Best Ultrabooks: Thin and Powerful Laptops for Every Purpose

In today's tech landscape, the term "ultrabook" has evolved beyond its original Intel-centric definition to encompass any thin, light, and powerful laptop that isn't primarily designed for gaming. At its essence, an ultrabook is a premium device that excels in productivity while maintaining a slim profile and exceptional portability. It's the ideal companion for those who need a reliable laptop that won't burden them with weight or the constant need for a charger.

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 are remarkably capable, given their compact size and lightweight design. Our top pick, the Asus Zenbook S 16, rivals high-end desktops in performance while consuming minimal power and operating quietly. From budget-friendly options to powerful machines capable of editing 4K video and more, 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 Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro. It's incredibly 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've tested and reviewed the Asus Zenbook S 16, and it's the best overall ultrabook available today. With a thickness of just 13mm at its thickest point and a lightweight of only 3.31lbs, it's remarkably portable. It boasts fantastic battery life, a stunning OLED display, and the best gaming performance from any integrated GPU yet, surpassing portable gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally X and Ayaneo Kun. It truly embodies the essence of an ultrabook.

The Zenbook S 16 perfectly captures the ultrabook ethos. It's light enough to be almost unnoticeable when carried and thin enough to fit effortlessly 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, making it compatible with a great portable monitor.

The display is exceptional, with a crisp 2880x1880 resolution and vibrant colors. As an OLED screen, it delivers rich, deep blacks, and its 500-nit brightness ensures visibility in any environment.

With up to 15 hours of battery life, the Asus Zenbook S 16 sets the standard for what an ultrabook should be and more.

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) 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 to 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 at less than $800, it features a fast Ryzen 7 processor and 16GB of DDR5 memory, ensuring smooth operation of productivity applications, even during multitasking. Its slim and lightweight design makes it easy to carry throughout the day.

Given its features, the price is remarkably reasonable. The combination of its processor and memory makes it a reliable companion for most tasks, though it's not ideal for gaming. However, its integrated graphics can handle gaming if you're willing to adjust settings.

The main drawback is its 512GB storage, with less available for your files due to Windows' space requirements. Consider investing in a good external hard drive for local storage. Yet, its compact size and portability should outweigh this concern.

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 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 often require compromises, but the Razer Blade 14 minimizes these. It packs impressive hardware into a laptop weighing just over 4lbs and less than 1-inch thick. The 14-inch 240Hz QHD+ display has a 16:10 aspect ratio, which might take some getting used to, but the internals are truly remarkable.

Powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, this machine can handle any game and excel at video editing. It also supports overclocking. With 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage, it ensures swift performance, and Wi-Fi 7 support provides fast connectivity for your mobile gaming setup. You can also connect it to a gaming monitor via 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 pricey, 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 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 performanceLots of fun color optionsLong battery lifeCONSSome apps aren't compatibleIf you need a reliable laptop for school that won't strain your back, the latest Surface Laptop and Surface Pro 2-in-1 are ideal. They come equipped with powerful Snapdragon Plus and Snapdragon Elite processors, plenty of 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 devices from the last generation, offering more memory and storage options. Even the base model, with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, delivers solid performance. The Snapdragon Plus and Elite processors are highly 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. They also support fast charging, reaching 80% in one hour.

The downside is that not all apps are compatible with Snapdragon processors. However, built-in emulation helps, and the list of compatible apps is growing as Qualcomm expands its processor offerings. Check the ever-expanding list of compatible apps; chances are, the ones you need for school are already included.

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, the smaller sibling to our top pick, earns its spot with an excellent balance of processing power and battery life. In my testing using Procyon's battery test, it ran for over 16 hours, ensuring you can work for two or more days without recharging. It performed smoothly, even in creative apps like Adobe Photoshop, and could easily be mistaken for a much more expensive laptop when using Microsoft Office or Google Drive applications.

The Zenbook S 14's ultra-portability makes it an ideal choice for daily carry. At less than half an inch thick and weighing just over 2.5lbs, it's effortless to carry and fits easily into a packed bag.

It's also suitable for light gaming between meetings, thanks to the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Intel Arc graphics. While it won't match a gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU, it can handle games like Cyberpunk 2077 at 1200p resolution, delivering 30-60fps 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 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, as demonstrated in our review of the M2 Pro. Apple offers various configurations, but for the best performance in video editing, rendering art assets, and other demanding tasks, the M3 Max version is unparalleled.

The MacBook Pro 16 is versatile, available with different M3 Max processor tiers (16-core or 18-core), up to 128GB of memory, and up to 8TB of storage. If you don't need the top-tier performance, the standard M3 Pro version is $1,500 cheaper and still more than sufficient for most creators. However, the base model's 512GB SSD might require external storage. All versions feature the same exceptional liquid retina display, widely regarded as one of the best on any laptop.

Beyond power, the MacBook Pro excels with its extensive software ecosystem and creative tools. Apple has long been a favorite for creative applications, offering a deep selection of apps for various creative pursuits. You can even add licenses for Logic and Final Cut Pro at checkout.

While Windows machines can also be excellent for creative work, opting for a MacBook Pro means embracing Apple's ecosystem, which can limit hardware and software choices. This is a trade-off many creative professionals find worthwhile for the powerful tools it provides.

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 capability is a bonus.

We evaluated ultrabooks we've reviewed and used, then consulted other expert sources and major offerings from reputable brands. We considered critical impressions, benchmark scores, and real-world performance. We also analyzed user reviews, Reddit recommendations, and community feedback to find ultrabooks that enhance daily life.

We categorized our top picks to help you find the best ultrabook for your 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 don't overspend, and consider your needs. If budget is a concern, you might need to compromise on specs like RAM or GPU. For non-gamers, integrated graphics may suffice, allowing you to allocate funds elsewhere.

If budget allows, opt for futureproof hardware like 14th Gen Intel or AMD Ryzen 7000/9000 series processors with RTX 4000 or Radeon 7000 series GPUs.

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 for a full workday.

Is a MacBook considered an ultrabook?

While not technically 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 gaming laptops, but newer models can handle gaming at lower settings or resolutions. Intel and AMD have improved integrated graphics, and cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass or Nvidia GeForce Now are viable options on ultrabooks.