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The last time I felt a laptop this remarkably lightweight was the last Dynabook I checked out years ago. There’s something about holding a laptop this light, especially compared to my 14-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro and my Dell Precision 5690, as well as some of the other thin laptops I am testing. Nothing comes close to how light the Dynabook Portégé Z40L-N Copilot+PC is.
At first glance, and first feel, the Dynabook feels like it’s not even a real laptop. Coming from the world of hefty machines, it’s hard to think that a laptop this light can be anything more than a shell or a prop. Nevertheless, it boasts an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, Intel Arc graphics, excellent ports, great wireless connectivity, and robust AI capabilities built in.
I’ve been using this laptop in my rotation for over a month, and I’m still amazed by its weight (or lack of it). Just this morning, I double-checked my bag moments after putting this laptop in there, thinking I must have forgotten it.
Dynabook Portégé Z40L-N: Pricing & Availability
This Dynabook starts at just under $2,000 for a Core Ultra 5 model with 16GB, 512GB, and can run up above $2,000 for the Core Ultra 7 model with 32GB, 2TB. You can pick one up from Dynabook’s website globally, but it is available from selected online retailers.
Dynabook Portégé Z40L-N: Unboxing & first impressions
The incredible weightlessness of this laptop began when I first grabbed the packaging. It felt like there was nothing inside the box. Grabbing the laptop from the box, I noticed the texture of the computer.
With so many laptops being made from aluminum and other metallic materials, this one stands out as being made of a lighter plastic. It does, admittedly, make it feel a bit cheaper, but then I noticed the chipset and started utilizing it.
Once I logged in and got to work, responding to emails, handling project management, researching, and going about my workday, I realized that most things were working better than expected. This laptop felt minimal, but was surprisingly capable.
I was genuinely surprised and impressed by how thin and sleek this phone felt, especially considering its durability on paper. I was also happy to see USB-C — even though it’s now standard practice, it’s still good to see.
Dynabook Portégé Z40L-N: Design & build quality
Specs
Weight: 2.11 lbs
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 5
Display: 14-inch 1920 x 1200
Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth,
Ports: HDMI, USB-C x2, USB-A x2, RJ-45, Headphone Jack, microSD
The choice of alloy in the Portégé Z40L-N provides ultralight weight, but it also makes this computer feel less than premium. The edges are crisp, the ports are great, the screen is good enough, and other elements are solid. But, coming from someone who usually works with more premium laptops, this one does feel a bit lower quality. However, that is an obvious tradeoff for having something so lightweight — one that many would be willing to make.
Another interesting feature of this design is the return of a removable and replaceable battery. This not only helps extend the device’s longevity but also makes it easier to replace or repair the battery if any issues arise in the future.
The last notable feature of this laptop is that, despite its lightweight and portable design, it still offers more ports than most modern computers. Even some of the most premium, professional-focused laptops have transitioned to almost entirely USB-C or a Thunderbolt port — that’s it. Dynabook chose to completely surprise us all by including an abundance of ports in this laptop, making it even more fantastic for those who are on the go. With the Portégé Z40L-N, you won’t feel any weight in your bag, and you won’t need to add a dock either.
Dynabook Portégé Z40L-N: In use
In the last month, the Dynabook Portégé Z40L-N has stood up to pretty much everything that I’ve thrown at it – surprisingly. Granted, I’m not expecting this machine to be the best video editing laptop or a machine to run local LLMs on, nor am I designing 3D models on it, but for everyday professional business tasks, it works surprisingly well. It’s no surprise, though, that the real benefit of this laptop is its portability. I’ve been able to take this just about anywhere I’ve gone, tossing this into even my lightest backpack to take with me for the day.
The Core Ultra chip handles basic productivity, messaging, emails, research, and more without any issues. Plus, if you’re the person who may need to present or plug into something at some point, having that peace of mind that you won’t need a dongle is great.
While the laptop itself is relatively small, you can expand the workspace by plugging into a docking station or selecting one of the top business monitors that feature a USB-C input and a built-in dock.
Dynabook Portégé Z40L-N: Final verdict
The Dynabook Portégé Z40L‑N is a surprising laptop. On one hand, it is an unfathomably lightweight machine that feels so lightweight it’s almost toy-like. But, on the other hand, it’s also surprisingly capable, boasting impressive ports and a powerful chip. It’s shockingly rugged yet also lightweight, it’s powerful yet portable, and it’s AI-smart yet simple. If you are looking for a new laptop and want something highly portable as a top priority, this laptop is one that you should consider, especially if you stick to standard business-type work.
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Design |
Incredibly minimal |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
|
Ease of use |
Easy to use |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
|
Practicality |
Practical for portable / nomatic users |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
|
Price |
Pricy for what it is |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
For more options, we’ve reviewed the best business laptops for working on the go.
