Top Ultrabooks: Sleek, Powerful Laptops for All Needs

In today's tech landscape, the term "ultrabook" has evolved beyond its original Intel-centric branding to describe any slim, light, and highly portable laptop that prioritizes productivity. These devices are designed to offer exceptional performance without the bulk, ensuring you can work efficiently on the go without constantly needing to recharge.

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 showcase remarkable capabilities despite their compact size and weight. Our top pick, the Asus Zenbook S 16, offers desktop-level performance while consuming minimal power and operating quietly. From budget-friendly options to powerful machines capable of 4K video editing, these are the best ultrabooks you can purchase 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 stellar alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's incredibly easy to carry and a delight to use.See it at Best BuySee it at AsusProduct SpecificationsDisplay16" (2880 x 1880)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 flexAfter extensive testing, the Asus Zenbook S 16 emerges as the best overall ultrabook. With a slim profile of just 13mm at its thickest point and a lightweight design at 3.31lbs, it's perfect for on-the-go professionals. Its remarkable battery life, stunning OLED display, and top-tier gaming performance for an integrated GPU make it a standout choice, even surpassing portable gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally X and Ayaneo Kun.

The Zenbook S 16 embodies the essence of an ultrabook. It's light enough to be nearly forgettable and thin enough to fit seamlessly into any bag. Its performance is among the best in its class, driven by the advanced AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, which also ensures low power consumption and minimal noise. Connectivity is robust with two USB Type-C ports, a full-size USB Type-A, an SD card reader, and an HDMI-out port for use with a great portable monitor.

The display boasts a crisp 2880x1880 resolution and vibrant colors, thanks to its OLED technology, with a brightness of 500 nits suitable for all environments. With 15 hours of battery life, the Asus Zenbook S 16 redefines what an ultrabook can be.

2. HP Pavilion Aero 13

Best Budget Ultrabook

### HP Pavilion Aero 13

0At under $800, this laptop offers incredible value. See it at HPProduct SpecificationsDisplay13.3” 2K (1,920 x 1,200) IPSCPUAMD 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 storageFor those seeking an affordable ultrabook, the HP Pavilion Aero 13 is an excellent choice. Priced below $800, it features a speedy AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM, ensuring smooth performance across productivity tasks. Its lightweight and slim design makes it easy to carry all day.

Despite its budget-friendly price, the Pavilion Aero 13 delivers impressive performance, making it a surprising value. While it's not designed for gaming, its integrated graphics can handle lighter games with adjusted settings. The primary limitation is its 512GB storage, which may necessitate an external hard drive for additional space. However, given its compact size and portability, this should not be a deal-breaker.

Razer Blade 14 (2024) – Photos

8 Images3. Razer Blade 14

Best Ultrabook for Gaming

### Razer Blade 14

0With its stunning and fast QHD+ display and powerful internals in a sleek chassis, this 14-inch luxury laptop is perfect for gaming on the go.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 keyboardCombining high-end gaming with portability is challenging, but the Razer Blade 14 achieves this feat admirably. Weighing just over 4lbs and less than an inch thick, it houses impressive hardware, including a 14-inch 240Hz QHD+ display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The true power lies in its internals, featuring an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card.

This machine is well-equipped for gaming and video editing, and even supports overclocking. With 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, it ensures smooth operation, and Wi-Fi 7 support offers fast connectivity. In our 2024 review, we praised its excellent performance and luxurious build quality, despite its high cost.

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

4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

Best for Students

### Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

0A colorful laptop with 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 performanceVibrant color optionsLong battery lifeCONSSome apps aren't compatibleStudents looking for a reliable and portable laptop will find the Microsoft Surface Laptop 11 ideal. It features powerful Snapdragon Plus and Elite processors, sufficient memory and storage, and battery life that can last multiple workdays. While the Surface Laptop is our top pick, the Surface Pro 2-in-1 is also highly recommended for those who prefer a convertible device.

Microsoft's latest generation offers significant upgrades, including more memory and storage options. Even the base model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage provides solid performance. The Snapdragon processors are highly efficient, with battery life rated up to 20 hours for video playback and 13 hours for web browsing and productivity. Fast charging capabilities allow the laptop to reach 80% in just one hour.

The main drawback is that not all apps are compatible with Snapdragon processors. However, built-in emulation helps, and the list of compatible apps is growing. Check the ever-expanding list of compatible apps to ensure your school applications 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, a smaller sibling to our top pick, excels with its balance of processing power and battery life. In testing, it lasted over 16 hours on Procyon's battery test, ensuring it can handle multiple workdays. It performs smoothly, even with creative apps like Adobe Photoshop, and feels like a much more expensive laptop when using Microsoft Office or Google Drive applications.

Its ultra-portability, weighing just over 2.5lbs and less than half an inch thick, makes it an ideal choice for daily carry. It's also suitable for light gaming between meetings, thanks to the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Intel Arc graphics. While not a gaming laptop, it can run games like Cyberpunk 2077 at 1200p with 30-60fps, offering a visual treat 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 created.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 configurableExcellent battery lifeThin and relatively lightCONSCan easily become very expensiveFor creative professionals, the Apple MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip is the top choice. It excels in video editing, rendering art assets, and other demanding tasks. The MacBook Pro 16 is highly configurable, offering different tiers of the M3 Max processor, up to 128GB of memory, and up to 8TB of storage.

While the standard M3 Pro version is more affordable and suitable for most creators, the M3 Max version provides unmatched performance. The default SSD is 512GB, but higher configurations offer a full terabyte. Every version features the same stunning liquid retina display, renowned for its quality.

Beyond hardware, the MacBook Pro's strength lies in its ecosystem of creative applications. Apple's long-standing support for creative tools makes it a preferred choice for many professionals. However, the MacBook's integration into the Apple ecosystem can limit hardware and software options, a trade-off many find worthwhile for its powerful capabilities.

How We Chose the Best Ultrabooks

To identify the best ultrabooks, we first defined the essential qualities: thinness, lightness, extended battery life, and high-performance productivity. Gaming capabilities are a bonus. We evaluated ultrabooks we've reviewed, consulted expert sources, and considered major offerings from reputable brands. We also analyzed user reviews, Reddit recommendations, and real-world experiences to ensure our recommendations meet the needs of everyday users.

We categorized our findings to help you find the best ultrabook for your specific needs, 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. Set a budget to ensure you can afford the right configuration. If budget is a concern, consider sacrificing some specs, like opting for 8GB of DDR5 or DDR4 RAM instead of 16GB.

If gaming isn't a priority, integrated graphics like Intel Iris XE or Intel Arc are sufficient, allowing you to allocate funds to other features. For those with a larger budget, choosing the latest hardware ensures future-proofing. A 14th Gen Intel i5 or i7 CPU, or an AMD Ryzen 7000 or 9000 series processor with an RTX 4000-series or AMD Radeon 7000-series GPU, is a solid starting point.

FAQs

What is an ultrabook laptop?

Originally coined by Intel in 2011, the term "ultrabook" now broadly describes laptops that are thin, light, and powerful enough for daily productivity tasks. Most ultrabooks also offer extended battery life, ensuring they can last through a full workday.

Is a MacBook considered an ultrabook?

While not officially an ultrabook due to its Apple origin, a MacBook can be considered a type of ultrabook. It's a powerful, lightweight laptop running macOS.

Are ultrabooks good for gaming?

Ultrabooks are not designed as gaming laptops, but newer models can handle gaming at lower settings or resolutions. Intel and AMD have improved the gaming capabilities of their processors, and cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass or Nvidia GeForce Now are viable options for ultrabook users.