by Jonathan May 17,2025
In today's tech landscape, the term "ultrabook" has evolved beyond its origins in Intel's marketing to describe any high-end, premium laptop that prioritizes slimness, lightweight design, and portability without sacrificing performance. An ultrabook is designed to be a powerhouse for productivity, ensuring you can work efficiently without the burden of a heavy device or the constant need for a charger.
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, balancing size, weight, and performance. Our top pick, the Asus Zenbook S 16, stands out by rivaling high-end desktops while maintaining exceptional power efficiency and quiet operation. From budget-friendly options to high-performance models suitable for 4K video editing, these are the top ultrabooks you can purchase today.
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1. Asus Zenbook S 16Our Top Pick### Asus Zenbook S 16
0The Asus Zenbook S 16 stands as an exemplary Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro, offering a seamless blend of portability and performance. It's incredibly easy to carry and a pleasure 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 lifeUp to 15 hoursPROSDual OLED screensExceptionally thin and lightOutstanding performance with all-day battery lifeBeautiful 3K OLED touchscreenImpressive gaming performanceCONSSlight keyboard flexI had the opportunity to thoroughly test and review the Asus Zenbook S 16, and it undeniably emerges as the premier ultrabook available today. At just 13mm thick and weighing only 3.31 pounds, it's incredibly portable. It boasts remarkable battery life, a stunning OLED display, and delivers top-notch gaming performance, even outshining portable gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally X and Ayaneo Kun. The Zenbook S 16 truly embodies the essence of an ultrabook, being light enough to be almost unnoticeable in your bag and thin enough to fit effortlessly into any space. Its performance is among the best, powered by the advanced AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, while maintaining low power consumption and minimal noise. Additionally, it offers excellent connectivity with two USB Type-C ports, a full-size USB Type-A, an SD card reader, and an HDMI-out port, ideal for use with a portable monitor.
The display is exceptional, with a sharp 2880x1880 resolution and vibrant colors, thanks to its OLED technology, which ensures deep blacks and a brightness of 500 nits, making it perfect for any environment. The Asus Zenbook S 16 sets a new standard for what an ultrabook should be, offering up to 15 hours of battery life.
### HP Pavilion Aero 13
0Priced 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 poundsSize11.7" x 8.31" x 0.69"Battery lifeUp to 12 hoursPROSExcellent 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 outstanding choice. Priced under $800, it features a robust AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 16GB of DDR5 memory, ensuring smooth operation for productivity tasks, even with multitasking. Its slim and lightweight design makes it ideal for all-day carry without feeling cumbersome.
The value it offers at this price point is truly remarkable. With its powerful processor and memory, it's well-suited for nearly any task, except perhaps gaming, although its integrated graphics can handle lighter games if settings are adjusted.
The main limitation is its 512GB storage, with a significant portion taken up by Windows. If you plan to store large files locally, consider pairing it with a good external hard drive. However, given its compact size and portability, this should not be a deal-breaker.
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3. Razer Blade 14### Razer Blade 14
0Featuring 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 poundsSize12.73" x 8.97" x 0.70"Battery lifeAround 9-10 hoursPROSExceptional gaming performance240Hz displayCONSShallow keyboardBalancing gaming performance with portability is a challenge, but the Razer Blade 14 manages it brilliantly. Weighing just over 4 pounds and less than an inch thick, it houses impressive hardware. The 14-inch 240Hz QHD+ display with a 16:10 aspect ratio may take some getting used to, but it's the internals that truly impress.
Powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, this laptop is ready for any game and can handle video editing with ease. It supports overclocking, and with 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage, it ensures smooth performance. Wi-Fi 7 support provides fast connectivity, and it can be connected to a gaming monitor via its HDMI port.
In our 2024 review, we noted its outstanding performance and luxurious build quality, though its price is a significant consideration.
Explore more of the best gaming laptops available now.
### Microsoft Surface Laptop 11
0A vibrant laptop powered by a Snapdragon processor, with 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 hoursPROSExcellent performanceVibrant color optionsLong battery lifeCONSSome apps may not be compatibleFor students needing a reliable laptop that's easy to carry, the latest Microsoft Surface Laptop 11, equipped with powerful Snapdragon processors, ample memory and storage, and exceptional battery life, is an ideal choice. While our recommendation leans towards the Surface Laptop, the Surface Pro 2-in-1 is also a great option for those who prefer a convertible device (though you'll need to buy a keyboard separately).
Significant upgrades from the previous generation include increased memory and storage options. Even the base model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage provides robust performance. The Snapdragon 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, with fast charging capabilities.
The main drawback is compatibility with some apps, but built-in emulation helps mitigate this issue. As Qualcomm expands its processor offerings, the list of compatible apps is expected to grow. Check out the list of compatible apps to ensure those you need for school are supported.
### Asus Zenbook S 14
0This ultraportable laptop offers incredible battery life, swift 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 lifeOver 15 hoursPROSThinner, lighter, and more powerfulGreat battery lifeEnhanced gaming performanceGorgeous OLED touchscreenCONSNo microSD card readerThe Asus Zenbook S 14, a smaller counterpart to our top pick, excels in balancing processing power with battery life. In testing with Procyon's battery test, it lasted over 16 hours, offering up to two full workdays between charges. It performed smoothly, even with demanding creative applications like Adobe Photoshop, and was remarkably efficient in productivity software, delivering performance that belies its price.
Its ultraportability, weighing just over 2.5 pounds and less than half an inch thick, makes it perfect for daily carry. It slides effortlessly into any bag, and its portability does not compromise on performance. The latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with Intel Arc graphics offers surprising gaming capabilities, especially when settings are adjusted. On its OLED screen, games like Cyberpunk 2077 can run smoothly at 1200p, offering a visual feast.
### Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max)
0The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip is the most powerful Mac ever. 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 powerfulHighly configurableExcellent battery lifeThin and relatively lightCONSHigh costFor creative professionals, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch with the M3 Max chip remains the top choice. Its unparalleled performance for video editing, rendering, and other intensive tasks makes it a favorite among creators. The MacBook Pro 16 is highly configurable, with options for the M3 Max processor (16-core or 18-core), up to 128GB of memory, and up to 8TB of storage. Even the base M3 Pro version, which starts $1,500 cheaper, offers ample power for most creatives, though it comes with a 512GB SSD that may necessitate external storage. Every model features the acclaimed liquid retina display, considered one of the best on any laptop.
Beyond hardware, the MacBook Pro's strength lies in its software ecosystem, offering a wealth of creative tools. Apple's long-standing reputation in creative applications ensures a rich app environment. You can also add licenses for Logic and Final Cut Pro during checkout.
While Windows machines can also serve creatives well, opting for a MacBook Pro means embracing the Apple ecosystem, which can limit hardware and software choices. Despite this, many professionals find the trade-off worthwhile for the powerful tools and seamless integration it offers.
To identify the best ultrabooks, we first established the essential characteristics that distinguish an ultrabook from a regular laptop: thinness, lightness, long battery life, and a focus on high-performance productivity, with gaming as a bonus. We evaluated ultrabooks we've reviewed and used, then cross-referenced with expert opinions from across the web and notable offerings from recognized brands. We considered benchmark scores, real-world performance, and user feedback from platforms like Reddit to ensure our picks enhance daily productivity for real users. Our list is tailored to various user needs, from professionals to students and gamers.
Purchasing an ultrabook is a significant investment, so take time to make an informed decision. Start by setting a budget to ensure you don't overspend. If your budget is limited, consider balancing specs; for example, opting for 8GB of DDR5 or DDR4 RAM instead of 16GB can save money. If gaming isn't a priority, integrated graphics like Intel Iris XE or Intel Arc will suffice, allowing you to allocate funds to other features.
For those with a larger budget, choosing ultrabooks with the latest hardware (like 14th Gen Intel i5 or i7 CPUs, AMD Ryzen 7000 or 9000 series processors, and RTX 4000 or AMD Radeon 7000 series GPUs) ensures futureproofing and longevity.
Originally coined by Intel in 2011, the term "ultrabook" now broadly describes laptops that are thin, light, and use powerful hardware to handle everyday productivity tasks with ease. Most ultrabooks also feature extended battery life, capable of lasting through an entire workday.
While not officially an ultrabook due to its Apple origin, a MacBook shares many ultrabook characteristics, being a powerful, lightweight laptop running macOS.
Ultrabooks are not primarily gaming laptops, but newer models with advanced integrated graphics from Intel and AMD can handle gaming at lower settings or resolutions. Cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass or Nvidia GeForce Now also offer viable gaming options on ultrabooks.
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