Nowadays, it can be quite difficult to find the right laptop for you. In many cases, it might pay to look for an Ultrabook instead of a standard laptop. But, there are a lot of different Ultrabooks on the market for you to choose from.
They’re essentially just a high quality laptop, but technically they do have to meet certain requirements to be classified as an Ultrabook. They have a longer battery life, a high end finish and must be slim and lightweight enough to travel with.
Which are the best Ultrabook laptops out there currently? Well, that’s what we’re going to take a quick look at today, and compare the performance and battery life of several different models.
Best Ultrabooks
| Product | Image | Screen Size | Specs | Get More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP Spectre x360 |  | 13.3 Inch | 8GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| LG gram 16Z90P |  | 16 Inch | 16GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| Macbook Air |  | 13 Inch | 8GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 |  | 14 Inch | 8GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| Dell XPS 15 |  | 15.6 Inch | 16GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| Microsoft Surface Book 3 |  | 15 inch | 16GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| ASUS ZenBook UX534 |  | 15.6 inch | 16GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| Huawei MateBook X Pro |  | 13.9 inch | 16GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
HP Spectre x360
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 13.3 Inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 9 hours
The HP Spectre x360 13 is a strong contender when we’re looking for the best Ultrabook available. It manages to fulfil all of the criteria, and it does everything pretty well. It’s a great 13 inch laptop.
Firstly, the most important aspect of this model is the design. It is fairly thin but not too light, which isn’t usually the case for a 2-in-1 laptop. It can easily be used in tablet mode too, with the touchscreen display being responsive and visually impressive.
So, the design is good, but this is also backed up by strong performance too. The base model comes with 8GB of RAM and half a terabyte of storage, which should be sufficient for the vast majority. This can easily be upgraded if necessary.
For a touchscreen laptop, it does have a fairly long battery life when compared to other models on the market. It also has a long of smaller features which may or may not be of use.
An example of this is the fingerprint reader, which allows you to log in very quickly. Or the webcam protection, which can help prevent any anxiety about your webcam being compromised. Overall, it is undoubtedly one of the stronger laptops available, and it is definitely a good example of what you can get for your money.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: An impressive convertible laptop that holds its own with the best. The Spectre range holds the best of what HP have to offer, with the x360 being an example of a top laptop.
LG gram 16Z90P
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 16 Inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 10 hours
Though LG is unlikely to be the first brand that springs to mind when thinking of high quality laptops, the 16Z90P is a great ultrabook.
By definition an ultrabook must be lightweight, and this is the lightest 16 inch laptop around. It’s weight is even more impressive when you consider its larger screen size.
Though this does make it slightly less portable, it’s a sacrifice many will be happy to make when they see the high quality display. It’s made from a slightly different magnesium-alloy chassis which helps keep it solid despite being fairly slim.
This laptop uses an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and and an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics card. The Intel Iris Xe graphics are next generation and design to be a step up on the previously used Intel UHD Graphics that we’re used to.
It’s thin and light with an overall strong build quality. The performance is above average and in par with most other premium laptops of a similar price. It’s hard to ask for anything more than this LG laptop, as it delivers in most areas.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: Only arriving on the market in 2021, it’s fair to say that the LG Gram series has made quite the splash. This 16 inch model is great value when you look at the specs and overall design.
Macbook Air
Operating System: MacOS | Screen size: 13.3 Inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Processor: Apple M1 chip | Average Battery Life: 11 hours
Okay, this one is kind of cheating, as technically to be called an Ultrabook, you’re supposed to use an Intel processor. You can get the Air with an Intel Core i7 or i9 CPU, but everyone’s talking about the new M1 chip at the moment, which helps make it into one of the best value laptops on the market.
There are a few different areas where the Air beats much of the competition. One key areas is the overall build quality and form factor. It’s slim, fairly lightweight and very easy on the eyes. This is both the chassis of the Air, but also the retina display, which has a high resolution.
The battery life is another big improvement over Macbooks of the past, with the Air being capable of lasting a full day with ease – even when you’ve got programs and apps open at the same time. Plus, it charges within just a few hours too.
If you’re okay with 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage, I’d definitely recommend checking out the new Macbook Air. It’s when you add in the need for upgrades that it becomes less appealing, as you can’t upgrade it yourself (and Apple’s RAM prices are high).
Pros
Cons
Verdict: With increased processing power, I can definitely recommend that you take a look at the Macbook Air.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 14 Inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 | Average Battery Life: 9 hours
Although the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon is one of the brands best Ultrabooks, it’s not affordable for many people. And just because you don’t have a large budget, doesn’t mean you should be excluded from getting a decent laptop.
The Yoga Slim 7 is a budget choice that still has a lot of sought after qualities that most of us would want. As the name suggests, it’s very slim at only 16mm thick, which is almost the same as the Macbook Air. But at around half the price, it’ll be more appealing to those with limited funds.
Although cheap, it still has a solid battery life and a well made aluminium chassis like most Ultrabooks do. It has voice recognition and motion sensors as well, which help to give it a premium feel.
The combined Dolby Vision display and Dolby Atmos speakers help to give a great experience, and it has a variety of different ports you can connect to as well. Though it may not be on par with the Thinkpad series, it’s a viable alternative.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: This is a excellent value option if you need adequate power and storage, but don’t have the cash to buy an expensive new laptop.
Dell XPS 15
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 15.6 Inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 13 hours
The Dell XPS series has been one of the most coveted laptops in the last decade. And the new XPS 15 model is no different, as it’s undoubtedly one of the best Ultrabooks out there.
As usual, Dell tend to use higher quality parts than many of the cheaper brands, which results in a great build quality that you can be sure will last you for a long time.
In this instance, the base model has 16GB of RAM and a Intel Core i7-8750H processor, which has 6 cores and 12 threads. This will be more than enough to cope with running different programs consecutively.
Probably the best thing about these Dell laptops is their high quality graphics and display. This is made possible by a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti, which is a gaming quality graphics card. Whilst the XPS 15 isn’t designed for gaming specifically, it is capable of supporting games.
Another are where this laptop excels past the competition is with its overall battery life, which claims to be the best of any 15 inch laptop currently on the market. I have to admit that the battery life of Dell XPS laptops has always been pretty solid, and this model seems to be no different.
As well as this, the laptop is laid out well and the responsive keyboard is one of the best in the business. So, it’s only fit that this laptop is features as one of the top options for those looking for a good Ultrabook.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: Like larger version of the Dell XPS 13, the XPS 15 is one of the more popular laptops in recent years, and it’s clear to see why.
Microsoft Surface Book 3
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 15 Inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 12 hours
Not every Ultrabook will have the ability to be used as a 2-in-1 laptop, despite many of them having a slim frame. But the Surface Book 3 does, and the ability to convert this laptop into a tablet very quickly is one of the main reasons why it’s undoubtedly one of the best thin laptops out there.
This Ultrabook has a lot of the features that you need from any laptop. It comes with 16GB of RAM and an i7 processor, and it also uses a 1660Ti NVIDIA Graphics, which is one of the newer and better graphics cards out there.
The base model comes with an ample 256GB of storage, but the likelihood is that you’re going to want to increase this at some point down the line. It is very similar to the Surface Laptop 3, except with this model, the display is fully detachable.
Most impressive about the Surface Book 3 is that it has an exceptional battery life. This is necessary if you think about what most people will use a Surface book for – likely a lot of Adobe software and other graphic design programs. There aren’t many other 2-in-1 laptops that can match it.
Overall, this is undoubtedly a great choice for anyone that wants a touchscreen Ultrabook that they can use for any kind of art or drawing. But, it can also double up as a more serious business laptop too, so you really get the best of both worlds.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: With a detachable display that can be used on its own, this is a good investment if you like to use a tablet to browse online in the evenings.
ASUS ZenBook UX534
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 15.6 Inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 10.5 hours
Another one of the top thin laptops out there is the ASUS Zenbook UX534. It has the same specs as the previously mentioned laptops, with 16GB of RAM and a solid quad-core i7 processor.
But in comparison, the base model of the UX534 is quite a bit cheaper than the other brands like Microsoft and Dell. Sure, part of this is because the laptop uses lower quality materials – but, you’re also paying a premium for the big name brands. And if having a big name brand doesn’t bother you, then an ASUS laptop might be the perfect fit.
I have to mention this, because it’s the most interesting part about this laptop. It actually has what’s called a screenpad built into the touchpad of the device.
You can use this screen very easily to click onto whatever programs or apps that you want to without having to navigate to them on the main screen. This can prove to be pretty useful, and is definitely a nice addition to the laptop.
Overall, this is one of the best cheap Ultrabooks out there. So if you’re looking for something powerful with a lower price tag, then the UX534 is undoubtedly a good choice.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: For those looking for a cheaper alternative to the Macbook Pro, this ASUS ZenBook UX534 can be bought for around half the price.
Huawei MateBook X Pro
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 13.9 Inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: Intel Core i5 or i7 | Average Battery Life: 9.5 hours
Another cheaper option than going for the top brands out there is opting for this Matebook X Pro, which is one of Huawei’s recent releases that ventures into a more premium market.
Whilst the company has done pretty well by releasing budget laptops, this model is designed at those looking for a slightly cheaper alternative to the premium laptops out there (like the Macbook etc).
To be considered an Ultrabook, the laptop must be less than 2cm in thickness. The Huawei Matebook X Pro is significantly thinner than this, with it being only 14mm in thickness and weighing little more than 1.3kg. It also has a good amount of power, and is available with either an i5 processor or an upgraded i7 processor.
Something else that a laptop must have to be considered an Ultrabook is a good amount of power. This model is supported by 16GB of RAM, and it comes with a fairly large amount of SSD storage too (512GB). It also has a pretty great battery life as well, which is another criteria needed to meet to quality as an Ultrabook.
The thin bezel design enables the laptop to make the most of its screen space, and it’s a definitely a well finished laptop with a good keyboard layout. All in all, it’s another strong option for those looking for a solid, reliable laptop.
Pros
Cons
Verdict: When you consider the cost of the Matebook X Pro compared to the rest of the market, it’s a shrewd investment.
Common Questions about Ultrabooks
What is an Ultrabook good for?
An Ultrabook is considered to be the best option for those looking for a premium laptop. This could be for either business purposes, or more likely for your own personal purposes too. Ultrabooks represent some of the most powerful and well designed laptops in the industry, and they can be good for a lot of different uses.
How long does an Ultrabook last?
Because Ultrabooks tend to use the best sourced internal parts and hardware, they tend to last a little bit longer than laptops do. An Ultrabook can last in excess of 5 years quite easily if you take good care of it.
Can you game on an Ultrabook?
One thing that Ultrabooks aren’t really designed for it gaming. The two main features of an Ultrabook are their power and their slimline design, which is what they focus most on. So whilst they will likely be able to play some games and may prove useful to a casual gamer, they’re not advised for those looking specifically for gaming laptops.
Which is the thinnest laptop in the world?
If you’re looking for the very thinnest series of laptops, then you’ll probably find that the new Samsung Galaxy Chromebooks are a good fit. They represent the thinnest laptops out there, with some models being less than 0.4 inches in thickness.
Why are Ultrabooks so expensive?
The main reason why an Ultrabook is going to be more expensive than your standard laptop is that basically, an Ultrabook is high quality by definition! They’re meant to be the best powered, thinnest and strongest battery laptops on the market. So, it’s no surprise that Ultrabooks tend to be pretty expensive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are just some of the best Ultrabooks that are available right now. Whilst the definitions of an Ultrabook are quite loose, generally most of the newer laptop models can be defined as an ultrabook, as they have enough power and a slim design that ensures that they fit the criteria.
A good graphics card and strong processor are key elements to any ultrabook too, as it’s not all about design. So, after deciding which size screen you want, any of the models above should suffice.
