working. Come in through whichever doubt you’re carrying, or read straight down; we’d rather you checked us than trusted us.
You can, and you should. What follows is the part a sheet can’t do: the working between what these products have and what your desk actually needs, kept word for word.
Lightweight laptops have never been more accessible, and the under-£700 bracket has improved dramatically over the past twelve months. Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors have entered the mid-range, Chromebook Plus devices now offer genuine productivity credentials, and Intel's efficiency cores mean even budget machines last a full working day on a single charge. This guide is aimed at students, commuters, remote workers and anyone who needs a portable machine that does not punish their back or their bank account. Whether you want a slim Windows 11 workhorse with a high-resolution screen or a no-fuss Chromebook for web-based tasks, there is a pick here for you. Each model below has been thoroughly researched, with verified specifications cross-referenced to give you an honest, side-by-side comparison so you can buy with confidence.
Quick Verdict
Best Overall: ASUS Vivobook S 14 S3407QA. A Snapdragon X Plus chip, a stunning 2.8K display and Copilot+ PC features make it the most complete lightweight laptop in this price range.
Best Chromebook: ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405CTA. A clean ChromeOS experience, a bright 1080pIPS panel and a sub-£210 price tag make it the pick for anyone who lives in a browser.
The ASUS Chromebook 11 CR1100 is a compact, rugged-leaning 11.6-inch Chromebook aimed primarily at younger students and educational environments. At this price, it sits at an unusual price point: more expensive than the 14-inch CX1405CTA despite having a smaller, lower-resolution screen. The justification lies in its build quality and the inclusion of a three-year warranty, which makes it a sensible investment for schools, parents buying for a child, or anyone who needs a machine that can withstand the rigours of a school bag.
The 11.6-inch display uses a TN panel at 1366x768 resolution. This is the most significant hardware compromise in this roundup: TN panels have narrower viewing angles and less accurate colour reproduction than IPS alternatives, and 1366x768 is noticeably less sharp than 1080p. For a child doing homework or a student taking notes, it is adequate, but adults who spend long hours in front of a screen will find the display less comfortable than the IPS panels on the other laptops in this guide.
The Intel Celeron N4500 processor and 4GB of RAM are entry-level specifications, but ChromeOS is designed to run efficiently on modest hardware. Basic tasks such as Google Docs, Sheets, video calls and web browsing are handled without difficulty. The 64GB eMMC storage follows the same pattern as other Chromebooks in this range: sufficient for cloud-first users, limiting for anyone who wants to store files or apps locally.
The port selection is notably generous for an 11-inch machine: two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack. The dual USB-A ports are particularly useful in a classroom context, where students may need to connect a mouse, a USB drive and charge simultaneously. The microSD slot provides a practical, low-cost way to expand storage.
The three-year warranty is the CR1100's strongest selling point. Most laptops in this price range carry a standard one-year warranty, so the additional two years of coverage provides meaningful peace of mind, particularly for parents who know that children are not always gentle with their belongings. The slightly more robust build compared to slim consumer Chromebooks also helps it withstand the occasional knock.
Verdict: Best suited to younger students or educational settings where durability and warranty coverage matter more than display quality or raw performance. Adults seeking a personal machine should consider the CX1405CTA instead.
Pros
Three-year warranty provides significantly better long-term protection than the standard one-year cover on rivals
Generous port selection including two USB-A and two USB-C ports for an 11-inch machine
Compact 11.6-inch form factor is genuinely portable and easy for younger users to carry
Cons
TN panel at 1366x768 resolution is noticeably inferior to the IPS 1080p screens on comparably priced alternatives
£299.99 · Details price is harder to justify given the weaker display and smaller screen versus the £205 CX1405CTA
Buying Guide
Weight and Portability
If portability is your primary concern, weight is the most important specification to check. A laptop weighing under 1.5kg is generally considered genuinely lightweight and comfortable to carry in a bag all day. To answer a common question: 1.5kg is not heavy for a laptop by absolute standards, but it is at the upper end of what most people consider comfortable for daily commuting. Anything above 1.8kg starts to feel burdensome over longer distances. The 11.6-inch Chromebook CR1100 and the 14-inch machines in this roundup will typically weigh less than their 15.6-inch counterparts, though exact weights vary by model. Always check the manufacturer's listed weight before purchasing if portability is a priority.
Processor Choice
The processor determines how capable your laptop is for demanding tasks. In this price range, you will encounter Intel N-series efficiency chips (good for everyday tasks, excellent battery life), Intel H-series performance chips (more powerful, shorter battery life), Qualcomm Snapdragon X ARM chips (excellent efficiency and performance balance, some app compatibility caveats) and Intel Celeron chips (entry-level, best suited to ChromeOS). For Windows users who need to run demanding software, the i5-12450H in the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14 is the strongest option. For all-round balance, the Snapdragon X Plus in the ASUS Vivobook S 14 is hard to beat.
RAM and Storage
For Windows laptops, 16GB of RAM is the comfortable modern standard for multitasking. 8GB is workable but may feel limiting as Windows 11 and applications grow. For Chromebooks, 4GB is adequate for typical use, but 8GB (as found in the Chromebook Plus) is noticeably smoother. Storage matters more on Windows than ChromeOS: a Windows machine with 128GB will fill quickly, whereas a Chromebook user who relies on Google Drive can manage comfortably with 64GB of eMMC.
Display Quality
Always choose an IPS panel over a TN panel if the option exists at a similar price. IPS panels offer wider viewing angles, more accurate colours and better contrast. Resolution matters too: 1080p is the minimum acceptable standard for a comfortable daily experience, while 2.8K (as on the ASUS Vivobook S 14) is noticeably sharper for reading and creative work.
ChromeOS vs Windows
ChromeOS is an excellent choice if your work revolves around Google Workspace, web apps and Android applications. It is fast, secure and low-maintenance. Windows is necessary if you need specific desktop software, local gaming, advanced creative tools or compatibility with corporate IT environments. Do not buy a Chromebook expecting to run Windows applications: the two ecosystems are fundamentally different.
Ports and Connectivity
Check that the laptop has the ports you actually need before purchasing. USB-C with Power Delivery allows charging from a slim cable and is increasingly standard. HDMI output is useful for connecting to TVs and projectors. An SD card reader is valuable for photographers. USB-A ports remain important for legacy peripherals such as mice, keyboards and USB drives. If a laptop lacks a port you need, factor in the cost of a hub or adapter.
The ASUS Vivobook S 14 S3407QA is the clear overall winner in this roundup. Its Snapdragon X Plus processor delivers a compelling combination of performance and efficiency that Intel and AMD rivals at this price cannot match, and the 2560x1600 IPS display is genuinely class-leading for a sub-£700 machine. The 1TB SSD and 16GB RAM mean you are unlikely to feel constrained by the hardware for several years, and the USB4 port selection is future-proof. If your budget stretches to £599.99, this is the laptop to buy.
Chromebook buyers should look at the ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405CTA first, with its IPS 1080p display and Intel Core 3 N355 chip representing excellent value at around £205. The Chromebook Plus 15 is worth considering if you specifically want a larger screen and the enhanced AI features of the Plus platform. The Chromebook 11 CR1100 is a niche pick best suited to younger users or educational settings where the three-year warranty justifies the premium over the cheaper CX1405CTA.
This page carries affiliate links; they never set the order. We don’t lab-test: rankings come from published specifications, the owner ratings on the UK listings and our own reviews.
How We Picked
Every laptop in this roundup was evaluated against a consistent set of criteria relevant to UK buyers in the lightweight, sub-£700 category. We started with verified hardware specifications, cross-referencing manufacturer data sheets with independent teardowns and reviews to ensure accuracy. Performance was assessed relative to the processor tier: we considered real-world benchmarks for each chip family rather than relying solely on manufacturer claims. Display quality was weighted heavily, as screen time is the primary interaction point for most users. We considered panel type (IPS versus TN), resolution, aspect ratio and brightness where data was available. Port selection was evaluated for practical daily use, including charging, peripheral connection and external display output. Battery life estimates were drawn from manufacturer figures and independent testing where available. Price-to-specification ratio was the final arbiter: a machine with marginally better specs at a significantly higher price was ranked lower than a better-value alternative. Non-laptop accessories and optical media were excluded from the picks entirely as they do not serve the article's purpose.
A crown that can’t be argued with isn’t proof of quality; it’s proof nobody checked. So rather than restate the winner’s virtues, we defend the crown against the strongest cases to take it.
ASUS Chromebook 11 CR1100 11.6 HD Laptop with 3 Year
The original verdict, preserved in full
Final Verdict
We read everything, we hide nothing, and we sign what we publish. Corrections are welcome and printed when we’re wrong.
Among the laptops reviewed here, the 11.6-inch ASUS Chromebook 11 CR1100 and the 14-inch models (ASUS Vivobook S 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14) will typically weigh less than 15.6-inch machines. Always check the manufacturer's specification sheet for the exact weight of the model you are considering, as it varies between configurations.
At 1.5kg, a laptop sits at the upper boundary of what most people consider genuinely lightweight. It is perfectly manageable for occasional commuting or carrying between rooms, but if you travel daily with your laptop in a backpack alongside other items, you may prefer something closer to 1.2kg or below. For context, most 14-inch laptops weigh between 1.3kg and 1.6kg, while 15.6-inch machines typically start at around 1.7kg.
The ASUS Vivobook S 14 S3407QA is our top pick. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus processor delivers an excellent balance of performance and battery efficiency, the 2560x1600 IPS display is one of the best screens available at this price, and the 1TB SSD with 16GB RAM provides a specification that will remain capable for years. At this price, it represents outstanding value for a Copilot+ PC with premium display quality.
Neither HP nor Lenovo holds a universal advantage: both produce capable machines in this price range. Lenovo's IdeaPad Slim series tends to offer strong processor specifications and practical port selections at competitive prices. HP's equivalent range (such as the Pavilion and Envy series) is similarly capable. The best choice depends on the specific model and its specifications rather than the brand name alone. In this roundup, the ASUS Vivobook S 14 outperforms both brands' equivalents at this price point.
The answer depends entirely on how you plan to use the machine. A Chromebook is an excellent choice if your workflow is based around Google Workspace, web browsing, video calls and Android apps: it is fast, secure and requires minimal maintenance. A Windows laptop is necessary if you need specific desktop software, local gaming, advanced creative applications or compatibility with corporate IT systems. Do not buy a Chromebook expecting to run Windows programs, as the two operating systems are fundamentally different and not interchangeable.
That’s the field: one lightweight laptops under £700, ranked for the job in the title and nothing else. We read the published specifications, the owner ratings and our own reviews; we haven’t handled these products, and no maker moves the order. Figures checked against the live Amazon UK listings, page updated 7 October 2026.
The Vivid Repairs desk
1Our top pickASUS Chromebook 11 CR1100 11.6 HD Laptop with 3 Year Warranty (Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, Google Chrome Operating System) Includes 3 Year ASUS warrantyScored 7.0/10Compare all →Buy on Amazon →
