Best Midsize Laptop of 2016

By Matt Staker. Last updated Jun 21, 2016.

The best midsize laptops are those which have bigger screen size than those of the netbooks, and our list of such laptops is narrowed down to those which have screen sizes between 13 inch and 15 inch. Most midsize laptops arrive with flexible options for choosing configurations, and offer better performance than the netbooks at very affordable range of prices.

The thin, light and ultra portable midsize laptops are smaller than the desktop replacement notebooks and offer some notable features. Most of these laptops run on Intel processors except for the few which implement processors from AMD: with speed up to 3 GHz. Also RAM of over 4GB and internal storage of 500GB on these notebooks, makes them choosing worthwhile.

The best midsize laptops are affordable under $800 price range from the brands like Sony, HP and Dell under respective product lines: Vaio, Pavilion and Inspiron. Check out our list of best midsize laptops top rated by some of the best laptop reviewers around the web.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch is our recommendation for the best midsize laptop for 2016. It is a highly recommended buy as per the ReviewGist score of 95% as it not only has excellent reviews but being one of the recent models in the market will come with top end specifications. The Macbook Air has garnered excellent ratings from over 6 review sources with an average rating of 4.0 stars with the top review sources including LaptopMag.com(4.0 stars), PCMag.com(4.0 stars), CNet.com(4.0 stars) and GoodGearGuide.com.au(4.5 stars).

Browse All Top Midsize Laptop of 2016 »

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch 2015

	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5
	Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2015)	Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch (2015)	Microsoft Surface Book	Toshiba Chromebook 2 (2015)	Asus ZenBook UX305F


	[?] ReviewGist Score	[?] ReviewGist Score	[?] ReviewGist Score	[?] ReviewGist Score	[?] ReviewGist Score
Release Date	Aug 2015	Feb 2015	Sep 2015	Sep 2015	Apr 2015
Display Size	13.3 in.	13.3 in.	13.5 in.	13.3 in.	13.3 in.
Display	13.3 inches, Widescreen, 1440 x 900	13.3 inches, Widescreen, 2560 x 1600	13.5 inches, Widescreen, 3000 x 2000		13.3 inches, Widescreen, 1920 x 1080
Hard Drive	128 GB, Flash storage	128 GB, Flash storage	256 GB, SSD	16GB SSD	256 GB, SSD
Installed Memory	4 GB	8 GB	8 GB, 8 GB		8 GB
Operating System	Apple OS X El Capitan	Apple OS X El Capitan	Windows 10	Google Chrome	Microsoft Windows 8
Processor	1.6 GHz, Intel Core i5-5250U	2.7 GHz, Intel Core i5-5257U	2.4 GHz, Intel Core i5-6300U	1.70 GHz Intel Celeron 3215U	0.8 MHz, Intel Core M 5Y10
Laptop Type	Ultraportable, Flash storage	Ultraportable	Ultraportable, Tablet		General Purpose, Ultraportable
	The latest upgrade of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air brings a more powerful Core i5 processor and an astounding 17.5 hours of battery life. It remains our top choice for ultraportable laptops. While we wish it had a better display, the 2015 MacBook Air is superfast and lasts longer on a charge than any other ultraportable today. After some extensive testing, we found the MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015) to be little different overall to the 2014 model. The Thunderbolt 2 update will prove useful for connecting to high-resolution UHD displays, and a few percent of added processor power is never unwelcome. But hoped-for improvements in graphics performance and battery longevity did not arise in our testing, in spite of a new Intel processor which was expected to shepherd benefits in both areas.	Although the fifth-generation Intel Core i5 processor and Force Touch trackpad are minor updates, this year's 13-inch Retina Apple MacBook Pro is still an easy top pick for high-end ultraportables. Blazing speed, an innovative new touchpad and super-long battery life put the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro in a class of its own. The refreshed Retina display MacBook Pro brings faster performance and longer battery life, along with the same stunning screen and comfortable keyboard. This time around, though, Apple also traded in its already-best-in-class trackpad for a new, pressure-sensitive one. While it's almost as comfortable to use as its predecessor, we're not convinced these new touchpad tricks were worth making the switch.	The innovative Microsoft Surface Book offers comfortable ergonomics, a big, beautiful screen, more than 15 hours of battery life, and the power to make short work of everyday and multimedia tasks. It's the first premium detachable-hybrid tablet to earn our Editors' Choice. An impressive display, superb battery life and 2-in-1 versatility make the Surface Book one of the most exciting laptops yet, but its high price narrows the appeal. While it's not nearly as refined as the new fourth-gen Surface Pro, Microsoft's Surface Book is a powerful, feature-filled premium hybrid that doesn't forget it's a laptop first.	The Toshiba Chromebook 2 CB35 puts a bright, highly accurate display and stellar battery life in a sharp, silver form that makes it the Chromebook to beat. If you want a Chromebook, the Toshiba Chromebook 2 is the one we recommend. It has a great screen, looks good and delivers in every way that matters.	With its ultraslim profile, the Asus Zenbook UX305FA-ASM1 midrange ultraportable certainly redefines the concept of thin. Unfortunately, its performance isn't as impressive. The new ZenBook is a great home for Intel’s new Core M processor, which proved up to basic daily tasks in Windows with no obvious lag in the interface. Good battery life and decent screen quality are further plus points to a well-made case with a familiar design to Apple fans. At a price of £650 this is an attractive package as a carry-anyway Windows laptop. The Asus UX305 is almost perfection in affordable ultra-portable laptops. Its stylish, well built, incredibly light and has a screen, keybaord and battery life to rival the best. All for under £650. A tiny slip-up with the trackpad and a definite compromise on performance mean it doesn’t quite take home maximum points, though.