General small computer recommendation

[eri0o]

So, it's been a while now that my ASUS ZenBook (2018) has died on me - well, it's battery and keyboard died and I can use it as a local desktop. It's screen also isn't in good shape... I also had a different ASUS notebook (2019, with Nvidia) that died (battery and storage), and a Dell Latitude (from 2022) (touchpad and then everything...). I had an old LG before that I had the storage die, but I replaced and then battery and one day I accidentally broke the power connector...

I have a MacBook that has been going strong, and while I am happy with it, I have been thinking about getting something smaller and more portable - and apparently Apple discontinued the 11 inch MacBooks. The problem is what, since apparently smaller notebooks are not a thing anymore. I wanted something that could run Windows so I could run Visual Studio and run and test C++ and C# code for Windows. Because I don't have anything currently I can only code when I am both at home and also haven't got absolutely anything else going on here...

With all that said, I've started to look into some chinese notebooks that apparently kept the netbook dream alive. So I looked at the Onemix 4s (and some others from the same maker), the OneGx1, the Chuwi Microbook and the GPD Pocket 3.

Now from all of these, it looks like the Onemix and others from the same manufacturer there are quite a few manufacturing issues reported online, but the people who got well functioning units apparently really like it, but also it has a usbC charging port that isn't actually usbc, it just reuses the connector so if you accidentally plug a different charger there it does... The OneGx1 I couldn't get any information online and it's very expensive here - it's like twice the price of an average MacBook.

The Chuwi Microbook looks super interesting, the size appears to be good, it's not expensive (only 370 USD) but apparently there isn't many people that bought it yet so I can't find much information online.

Now the GPD Pocket 3 is looking very appealing currently, it has an Intel Gold 7505 version that was released this year before the new GPD Pocket 4 release. There is more information here... Anyway I am thinking about if I should get it or not. It's around 700 USD

There is also a version of the GPD Pocket 3 with i7 1195G7, which is a much better processor, but then the device goes to 1000 USD price, which is a much bigger price and I find it harder to justify it - gets dangerously into get a MacBook and try to run Windows on QEMU territory...

For comparison from a reputable brand, the closest I found in size is the ASUS 2024 Vivobook Go 11.6", which is much cheaper, at 240 USD, but the problem is it's configuration is terrible, at 4 GB RAM, while the GPD Pocket 3 has 16 GB RAM.

Anyway, does anyone of you here have any of these small laptops? Or is there some other model I am forgetting?

I really can't go with iPad or an Android tablet because they can't run Visual Studio which is a big deal breaker for me - I can't actually make anything without it... I can need for agsing...

Anyway, curious if someone has opinions on this - like, perhaps I should just get the regular ThinkPads... I don't know if they still make them small.

[abstauber]

I still have a Thinkpad 11e with an i3 processor. It's very durable and serviceable (RAM + Storage can be changed), just the screen is a cheap TN panel and not very great.
Also the older HP Elitebooks are quite nice, it just depends on your budget and preferred OS. You could get a cheap Elitebook 840 G4 12", which runs Win10 and Linux but no Win11. (more money = newer generation).

[eri0o]

Ok, I finally bought something, but it hasn't arrived yet. After looking around a lot I found a place online selling a new and in the box with warranty and everything, Lenovo Thinkpad Gen 2 X13, which is 13 inch and apparently it weighs around 1.2 kg, which is light enough. I looked around and there are a few variations of this laptop, and I couldn't completely be sure which exact version of it is, but it should arrive here by Friday and then I will check it out. It appears at least the wi-fi and SSD are not soldered and that the bottom plate of the laptop is easy to remove. I know Lenovo is also Chinese, but it's a big brand that has proper local support here.

I wanted really to try the smaller form factor Chinese brands but they are just too expensive here - even the Chuwi Minibook X here was more expensive than a Lenovo notebook.

I know the particular model I chose is a bit older but the current ones available here are at a minimum 14 inch screen, weight slightly more and have internals that are harder to open - price wise they are the same, but they were less portable than what I wanted.

Anyway, I can't wait to be mobile again as I currently only have either desktop computers or notebooks with dead battery and keyboards...

[eri0o]

Computer arrived with a few issues, I returned and got me a T14s, waiting for it to arrive, so it's another week of waiting. :/

[Cassiebsg]

For reference I've got a Chuwi LapBook. Battery's been half-dead for a couple years now (it coincided with a Windows update, so not sure if the update did it or if it was "coincidence"). So I have about 15-30 min of battery left... meaning I need a plug close by to use it.

Other than that it works and it's useful for when I'm away from home. I'm happy with it.

However, if you do stumble with a problem, expect little to no help.

My husband used to do tech support for them back in the days (when they were at least trying to care), but he gave up some years ago, because he was trying to help their customers, while they were sending the wrong firmware update for their tablets and bricking them in the process (and they were already been warned that that was the wrong firmware)... and then they stop pretending to care and most good people that were helping them quit in the process.

[eri0o]

Thanks for the review @Cassiebsg !! I am super curious on Chuwi because of their different form factors. They are not cheap here though since they have to be imported and they don't have presence in the country, this causes them to be highly taxed - for comparison I got the brand new Thinkpad from Lenovo for less than the Chuwi Microbook X I had my eyes on.

For now I gave up in having a really small computer, I will just be happy to have a notebook with a working battery and keyboard.

[eri0o]

The T14s arrived! It's a beautiful computer! Includes 3 year warranty from Lenovo, which includes a very interesting support that feels like corporate support which is great, did all the product registration and everything, it's an actually Brazilian product version too, with the Brazilian Portuguese keyboard - I mostly write in English but it's a nice thing to have.

The notebook looks solid, overall it appears to work well and be very silent. It's a Gen 4 (they just released Gen 6), so this is why I got an excellent price for it. I am very happy and started all the Windows updates and driver updates, Lenovo BIOS updates and all the other dance until I get to installing the stuff I actually use. Overall very happy and looks like a solid computer I will be able to use to code for hopefully a few years ahead.



It's practically the same size of my ASUS notebook, but I hope it's keyboard and battery last a lot longer. The screen feels bigger, it's 1920x1200, but it feels nicer. The PC is slightly chonkier but not heavier, hopefully this means better cooling, but we will see.