Sometimes you just want a laptop that will last all-day, and not damage your shoulders carrying it around in a bag. Here’s our picks for the very best Ultrabooks.

The best Ultrabooks are designed for those people who prioritize portability and battery life over performance but want something more powerful than a Chromebook. Given the small footprint inherent in the design, theres bound to be sacrifices made to minimize size and weight, so don’t expect to play PC games on the same level as a gaming laptop.Rather, these lightweight laptops are designed to get you through a full workday and then some. The good news is you still get a lot of perks from Ultrabooks like 4K displays and tactile keyboards along with the thin and light frame. Based on a combination of my personal testing experience, price, battery life, specs, and aesthetics, these are the best Ultrabooks on the market.TL;DR These are the Best Ultrabook:
1. Dell XPS 13
Best Ultrabook
Display: 13.3″ FHD (1920×1080) CPU: Intel Core i5-10210U GPU: Intel UHD Graphics RAM: 8GB LPDDR3 (2,133MHz) Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD Weight: 2.7 pounds Size: 11.9″ x 7.8″ x 0.46″
The Dell XPS 13 is an ultra lightweight laptop that helped jump start the Ultrabook craze. This latest 2019 model comes equipped with respectable specs. It includes a 10th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB LPDDR3 RAM, and a 13.3-inch (1920×1080) FHD touchscreen display, and a 256GB SSD for storage. If storage poses an issue, keep in mind the ultraportable XPS 13 also has a MicroSD card reader for additional space.As for portability, you are looking at a device thats 11.9 x 7.8 x 0.46-inches and weighs a scant 2.7 pounds. Small enough to slide into a laptop backpack without weighing you down.
2. Asus ZenBook 13
Best Budget Ultrabook
Display: 13.3″ FHD (1,920 x 1,080) CPU: Intel Core i5-8265U GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 RAM: 8GB LPDDR3 Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD Weight: 2.6 pounds Size: 11.9″ x 7.4″ x 0.7″
For a more budget-friendly Ultrabook option, look no further than the Asus ZenBook 13. This sub $1,000 machine sacrifices surprisingly little in the way of a slightly crusty 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processor in order to hit a lower price point. This particular model specifically has an Intel Core i5-8265U CPU, 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and a 256GB PCIe SSD.This laptop might have a ho-hum a 13.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080), but it’s nearly bezel-less thanks to Asus’ “NanoEdge” display. You also get a number pad hidden on the touchpad that activates and light up with a simple button press. The overall size of the ZenBook falls right in line with its competitors, and at 2.6 pounds it’s super light.
3. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Best Gaming Ultrabook
Display: 14″ FHD (1920×1080) 120Hz CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q RAM: 16GB DDR4 (3,200MHz) Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD Weight: 3.64 pounds Size: 12.8″ x 8.7″ x 0.7″
Going with a small laptop doesn’t mean you have to miss out on power anymore. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 packs in some serious muscle for gaming but still weighs well under four pounds and has dimensions that can still compete with most of the ultrabooks on this list.So, how much power are we talking? Well, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 can pack in an 8-core Ryzen 9 4900HS processor that will cruise at up to 4.3GHz, giving you strong performance for almost any workload and games. That processor is paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q to handle gaming at Full HD and a smooth 120Hz, which may explain why that’s exactly the spec of this laptop’s display. You’ll also be getting 16GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe SSD, so you can run plenty of programs and store a considerable game library. All that power might make some of these other ultrabooks seem a little less ultra.
4. Apple MacBook Air
Best Ultralight Apple Laptop
Display: 13.3″ Retina (2,560 x 1,600) CPU: Apple M1 Octa-core GPU: Integrated RAM: 8GB Unified Memory Storage: 256GB SSD Weight: 2.8 pounds Size: 11.97″ x 8.36″ x 0.63″
If you take a quick look at the newest MacBook Air, you might think it looks like almost nothing has changed. Outwardly, you’d be right. It’s the exact same shape and size, even weighing just as much as its predecessor. But, Apple has made some dramatic changes under the hood. Namely, Apple switched away from Intel’s processors and introduced its own Apple M1 system-on-a-chip. This puts its CPU, GPU, memory and more all onto the same chip, and it’s some chip.The Apple M1 features four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, letting it speed through some tasks while sipping energy when doing more basic work. These new processing cores also give the new MacBook Air a big boost in battery life. What’s truly impressive is that Apple has made this switch to a new chip that operates very differently from Intel’s chips yet the operating system and apps are running just fine despite needing a translation layer for many apps to function. The new architecture is also closer to what you’d find in Apple’s phones, so iOS apps on macOS should run with ease. Apple’s new MacBook Air takes a big step in a new direction, and it looks like Apple’s got its footing right.
5. Lenovo Yoga C940
Best Convertible Ultrabook
Display: 14″ FHD touch (1,920 x 1,080) CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics RAM: 12GB LPDDR4X (3,733MHz) Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD Weight: 2.98 pounds Size: 12.6″ x 8.5″ x 0.6″
If you fancy a laptop that can double as a tablet, you should get a convertible Ultrabook and the best one around is the Lenovo Yoga C940. It’s the latest model of Lenovo storied Yoga series and while it doesn’t feature the fancy watchband styled hinge any more, you get a serious soundbar built into this hybrid notebook’s sturdy hinge.Also unlike most other Ultrabooks, you get a 14 inch screen squeezed into the body of a 13 laptop. The Lenovo Yoga C940 is also outfitted to keep up with the latest ultralight laptops with an Intel Core i7 processor from the latest 10th Generation Ice Lake line, plus you get 12GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage space.
6. HP Spectre x360
Another Lightweight Convertible Laptop
Display: 13.3″ FHD touch (1,920 x 1,080) CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics RAM: 16GB Storage: 512 NVMe SSD Weight: 2.88 pounds Size: 12″ x 7.7″ x 0.7″
If you like the sound of a convertible laptop but just want something a little bit smaller and sleeker, check out the HP Spectre x360. HP has been at the convertible laptop game for almost as long as Lenovo and this is one fine looking machine both inside and out. The all-metal housing barely adds any weight, yet serves as an added layer of protection from an accidental drop.There are several different configurations available, but the one linked here boasts an Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, and a 13.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080) FHD display. More than enough to get through most workloads and not break a sweat. At 2.88-pounds and measuring 12 x 7.7 0.7 inches, its small enough to fit into even the thinnest of laptop bags.
7. Surface Laptop 3
Most Stylish Ultrabook
Display: 13.5″ PixelSense touch (2,256 x 1,504 ) CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G7 GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X Storage: 128GB PCIe SSD Weight: 2.79 pounds Size: 12.1″ x 8.8″ x 0.57″
Microsofts own ultraportable Surface Laptop is powerful, looks good, and comes in five different colors. The cloth-covered interior isnt going to be for everyone, but we happen to like it and if you prefer a cleaner looking laptop, you can also get one of the plain metal versions.For $999, the Surface Laptop comes with an Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. For a few hundred dollars more, you can up those specs with a 256GB SSD. As for portability, the Surface Laptop falls right in line with other ultraportables: 12.1 x 8.8 x 0.57-inches and 2.79-pounds.
8. Acer Swift 7
The Thinnest and Lightest Ultrabook
Display: 14″ FHD touch (1,920 x 1,080) CPU: Intel Core i7-8500y GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 615 RAM: 16GB LPDDR3 Storage: 512 NVMe SSD Weight: 1.96 pounds Size: 7.51″ x 12.52″ x 0.39″
When it comes to the absolutely thinnest and lightest Ultrabook nothing beats the Acer Swift 7. It’s astonishingly thin at just 0.39 inches thick and it weighs a mere 1.96 pounds, making it lighter than even some smartphones.You’re not going to be doing any gaming on this thing obviously, but Acer says the battery is good for up to 13 hours of light lifting, so it should be good for full day’s worth of office tasks. One other treat on this laptop is the 14-inch Full HD multi-touch display that’s also covered in Gorilla Glass, so it can handle the road warrior lifestyle just fine.
9. Surface Book 3
Best Detachable Ultrabook
Display: 13.5″ PixelSense touch (3000×2000) CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q RAM: 16GB LPDDR4x (3,733MHz) Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD Weight: 3.62 pounds Size: 12.3″ x 9.1″ x 0.9″
The Surface Book 3 not only offers a compelling ultrabook experience, but as a 2-in-1 detachable laptop, it also delivers one of the most polished tablet experiences you can find. Despite packing all of its core internals into just the display section, the Surface Book 3 manages to offer a capable Intel Core i7-1065G7 paired with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q. That’s more performance than you’ll find in just about any other tablet out there (besides the 15-inch Surface Book 3).The Surface Book 3 also offers plenty of RAM and storage, letting you configure a machine that can stand up to some serious workloads. With the Surface Book 3’s support for touch, tablet mode, and active styluses, it can work wonders for design tasks. And, with all that, it remains highly portable, weighing under four pounds and offering a lengthy battery life.
What to look for in an Ultrabook
Shopping for an Ultrabook comes down picking an ultraportable laptop shaves many millimeters from its profile without sacrificing performance too greatly. For the most part, the best Ultrabooks nowadays are pretty peppy machines that can handle all-day office work as well as some light video and image editing tasks too.These modern machines mostly come with either Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, a minimum of 8GB of memory, and at least 128GB SSD for storage. There are, of course, always exceptions to this rule. For example, the Acer Swift 7 uses an Intel Core Y-series processor, which is its low-wattage CPU.
Prices for a capable Ultrabooks laptop usually hover above $1,000 and can easily increase to over $2,000, depending on specs and manufacturer. Dont get overwhelmed when looking at specs and prices, because unless you are going to edit a lot of video or use resource-intensive programs, most mid-range ultraportables will be just fine.