Shop for these slim and lightweight laptops; The 5 Best Ultrabooks of 2021
When you’re working or learning on the go, an Ultrabook is the best and most productive computer you could be using. They’re lightweight, portable, and powerful enough to tackle just about any task at hand. More powerful than tablets with the form factor of a regular laptop, they’re a great choice for anyone who needs lightweight, sturdy computing power for a variety of different use cases.
When it comes to choosing the right Best Ultrabooks for you, there are certain factors you’ll definitely need to focus on. That includes selecting a powerful CPU and enough RAM to handle the tasks that you’ll throw at the computer.
If you need assistance determining if an Ultrabook will fit your needs, be sure to check out our guide on the differences between Ultrabooks and the average laptop on the market.
Most Popular: Huawei MateBook X Pro
What We Like
- Respectable battery life
- Gorgeous design
Huawei’s MateBoox X Pro is an impressive specimen of an Ultrabook in and out. Not only does it include a premium casing with a machined metallic unibody and premium sandblasted finish, but it delivers in terms of visual fidelity as well. Its 13.9-inch display offers a 3000×2000 pixel resolution with a 3:2 aspect ratio. The viewing panel also includes 10-point multitouch support with dangerously thin bezels for a sleek, futuristic look. Of course, Huawei didn’t skip on the internals, either.
This Best Ultrabooks is powered by Nvidia’s GeForce MX 150 GPU with 2GB of dedicated graphics memory. It’s also kitted out with a special pop-up webcam, a quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support, and a variety of connectivity options, including the much sought-after USB Type-C. There isn’t an SD card slot, but that’s likely a small oversight most buyers won’t notice. This is still very much an excellent choice for anyone needing an Ultrabook.
Runner-Up, Best Overall: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
What We Like
- Sturdy and light
- Sturdy and light
- Long battery life
What We Don’t Like
- Touchpad not as good as control nub
- Will want to use an external mouse
Lenovo’s ThinkPad line is an excellent choice for just about anyone looking to pick up a reliable new computer. The thin, sturdy X1 Carbon comes packing a fantastic keyboard, a lavish 4K screen, and features synonymous with what you might expect from a high-end professional laptop. It weighs just 2.4 pounds and is ultraportable, but it does feature a magnesium underside with carbon fiber display lid to ensure it can withstand just about anything.
Its keyboard is one of the most comfortable on the market, with a TrackPoint nub that can be used in place of a mouse or the trackpad, depending on your preference. It comes packing an Intel Core i5-8265U processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB NVMe SSD. It’s excellent for a variety of tasks, from blogging to writing up reports. Plus, its rugged exterior will keep you going for a long time.
Best 2-in-1: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Laptop
What We Like
- Fast CPU and GPU performance
- Good battery life
- Fast MicroSD reader
What We Don’t Like
- Very high core temperatures when running demanding loads
- Lacks WAN, NFC
Dell also has a 2-in-1 ultrabook in its XPS line, and it just happens to be one of the best hybrid laptops and tablets you can buy today. Refreshed for 2019, the XPS 13 2-in-1 boasts a captivating display and great processing power while remaining lightweight and impressive in the battery life department. The XPS 2-in-1 has an awesome 1920×1200 resolution touchscreen display. Dell has tweaked InfinityEdge design, narrowing the bezels to provide 13.4 inches of screen real estate.
Available in four different configurations, the XPS 13 2-in-1 offers versatility. Its starting configuration has a 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 256GB NVMe SSD. Don’t be scared off by the Core i3, as its 10th-generation analog packs more of a punch, and Dell used high-quality memory and storage to make the XPS 2-in-1 a fast, efficient machine. If you want more power, though, you can opt for the Core i5 version with 8GB of RAM.
For those who regularly use their laptops with rigorous software, Dell has two Core i7 configurations, each with 16GB of RAM and better graphics. The top Core i7 configuration also comes with an Ultra HD display and 512GB of storage. The XPS 2-in-1 is sleek and alluring, and Dell claims the battery can run for up to 16 hours between charges.
Runner-Up, Best 2-in-1: HP Spectre x360 15
What We Like
- Lack of extra ports
- Responsive touch screen
- Sturdy and reliable
The HP Spectre x360 is a great choice for any Best Ultrabooks user, thanks to its convertible nature, sturdy build, and feature-rich option set. Flip it over to become a tablet with support for the HP Tilt Pen stylus, and open it up for the same performance you expect out of a laptop. Under the hood, it’s rocking an Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor with a forgiving amount of RAM, and on the outside, it has a stunning 4K touch display even for its lower-cost options.
Its slender chassis houses a surprisingly powerful unit that can handle just about any task, from word processing to video editing — if you don’t mind the system running a little hot. Plus, it feels as though it was built like a tank, with a variety of connections and ports and a 512GB SSD hard drive to make sure you can port all those important files you need everywhere with you.
Runner-Up, Best Splurge: Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
What We Like
- Excellent keyboard and touchpad
- Lengthy battery life
- Admirable display
What We Don’t Like
- Admirable display
- Lack of extra ports
Microsoft’s Surface family has something for just about everyone. The Surface Laptop 3 is no different. It’s an improvement on the second iteration of the laptop for sure, and that means an already well-designed Ultrabook has been tweaked considerably to positive effect. It comes with a capable Intel Core i7 processor and a comfortable weight at just 2.83 pounds. The keyboard doesn’t add any significant heft, either. It feels comfortable to type it, with great key travel and keys themselves that feel satisfying to press in on. Its touch display makes it simple to create graphics, and the touchpad is just as good as the keyboard. Microsoft clearly knows what it’s doing year over year with the Surface line, and the laptop form factor is the best way to get in on the name if you’re looking to get an Ultrabook.
Final Verdict
For the Best Ultrabooks that fits the bill with both a slim profile and reliable performance, you can’t go wrong with the Huawei MateBook X Pro. It can handle just about anything thrown at it, and there’s no sacrificing any particular aspect for the price.
What to Look for in an Ultrabook
Performance – While even the best Ultrabook won’t exactly do laps around a gaming laptop, you’re going to want a machine that can still handle a variety of productivity tasks without much trouble. This means making sure that the CPU and RAM are up to snuff as well as making sure that it can support a solid Wi-Fi connection.
Battery Life – The Best Ultrabooks are intended to be portable, but that won’t mean much if you have to lug a charger along with you. Some Ultrabooks can last over 20 hours on a single charge but barring that, a laptop that can be charged via USB-C offers a little more versatility.
Weight – An Ultrabook that weighs more than 5 pounds is just a laptop. If you’re going to be toting a machine around with you everywhere, it’d better be slim and light with the Best Ultrabooks
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