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 an Intel marketing term 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 demand constant charging.

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 top ultrabooks are surprisingly capable 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 for 4K video editing and more, these are the best ultrabooks available.

Asus Zenbook S 16 – Photos

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1. Asus Zenbook S 16

Best Ultrabook in 2025

Our Top Pick: Asus Zenbook S 16

The Asus Zenbook S 16 provides a compelling Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's incredibly portable and a pleasure to use.

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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 confirms its status as the best overall ultrabook. Its incredibly thin (13mm) and lightweight (3.31 lbs) design, 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) make it a truly exceptional device.

The Zenbook S 16 perfectly embodies the ultrabook ideal: lightweight portability and top-tier performance with low power consumption and noise. It boasts superior connectivity with two USB-C ports, a full-size USB-A port, an SD card reader, and an HDMI output for use with a great portable monitor.

The display is exceptional, offering a crisp 2880x1880 resolution and vibrant colors. The OLED technology delivers deep blacks, and its 500-nit brightness ensures readability in any environment. 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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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 an excellent 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. While storage is limited to 512GB, its performance and price make it a compelling choice.

3. Razer Blade 14 (2024)

Best Ultrabook for Gaming

Razer Blade 14
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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 expertly balances powerful gaming performance and portability. Its impressive hardware, including an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, delivers exceptional gaming and video editing capabilities in a remarkably compact and lightweight chassis. The 14-inch 240Hz QHD+ display enhances the gaming experience further.

4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

Best for Students

Microsoft Surface Laptop 11
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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, with its powerful Snapdragon processors, ample memory and storage, and exceptional battery life, is ideal for students. While some apps may have compatibility issues, the extensive list of supported applications is constantly growing. The Surface Pro 2-in-1 is a comparable alternative for those preferring a convertible design.

5. Asus Zenbook S 14

Best for Business

Asus Zenbook S 14
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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 excels as a business ultrabook, balancing processing power and remarkable battery life (over 16 hours in testing). Its ultra-portable design and smooth performance in demanding applications make it a perfect companion for professionals.

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

Best Ultrabook for Creatives

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max)
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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 expensive

For creative professionals, the MacBook Pro 16-inch with the M3 Max chip offers unparalleled power and configurability. Its high-end specifications and extensive software ecosystem make it a top choice for demanding creative workflows. While expensive, the M3 Pro version offers a more budget-friendly alternative.

How We Chose the Best Ultrabooks

Our selection process involved a thorough evaluation of reviewed ultrabooks, consultation with expert sources, and analysis of user reviews. We prioritized thinness, weight, extended battery life, high-performance productivity, and gaming capabilities (where applicable). The final list categorizes ultrabooks to suit various user needs.

Things to Consider When Shopping for an Ultrabook

Set a budget and prioritize features based on your needs. Consider RAM, GPU (integrated vs. dedicated), and CPU generation for future-proofing. Balance performance requirements with budget constraints.

FAQs

What is an ultrabook laptop?

An ultrabook is a thin, light, and powerful laptop prioritizing portability and productivity. Extended battery life is also a key feature.

Is a MacBook considered an ultrabook?

While not technically an ultrabook due to its Apple branding, MacBooks share many ultrabook characteristics: power and lightweight portability.

Are ultrabooks good for gaming?

Ultrabooks are not gaming laptops, but many newer models with integrated graphics can handle games at lower settings. Cloud gaming is another viable option.