Apple has a very streamlined laptop lineup and right now if you want a lightweight Mac to go it's either the new MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro 13. In our opinion, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is by far the best suited to most users (at least the kind that read TechSpot). It’s a versatile laptop providing quad-core processors in a chassis just 15mm thick and 3 pound heavy. The 13-inch Pro offers a high resolution 2560 x 1600 retina display with wide gamut support and True Tone, making it a fantastic option for content creators. The display is brighter than the Air's, you get better battery life and a faster base Core i5 processor for $200 extra on essentially the same size and weight (starts at $1,200).
The MacBook Pro 13 recently got a refresh with better internals for the same price, which is great. Granted, MacBooks are expensive for what you get on the spec sheet and upgrades are expensive. You do get some perks in return, including great build quality except for the keyboard that has received widespread criticism and is expected to receive a do-over next year.
Other Noteworthy Alternatives
Those looking for something light with a small footprint and a stunning screen should check out the Lenovo IdeaPad S940, which has a glossy 4K IPS HDR screen that’s among the best we’ve seen on a laptop. The bezels are absolutely tiny and the sides of the display curve just like a phone. It can be specced up to a Core i7-8565U, 16GB of RAM and a very snappy 1TB PCIe SSD, has three USB Type-C ports (two are Thunderbolt 3), and the Windows IR camera and webcam sit in a “reverse notch” that’s placed above the screen rather than invading it.
If you place battery life above all else, few high-end ultrabooks can match the LG Gram (available in 13, 14, 15 and 17 inch models). The 2019 edition comes with an updated 8th-gen processor, though last year's model is just as good and will likely be found at a cheaper price.
Finally, there’s the Surface Laptop 2, which, like other Surface products, comes with a 3:2 aspect ratio that’s great for productivity. It’s got great battery life and is well built. Also starts at just $799.