10 Best Ultrabooks

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We have listed down Best Ultrabooks 2023 to provide you with the convenience to select one of your choices. Ultrabooks are becoming the center of interest for many because of their ultraportable nature. They bear low weight, compact but glossy displays, powerful CPUs with RAM, etc. If you don’t have any technical know-how about laptops, we have added a comprehensive guide with relevant FAQs covering almost everything about the best Ultrabook. Thoroughly go through the article and pick one that suits your requirement and budget.

Ultrabooks is a specific type of laptop that has a minimal design, lightweight nature, and at the same time packs enough horsepower to take you through the workday. The term was initially tossed by Intel with specific recommendations for weight and height etc.

These days, the best ultrabooks are super-thin, highly portable, and their lightweight nature simply makes them stunning. Simultaneously, they come with long battery life, which usually is 8 hours or above. Their performance is on top when compared to any other laptop except for gaming laptops. Such ultraportable laptops are what everyone would like, but they lie among high-end laptops, thus expensive. This is why, for getting the best ultraportable laptop which lies at the top, you will have to spend above $1000. You may come across cheaper ultrabooks, but it obviously would be an older model and low specs. Below is a list of the best ultrabooks 2023; let’s get you one.

Editor’s Top 3 Picks

Dell XPS 13

CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7
GPU: Intel Iris Plus graphics
Display: 13.4 inches FHD

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LG Gram 14

CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G7
GPU: Intel Iris Plus graphics
Display: 14 inches FHD

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Apple Macbook 13

CPU: Intel Core i3 10th-Gen
GPU: Iris Plus Graphics
Display: 13.3 inches FHD

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Ultrabook FAQs

Below are a few of the key frequently asked questions that may arise in your mind while buying an ultrabook.

What is an Ultrabook?

The word Ultrabook was trademarked back in 2011 by Intel for the first time to compete against tablets with more lightweight laptops. Ultrabook isn’t any brand or manufacturer but specific criteria for laptops to be called fully portable. Ultrabooks are configured with an Intel processor. Some built-in SSDs have low weight (2 to 3 pounds), provide better battery backup, and mostly have thickness under 1 inch. These laptops were introduced to promote portability and comfort customers while traveling and working.

Why do you need an Ultrabook?

To answer this question, ask yourself what are you gonna do with your Ultrabook? Do you see yourself as a regular traveler? A remote worker? Or someone who prefers compact display screens and low weight? You cannot expect workstation-like performance from Ultrabooks, but they indeed are well above notebooks. As a video editor, filmmaker, professor, student, businessman, writer, etc. If you need a portable laptop capable of handling different stuff smoothly – Ultrabook is perfect to go with.

What is the best brand of Ultrabook?

Several well-renowned brands are contributing to Ultrabook’s ecosystem with excellent laptops. Keeping in perspective, you can’t miss appreciating LG Gram and Dell XPS series ultrabooks. Similarly, HP and Microsoft are not leaving any stone unturned. Envy x360 and MS surface book both are perfect definitions of Ultrabooks with lightweight, portable natures.

Best Ultrabooks 2023

1. Dell XPS 13 9300

Super-thin Gift from DELL

Top of all comes Dell XPS 13, the best lightweight laptop 2023. It is super thin, has a slim chassis, and packs enormous power under the hood. It weighs 2.8 lbs only, which means it is super lightweight, and at the same time, its thickness is 0.5 inches, which again is stunning. The display of it is beautiful as well. It has the thinnest bezels you can find so far. These thin bezels make the view of its FHD (Full high definition) display even more exciting. Details, colors, and brightness of the display again are second to none.

About the power on the inside, XPS 13 9300 rocks an Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and Intel Iris Plus graphics because your FHD display will be needing a push from the back. This configuration is second to none. This sort of performance will take you places.

As mentioned earlier, its display and the addition of Intel Iris Plus graphics make this laptop a power-hungry machine. The system, for sure, is powerful but still provides you with a massive 17 hours of battery life. To have the latest and decent ports equipped inside your best ultraportable laptop is so much important. It provides you with room for creativity and productivity by connecting all the essential peripherals. The Dell XPS 13 9300 holds a decent plethora of input and output, including 2 x USB Type-C ports, a microSD card reader, and a headphone/microphone audio combo jack. Lastly, it is an expensive option at around $2000, but there is no doubt it is the best choice.

2. LG Gram 14

White is Classy

The LG Gram 14 2020 is an ordinary laptop with two killer tricks up its sleeve: a featherweight design with a durable chassis and extra-long battery life. The 14-inches display is quite capable of delivering accurate color in a pleasingly bright manner with Corning Glass-protection.

LG uses a 10th Generation 1.8GHz Intel Core i5-1035G7 processor in the 2020 Gram 14 inches laptops. It’s a fine choice for business, school tasks, and entertainment other than gaming, especially paired with 8GB of memory and a speedy 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD. The 10th-gen comet lake chip and not Intel better 10th-gen Ice lake processors used in similarly priced competition from Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Most of the Ice Lake processors come with improved graphics, too.

LG Gram 14 has everything you need to connect peripherals, project your screen onto a monitor or TV, or upload images from a DSLR. The perfectly organized decent array of ports holds a USB 3.1 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a Thunderbolt 3 input on the system’s left side. You will find a second USB 3.1 port, a lock slot, a headphone jack, and a microSD card slot on the right side. The LG grams perfectly adequate keyboard supports fast typing with well-placed keys. Battery life is exceptional, which lasts almost 18 hours.

3. HP Elite Dragonfly

Business Ultrabook

Laptops from HP were losing fame in previous years, and it was eventually losing being the best manufacturer of laptops. However, with the release of particular good laptops, including the Elite Dragonfly Notebook, last year, things turned out on a different side. This Ultrabook is as impressive from the inside as it seems from the outside. And you might not believe it, but it’s a 2-in-1 design, so one can easily fold it to tent mode and use the touch mode or a stylus pen which is optional if you want to buy one. As for the design, despite all its power and glory, the laptop is 2.5 pounds and is only 0.6 inches in height. The enormously sleek dimensions make it the best business laptop among ultrabooks.

Now, speaking of what it holds on the inside. There is no doubt about how smooth all your tasks will go considering the specs. The laptop is housed with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-8665U CPU backed by 16GB of RAM. In addition, you get a storage space of 512GB through an M.2 SSD. You simply cannot ask for any more power because these specs are more than enough for an ultrabook you mostly use for travel or business work. Moreover, its built-in Intel UHD 620 GPU is what makes the display even better, but no doubt that its 13.3 inches 1080p display itself is a glory.

Another important thing when speaking of ultrabooks is that many people think about their durability. Manufacturers might make sleeker and sleeker laptops every time. Still, there is no doubt that they never release any product to the market unless they make sure that the laptop is good enough to make it through several years. The same happens to HP Elite Dragonfly since it has passed many tests, and rest assured it can handle minor drops like falling off of your bed. As for the battery, this insane Ultrabook gives you a backup of over 12 hours under regular use, which is as better as one can get. And as for the ports, it’s no less than any competitor. A pair of Thunderbolt 3, a USB-A, HDMI, and a nanoSIM slot support you when in need.

4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

Class & Speed on the go

Laptops have reached a stage where the only new thing companies can add is more performance. An out-of-the-box innovation for laptops is inevitable but till then brands will keep pushing more power into them. The all-new Surface Laptop 4 is pretty similar to its predecessor. It has the same looks, features, and user experience. However, fitting an 11th Gen Intel CPU and elongating the battery backup makes it a better option. The predecessor was an ultrabook too, but because this model has a superior CPU and better battery, so it’s obviously a good choice at this stage. The Laptop 4 sports USB-A, USB-C, headphones jack, and the proprietary Surface Connect port. Its USB-C is just an ordinary one, it isn’t at Thunderbolt speed standards. The rest, including display quality and keypad comfort, is superb as it always is in the Microsoft Surface lineup.

5. HP Spectre x360 2020

Next-gen HP Ultrabook

The newer Specter x360 13 that HP has introduced is one of the most refined additions to Ultrabooks. It comes with extremely low weight, a super glossy overall design with a thin chassis, and flexible hinges. It makes it easy to use the machine in different modes. This best ultraportable laptop 2023 doesn’t only offers you an attractive design but at the same time produces some incredible firepower with its strapping internals. Don’t look further if you are looking for a top-rated ultraportable laptop with an elegant design and the potential to undergo any power-demanding situation. The HP Specter x360 13 is a perfect choice to go with.

HP here in this newest version has done everything to provide you with a laptop with portability and produces sheer power with its processor and other internals. The HP Spectre x360 is loaded with an Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU, a massive 16GB RAM to undergo intensive multitasking, and 512GB of lightning-fast SSD to hold your data.

The HP Spectre x360 2020 packs an extremely eye-catching “Gem Cut” design, which is pretty much a fancy advancement. The metallic brushed finish radiates a professional look with a low weight of almost 2.88 lbs and measures a thickness of 0.67 inches. The laptop with its 360-degree angle hinge can be switched between tablet and laptop mode so conveniently. It holds enough ports to offer you room for connecting your daily life essential input/output peripherals. The I/) ports include a USB Type-A 3.1 Gen1 port, 2 x USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2 of Thunderbolt 3 standard, and a DisplayPort 1.4. The Spectre x360 2020 provides a battery backup of almost 11 hours, with powerful internals and an affordable price tag.

6. ASUS ZenBook 14

Excellent for Portability

What’s so good about the not-so-famous ASUS Zenbook 14 UX433? Well, there is a lot to know about. It is listed among the best portable laptops because of many things that make it an excellent laptop for portability. Starting with the design, it weighs 2.6 lbs only. It is 0.6 inches thick, putting it up into the category of ultrabooks. Then comes its dark-blue chassis, which not only looks good but is durable as well. All these design enhancements make it the best laptop to carry on any trip easily.

On the inside, it packs nothing less than some top-notch expensive laptops. You get an 8th Gen Intel i7-8565U, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage as an SSD. For graphics, it packs Nvidia MX150, which definitely pumps the graphical performance to a reasonable level. Now the display, first off, ASUS has managed to place a 14 inches screen into 13 inches frame, which is fantastic work. The display itself is clear, and the details are fine, but it is not very bright, making it odd when thinking about using it in light. It indeed will work, but it won’t be the best.

Despite all the power and minimal design, the laptop still is budget-friendly. There must be a trade-off for it, and the compromise has been made on the battery backup. Although not awful, laptops these days come with 12 or even more hours of battery. In contrast, ASUS Zenbook 14 gives you a backup of around 8 hours only. For connectivity, you get USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and all other necessary ports. The Zenbook 14 comes with a touch-enabled Numpad embedded into the trackpad. This makes your work easier. And there is another variant of the laptop available wherein a secondary screen is placed instead of just a touchpad. The Screenpad 2.0 version is more fun to use and increases your productivity.

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7. Huawei MateBook X Pro

Excellent Touch Display

Huawei MateBook X Pro is a premium notebook that can be used for multiple purposes. It has a stylish chassis, a stunning display, and relatively quick performance overall. Laptops from Huawei are not mainstream, but this one has gone places. It performs like a beast in all situations. There are no heat issues, and it has a great top and bottom chassis design. It weighs 2.92 lbs, just below the 3 lbs mark to be known as an ultrabook. And interestingly enough, despite high performance and exceptional display, it’s just 0.57 inches thick.

The problem with this model is its availability, it is limited, and it’s a sell-out in most places. However, if lucky enough, you will be able to get this best Ultrabook. Its display is 13.9 inches touch-enabled and comes with a rather odd resolution which is 3000×2000. This resolution, although odd, is not a con for it in any way. It is bright, colors are accurate, and is good enough for watching movies. You will see Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, and USB-A on the left and right sides, respectively. This surely means you will be using dongles for connecting most of the things, which is happening to almost all new laptops these days.

Under the hood lies Intel i5-8250U, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. You can also go for the i7 variant which is more powerful and has an MX150 GPU on it, but that variant of course is expensive and is rarely available. This one comes with UHD 620 Integrated Graphics, which is enough for powering the 3K screen. More, the battery life here is exceptional. Though Huawei claims it to be 12 hours, honestly, it lasts around 10 hours on continuous multi-tasking. It is still an amazing backup for such a power-hungry machine. What you may not like is a pop-up module between F6 and F7. It is a webcam that pops up at a terrible angle, viewing your nose from below.

8. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano 13

ThinkPad as Usual, Only Shrinked

The ThinkPad lineup by Lenovo has always been a powerful one. All the ThinkPads are powerful and they get down to intensive tasks to handle them efficiently, but the fact remains that all of them either have a large footprint or they are bulky. So, with so many lightweight and thin laptops in the Market by numerous brands, Lenovo decided to incorporate all the ThinkPad power into a small package. And being honest, Lenovo has achieved its goal very nicely. The ThinkPad X1 Nano weighs under 2 pounds and packs a powerful 11th Gen processor. Things don’t stop here, the display you see comes with 2k resolution which is mind-blowing. This lets the laptop work as your gaming or work buddy with the support of the latest Iris Xe graphics by Intel. Finally, the lightweight laptop X1 Nano pumps battery power for almost 12 hours despite its high-res display and powerful processor. For connectivity, you get a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports but there ain’t a USB-A port which is something you have to work up.

9. LG Gram 17Z90P

Give me those 2 USB-C ports

Make it big, make it powerful, and then make it portable. These three things in a laptop were never asked for a few years back. But now, it’s all about portability and power. Those who have used or currently using a 17 inches laptop, should know that portability is something you should never ask for. But LG has managed to pull it together and give you a massive 17 inches laptop within the measures of an ultrabook. The Gram 17Z90P rocks a 17.3 inches display, an 11th Gen CPU, and manages to stay up for around 20 hours in a go. All this and it still weighs under 3 lbs which is insane technological magic. Furthermore, the connectivity on this laptop shouts high-end as well. Besides USB-A and HDMI, you get 2 USB-C ports that support Thunderbolt speed. Finally, This best ultrabook with all its power still has a price tag well below 2000 bucks,

10. Razer Blade Stealth 13

Dedicated Graphics Ultrabook

Gaming laptops are way more potent than ordinary laptops. The only problem with them is portability. This is because of the dedicated graphics card and cooling system they have on them. However, Razer has been manufacturing these slim beasts for a while now. And for the very first time, they rolled out something huge. Razer Blade Stealth 13 is a proper gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU and powerful processor. It is still an ultrabook weighing 3 lbs and is just 0.6 inches thick.

All in all, it is minimal, looks stylish, has got a fantastic battery life, and is robust for mainstream PC games. On the inside, it packs enormous power. Intel Core i7-8565U is the processor behind all the fun, then there is 16GB of RAM and 512GB room in the form of an SSD. Next comes its dedicated GPU, Nvidia MX150, which powers up the visual experience and is really up to the mark. Its display is vibrant, colorful and surely all games are going to be fun without any doubts.

This best portable laptop does not have all the ports one wants, but what you get is more than enough. A USB-A 3.1 ports on both sides, and similarly, there is a Thunderbolt 3 port on either side of the laptop. You can always use adapters for further connectivity. You may not like that the laptop itself gets heated under load since it is a gaming laptop, which is natural. But you will have to use it on a table or other surface, not your lap. This is when it is heated because, for everyday use, it does not get heated. And finally, here comes the best part, it manages to go unplugged for 8 hours and above. This is a fantastic battery time for a gaming laptop.

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What is the Perfect Ultrabook?

You would only look for an ultrabook if your work includes a lightweight or portable laptop, or you may want a travel laptop. Now, this needs some consideration. It’s not so easy, like looking around and picking the thinnest of all. These considerations mentioned below are what you need to focus on and then pick yourself the best Ultrabook.

Measurements

A true ultrabook would be 3 lbs or less, has a thickness of no more than 0.7 inches, and has a 14 inch or below screen size. But over time, this has changed, nowadays you will even hear people referring to some 17 inches laptops as an ultrabook. This means the term ultrabook is no longer restricted to some numbers. As long as you think it’s thin, lightweight has enough battery to take you through the day, and has enough horsepower to do all your tasks, it can be called an ultrabook. However, a weight of 3 pounds or less and a thickness of 0.7 inches is a reasonable threshold to consider. Anything above this will make you face some issues, maybe.

Keypad

There are two things which the keypads of lightweight and portable laptops will always have or, let’s say, should have. The first is about how the keypad is and how will it feel while you type on it. The second is the things which it lacks. About the first one, the keypad of an ultrabook will have nicely deep keys with optimal required actuation force, which is around 65 grams. The keys are tightly packed, and one can quickly go for fast typing on them. On the other side, it lacks a Numpad and extra keys apart from basic things. You may see laptops with unique keys on the keypads. Still, in ultrabooks, there is nothing extra, and this is why they are ultraportable.

Display

The display factor involves panel size, resolution, and whether or not it is touch-enabled. Speaking of the size first, 14 inches or below is optimal, but it’s not an issue if you go higher. You only need to make sure that the weight of the laptop does not exceed the recommended threshold. The best resolution for an ultrabook is 1920×1080. Anything below this will be out of date, and anything above this will drain your battery quickly. 1080p resolution is standard for many tasks nowadays and at the same time, it does not reduce the overall battery life of your laptop.

Now, should your Ultrabook have a touch or non-touch display? If you are going for a 2-in-1 design, it obviously will need to be a touch screen. But if you are buying a simple laptop, then it is debatable. If your daily use involves using touch, then you should definitely go for it. Also, it’s a nice feature to have. You never know when you need a touch-enabled screen all of a sudden. However, it is somewhat of a burden on the battery. Indeed, the price of the touch-enabled version of any laptop is slightly higher.

Graphics

An ultrabook primarily relies on integrated graphics like Intel Graphics 620. This gives enough graphical power to the laptop for daily use. This obviously does not mean that you could play games at better settings and fps, nor does it mean that videos will have ultimate quality. You will rarely find an ultrabook having a dedicated GPU on the inside, the Razer Blade Stealth 13 is one of the very first to do this, and it has made it to our best ultrabooks 2023.

Specifications

You may want to know what should be the specs for an ultrabook and what is the recommended configuration. About the processor, spending a considerable amount for an ultrabook and then going below i5 would be an injustice. You must keep your CPU at core i5 or above. Recommended RAM for an ultrabook is 8GB; many would want to go for 16GB, which is good but means more bucks, so an 8GB will do just fine. Then comes your storage options. You will always get an SSD. There is no doubt about this; the size totally depends on what you use your laptop for. If your work involves lots of storage space, make sure you go for 512GB or above. But if you won’t be needing too much space, it is good to keep your storage at 128 or 264GB because this will also save you some bucks. You could use the saved bucks to buy a pair of the best headphones.

Battery Life

This is an important part when it comes to ultraportable laptops. Not only does the size and weight of a laptop make it a portable one, but battery life is of utmost importance here as well. For the best Ultrabook these days, it is imperative to have a battery life of 8 hours at least. You will come across many laptops with a battery life of over 8 hours, and those are the best portable laptops. But you should not go for anything below 8 hours by any chance. Unless of course, your laptop has a dedicated GPU or a 4K display, in this case, a little below 8 hours will do as well.

Ports

Ultrabooks are super-thin, and this is why they are ultraportable. This obviously affects the number and type of ports you get on your laptop. Most of the time, the latest ultrabooks will only have Type-C and Thunderbolt-3 ports. This means you will need to use dongles for connecting other devices. However, you may encounter specific models that still come with ports like HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A, etc. Choosing between the ports totally depends on you. Choose based on what you will need and whatnot.

Conclusion

Ultrabooks are modern machines; they do not annoy you by any means and pack good power on the inside. Most people are switching to ultrabooks because more or less all jobs require one. These were the best ultrabooks 2023; they are up to the mark by all means and are mainly listed for specific usages like gaming or business work. Hope you get the best and have fun!