Top Ultrabooks: Slim, Powerful Laptops for All Needs

In today's market, any laptop that is thin, light, and reasonably powerful is often considered an ultrabook, excluding gaming laptops. The term "ultrabook" originated from Intel's marketing efforts to describe high-end, premium laptops, but it has since expanded beyond just Intel-powered devices. At its core, an ultrabook should offer exceptional productivity performance while maintaining a slim, lightweight, and highly portable design. It's a dependable laptop that won't burden you with weight or the need to carry a charger constantly.

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 can be surprisingly capable given their size and weight. Our top pick, the Asus Zenbook S 16, rivals high-end desktops while consuming minimal power and operating quietly. From budget-friendly options to powerful workhorses capable of editing 4K video and beyond, 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 is an excellent Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's 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 batteryBeautiful 3K OLED touchscreenImpressive gaming performanceCONSSome keyboard flexI tested and reviewed the Asus Zenbook S 16, and it's the best overall ultrabook today. It's incredibly thin at only 13mm at its thickest part and impressively lightweight at just 3.31lbs. 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's the complete package and more.

The Zenbook S 16 embodies the essence of an ultrabook. It's light enough to be almost unnoticeable when carried and thin enough to fit easily 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, perfect for use 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, it delivers rich, deep blacks, and its 500-nit screen is bright enough for use in any environment.

Topping it all off is 15 hours of battery life. The Asus Zenbook S 16 is the cutting-edge definition of what an ultrabook should be and more.

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 seeking 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 operation of productivity applications, even during multitasking. Its thin and light design makes it easy to carry throughout the day without feeling weighed down.

Considering its features, the price is remarkably reasonable. With its processor and memory, it's a reliable companion for most tasks, though it's not ideal for gaming (though its integrated graphics can handle lighter games with adjusted settings).

The main drawback is its 512GB storage, with less available for your files due to Windows' space requirements. An external hard drive might be necessary for local storage. However, given its compact size and lightweight build, this shouldn't be a deal-breaker.

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 don't usually go hand-in-hand. However, the Razer Blade 14 manages to pack impressive hardware into a laptop just over 4lbs and under 1-inch thick. The 14-inch 240 Hz QHD+ display has a 16:10 aspect ratio, which might take some getting used to, but it's the internals that truly impress.

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

In our 2024 review, we found the Razer Blade 14 to be an outstanding laptop with an exceptionally fast GPU. While it's expensive, its luxurious build quality and performance justify the cost.

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 solid 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 without straining your back, the latest 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. For this list, we recommend the Surface Laptop, but the Surface Pro is also excellent 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 incredibly 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. It also supports fast charging, reaching 80% in one hour.

The downside is that not all apps are compatible with Snapdragon processors. However, built-in emulation helps with many apps, and the list of compatible apps is expected to grow as Qualcomm expands its processor offerings. Here's an ever-expanding list of compatible apps, likely including those you need for school.

5. Asus Zenbook S 14

Best for Business

### Asus Zenbook S 14

0This ultra-portable laptop offers incredible battery life, snappy performance, and a beautiful 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, earns its spot due to its excellent balance of processing power and battery life. In my testing using Procyon's battery test, which simulates mixed productivity use, this laptop lasted over 16 hours, ensuring you can go two or more workdays without recharging. It ran smoothly, even in creative apps like Adobe Photoshop, and in Microsoft Office or Google Drive applications, it felt like a laptop costing twice as much.

The ultra-portability of the S 14 makes it a compelling choice for daily carry. It's incredibly thin, at less than half an inch at its thickest point, and weighs just over 2.5lbs, making it almost effortless to carry and easy to fit into a packed bag.

It's also suitable for light gaming between meetings. With the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Intel Arc graphics, it offers surprising performance. At 1200p resolution, you can play games like Cyberpunk 2077 at 30-60fps, and its OLED screen ensures a visually stunning experience.

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 available in various configurations, but for the best performance in video editing, rendering art assets, and other demanding tasks, the top-tier M3 Max version is unmatched. It's more powerful than any laptop should be, which is why many professional creators prefer it.

The MacBook Pro 16 is a great choice regardless of the version you select, thanks to its high configurability. It offers two tiers of the M3 Max processor (16-core or 18-core), up to 128GB of memory, and up to 8TB of storage. If you don't need the top performance, the standard M3 Pro version is $1,500 cheaper and still more than sufficient for most creators. The default SSD is only 512GB, so external storage might be necessary. Every version features the same beautiful liquid retina screen, widely regarded as one of the best laptop displays available.

It's not just about power; the available software and creative tools are crucial. Apple has long been a go-to for creative applications, offering a deep ecosystem of apps for various creative needs. You can even add licenses for Logic and Final Cut Pro at checkout through Apple.

While Windows machines can also be excellent for creative work, choosing a Windows machine avoids the MacBook Pro's walled garden approach to software and hardware. This is the MacBook's biggest hurdle – you're buying into the Apple ecosystem, which often limits choices for supporting peripherals. However, many creative professionals find this 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 an ultrabook must possess to be considered one, and to be among the best available today. An ultrabook must be thin, light, and have extended battery life, dedicated to high-performance productivity, with gaming capabilities as a bonus.

We started by evaluating ultrabooks we've reviewed and used. We then consulted other expert sources and major offerings from reputable brands. Critical impressions, benchmark scores, and real-world performance were all considered. We also looked at user reviews, Reddit recommendations, and community feedback to find ultrabooks that enhance users' daily lives.

We categorized our findings to recommend the best ultrabook for different types of users, whether you're a professional, student, or business user needing a reliable, lightweight notebook.

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, allowing you to choose the right ultrabook for your needs. If budget is a concern, you might 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, freeing up funds for other features. However, if you have a larger budget, choose an ultrabook with the latest hardware for futureproofing. A 14th Gen i5 or i7 CPU or an AMD Ryzen 7000 or 9000 series processor with RTX 4000-series or AMD Radeon 7000-series GPU is a good 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 powerful enough for daily productivity tasks, often with extended battery life to last 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 gaming, a dedicated gaming laptop is better. 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 also a viable option on ultrabooks, requiring a subscription to services like Xbox Game Pass or Nvidia GeForce Now.