Best Ultrabooks: Thin and Powerful Laptops for Every Purpose

Today, the term "ultrabook" is widely used to describe any thin, light, and reasonably powerful laptop—excluding dedicated gaming machines. While initially a marketing term coined by Intel for high-end laptops, the definition has broadened. At its core, an ultrabook prioritizes exceptional productivity performance within a slim, lightweight, and highly portable design. It's a reliable workhorse that won't weigh you down or necessitate constant charging.

TL;DR – Top Ultrabook Picks:

Asus Zenbook S 16

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Razer Blade 14

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

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Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max)

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Modern ultrabooks surprisingly pack impressive capabilities given their size and weight. Our top pick, the Asus Zenbook S 16, rivals high-end desktops while maintaining exceptional power efficiency and quiet operation. From budget-friendly options to powerful machines capable of 4K video editing, this list showcases the best ultrabooks available.

Asus Zenbook S 16 – Photos

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1. Asus Zenbook S 16

Best Ultrabook of 2025

Asus Zenbook S 16

A compelling Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro, the Asus Zenbook S 16 offers effortless portability and a delightful user experience.

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Product Specifications
Display: 16" (2880 x 1800)
CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
GPU: AMD Radeon 890M
RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X
Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
Weight: 3.31 pounds
Size: 13.92" x 9.57" x 0.47" - 0.51"
Battery life: Around 15 hours

Pros: Dual OLED screens, exceptionally thin and light, outstanding performance with all-day battery, beautiful 3K OLED touchscreen, impressive gaming performance.
Cons: Some keyboard flex

My review of the Asus Zenbook S 16 highlights its exceptional thinness (13mm at its thickest point) and lightweight design (3.31 lbs). It boasts fantastic battery life, a gorgeous OLED display, and the best integrated GPU gaming performance to date, surpassing portable gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally X and Ayaneo Kun. It's a truly comprehensive package.

The Zenbook S 16 exemplifies the ideal ultrabook: light enough to be easily carried, thin enough for any bag, and powerful enough for top-tier performance while consuming minimal power and generating minimal noise thanks to its advanced AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU. It even offers superior connectivity with two USB Type-C ports, a full-size USB Type-A, an SD card reader, and an HDMI-out port.

The display is exceptional, offering a crisp 2880x1880 resolution and stunning colors. Its OLED technology delivers rich, deep blacks, and the 500-nit brightness ensures readability in any environment. With approximately 15 hours of battery life, the Asus Zenbook S 16 redefines the ultrabook standard.

2. HP Pavilion Aero 13

Best Budget Ultrabook

HP Pavilion Aero 13

At under $800, this laptop delivers exceptional value.

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Product Specifications
Display: 13.3” 2K (1,920 x 1,200) IPS
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 8840U
RAM: 16GB DDR5 6,400MHz
Storage: 512MB NVMe SSD
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Size: 11.7" x 8.31" x 0.69"
Battery life: Around 12 hours

Pros: Great price-to-performance ratio, fast processor and ample memory, ultraportable design, all-day battery life.
Cons: Limited storage

The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is a compelling budget ultrabook, offering a fast Ryzen 7 processor and 16GB of DDR5 memory for smooth multitasking at under $800. Its incredibly thin and light design ensures comfortable portability. Considering its features, the price is remarkably reasonable. While not ideal for gaming, its integrated graphics are sufficient for casual play.

Its main drawback is the limited 512GB storage (less usable space after accounting for the operating system). An external hard drive is recommended for additional storage. However, its compact size and lightweight design make this a minor compromise.

3. Razer Blade 14 (2024)

Best Ultrabook for Gaming

Razer Blade 14

With a stunning QHD+ display and powerful internals in a sleek chassis, this 14-inch luxury laptop handles any game.

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Product Specifications
Display: 14” QHD+ (2,560 x 1,600) IPS 240Hz
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
GPU: Nvidia RTX 4070
RAM: 16GB DDR5 5,700MHz
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
Weight: 4.05 pounds
Size: 12.73" x 8.97" x 0.70"
Battery life: Around 9-10 hours

Pros: Excellent gaming performance, 240Hz display.
Cons: Shallow keyboard

The Razer Blade 14 masterfully blends high-performance PC gaming and portability. It packs impressive hardware into a sub-4lb, under-1-inch thick chassis. The 14-inch 240Hz QHD+ display (16:10 aspect ratio) is complemented by an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, making it ready for demanding games and video editing. 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage ensure smooth operation, and Wi-Fi 7 provides fast connectivity. It also features a full-size HDMI port for external monitor connectivity.

Our 2024 review praised its exceptionally fast GPU. While expensive, its luxurious build quality and performance are exceptional.

4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

Best for Students

Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

A colorful laptop with a Snapdragon processor, ample memory and storage, and solid battery life.

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Product Specifications
Display: 13.8" (2304 x 1536)
CPU: Snapdragon X Plus to Snapdragon X Elite
GPU: Qualcomm Adreno
RAM: 16GB - 32GB LPDDR5X
Storage: 256GB - 1TB PCIe SSD
Weight: 2.96 pounds
Size: 11.85" x 8.67" x 0.69"
Battery life: Up to 20 hours

Pros: Great performance, fun color options, long battery life.
Cons: Some app incompatibility

The Surface Laptop 11 (and the Surface Pro 2-in-1) is ideal for students, featuring powerful Snapdragon Plus and Elite processors, ample memory and storage, and exceptional battery life (multiple workdays). The newer generation boasts significant upgrades in memory and storage options. The Snapdragon processors offer impressive power efficiency, with Microsoft claiming up to 20 hours of video playback and up to 13 hours of web browsing/productivity. Fast charging enables 0-80% charge in one hour.

The main drawback is the limited app compatibility with Snapdragon processors. While emulation helps, not all apps are supported. However, compatibility is expected to improve over time.

5. Asus Zenbook S 14

Best for Business

Asus Zenbook S 14

This ultra-portable laptop boasts incredible battery life, snappy performance, and a beautiful OLED touchscreen.

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Product Specifications
Display: 14" (2880 x 1800)
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
GPU: Intel Arc
RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X
Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
Weight: 2.65 pounds
Size: 12.22" x 8.45" x 0.51"
Battery life: 15+ hours

Pros: Thinner, lighter, and more powerful, great battery life, improved gaming performance, gorgeous OLED touchscreen.
Cons: No microSD card reader

The Asus Zenbook S 14, a smaller sibling to the Zenbook S 16, excels with its balance of processing power and battery life. In testing, it achieved over 16 hours of battery life in mixed productivity use. Its performance is smooth even with demanding creative applications. Its ultra-portability, with a thickness under half an inch and weight just over 2.5 lbs, makes it effortless to carry throughout the day. It's also capable of light gaming, thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Intel Arc graphics.

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

Best Ultrabook for Creatives

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max)

The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip is the most powerful Mac ever.

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Product Specifications
Display: 16.2" (3456 x 2234)
CPU: M3 Max
GPU: Integrated (40-core)
RAM: 48GB - 128GB
Storage: 1TB - 8TB SSD
Weight: 4.8 pounds
Size: 14.01" x 9.77" x 0.66"
Battery life: Up to 22 hours

Pros: Incredibly powerful, highly configurable, very good battery life, thin and comparatively light.
Cons: Can be very expensive

For creative professionals, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max) remains a top choice, offering unmatched power for video editing, rendering, and other demanding tasks. Its high configurability allows for customization to meet specific needs. While powerful, it also offers excellent battery life. The beautiful Liquid Retina XDR display is widely considered one of the best on the market. However, the high cost is a significant factor to consider.

How We Chose the Best Ultrabooks

Our selection process involved defining key ultrabook qualities: thinness, lightness, extended battery life, high-performance productivity, and optional gaming capabilities. We evaluated reviewed ultrabooks, consulted expert sources, and analyzed benchmark scores and real-world user feedback from various online communities. The final list is categorized to assist users in finding the ideal ultrabook based on their specific needs.

Things to Consider When Shopping for an Ultrabook

Set a budget to guide your choices. Consider your needs: if gaming isn't a priority, integrated graphics are sufficient; otherwise, invest in a more powerful GPU. Prioritize newer generation CPUs and GPUs for better future-proofing.

FAQs

What is an ultrabook laptop?

Initially defined by Intel as exceptionally thin, light laptops with powerful hardware, the term now encompasses highly portable laptops with sufficient power for everyday productivity tasks and extended battery life.

Is a MacBook considered an ultrabook?

While not technically an ultrabook due to its Apple branding, MacBooks share many ultrabook characteristics: powerful yet lightweight design with Apple's macOS.

Are ultrabooks good for gaming?

Ultrabooks are not gaming laptops. While some newer models can handle games at lower settings, dedicated gaming laptops are recommended for optimal performance. Cloud gaming is another viable option.