TOP 15 best 14-inch laptops: 2021 rating by price/quality and which model to choose

Laptops with a diagonal of 14 inches are considered the most convenient portable computers due to the sufficient screen size and compact dimensions that do not cause inconvenience when carrying/transporting.
But how to choose a truly reliable and functional laptop?

What to pay attention to, what features to take into account? Which models are highly rated by customers?

We studied information from the most popular companies, expert opinions and user reviews, and compiled our own rating of the best options for laptops with a 14-inch screen in terms of price/quality ratio.

We tried to take into account not only technical features, but also strengths and weaknesses, so the article will be a good help when choosing a new computer.

Rating of the TOP 15 best 14-inch laptops of 2021

TOP 4 best gaming laptops 14 inches

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA401

The Republic of Gamers product is designed for avid gamers . AniMe Matrix Display

Matrix with customizability is its main feature.

The case is available in two colors: pearl white and matte silver.

The whole thing is made of an alloy of aluminum and magnesium, the surface does not mark, does not collect fingerprints.

The keyboard is membrane, with quiet key travel. There is a combined headphone and microphone output, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0b and 4 USB ports.

Rubberized feet prevent slipping on smooth surfaces . The lid opens 135 degrees. The warranty is issued for 2 years.

Weighs just under 2 kilograms.

The autonomy is excellent: 10 hours with a full processor load, the ability to play Metro Exodus or any other cutting-edge game at maximum settings adds points to this model in the overall rating of gaming models.

Specifications:

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home;
• dimensions: 324×222×20 mm;
• power adapter: ADP-180TB (180 W);
• battery: 76 Wh (4800 mAh);
• video subsystem: integrated AMD Radeon Graphics.
• Bluetooth: 5.1;
• touchpad: 105×61 mm.

pros

• long cord at the adapter;
• sRGB 100%;
• comfortable ErgoLift hinges;
• Asus Armory Crate;
• original AniMe Matrix on the lid.

Minuses

• price is above average;
• The manufacturer did not bother installing a webcam.

Lenovo ThinkPad E14

The ThinkPad E14 is very similar to the previous ThinkPad E490, with one exception: it is significantly cheaper.

Here are all the basic maximum of a good laptop: an instant fingerprint scanner, a comfortable touchpad and an equally comfortable keyboard, a sufficient number of ports, a display of the latest model, a clear wireless adapter with support for the sixth Wi-Fi.

The design is pleasant: there are no sharp corners or clutter of logos . The body is made of aluminum, the build quality is good, the webcam has a shutter. The finger scanning sensor is located directly in the activation button.

RAM slot in a single copy, maximum supported volume - 32 GB . Even at maximum load, the device does not make noise - this is especially pleasing. The drives can be upgraded without problems.

Specifications:

• discrete video card Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q;
• dimensions: 232 (325) x 232 (325) x 17.9 (20.5);
• sound chipset: Synaptic CX11880;
• Li-Ion: 3980 mAh;
• Bluetooth: 5.0;
• Wi-Fi: 802.11ax.

pros

• There is a microSD card reader;
• integrated graphics Intel UHD Graphics 620;
• FW TPM 2.0 module;
• security lock slot;
• built-in network card.

Minuses

• no HDMI video output;
• The battery capacity is not enough for many buyers.

MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-008RU

MSI has set itself a goal: to create a powerful laptop with a discrete graphics card and good performance, but with the thinnest possible body .

And by 2021, their work was crowned with success: Prestige 14 not only looks noble due to its classic, strict design, but also successfully solves all the tasks assigned to it.

Its upper part is made of aluminum, the corners are smoothed, and there is extensive perforation in the lower part..

The display can be folded out 180 degrees if desired. The keyboard is compact, membrane type, without a separate block of numeric keys.

There is a silent, responsive touchpad with a built-in fingerprint sensor, but you can also connect a mouse via the port.

The screen is semi-matte, without a protective coating, but there is no flickering, the white field is uniform, the color balance is good and the color gamut is close to sRGB.

Specifications:

• weighs only 1254 g;
• dimensions: 319×215×15.9 mm;
• screen: IPS matrix Innolux N140HCE-EN2 (14 inches, resolution 1920×1080);
• maximum brightness value: 276 cd/m2;
• processor: 6-core Intel Core i7-10710U.

pros

• easy to open with one hand;
• Windows Hello;
• one of the fastest processors;
• a couple of decent ports: USB 3.2 Gen2 and Thunderbolt 3;
• convenient fingerprint scanner;
• microSD card reader.

Minuses

• the maximum brightness is low, so there will be difficulties when working outside on a sunny day;
• soldered RAM.

How to choose a 14-inch laptop?

Before purchasing a new laptop, we recommend that you first determine the main tasks for which you will need it, as well as the price range.

After that, pay attention to the following parameters.

1. Processor . They are produced by two Intel and “red” AMD. They have a gradation according to power. So, i3 or Ryzen 3 - low power, but reliable and perfect for the office, i5 or Ryzen 5 - better in performance, suitable for many purposes, i7 or Ryzen 7 - powerful (for games, editing and programming), and i9 or Ryzen 9 is the most powerful, high-performance, for professional gaming.
2. Video card . Graphics are represented in laptops by a built-in graphics core, a discrete (separate) video card, or a combination of both. The built-in core is enough for watching movies, the Internet, and most standard tasks. A discrete card is necessary for a full-fledged gaming processor. An excellent option would be a combination of these two types, when powerful graphics are launched only when necessary.
3. Amount of RAM . This indicator tells you how many tasks, programs and applications the laptop can handle simultaneously. Now 4 GB is already the minimum threshold, since the software requires at least 1.5 GB of RAM. And also the Internet, background applications, movies or games. It is better to buy models with 8 GB or 4 GB of RAM, but with the possibility of increasing it in the future.
4. Screen matrix . The most popular matrices currently used in laptop assembly are IPS and TN. The latter has a faster response time and is ideal for gaming. Many users like IPS due to its varied color gamut, richness and brightness of the picture. It has wider viewing angles, which means image distortion when tilting the screen will be minimal.
5. SSD or HDD ? Experts say that the best option would be an organic combination of these two types of storage. Individually, an SSD can put too much stress on the system, while an HDD is slower and more fragile. A combination of HDD and SSD allows you to store your most frequently used files on a fast SSD and the rest on the HDD.

TOP 3 best budget 14-inch laptops

ASUS VivoBook 14 K413

If you need a relatively inexpensive and compact, but “thinking” laptop for the office or freelancing, this model is just for you.

And in comparison with analogues in this segment, it significantly wins. Completely silent (the experiment with a 100% load went perfectly), lightweight, with a small charger and an excellent matrix, it is optimal in price and quality.

The gray color of the case with a silver tint gives the model a noble look: it seems that it is made of metal.

Thanks to its light weight and size, the laptop can be taken with you when traveling. The matte finish of the screen does not adversely affect the eyes.

The battery holds a charge for about 5-6 hours . The keys are soft and have backlighting for dark conditions. There is a security lock slot, speakers and a microphone.

The webcam resolution is sufficient for comfortable communication.

Specifications:

• dimensions: 324x215x17.9;
• weight: 1.4 kg;
• battery: 4050 mAh;
• Bluetooth: 5.0;
• Wi-Fi: 802.11ax;
• Hard drive interface: M.2.

pros

• Nvideo video card;
• does not play;
• LED screen backlight;
• light weight;
• affordable;
• anti-glare screen.

Minuses

• plastic case;
• no 3D support.

ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 TP412

This is not just a laptop, but a transformable laptop , powered by a processor from the Kaby Lake family .

Sit at the table - laptop, lie down on the sofa - tablet.

It has a large reserve of performance: it is enough for work tasks and for comfortable surfing the Internet.

The system works quickly and quickly responds to commands. IPS FullHD screen gives an unforgettable viewing experience: rich colors, maximum detail and contrast, excellent viewing angles .

The kit comes with a convenient stylus, but who doesn’t like it - the screen responds to the finger without any problems. There is an HDMI connector, as well as 3 USB ports - enough to connect all the necessary devices.

If 4 GB of RAM is not enough for the user, there is an additional slot to deliver . There is a large SSD for storing files. The battery life is long, it weighs little, and the assembly is of high quality.

Specifications:

• RAM: 4(7) GB;
• weighs 1.5 kg;
• dimensions: 225(327)x224.75(327)x17.5(18);
• webcam resolution: 0.3 megapixels;
• battery capacity: 3550(3640) mAh.

pros

• No PWM;
• hyperthreading;
• stylus;
• fingerprint scanner;
• assembly;
• power.

Minuses

• brightness is too low;
• The screen is not designed for modern games.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14

Sales of this laptop in Russia started in 2021, and today this model has already gained considerable popularity.

The body is made of plastic: it may not be particularly durable, but it is beautifully and neatly assembled.

Colors 2: Light teal and Graphite gray . The plastic frames around the monitor are very narrow; the webcam, located at the top of the screen, is covered with a curtain.

Tight hinges do not allow you to open the laptop with one hand, but the angle at which you can tilt the lid is quite large - 140 degrees.

There is a USB Type-C connector, two USB connectors, and a memory card slot. The keyboard is pleasant, matte to the touch, membrane switches, speakers are located on its sides.

Efficient cooling system prevents annoying noise.

Ergonomics are good, budget price.

Specifications:

• weight: 1.39 kg;
• dimensions: 211.59 (321.57) x 211.59 (321.57) x 17.9;
• battery capacity: 56.5-57 Wh;
• Bluetooth: 5.0/5.1;
• Wi-Fi: 802.11ac / 802.11ax;
• memory frequency: 3200 MHz;
• CPU cores: 2 / 4 / 6 / 8.

pros

• key backlight;
• Gesture control possible;
• Full HD;
• improved performance;
• decent autonomy;
• good bios.

Minuses

• To upgrade, you need to completely remove the back cover;
• Not the best screen quality.

Xiaomi RedmiBook 14″ Ryzen Edition

There are no ideal laptops, but this model is very close to ideal . Matte

screen, light and thin body with graceful lines, large 512 GB Toshiba SSD drive - all this looks more than decent.

Battery settings allow the user to work without a network connection from 4 to 9 hours, and will withstand two dozen open tabs in the browser and several windows in Pychram.

The power adapter is large, with a long cable and a large socket.

The laptop is easy to fit into any backpack (even a ladies' one). The assembly is at the highest level, the keyboard is quiet and comfortable to use.

The display has an anti-reflective coating that will prevent your eyesight from being damaged while working on a sunny day.

Windows loads in 9 seconds . Built-in video card. There are 2 colors on sale: light gray and dark gray.

Specifications:

• screen extension: 1920×1080;
• video memory type: SMA;
• weight: 1.5 kg;
• dimensions: 323x228x17.95;
• battery capacity (Wh): 46 Wh;
• Wi-Fi: 802.11ac.

pros

• holds a charge for a long time;
• easy;
• good quality screen;
• ideal ratio of RAM and disk capacity;
• acceptable price;
• the eyes don't get tired.

Minuses

• color rendering is not up to par;
• The camera was removed from this model.

ASUS VivoBook 14 X412

Has a clear, bright screen with good viewing angles and good color reproduction, a very thin and elegant laptop for home use.

In 2021, he received a lot of praise on online forums. It allows you to watch videos and play undemanding games.

The matte coating of the screen does not cause strain on the eyes even when exposed to direct sunlight.

Despite the presence of plastic in the case, the assembly is of high quality: the parts fit tightly together, there is no play, and there are no cracks either..

The fingerprint sensor works satisfactorily. GPU performance is high. If desired, the RAM bar can be changed to 8 GB.

The sound is clear, light, bass is normal . Convenient backlighting of the keyboard. The touchpad has a numeric pad. Due to its light weight, the device is easy to carry with you in a convenient case.

Specifications:

• weight: 1.5 kg;
• motherboard: Intel Cannon Lake-U PCH-LP Premium;
• display: 1920 x 1080 pixels 157 dpi;
• memory: 1500 MHz;
• processor line 2: Core i3 / Core i5 / Pentium / Ryzen 3 / Ryzen 5;
• memory frequency: 2133 MHz / 2400 MHz.

pros

• USB Type-C;
• modern design
• light weight;
• good button layout;
• No PWM detected;
• Performance is not inferior to core i3.

Minuses

• poor autonomy;
• SATA III has low speed.