Best Ultrabooks: Thin and Powerful Laptops for Every Purpose

Today, the term "ultrabook" is used rather loosely, encompassing any thin, light, and reasonably powerful laptop—excluding dedicated gaming machines. While initially a marketing term from Intel for high-end laptops, it now applies to a broader range of devices. The core concept remains: exceptional productivity performance in a slim, lightweight, and highly portable package. These reliable laptops are designed to be easily carried without the burden of excessive weight or a constantly needed charger.

TL;DR – Top Ultrabook Picks:

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Our Top Pick: 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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Today's best ultrabooks offer surprising capabilities for 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

Asus Zenbook S 16 19 Images

1. Asus Zenbook S 16

Best Ultrabook in 2025

Our Top Pick: Asus Zenbook S 16
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The Asus Zenbook S 16 is a compelling Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's incredibly portable and a pleasure to use.

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), lightweight design (3.31lbs), fantastic battery life, gorgeous OLED display, and best-in-class integrated GPU performance, surpassing portable gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally X and Ayaneo Kun. It's a truly complete package.

The Zenbook S 16 embodies the ultrabook ideal: lightweight and easily fits into any bag. It delivers top-tier performance with efficient power consumption and quiet operation thanks to its AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU. Connectivity is also excellent, featuring two USB Type-C ports, a full-size USB Type-A, an SD card reader, and an HDMI port.

The display is superb, boasting a crisp 2880x1880 resolution and vibrant colors. The OLED technology ensures deep blacks, and the 500-nit brightness makes it usable in any lighting conditions. With 15 hours of battery life, the Asus Zenbook S 16 sets a new standard for ultrabooks.

2. HP Pavilion Aero 13

Best Budget Ultrabook

HP Pavilion Aero 13
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At under $800, this laptop offers incredible value.

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, ultra-portable design, all-day battery life.
Cons: Limited storage

The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers. Its Ryzen 7 processor and 16GB of DDR5 memory ensure smooth multitasking. Its thin and light design makes it easy to carry, and the price is surprisingly reasonable considering its performance. The main drawback is the limited 512GB of storage; an external hard drive is recommended.

Razer Blade 14 (2024) – Photos

Razer Blade 14 8 Images

3. Razer Blade 14

Best Ultrabook for Gaming

Razer Blade 14
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This 14-inch luxury laptop boasts a stunning QHD+ display and powerful internals in a sleek chassis, ideal for gaming.

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 combines powerful gaming hardware with portability. Its AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card deliver exceptional gaming performance, also handling video editing with ease. The 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD ensure smooth operation, and Wi-Fi 7 provides fast connectivity. It's a premium option but excels in build quality and performance.

4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

Best for Students

Microsoft Surface Laptop 11
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A colorful laptop with a Snapdragon processor, ample memory and storage, and excellent battery life.

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 its Surface Pro counterpart, are ideal for students. The powerful Snapdragon processors, ample memory and storage, and long battery life make it a reliable companion for all-day use. While not all apps are compatible with the Snapdragon processors, emulation helps mitigate this issue, and compatibility is constantly improving.

5. Asus Zenbook S 14

Best for Business

Asus Zenbook S 14
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This ultra-portable laptop offers incredible battery life, snappy performance, and a beautiful OLED touchscreen.

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, while smaller than the S 16, excels in battery life and processing power. Its battery easily lasts over 16 hours of mixed productivity use, and performance is smooth even with demanding creative applications. Its ultra-portability makes it ideal for business professionals, and its Intel Arc graphics allow for surprisingly capable light gaming.

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

Best Ultrabook for Creatives

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max)
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The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip is Apple's most powerful Mac laptop to date.

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 MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max) remains a top choice. Its immense power handles video editing, rendering, and other demanding tasks with ease. Its high configurability allows for customization to specific needs. While expensive, its power and extensive software ecosystem make it a worthwhile investment for many.

How We Chose the Best Ultrabooks

Our selection process involved defining essential ultrabook qualities: thinness, lightness, extended battery life, high-performance productivity, and optional gaming capabilities. We evaluated reviewed ultrabooks, consulted expert sources, and analyzed user reviews and community feedback to identify the most impactful and user-friendly options. The final list is categorized to suit various user needs.

Things to Consider When Shopping for an Ultrabook

Set a budget before starting your search. Consider your needs: if gaming isn't a priority, integrated graphics are sufficient and save money. For future-proofing, invest in the latest generation CPUs and GPUs.

FAQs

What is an ultrabook laptop?

Originally an Intel term, "ultrabook" now describes thin, light, and powerful laptops prioritizing portability and productivity. Most offer 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 designs with macOS.

Are ultrabooks good for gaming?

Ultrabooks aren't gaming laptops. While some newer models can handle less demanding games at lower settings, dedicated gaming laptops are superior. Cloud gaming is another viable option.