The Lightest Laptop

In my last post, I mentioned how much I enjoy using the iPad Pro. That said, deep down I’ve still been searching for a truly lightweight laptop. The MacBook Air remains one of my all-time favorites, but over the years it has gotten heavier. With my schedule—constantly driving my kids to different activities—I’ve been wanting a machine that’s both light and fully functional. I still like to code occasionally, more as a hobby and a way to unwind, almost like mental exercise. (I can probably still recall every Cadence hotkey from memory!)

After some research, I discovered that the world’s lightest laptop isn’t sold internationally—it’s only available in Japan. Since I was traveling there, I decided to try my luck at a local electronics store. And sure enough, I managed to find it.

This 14-inch laptop weighs just 634g (1.4 lbs). For comparison, my iPad Pro with the Smart Keyboard comes in at 1,030g (2.26 lbs). That’s a huge difference in portability. The device itself is incredibly sleek, and I can already see it being useful for quick work on the go.

Of course, it’s not without quirks. Being a Japanese laptop, the Windows OS is customized and primarily in Japanese. Switching it fully to English isn’t straightforward—I had to “hack” my way through the settings. Even now, a few menus still show up in Japanese, but I suppose that adds to the character. The keyboard layout is also different, so I’ve been relying on muscle memory rather than what’s printed on the keys. Battery life isn’t quite at MacBook levels, but it’s better than I expected.

It’ll take a little time to fully adjust, but I’m optimistic this ultralight laptop will be a handy companion for remote work when I’m on the move.