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For most people in 2026, the best iPad is the 11-inch iPad Air with M4. It’s fast and supports Apple Intelligence, the Apple Pencil Pro and a proper Magic Keyboard. If you only need an iPad for streaming, browsing and schoolwork, the iPad (A16) is the best value, but it doesn’t support Apple Intelligence. Pick the iPad mini if you want something one-handed, and the iPad Pro with M5 if you want the OLED display and top performance. Apple raised iPad prices by $100 to $200 on June 25, 2026 (MacRumors).

Check the iPad Air 11-inch (M4) on Amazon →

How we put this together: this guide is based on Apple’s official tech specs, compare page and announcements (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. Prices are Apple’s US starting prices for Wi-Fi models at the time of writing. See how we choose products.

Every current iPad compared

Sources: Apple’s iPad compare page, the M4 iPad Air announcement (March 2026), the M5 iPad Pro announcement (October 2025) and iPad (A16) tech specs.

The best iPads to buy

1. iPad Air 11-inch (M4): best iPad for most people

The iPad Air got the M4 chip in March 2026. Apple says it’s up to 30% faster than the M3 model, and memory rose to 12GB, which helps with Apple Intelligence and multitasking. It works with the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air, so it can double as a small laptop. The new N1 wireless chip adds Wi-Fi 7, and it starts with 128GB of storage.

Good to know: the screen is a standard LCD (Liquid Retina) rather than the Pro’s OLED, and it unlocks with Touch ID rather than Face ID. 128GB fills up fast if you download a lot of video, so consider 256GB.

Check the iPad Air 11 (M4) on Amazon →

2. iPad (A16): best value

The standard iPad covers streaming, browsing, video calls, reading and schoolwork well. It has a 10.86-inch, 500-nit Liquid Retina display, starts with 128GB of storage, weighs 477 g and is rated for up to 10 hours of web browsing or video. It works with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the 1st-generation Pencil via an adapter.

Good to know: it’s the only current iPad that doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, because it has 6GB of memory and Apple requires at least 8GB. It also doesn’t work with the Apple Pencil Pro. If either matters to you, the iPad Air is worth the extra $300.

See the Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) in our shop, or check the iPad (A16) on Amazon →

3. iPad mini (A17 Pro): best small iPad

The iPad mini packs an 8.3-inch display into a 293 g body you can hold in one hand, which makes it great for reading, travel, note-taking and as a second screen. The A17 Pro chip supports Apple Intelligence, and it works with the Apple Pencil Pro.

Good to know: there’s no Apple keyboard made for it (any Bluetooth keyboard works), and the small screen isn’t ideal for split-screen work. It’s also the oldest design in the lineup, released in October 2024.

Check the iPad mini (A17 Pro) on Amazon →

4. iPad Pro (M5): best display and performance

The iPad Pro has the best screen Apple puts in a tablet: an Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED with ProMotion, 1,000 nits in SDR and up to 1,600 nits peak for HDR. The M5 chip is the fastest in any iPad, it starts with 256GB of storage, and it has Face ID and a Thunderbolt/USB 4 port for fast external drives and displays. It’s also remarkably thin and light: 444 g for the 11-inch and 579 g for the 13-inch (Wi-Fi models).

Good to know: it’s the most expensive iPad, and it’s only worth it if you’ll use the OLED display (drawing, photo and video work, HDR movies) or need the extra power. For notes and everyday use, the iPad Air does almost everything for much less.

Check the iPad Pro (M5) on Amazon →

5. iPad Air 13-inch (M4): big screen for less

If you want a 13-inch canvas for drawing, split-screen work or movies, the 13-inch iPad Air gives you the same M4 chip, 12GB of memory and Apple Pencil Pro support as the 11-inch for $550 less than the 13-inch iPad Pro.

Good to know: at 616 g it’s actually a little heavier than the 13-inch iPad Pro, and its LCD panel can’t match the Pro’s OLED contrast.

Check the iPad Air 13 (M4) on Amazon →

Which iPad should you buy?

• Students: the iPad Air 11 for note-taking with the Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Intelligence; the iPad (A16) with an Apple Pencil (USB-C) on a tight budget.
• Kids and family use: the iPad (A16). It’s the cheapest, and Apple Intelligence doesn’t matter much here.
• Drawing and illustration: the iPad Air 13 for screen size, or the iPad Pro for the OLED display.
• Reading and travel: the iPad mini.
• Replacing a laptop: the iPad Air or iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard, though for many people a MacBook Air costs about the same and runs full desktop apps.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Best MacBook for video editing (2026)
• Best Chromebooks, including the Duet 11 tablet
• Best Lenovo laptops under $500, including the Chromebook Duet 11
• Best laptops for college students

The lightest 17-inch laptop is still the 2025 LG gram 17, at about 3.0–3.1 lb (1.35–1.42 kg), lighter than many 14-inch laptops. With NVIDIA graphics, the lightest is the 2025 LG gram Pro 17 with an RTX 5050, at 3.26 lb (1.47 kg). One surprise: LG’s 2026 models are heavier, at 3.39 lb for the new gram Max 17 and 3.83 lb for the new gram Pro 17 with an RTX 5050. Most other 17-inch laptops weigh 4.5 lb (2 kg) or more. The thinnest here is the 2026 gram Max 17, at 13.3 mm (0.52 in) at its thinnest point.

How we put this together: weights and specs come from manufacturers’ official spec pages and independent spec databases (linked at the end), not from hands-on testing by iTech Level. Weights vary slightly by configuration (touchscreen, battery, GPU), so we list the manufacturer’s figure for the model shown.

The lightest 17-inch laptops, ranked by weight

Before you buy: check the seller, the exact model number and the warranty, and compare prices before you order.

Newer isn’t lighter: LG’s 2026 17-inch models weigh more

LG has made the lightest 17-inch laptops for years, but its 2026 models gained weight. According to LG’s own spec pages, the 2026 17-inch model without a dedicated GPU (sold in the US as the gram Max 17, model 17Z90UB elsewhere) weighs 1,539 g (3.39 lb), and the 2026 gram Pro 17 with an RTX 5050 (17Z90UR) weighs 1,739 g (3.83 lb).

The 2026 RTX model adds a touchscreen that runs from 30 to 120 Hz, so you get something for the extra weight. But if the lowest weight is the reason you’re buying a gram, a 2025 model is lighter, if you can find one new.

1. LG gram 17 (2025): the lightest 17-inch laptop

LG lists the 2025 gram 17 Core Ultra 7 configuration at 3.12 lb, and Notebookcheck lists the Lunar Lake (Core Ultra 7 258V) version at about 1.39 kg (3.06 lb). For comparison, a 13-inch MacBook Air weighs about 2.7 lb, so you get a 17-inch 2560×1600 screen for roughly the weight of a small ultrabook.

• Screen: 17-inch, 2560×1600 (16:10), with touchscreen options
• Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 (Core Ultra 7 258V on the Copilot+ versions)
• Battery: 77 Wh; LG quotes up to 20 hours of video playback on the Core Ultra 7 model
• Thickness: about 0.74 in

Good to know: it’s light partly because of a magnesium-alloy chassis that flexes more than heavier aluminium laptops, and it uses integrated graphics, so it’s built for work, study and streaming rather than gaming. It’s also getting harder to find new, so check the seller.

Buy it if: you want the lightest big screen you can carry every day and can find one at a fair price.
Skip it if: you need a dedicated GPU for games or creative work (see the gram Pro 17 below).

2. LG gram Pro 17 (2025): the lightest 17-inch laptop with an RTX GPU

LG marketed the 2025 gram Pro 17 as the world’s lightest 17-inch laptop with NVIDIA RTX graphics. According to LG’s spec sheet, the RTX 5050 model weighs 3.26 lb (1.47 kg) and is just 0.57 in (14.5 mm) thick. Most 17-inch laptops with dedicated graphics weigh 5–6 lb or more.

• Screen: 17-inch IPS, 2560×1600, 144 Hz variable refresh rate
• Processor and graphics: Intel Core Ultra 9 285H with an NVIDIA RTX 5050 (8 GB GDDR7)
• Memory and storage: 32 GB LPDDR5X; dual SSD slots
• Battery: 90 Wh; LG quotes up to 27 hours of video playback

Good to know: an RTX 5050 in a thin chassis is an entry-level gaming and creator GPU. It handles photo and video editing and lighter 1080p gaming, but it isn’t a replacement for a full gaming laptop (see the gaming section below).

Buy it if: you want a big, light laptop that can also edit video or play games casually.
Skip it if: you mainly need battery life and portability. The regular gram 17 is lighter.

3. LG gram Max 17 (2026): the newest light 17-inch

The gram Max 17 is LG’s 2026 17-inch laptop without a dedicated GPU, with an Intel Core Ultra 7 355 (Panther Lake) processor. LG lists the model at 1,539 g (3.39 lb) and 13.3 mm at its thinnest point, with a 77 Wh battery and a 17-inch 2560×1600 touchscreen. That’s slightly heavier than the 2025 gram 17, but still more than a pound lighter than mainstream 17-inch laptops.

Buy it if: you want a current-generation light 17-inch laptop that’s easier to find new than the 2025 models.
Skip it if: you can find a 2025 gram 17 new at a fair price; it’s a little lighter.

4. LG gram Pro 17 (2026): light, with an RTX 5050

The 2026 gram Pro 17 (17Z90UR) pairs an Intel Core Ultra 9 with an NVIDIA RTX 5050 Laptop GPU. According to LG, it weighs 1,739 g (3.83 lb) and is 16.7 mm thick, with a 90 Wh battery and a 17-inch 2560×1600 touchscreen that runs from 30 to 120 Hz.

Buy it if: you want the newest light 17-inch laptop that can also edit video and play lighter games.
Skip it if: weight matters most: the 2025 gram Pro 17 with the same GPU weighs about 0.6 lb less.

5. HP 17: a lighter-than-average budget 17-inch

If the gram models are over budget, mainstream 17-inch laptops are about 1.5 lb heavier. The HP 17 (17-cn series) is one of the lighter budget options at about 2.05 kg (4.5 lb), with a 17.3-inch Full HD screen, a full keyboard with a number pad, and Intel Core i5 options.

Buy it if: you want the most screen for the money and will mostly use it on a desk or around the house.
Skip it if: you’ll carry it daily; at 4.5 lb it’s noticeably heavier in a bag.

6. ASUS Vivobook 17: another budget big-screen pick

The ASUS Vivobook 17 (X1704 / F1704) weighs about 2.1 kg (4.6 lb) according to ASUS, and is about 0.78 in thin. It has a 17.3-inch Full HD screen, a number pad, a fingerprint reader on many configurations, and a webcam shield.

Buy it if: you want an affordable, simple 17-inch laptop for home, office or school.
Skip it if: weight is your main priority.

The lightest 17-inch gaming laptops

Full gaming laptops are much heavier, because a powerful GPU needs a bigger cooling system. If you want a 17-inch laptop for gaming, these are the trade-offs between weight and graphics power (GPU power figures are the makers’ maximums from our laptop GPU power database):

The gram Pro 17 is half the weight of a real gaming laptop but has entry-level graphics. The Nitro V 17 and LOQ 17 are heavy desk laptops, but they run much faster GPUs, and the LOQ 17 gives its GPU the full 115 W. Our pick under $1,200, the Acer Nitro V 17 with an RTX 5060, gives its GPU 95 W.

Check the Nitro V 17 (RTX 5060) on Amazon →

Is a 16-inch laptop a better idea?

If you mostly want a big screen that’s easy to carry, the lightest 16-inch laptops are even lighter than the gram 17: the Acer Swift Air 16 is listed at about 0.99 kg (2.2 lb) and the LG gram 16 at about 1.2 kg (2.65 lb). You give up about an inch of diagonal screen, but most people won’t notice the difference in daily use. A 17-inch screen still wins for spreadsheets, side-by-side windows, and anyone who prefers larger text.

What to look for in a lightweight 17-inch laptop

• Weight under 3.5 lb (1.6 kg): today, only LG’s gram models reach this at 17 inches. Anything around 4.5 lb is fine for home but tiring to carry every day.
• The model year: newer isn’t always lighter. LG’s 2026 17-inch models weigh more than the 2025 ones, so check the weight of the exact model you’re buying.
• Battery size: a bigger screen draws more power. Look for 70 Wh or more if you work unplugged.
• 16:10 screens: a 2560×1600 16:10 panel shows more of a document than a 1920×1080 16:9 panel of the same size.
• Build rigidity: the lightest laptops use magnesium alloys, which can feel flexier. That’s a trade-off, not a defect.
• Graphics needs: integrated graphics are enough for work and streaming; you only need an RTX GPU for gaming or heavy creative work.

Frequently asked questions

What is the lightest 17-inch laptop?

The 2025 LG gram 17. Depending on configuration, it weighs about 3.0–3.1 lb (1.35–1.42 kg), according to LG and independent spec databases. LG’s 2026 gram Max 17 is a little heavier at 3.39 lb.

What is the lightest 17-inch laptop with a dedicated GPU?

The 2025 LG gram Pro 17 with an NVIDIA RTX 5050, at 3.26 lb (1.47 kg) according to LG’s spec sheet. The 2026 version with the same GPU weighs 3.83 lb (1,739 g).

Are the 2026 LG gram 17 models lighter?

No. According to LG’s spec pages, the 2026 17-inch gram without a dedicated GPU weighs 1,539 g (3.39 lb) and the 2026 gram Pro 17 with an RTX 5050 weighs 1,739 g (3.83 lb), both heavier than the 2025 models.

How much does a typical 17-inch laptop weigh?

Most mainstream 17.3-inch laptops weigh about 4.5–5 lb (2–2.3 kg), and 17-inch gaming laptops such as the Acer Nitro V 17 and Lenovo LOQ 17 weigh about 6.2–6.4 lb (2.8–2.9 kg).

What is the thinnest 17-inch laptop?

Of the laptops here, LG’s 2026 gram Max 17, at 13.3 mm (0.52 in) at its thinnest point, according to LG. The 2025 gram Pro 17 is 14.5 mm (0.57 in) with an RTX 5050, the thinnest 17-inch laptop here with NVIDIA graphics. Budget 17-inch laptops such as the ASUS Vivobook 17 are about 0.78 in (20 mm) thick.

Is a 17-inch laptop too big to carry?

Not if it’s a gram. At around 3–3.4 lb it’s lighter than many 14-inch laptops, though you’ll need a bag with a 17-inch sleeve. Standard 4.5 lb 17-inch laptops are better suited to use at home or in an office.

Related reading

• Best budget gaming laptops under $1,200 (2026)
• Laptop GPU power database
• Are gaming laptops worth it in 2026?
• Browse laptops

Sources: LG gram Pro 17 (2026, 17Z90UR) product page; LG 17-inch gram (2026, 17Z90UB) product page; LG gram Pro 17 (2025, 17Z90TR) spec sheet; LG gram 17 (2025, 17Z90T) product page; Notebookcheck: LG gram 17 (2025) specs; Notebookcheck: Lenovo LOQ 17IRX10 specs; Ultrabookreview: lightest laptops list; LaptopMedia: HP 17 specs; ASUS Vivobook 17 (X1704) tech specs.

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Most advice on choosing wireless earbuds or headphones falls into one of two traps: it’s a thinly disguised product list pushing you toward whatever pays the highest commission, or it’s a spec dump that lists features without telling you which ones actually matter for you. This guide is neither. It’s the decision framework we use when comparing audio gear — the questions to ask, in the order that matters, so you end up with the right pair instead of the most-marketed one.

Your phone matters more than you’d think, especially on Android, and we’ll come back to that below. What follows is how to think about the choice, not which logo to buy. By the end, you’ll be able to walk into any “best earbuds” list and immediately tell which picks are right for your situation and which are noise.

Start with the decision that comes before any product: in-ear or over-ear?

Before comparing models, decide on form factor, because it determines almost everything else about the experience.

• True wireless earbuds (in-ear, no cable) win on portability and convenience. They disappear in a pocket, suit workouts and commutes, and have caught up dramatically on sound and noise cancellation. The trade-offs: smaller batteries (3-8 hours per charge), easier to lose, and they sit in your ear canal, which not everyone finds comfortable for long sessions.
• Over-ear headphones win on sound quality, battery life (often 20-40 hours), comfort over long stretches, and noise cancellation effectiveness. The trade-offs: bulk, heat on the ears, and they announce themselves — less discreet than earbuds.

The honest rule: if you mostly listen on the move, in short bursts, or during exercise, choose earbuds. If you listen for hours at a desk, on flights, or care most about sound quality, choose over-ear. Many people end up owning one of each for different contexts — and that’s a perfectly reasonable answer.

The factor that matters more on Android

One of the biggest levers on wireless sound quality, the Bluetooth codec, works differently depending on your phone.

A codec is how audio gets compressed and sent over Bluetooth. The codec your phone and earbuds both support determines the ceiling on sound quality, and the options split sharply by platform:

• iPhone supports SBC and AAC. That’s it. No high-resolution Bluetooth audio, full stop.
• Android supports SBC and AAC plus high-resolution codecs like LDAC and aptX Adaptive — which carry far more audio detail. LDAC is built into Android, while aptX Adaptive support varies by phone (Android Authority).

This means a pair of earbuds that sounds merely good on an iPhone can sound noticeably better on an Android phone — if the earbuds support LDAC or aptX Adaptive. If you’re on Android, codec support should be one of your first filters, not an afterthought. It’s the clearest example of why generic buying advice fails specific buyers.

Practical takeaway: match the codec to your phone before you worry about anything else. On Android, prioritize LDAC or aptX Adaptive support. On iPhone, codec is a non-issue (you’re capped at AAC regardless), so spend your attention on fit and noise cancellation instead.

Active noise cancellation: how much do you actually need?

ANC works best on low sounds, which are hard to block with ear tips or padding alone (RTINGS). It’s the headline feature everyone chases, but it’s worth being honest about how much you need, because it costs money and battery.

• You genuinely need strong ANC if you fly often, commute on trains or buses, or work in a noisy open office. Here, the difference between good and great ANC is real and worth paying for.
• You need moderate ANC if you want to take the edge off everyday background noise but aren’t in constantly loud environments. Most mid-range options cover this well.
• You may not need ANC at all if you mostly listen at home or want to stay aware of your surroundings (runners near traffic, parents, anyone for whom situational awareness matters). ANC adds cost you won’t use — and a good “transparency” mode matters more for you.

Don’t let ANC marketing push you into overpaying for a feature your life doesn’t call for. The best ANC in the world is wasted if you mostly listen in a quiet room.

Fit and comfort: the factor that overrides every spec

This is the one that no spec sheet captures and that ruins more purchases than any other: if they don’t fit your ears, nothing else matters. Uncomfortable earbuds get left in a drawer regardless of how they benchmark.

• Ear shape is individual. A pair beloved by reviewers can be miserable in your ears. Multiple ear-tip sizes (and ideally foam options) dramatically improve the odds of a good seal.
• A good seal isn’t just comfort — it’s sound. Bass response and ANC effectiveness both depend on a proper seal. Poor fit makes even great earbuds sound thin and weak.
• For workouts, look for wing tips or ear hooks and a real IP water-resistance rating (IPX4 minimum for sweat).
• For over-ear, clamping force and ear-cup depth matter — too tight causes fatigue, too loose breaks the seal.

Whenever possible, prioritize options with a generous return window so you can test fit in real life. Fit is the one variable you genuinely cannot judge from a review.

Battery life: read it honestly

Battery numbers are quoted optimistically. Read them with these caveats:

• “Total battery with case” combines the buds plus several case recharges. The number that matters for a single listening session is the buds-only figure — often 5-8 hours for earbuds.
• ANC drains battery. Quoted figures are often with ANC off. Anker, for example, rates the Soundcore P31i at 10 hours with ANC off and 8 with it on. Expect meaningfully less with ANC on — check whether the spec specifies which.
• For over-ear, battery is rarely the limiting factor (20-40 hours is common), so weight it less.

Multipoint Bluetooth: small feature, big daily quality-of-life

Multipoint lets earbuds stay connected to two devices at once — your phone and your laptop, for instance — and switch automatically. If you juggle devices through the day, this quietly saves real friction. It rarely makes headlines, but people who have it don’t go back. Worth prioritizing if you work across a phone and computer.

What you should NOT pay extra for

Being honest about where money is wasted is as useful as knowing where to spend it:

• Marginal ANC improvements if you don’t listen in loud environments.
• Companion-app features you’ll set once and forget — fancy EQ and gimmicks rarely justify a premium.
• “Hi-res certified” claims on an iPhone — your phone can’t use them, so you’re paying for a spec you can’t access.
• Brand premium for the logo when a less-hyped option with the same codecs, similar ANC, and a better fit costs less.

Putting it together: your decision order

Run any prospective purchase through these questions, in order:

1. Form factor: earbuds (portable, on-the-move) or over-ear (sound, comfort, battery)?
2. Codec match: on Android, does it support LDAC or aptX Adaptive? On iPhone, skip this step.
3. ANC need: strong, moderate, or none — based on where you actually listen?
4. Fit: multiple tip sizes, a return window to test, the right design for your use (workout, all-day)?
5. Battery: does the buds-only, ANC-on figure cover your real sessions?
6. Multipoint: do you switch between devices enough to need it?

Answer those honestly and you’ll have filtered the entire market down to a handful of genuinely suitable options — at which point a “best of” list becomes useful rather than overwhelming.

Once you’ve decided: our picks

This framework tells you what to look for. If you’ve worked through it and want specific recommendations that already account for these factors, our roundups apply exactly this thinking to current models:

• For Android users specifically, our complete guide to wireless earbuds for Android covers codec support and Android-specific performance in depth.
• For Google Pixel owners, see our best wireless earbuds for Google Pixel.
• For over-ear options, our headphone reviews and buying guide cover ANC, comfort, and sound across price ranges.

Want a quick starting point? Our earbud finder asks three questions and suggests a pair.

Frequently asked questions

This guide is based on manufacturer specs and published reviews, not hands-on testing by iTech Level. For specific current recommendations built on this framework, see our linked earbud and headphone guides above.