Top Ultrabooks: Slim, Powerful Laptops for All Needs

These days, the term "ultrabook" has evolved beyond its initial definition by Intel's marketing team, which focused on high-end, premium laptops. Today, any laptop that is thin, light, and reasonably powerful can be considered an ultrabook, except for gaming laptops. An ultrabook should offer exceptional productivity performance while maintaining a slim profile, lightweight design, and high portability. It's the ideal choice for users seeking a reliable laptop that won't burden them with weight or the need for constant charging.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Ultrabooks:

Our Top Pick### Asus Zenbook S 16

0See it at Best BuySee it at Asus### Razer Blade 14

0See it at Razer### Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

0See it at Amazon### Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max)

0See it at AmazonThe best ultrabooks available today are surprisingly capable, considering their size and weight. Our top pick, the Asus Zenbook S 16, rivals high-end desktops while consuming minimal power and operating quietly. Whether you're looking for budget-friendly options or powerful workhorses that can handle 4K video editing and more, these are the best ultrabooks you can buy right now.

Asus Zenbook S 16 – Photos

19 Images1. Asus Zenbook S 16

Best Ultrabook in 2025

Our Top Pick### Asus Zenbook S 16

0The Asus Zenbook S 16 stands out as a compelling Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's incredibly easy to carry and a pleasure to use.See it at Best BuySee it at AsusProduct SpecificationsDisplay16" (2880 x 1800)CPUAMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370GPUAMD Radeon 890MRAM32GB LPDDR5XStorage1TB PCIe SSDWeight3.31 poundsSize13.92" x 9.57" x 0.47" - 0.51"Battery lifeAround 15 hoursPROSDual OLED screensExceptionally thin and lightOutstanding performance with all-day battery lifeBeautiful 3K OLED touchscreenImpressive gaming performanceCONSSome keyboard flexI tested and reviewed the Asus Zenbook S 16, and it's the best overall ultrabook available today. With a thickness of only 13mm at its thickest point and a lightweight design at just 3.31lbs, it's remarkably portable. It boasts fantastic battery life, a stunning OLED display, and the best gaming performance of any integrated GPU yet, surpassing portable gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally X and Ayaneo Kun. It truly embodies the essence of an ultrabook.

The Zenbook S 16 perfectly captures the essence of an ultrabook. It's light enough to be almost unnoticeable when carried and thin enough to fit effortlessly into a crowded backpack or briefcase. When it's time to work, it performs at the top of its class among ultrabooks, all while using less power and generating less noise, thanks to its cutting-edge AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU. It also offers superior connectivity with two USB Type-C ports, a full-size USB Type-A, an SD card reader, and an HDMI-out port, making it compatible with a great portable monitor.

The display is exceptional, featuring a crisp 2880x1880 resolution (halfway between 1440p and 4K) and vibrant colors. As an OLED screen, it delivers rich, deep blacks, and its 500-nit brightness ensures visibility in any environment.

With up to 15 hours of battery life, the Asus Zenbook S 16 sets a new standard for what an ultrabook should be.

2. HP Pavilion Aero 13

Best Budget Ultrabook

### HP Pavilion Aero 13

0At less than $800, this laptop offers incredible value. See it at HPProduct SpecificationsDisplay13.3” 2K (1,920 x 1,200) IPS CPUAMD Ryzen 5 8840URAM16GB DDR5 6,400MHzStorage512MB NVMe SSDWeight2.2 poundsSize 11.7" x 8.31" x 0.69"Battery lifeAround 12 hoursPROSGreat balance of price and performanceFast processor and ample memoryUltraportable designAll-day battery lifeCONSLimited storageIf you're in the market for an affordable ultrabook, the HP Pavilion Aero 13 is an excellent choice. Priced under $800, it features a fast Ryzen 7 processor and 16GB of DDR5 memory, ensuring smooth performance for productivity tasks, even when multitasking. Its slim and lightweight design makes it easy to carry throughout the day.

Given its specifications and price, the HP Pavilion Aero 13 offers exceptional value. While it's not designed for gaming, its integrated graphics can handle lighter gaming if you adjust the settings.

The main limitation is its 512GB storage, with less available for your files due to the space taken by Windows. Consider investing in a good external hard drive if you need more local storage. However, its compact size and portability make it a compelling choice.

Razer Blade 14 (2024) – Photos

8 Images3. Razer Blade 14

Best Ultrabook for Gaming

### Razer Blade 14

0With a stunning and fast QHD+ display and powerful internals housed in a sleek chassis, this 14-inch luxury laptop is ready for any game.See it at RazerProduct SpecificationsDisplay14” QHD+ (2,560 x 1,600) IPS 240HzCPUAMD Ryzen 9 8945HSGPUNvidia RTX 4070RAM16GB DDR5 5,700MHzStorage1TB NVMe SSDWeight4.05 poundsSize 12.73" x 8.97" x 0.70"Battery lifeAround 9-10 hoursPROSExcellent gaming performance240Hz displayCONSShallow keyboardPC gaming and portability often require compromises, but the Razer Blade 14 minimizes these. It packs impressive hardware into a laptop weighing just over 4lbs and less than 1-inch thick. The 14-inch 240Hz QHD+ display features a 16:10 aspect ratio, which may take some getting used to, but the internals are truly remarkable.

Powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, this machine can handle any game and excel at video editing. It also supports overclocking. With 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage, it ensures smooth performance, and Wi-Fi 7 support provides fast connectivity for your mobile gaming setup. You can also connect it to a gaming monitor using its full-size HDMI port.

In our 2024 review, we praised the Razer Blade 14 for its fast GPU and luxurious build quality, though it comes at a premium price.

See more of the best gaming laptops to buy right now.

4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

Best for Students

### Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

0This colorful laptop features a Snapdragon processor, ample memory and storage, and impressive battery life.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsDisplay13.8" (2304 x 1536)CPUSnapdragon X Plus to Snapdragon X EliteGPUQualcomm AdrenoRAM16GB - 32GB LPDDR5XStorage256GB - 1TB PCIe SSDWeight2.96 poundsSize11.85" x 8.67" x 0.69"Battery lifeUp to 20 hoursPROSGreat performanceLots of fun color optionsLong battery lifeCONSSome apps aren't compatibleIf you need a reliable laptop for school that won't weigh you down, the latest generation Surface Laptop and Surface Pro 2-in-1 are ideal. Equipped with powerful Snapdragon Plus and Snapdragon Elite processors, ample memory and storage, and battery life that can last multiple workdays, these devices are perfect for students. For this list, we recommend the Surface Laptop, but the Surface Pro is also a great choice for those who prefer a convertible design (and don't mind purchasing a keyboard case).

Microsoft has significantly upgraded these new Surfaces, offering more memory and storage options. Even the base model, with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, provides solid performance. The Snapdragon Plus and Elite processors are highly power-efficient, with Microsoft claiming up to 20 hours of battery life for video playback and up to 13 hours for web browsing and productivity. They also support fast charging, reaching 80% in one hour.

The downside is that not all apps are compatible with Snapdragon processors. However, built-in emulation helps, and the list of compatible apps is growing as Qualcomm expands its processor offerings. Check the ever-expanding list of compatible apps to ensure the ones you need for school are supported.

5. Asus Zenbook S 14

Best for Business

### Asus Zenbook S 14

0This ultra-portable laptop offers incredible battery life, snappy performance, and a stunning OLED touchscreen display.See it at AsusSee it at Best BuyProduct SpecificationsDisplay14" (2880 x 1800)CPUIntel Core Ultra 7 258VGPUIntel ArcRAM32GB LPDDR5XStorage1TB PCIe SSDWeight2.65 poundsSize12.22" x 8.45" x 0.51"Battery life15+ hoursPROSThinner, lighter, and more powerfulGreat battery lifeImproved gaming performanceGorgeous OLED touchscreenCONSNo microSD card readerThe Asus Zenbook S 14, the smaller sibling to our top pick, stands out for its excellent balance of processing power and battery life. In my testing using Procyon's battery test, it ran for over 16 hours, ensuring you can work for two or more days without recharging. It performed smoothly, even with creative apps like Adobe Photoshop, and was comparable to laptops costing twice as much in the Microsoft Office suite or Google Drive applications.

The ultra-portability of the S 14 makes it an ideal choice for daily carry. At less than half an inch thick and weighing just over 2.5lbs, it's easy to carry and fits effortlessly into a packed bag.

It's also suitable for light gaming between meetings, thanks to the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Intel Arc graphics. While it won't match a gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU, it can handle games like Cyberpunk 2077 at 1200p resolution, delivering 30-60fps on its OLED screen.

6. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max)

Best Ultrabook for Creatives

### Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max)

0The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip is the most powerful Mac ever produced.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsDisplay16.2" (3456 x 2234)CPUM3 MaxGPUIntegrated (40-core)RAM48GB - 128GBStorage1TB - 8TB SSDWeight4.8 poundsSize14.01" x 9.77" x 0.66"Battery lifeUp to 22 hoursPROSIncredibly powerful for a laptopHighly configurableVery good battery lifeThin and comparatively lightCONSCan easily get very expensiveFor creative professionals, the Apple MacBook Pro remains the top choice, especially with the M3 Max chip. It's perfect for video editing, rendering art assets, and other demanding tasks. The MacBook Pro 16 is highly configurable, offering two tiers of the M3 Max processor (16-core or 18-core), up to 128GB of memory, and up to 8TB of storage. The standard M3 Pro version, starting $1,500 cheaper, is more than sufficient for most creators, though it comes with a 512GB SSD instead of a full terabyte.

Every version features the same beautiful liquid retina screen, widely regarded as one of the best laptop displays available today.

Beyond its power, the MacBook Pro excels due to its extensive ecosystem of creative applications. Apple has long been a favorite among creatives, offering a deep selection of apps. You can even add licenses for Logic and Final Cut Pro at checkout.

While Windows machines can also be excellent for creative work, the MacBook Pro's walled garden approach to software and hardware is a consideration. However, many creative professionals find the trade-off worthwhile for the powerful tools it offers.

How We Chose the Best Ultrabooks

To identify the best ultrabooks, we first defined the essential qualities that distinguish an ultrabook from a typical lightweight laptop. An ultrabook must be thin, light, and offer extended battery life, while being dedicated to high-performance productivity. Gaming capabilities are a bonus.

We evaluated ultrabooks we've reviewed and used, then consulted other expert sources and major offerings from reputable brands. We considered critical impressions, benchmark scores, and real-world performance. User reviews, Reddit recommendations, and community feedback helped us identify ultrabooks that enhance daily life for real users.

We categorized our findings to recommend the best ultrabook for various user types, whether you're a professional, student, or gamer.

Things to Consider When Shopping for an Ultrabook

Purchasing an ultrabook is a significant investment, so take your time to make an informed decision. Start by setting a budget to ensure you don't overspend. If you're on a tight budget, you may need to compromise on specs. For example, opting for 8GB of DDR5 or DDR4 RAM instead of 16GB can save money.

If gaming isn't a priority, integrated graphics like Intel Iris XE or Intel Arc will suffice, allowing you to allocate funds to other features.

For those with a larger budget, choosing an ultrabook with the latest hardware ensures futureproofing. A 14th Gen i5 or i7 CPU, or an AMD Ryzen 7000 or 9000 series processor, paired with an RTX 4000-series or AMD Radeon 7000-series GPU, is a solid starting point.

FAQs

What is an ultrabook laptop?

Intel introduced the term "ultrabook" in 2011 to describe laptops that are exceptionally thin, light, and equipped with powerful hardware. Today, the term is used more broadly to include laptops that are highly portable and capable of handling daily productivity tasks with ease. Most ultrabooks also offer extended battery life, ensuring they can last through a full workday.

Is a MacBook considered an ultrabook?

While a MacBook isn't technically an ultrabook due to its Apple origin, it can be considered a type of ultrabook. MacBooks are powerful, lightweight laptops running macOS.

Are ultrabooks good for gaming?

Ultrabooks are not designed as gaming laptops, so for serious gamers, a dedicated gaming laptop is preferable. However, many newer ultrabooks can handle gaming at lower settings or resolutions, thanks to advancements in Intel and AMD's integrated graphics. Cloud gaming is another option that works well on ultrabooks, requiring a subscription to services like Xbox Game Pass or Nvidia GeForce Now.