Best ultrabook 2023 • 7 ultrabooks Reviews

What is an Ultrabook and how does it work?

This is how Intel named a series of laptops released in 2011 to bear comparison with Apple’s MacBook Air. Nowadays, the term Ultrabook has become generic and is used by many brands and can offer Intel, AMD, or other processors. That said, these laptops are tested and must adhere to various criteria to classify as an Ultrabook—although, naturally, there are some exceptions.

Ultrabooks must have a thickness between 18 mm and 21 mm and be very light. Screens rarely exceed 14 inches, and they feature quality Wi-Fi connection and USB 3.0 ports. These laptops also have low-voltage processors, an SSD, heat-dissipating metal housing, long-lasting batteries, and quick start via Intel Rapid Start Technology.

While the majority of Ultrabooks are sold for less than $1,000, more expensive models are now available on the market. This is because these laptops have taken a huge leap forward in terms of performance. While the basic characteristics of Ultrabooks have remained the same, their quality has evolved, and they are much more powerful than they originally were.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ultrabooks

Ultrabooks offer many benefits, and most manufacturers now market ranges of products, meaning you’ll have many options to choose from.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Shopping Criteria for Ultrabooks

You now know about the main features of these laptops as well as the requirements they must meet to be deemed Ultrabooks. In addition to this information, keep in mind that there are several key factors to evaluate when the time comes to make your purchase. We’ll discuss the five most important ones in the section below.

Budget

This is naturally one of the very first criteria that come to mind before any purchase. If we’re honest with you, Ultrabooks aren’t the cheapest category of laptops. Intel’s original idea when creating Ultrabooks was to keep them under $1,000, but Ultrabooks’ development and evolution have led this to be untrue for some models.

That said, you won’t have to invest this amount to obtain a powerful device. As we mentioned earlier, Ultrabooks aren’t merely designed to be small and compact. They should also provide high performance and diverse possibilities within a fairly broad price range. Note that certain brands offer better value for money than others.

Processor and RAM

As you now know, the majority of processors are from Intel. However, the development of Ultrabooks means that you can also find models with AMD processors, among others. 7th Generation Intel Core i5 and i7 (and onward) are currently most commonly used. Regardless of your choice, know that both processors are low-voltage despite their high efficiency.

When it comes to random-access memory (RAM), you will generally find Ultrabooks with mid-range 8GB DDR3 or DDR4. This is more than enough to obtain good performance. More advanced models sometimes feature 12, 16, or 32GB DDR4 of RAM. While you can also find Ultrabooks with less RAM, we encourage you to opt for at least 8GB.

Hard Disk

As we discussed earlier, Ultrabooks integrate SSDs that offer faster data transfer rates and drastically reduce the startup time of the operating system. This is why these laptops also feature Intel Rapid Storage Technology.

These hard drives also ensure that your programs load quickly, regardless of how demanding they are. Since this system is different from HDD, you won’t hear any clicking sounds. Additionally, they offer the great advantage of warming up very little. Most models incorporate 128 to 256GB hard drives, but there are others with more storage.

Graphics Card

The majority of Ultrabooks come with an integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics card, which will be more than enough if you want a laptop for normal use without delving into the world of video games. It will be quite a different story if you do want to play; you’ll need a model with a dedicated graphics card of at least 2GB, such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050.

Screen

Virtually all Ultrabooks currently available on the market have Full HD screens—many of which are tactile. Originally, all models were meant to be tactile, but the rapid market growth of these laptops has led to the appearance of different ranges. You will notice that the size of their screens generally fluctuates between 13.3 and 14 inches.

Related Links and Sources

• https://www.ultrabookreview.com/154-ultrabooks-versus-regular-laptops/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsgGmd3POqk
• https://lifehacker.com/whats-an-ultrabook-and-do-i-need-one-5876488

FAQs

What do SSDs offer?

Ultrabooks' speed is one of their main defining characteristics because they mount a solid-state drive (SSD). These are much more effective than hard disk drives (HDDs) but also have certain drawbacks.

The advantages include a higher data transfer speed, instant OS start, longer battery life, operative silence, and little heat production. But disadvantages include a more expensive price and less storage capacity.

What can I do with an Ultrabook?

The majority of Ultrabooks are equipped with Intel i5 or i7 low-voltage processors. This means that you can use them for much more than simply browsing the internet or basic work tasks. These devices actually allow you to watch videos in high definition and even use certain editing programs.

These laptops are designed to be easily transported without negatively influencing their performance. They also offer great connectivity, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB 3.0 and HDMI ports. Overall, their technology and performance are far superior to those of netbooks and match those of standard laptops.

Can I play games on my Ultrabook?

This will mainly depend on the kind of graphics card that your laptop features. You will only be able to play 2D or simple games if you have an integrated graphics card. That said, the market offers more powerful devices that allow for more demanding video games.

In that regard, you’ll have to be very careful and make sure that the Ultrabook you pick has a dedicated graphics card powerful enough for this. You can often find models with Nvidia GeForce graphics of at least 2 GB, such as the GTX 1050. While it is fairly basic, it will give you the possibility of playing certain games with good graphics detail.

Why don’t Ultrabooks have CD or DVD players?

This specific characteristic of Ultrabooks can be considered to be one of their few weaknesses. Ultrabooks' light weight is prioritized, so they lack space and thus lack players. On the other hand, these laptops offer very complete connectivity, including at least one USB 3.0 and, in some cases, USB-C ports.

If you really need a CD player, you always have the option to purchase an external one to connect to one of the Ultrabook’s ports. Nowadays, various manufacturers sell readers/burners at affordable prices. As you can see, this so-called problem has a simple solution.

How efficient is an Ultrabook's battery?

One of the main qualities that people look for when buying a laptop is the ability to transport it without trouble. Ultrabooks are designed specifically for this not only because of their small size and lightness but also because they integrate technology that consumes little energy while generally including long-lasting batteries.

While it naturally depends on the manufacturer and the model you choose, the majority of Ultrabooks on the market feature smart batteries that maximize their performance. There are also built-in programs—in Asus models, for instance—that will protect the useful life of the laptop depending on whether you use the battery or the power supply more often.