Choose Windows when your work needs it or when you can't stand the alternative. If neither applies, the MacBook Air is hard to beat for battery life. But plenty of people have good reasons, and there are excellent light Windows machines to choose from.
Good reasons to stay on Windows
- Software that only runs well on Windows: some CAD, finance and trading tools.
- Games with anti-cheat that won't run on a Mac.
- You've tried a ThinkPad keyboard and now everything else feels wrong.
- Your employer requires it.
The shortlist
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, about 1.1 kg, from around USD 1,400. The business travel reference, with the best keyboard in the class and a chassis built to take a beating.
- Dell XPS 13, about 1.2 kg, from around USD 1,200. The closest rival to the MacBook Air on build and screen.
- LG Gram 14 or 16, about 1 kg, from around USD 1,000. The lightest way to get a big screen, and very strong on battery.
- Acer Swift Go 14, about 1.3 kg, around USD 900. The budget choice for browsers, documents and calls.
These are indicative US prices from September 2026. Specs vary a lot by configuration, so check the exact model you're buying.
How to avoid regret
- Check real-world battery reviews of your exact chip and screen. Bright high-resolution panels often cost hours. Here's how to read battery claims.
- Buy at least 16 GB of memory, and check whether it's soldered.
- Confirm the laptop charges over USB-C, so that one GaN charger runs everything.
- Check who covers warranty abroad. Business lines from Lenovo and Dell often offer international cover, and consumer models may not.
Living with Windows abroad
Updates are the main annoyance on a trip. Set active hours so that a reboot doesn't land during a call, keep the laptop plugged in overnight now and then, and make a recovery USB before you leave. If you travel with a keyboard layout you depend on, buy the laptop at home, since a replacement abroad might come with the wrong one.
For the Mac side of the decision, see MacBook Air vs Pro, or read the whole laptop guide.