Best 12 inch mini-laptops of the moment

Netbooks are great mini computers, but if you’re like me and feel that they just don’t provide a sufficient working area and enough performances for everyday use, you’ll want something more. A somewhat bigger device, still portable and light. So you’ll have to choose a 12.1 or a 13.3 inch mini laptop. We’re going to talk about the first ones in this post, with more to come on the seconds in a later post.

At the moment, there are two types of 12 inch laptops on the market: the affordable ones, with decent features but low-power hardware, and the premium ones, with almost anything you’d want, but with appropriate price tags. That’s why I divided the notebooks presented in here in two parts, Affordable and Desired.

12 inch laptops - for me, the ideal balance between power, portability and price

Of course, this post is not a top, but a list of recommended devices, based on my previous experience with them, expert’s opinions and reviews from users who already bought them and had time to see how good or bad they actually are. You’ll see I’m pretty frank about each product and tell you what are their strong parts, but especially their weak ones, so you will know what to expect when buying such a product.

All these devices are available in the US and you get links towards Amazon.com, my favorite shopping place, as it offers proper shipping, good customer service in case something goes wrong and of course, discounted prices you will hardly find anywhere else.

The affordable 12 inch mini laptops (up to $600)

Like the title says, here are the “cheap 12 inchers”. They should offer enough power for everyday tasks, multimedia and even some older games. You get to choose between a couple of different platforms and devices, with different strong points and price tags.

Asus EEE PC 1215N – dual core processor + Nvidia ION – $499 $469

This right here is a new product, and one we’ve been all waiting for. It is the successor of the popular Asus 1201N and brings new generation dual-core Atom processor and Nvidia ION graphics with Optimus. There are also some other goodies, but the main improvements are inside.

You should read my comprehensive Asus 1215N EEE PC review here on the site for more details, clips and benchmarks.

Shortly, this comes with Atom D525 1.83 dual-core processor, 2 GB of DDR3 memory (expandable  to 4 GB), Nvidia ION + Optimus management system, Windows 7 Home Premium and 6 Cell battery. Optimus technology allows to better use the power provided by this battery, as it automatically and seamlessly picks between the integrated and dedicated graphic chips, based on the amount of graphic performances you need each given moment.

These allow the 1215N to run properly your daily tasks, face HD content (1080p – which it can also easily output on a bigger display via HDMI) and even face most games, although the modern ones launched this year will be quite chunky, while providing around 5-6 hours of life on every charge.

The exterior was improved as well, as the 1215N now comes with a matte plastic casing and a new wider trackpad. Of course, build and materials are still top notch.

The cool part is that the price for the new generation 12 incher from Asus is identical as for the previous one: $499. And in fact, Amazon offers it for $469, with Free Shipping included, for both the black and the silver versions.Check this link for more details, reviews and the option to buy one of these Asus 1215N EEE PCs yourself. Note that the US version does not come with Bluetooth or USB 3.0 though (at least for now), as it was previously advertised.

Asus 1215N - better performances, new matte casing and wider trackpad - only some of the improvements

Asus 1215B – AMD Fusion 12 incher, with top multimedia abilities and good price – $449 $436.99

The EEE PC 1215B is the latest Asus 12 inch EEE PC, built on AMD’s Fusion platform. That means there’s an AMD Zacate E-350 APU inside, with a dual-core 1.6 GHz processor and AMD 6250 graphics. Add 2 GB of memory (on only one module, so easily upgradeable to 4GB), 250 GB hard-drive and Windows 7 Home Premium and you’ll get an idea on the hardware specs of the 1215B.

In practice, they translate in pretty solid performance. Will be able to run most of your daily apps just fine, run all kinds of HD content, including 1080P and play some games as well. Just don’t expect to run recent titles on full-details; plus, resources hungry apps like video and photo editors won’t load or work that fast. Cause afterall, this is a low power laptop and not a power rig. Read my full review for more info.

Compared to the 1215N, the 1215B is on paper and in synthetic tests a tad slower. However, because of the architectural graphic bottlenecks of the 1215N (see the review for details), it will actually be a little better in games (based on my tests, you can see the videos in both cases). Plus, battery life is superior, rated at around 5-6 hours during everyday use. And you get the same matte exterior, same chiclet keyboard and wide trackpad (although some buyers reported it malfunctions on some units, so be careful).

A more through post comparing the two will be available soon and I’ll update once I get it on.

All in all, the 1215B is a solid laptop, especially for only $449, its list price. And you can actually get it discounted via this link, where you’ll also find more pics, info and reviews from those who already bought one. So better take a look.

My new favorite affordable 12 incher: the Asus EEE PC 1215B

Asus 1201N, 1201PN, 1215P, 1215T – the older options – from $369

The older generation Asus 1201N and its close relative, the Asus 1201PN , can still be found in stores and might be good options. Although I would not recommend getting these over the 1215N, maybe some of you would still prefer them. The Asus 1215P is a stripped down and affordable Asus 1215N, with a  dual-core processor but no ION, while the 1215P, is the older generation AMD powered 12 inchers. Can read more about all these in the next rows.

The older Asus 1201N was and still is a great machine. Pretty fast, reliable and mod-able, it is though poorer in terms of performances than the new generation, although it benefits from more mature drivers. So i really don’t see why you would pick this one, unless you find it for a great deal. Especially since you’ll hardly find it new anywhere these days.

Asus 1201N - dual core and ION for good price/performance rapport

The Asus EEE PC 1201PN is a cheaper version of the 1201N, with whom it shares the case as well. It brings the new generation ION, but without Optimus, plus a single core N455 processor. So, it is a hybrid, but not an evolution. Why? Because you only get the N455 single core CPU, which is slow (the one you get on standard cheap 10 inch netbooks these days) and there’s no Optimus, so battery life won’t be that great. All these while saving around 130 bucks, as the Asus 1201PN goes for $369.99 right now, discounted. Not really worth it in my eyes but see the link for more details and reviews, if you’re looking for a budget 12 incher (and because of its excellent price tag it is still present here).

The Asus 1215T and 1215P both share the exterior with the 1215N and the 1215B, bringing the matte finishing (some shops do offer them with a  glossy coating, so be careful ) and glossy display, nice chiclet keyboard, wide trackpad. However, they are different on the inside.

Asus 1215P and 1215T - older generation 12 inchers, for around $370 these days

The Asus 1215P is powered by an ATOM N550 platform so you can see it as an over-sized 10 inch netbook. You do get 1 GB of memory and Windows 7 Home Premium. Will offer good battery life but don’t expect much in terms of speed. Goes for around $370 these days, with Shipping included.

The Asus 1215T is powered by a single core AMD K125 Neo processor clocked at 1.7 GHz which should be quite snappy, bundled with the At 4250 graphics and 2 GB of memory included. Unfortunately, there’s a big problem with older AMD portable devices: they tend to overheat and offer poor battery life (around 3-4 hours tops in this case). Price is good though, around $369 with Shipping included, but I for sure won’t get this one over the new 1215B unless the world end tomorrow and need a cheap laptop to write my memories .

MSI Wind12 U230 - AMD powered 12 incher

Asus UL20FT – the powerful Core iX powered mini – laptop – from $649 $505

The Asus UL20FT is the successor of the famous UL20A line. This one keeps the sleek shape and solid construction, but comes with some upgrades, making it the fastest 12 incher you can get for a decent price these days.

On the outside, there’s almost nothing changed, except for the trackpad, which was redesigned and is now smooth (was dimpled on the UL20A) and overall better (click button is the same though, and it’s not great). Also, the FT is only available in Silver for now, but that’s OK, as fingerprints and smudges are quite a bum on black aluminum finishes.

The real goodies are inside. First, the old ULV Intel platform was replaced with the new generation, with Arrandale Intel Core i3-330UM processor (clocked at 2.13 GHz), 2 GB of memory and Intel HD graphics. This translates in snappy experience and 20-40% performance improvements over the previous generation (even greater in terms of graphics). Can run all your apps, face 1080p HD content and some games as well. Plus, you now get HDMI port for outputing content to a bigger display. However, the new hardware eats battery faster, so you should only expect around 5-6 hours for the FT (tested, not on paper), around 1 hour less than on the UL20A.

You can see more details about the UL20FT in the mini review I posted here on the site.

All in all, it is perhaps your best pick 12 inch laptop if power is what you need and you’re also looking for great price/performances ratio. List price for the UL20Ft is around 650 bucks, but you can find it online greatly discounted , for just around $500 , with Shipping included. There’s a more powerful version with a faster Core i3-380M processor clocked at 2.53 GHz, going for $549 . See the links for more details, reviews and the option to buy one of these

Asus UL20FT - not much changed design-wise, but with faster hardware inside

Asus Lamborghini VX6 – the stylish EEE PC – from $649

If you feel like all these laptops presented above are just too “ordinary”, there’s this other option for you: the Lamborghini VX6, again from Asus.

Shortly, this is a 1215N in a fancy body. So inside you get dual-core Atom D525 processor, Nvidia ION + Optimus, 2 GB of memory and good connectivity, including an USB 3.0 port. So will handle OK your daily apps, multimedia content and some games.

What’s really interesting is the exterior, inspired by Lamborghini’s muscle cars. And I do have to agree this is a nice looking device, too bad it’s not also available in yellow. See more details in my full review of the Lamborghini VX6 series.

Being an exclusive line, you probably expect the VX6 to be pricey. And you’re right, list price is set at $699, but you can find it slightly discounted online: $649 for the Black version or $674.99 for the white one. And considering this is a glossy device, I would stay away from the black model if I were you.

All in all, there’s no doubt the VX6 is an interesting 12 incher. Still, my practical mind just tells me that Lamborghini logo on the hood of this laptop and the fancy casing are not worth paying $200 extra over the 1215N. But that’s just me…

Asus Lamborghini VX6 - fancy limited edition 12 incher

It might seem weird that so many 12 inchers in this post are made by Asus, especially in this first part. But that’s the truth: nobody else is making cheap and good such devices these days. MSI and LG used to have 12 inch mini laptops of their own, but those series have been discontinued. So as much as we’d love to see competition in this segment, there isn’t any in the budget 12 inch market. Unless you’ll consider the competition between the EEE PCs.

The Desired 12 inch mini laptops ($800+)

If the above devices are still not enough for you, you’d better have a stuffed wallet, as we have better devices in the lines below. But they do come with proper price tags.

Lenovo IdeaPad U260 – the business ultra-portable – from $754.99

I do have to say I fell in love with the Lenovo U260 the first time I saw it, because it just looks amazing. Case is only 0.7 of an inch thick and the entire body is designed to resemble a book, when the lid is closed. Opening it, you get a very nice spill-proof chiclet keyboard, leather covered palm rest and glossy 12.5 inch HD display. And the entire thing weighs just 3 lbs.

But this laptop is not just about looks, is about hardware and software as well. You can choose between Core i3 or Core i5 processors, packed with decent storage, 2 or 4 GB of memory and proper connectivity, with Wireless N and Bluetooth. As for software, you get a bunch of Lenovo software preinstalled and some security apps as well, like Active Protection that will protect data on your hard-drive from damage in case you drop the laptop.

Only thing i don’t actually like on this one is the small battery included that will only offer around 4 hours of life, and that’s just not enough for an ultra-portable these days.

Prices start at $949 on the official Lenovo site. However, you can find this one cheaper on Amazon, where the Core i3-380UM equipped version goes for around $750 and the more powerful version with a Core i5-470UM CPU goes for 100 bucks extra . Now, I’m not sure the U260 is worth that kind of money, but this is certainly a laptop I enjoyed playing with a while ago and I would for sure recommend if it wasn’t for that battery life matter.

Lenovo IdeaPad U260 - a gem, but flawed by a small battery

The HP Touchsmart TM2 – unleash the tablet – $999 $976

Let’s say you get the Asus UL20FT above and improve it. You’ll get this HP TM2, a multi-touch 12 inch laptop with great hardware and amazing autonomy. Bear in mind that we’re talking about the latest generation TM2, also with Arrandale Intel on board (latest generation ULV platform).

First of all, you get a capacitive touch-display, convertible of course so you can turn the computer into a tablet (like in the picture below).

Then, inside there’s a Core i3-380UM processor, 4 GB of DDR3 memory, 320 GB hard-drive and Windows 7 Home Premium. So you get the fast hardware and the OS to benefit from it. I for one am a mini tablet netbook owner (an 11.6 inch Acer 1825PT, as you might know if you read this site regularly) and I can say I couldn’t get back to using a mini laptop without a touchscreen anymore. The benefits of having it are huge, both in terms of comfort and also productivity.

Of course, on the outside, this HP looks amazing, with a nice design and high quality finishing (brushed aluminum is present). And it comes with a 6 Cell battery capable of up to 5-6 hours of life, tested.

So this device sounds great? Well, it actually is, although there are some inconveniences. First, it’s heavy. It actually weighs 4.2 pounds, while other 12 inchers above weigh around 3.3 – 3.5 pounds. And at this weight, it might not be very comfortable to hold with only one hand for most of you. And then, there’s the pricing matter: the HP TM2 is pricey, but if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed.

Standard version goes for around $1099 $976, with Shipping included. More details, pics and reviews via this link. But, is it worth the price tag? If you can afford it, then yes. I guarantee you’ll definitely love the experience of having a mini 12 inch tablet PC, especially after you’ll remove the bloatware that comes preinstalled on it, like on most other notebooks.

HP TouchSmart TM2 - the convertible 12 incher

Samsung SerieS 2 and 4 business laptops

Samsung have announced some lines of high end laptops that will target business users looking for portable computers. Their devices are part of the 12.5 inch trend, with laptops in Series 2 being entry-level devices and cheaper than the ones in the 400 series.

Not many details are available on the Series 2 so far. But Series 4 Samsung laptops are already available in some stores, especially in the UK. Some of their strong points are the sober and ultra-tough casing, great built quality, non-glare bright displays, spill-proof ergonomic keyboard and of course, powerful hardware and proper battery life.

Plus good prices for such a premium notebook. Version equipped with latest generation Core i3 Sandy Bridge processor, 4 GB of memory, 500 GB hard-drive, 6 Cell battery and Windows 7 Professional goes for around 570 quids in the UK. Translated in US dollars, that means around 950 and that’s actually a fair price for what you get. Plus, I sure prices will be lower when this laptop will reach the States.

More details will come. Bottom part, this is a fairly new series of laptops you have to consider if shopping for a premium portable device and want an alternative to Lenovo’s ThinkPads.

Series 4 Samsung ultraportables - true business laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad e220s, x220 and x220t – the mini power-horses

Last but not least, there are a couple of devices in Lenovo’s ThinkPad business line, truly “la creme de la creme” in the 12 inch segment. Unlike the other devices above, that pack low-power hardware, these one use latest generation Intel Sandy Bridge hardware for the ultimate amount of performance you can get right now in one of these 12 inch notebooks.

But first, i have to say these are ThinkPads, thus impeccable build quality and looks are a given. In fact, these ThinkPads with their metallic cases are the most sturdy laptops I ever saw, truly meant for life on the run. But they are also pretty light, as magnesium and aluminum is used to make their chassis tough and feather-light.

Inside you can configure these devices up to your own desire, with options for the fastest Core i7 processors, up to 16 GB of memory, fast HDD or SSD storage, top connectivity with mobile broadband, big 9 cell batteries and even extended ones that can get battery life to 15-18 hours. Plus IPS matte display with a bunch of resolution options to choose from.

The truth is you’ll hardly find competition for these ThinkPads in their class and that only if you’ll look outside the 12 inch class, at bigger 13 inch models like the Toshiba Portege and the Sony Vaio Z.

But all these come with a proper price. There are three devices included, here, all with 12.5 inch displays:

• ThinkPad E220s is the cheaper version, starting $749, with a plastic casing and a bulkier body, meant for medium business owners;
• ThinkPad X220 is the top business portable laptop from Lenovo, starting at $849, with the metallic case and classic ThinkPad design;
• ThinkPad X220T is the convertible tablet version of the series above, starting at $1329 and offering a swiveling and convertible display.

But hey, these prices aren’t that bad you might say. Yes, but these are starting prices, proper equipped versions will easily pass $1200 bucks. And if you really want the best you can get, five grands might be just enough to cover it. Feel free to play with the configuration options on the links above and see for yourself.

Of course, these ThinkPads are amazing devices. But for most of us, me included, they will remain just candy in the shelf, as prices are prohibitive. Still, I got to play with that ThinkPad e220s and made me believe I could consider shoving a grand for it. Also, read my review of this particular unit.

The ThinkPads: X222T (left), X220 (top right) and E220S (bottom right)

Older and future 12 inch devices

You can see that there aren’t many options for new 12 inch portable laptops right now. Except for Asus, Lenovo and HP, you can hardly find any recent launched devices.

Still, there are a couple of older good options you could consider if you want refurbished or used notebooks, like the MSI Wind U230, Asus UL20A (a solid device, very popular before the UL20FT was launched), HP pavilion DV2 or Lenovo ThinkPad X201t. Still, getting used products comes with risks and it’s not something I would advice.

As for the future, I expect more and more products to hit the market with what seems to be a new standard: a 12.5 inch display. Besides Lenovo, LG and Samsung announced products in this class. This will make devices just a bit wider, but based on what I’ve read, it is cheaper to produce such displays than the older 12.1 inch ones.

Also keep an eye for that Google ChromeBook we’ve seen around.

Wrap-up

That’s about it with the list of recommended 12 inch mini laptops, for now.

If i were in the position to choose such a device right now, I would go for the ThinkPad X220t, if the budget would allow . Otherwise the Asus UL20FT or the Asus 1215B would be sure picks. First one offers better everyday performances and a more solid aluminum covered body. But the AMD version ain’t bad either, especially if you’re on a tighter budget. The 1215N is also a nice piece of machinery and can even call it a mini gaming laptop, I just encountered some drivers problems when I got to test it and while most of them were fixed, I’m not sure I would get it buy one myself after those experiences.

If you’re looking for more affordable mini laptops, i would also suggest taking a look at the list of recommended 11.6 inch devices. Could also see the best 10 inch netbooks, although those are poorer in terms of performances, while more compact and easier to carry around.

Of course, there might be some good 12 inchers I’ve missed. And in the future some new laptops in this class might enter the market, so look for updates on this post in time.

Also, feel free to comment regarding any aspect of this list. Feedback is greatly appreciated anytime.

Popularity: 36% [?]

Tags: 12.1" netbooks, 12.5" laptops, best netbook, mini laptop, mini notebooks, powerful mini laptops

Last updated: January 16, 2012 | Published: January 10th, 2012 | See the comments or add yours!