Best ultrabook and portable lightweight laptop in 2025

Here at Ultrabookreview.com, we’ve reviewed hundreds of ultrabooks and portable lightweight laptops over the last 15 years, of all kinds and from all brands.

In this guide, I’ll tell you which are our favorite portable notebooks right now, to help you choose the best ultrabook for your needs and budget out of the multitude of available models.

And while I’ll primarily cover ultrabooks in this article, compact and thin-and-lightweight laptops meant for everyday use and productivity, I’ll also touch on some of the larger-size good-value options, especially since most of these are also quite portable these days.

With the multiple types of light compact laptops out there, I’ve split this guide into a few different sections, based on their overall size, capabilities, and pricing; the Table of Contents will point you toward the section of interest. I kept things as simple as possible, with only the best options mentioned in each category, but I’ve added links to our reviews and more detailed guides that go in-depth over each subtopic, if you’re interested in more variants or details.

I also mention that we update the article several times a year, or when something remarkable comes out, and if you need more guidance or have any questions, there’s a comments section at the end of the post where you can get in touch with us.

That aside, please account for the fact that thorough testing and analysis take a lot of time and effort, thus if you’ll find the article helpful, I’d appreciate you supporting our work. Sharing the post with your friends, disabling your adblocker, or buying from our links greatly helps us continue what we do here.

Table of contents – the best ultrabooks in 2025

• our favorite premium ultrabooks;
• the best-value options – best bang for your buck;
• productivity 14 to 17-inch portable notebooks – larger, but still fairly portable laptops, best suited for engineers, creators, or programmers;
• 2-in-1 touchscreen ultrabooks – 2-in-1 convertible/tablet designs with touchscreens;
• portable gaming laptops – the best compact powerful laptops for demanding workloads and games;
• fanless designs– the completely silent options.

The best premium thin-and-light laptop

This section goes over our recommendations for premium thin-and-light ultrabooks with the latest hardware specs and modern features. We’re only looking at traditional clamshell formats here, as we’re also covering 2-in-1 models with convertible touchscreens or tablet formats in the following section.

Apple MacBooks – unmatched daily drivers

For most potential buyers, MacBooks are my recommendation for portable all-purpose notebooks these days, with either the lightweight and thin MacBook Air models (available in 13 and 15 inch sizes) or the more powerful MacBook Pro lineups (with 14 and 16 inch variants).

What you’re getting here is pristine build quality, minimalist aesthetics, excellent inputs, and an unmatched daily use experience in terms of general performance, noise/thermals and battery life. That’s because these laptops are built on Apple M silicon hardware and run Apple’s OS, allowing for a symbiosis not possible today on non-Apple devices. You can find these MacBooks in various hardware generations, with the latest hardware being the Apple M4/M4 Pro/M4 Max at the time of this update (early 2025) – go through reviews to figure out the performance differences between them.

At the same time, someone coming from a Windows device will most likely struggle adapting to the OS and general software functionality of these MacBooks. It can be frustrating at first, but with time, I’d reckon you get used to how things are done on MacBooks. More importantly, though, you must consider what you plan on running on your laptop: if it’s software designed specifically for Windows or games, MacBooks aren’t for you.

And then, you should also be aware that these MacBooks are somewhat limited in terms of certain features and ergonomics. For instance, the MacBooks Airs are only available with regular IPS low-refresh displays and minimal IO, while the Pros get more ports and a mini LED display, but there’s no OLED. And they are all clamshell formats with glossy displays and limited screen angles, and this bothers me every time I’m using my MacBook Air on the lap.

However, as long as you understand the ergonomics and functionality particularities of these MacBooks, there’s hardly anything better out there. Even value is excellent with recent MacBooks, with the Air starting at $999 and the Pro at $1599. Sure, the base-tier MacBook Air only gets you 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, but for casual use, that’s still fine. Upgrades, on the other hand, are darn expensive for MacBooks. And repairability is pretty much nil. Something to keep in mind if you plan on using these for years.

Follow these links for more details on the MacBook lineups, updated configurations, and potential discounts: the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.

Asus Zenbooks – the best-value options

Zenbooks are available in a handful of different variants and sizes and specs, most models being competitive in specific niches. Here are a few to consider, with links to our detailed reviews:

• Zenbook 14 – mid to premium tier metal chassis, OLED displays touch or non-touch, excellent inputs and good IO, latest Intel or AMD hardware, 75 Wh batteries, dual-speakers, affordable pricing;
• Zenbook A14 – mid to premium tier metal chassis, ultra-lightweight at <1 kg, OLED display, Snapdragon hardware, 70Wh battery, great pricing;
• Zenbook S 14 – lightweight premium metal 14-inch chassis, 1.2 kg, OLED touch, Intel Ultra V hardware, 72 Wh battery, 4x speakers;
• Zenbook S 16 – lightweight premium metal 16-inch chassis, 1.5 kg, OLED touch, AMD Strix Point hardware, 78 Wh battery, 6x speakers;
• Zenbook Duo – dual-display format with two 14-inch OLED, good ergonomics, Intel Ultra H hardware, more expensive.

These are all ultrabooks, with similarities and notable differences between them. Among the similarities, these are 14-inch designs with OLED displays, with good IO and inputs. But then…

The Zenbook A14 is an excellent options for casual use, with Snapdragon hardware, snappy daily-use performance and amazing battery life. It’s also more affordable that most other options. But then, you must be aware that Snapdragon laptops cannot handle all the applications and software that you can run on regular x86 Intel/AMD platforms.

The Zenbook 14 models are excellent value options as well, a mid-quality 14-inch design with mid-level specs, either Intel or AMD.

The Zenbook S 14 is a more premium-tier chassis, with better build quality and overall feel. It’s also more compact than the regular Zenbooks, and lighter, despite implementing an advanced cooling module with a vapor-chamber. On the other hand, Asus’s quest for a thin chassis only allowed space for a shallower keyboard, and all the materials and engineering translates in a higher price.

The Zenbook S 16 is another premium-tier chassis, but a larger 16-inch format. It’s still highly portable for its size, at just around 1.5 kilos in weight, and is built on AMD Strix Point Ryzen AI 9 hardware, making it an excellent daily driver for those interesting in a computer with a larger display.

Finally, the Zenbook Duo is an unique design with two displays and a detachable keyboard-folio. It’s a great laptop and a great desk computer, but it’s thicker and heavier and more expensive than the regular single-display options.

You’ll find more about each of these devices, including their strong point and the quirks, in our reviews.  And here’s a side by side pic of the Zenbook 14 (left), Zenbook A14 (center), Zenbook S 14 (right) lineups.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, ThinkPad X13 – the best business ultrabooks

The X1 Carbon is still Lenovo’s flagship premium ThinkPad thin-and-light laptop, while the X13 is a more balanced mid-tier offer.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon (reviewed here) is a 14-inch laptop and a premium lightweight chassis made out of magnesium alloys. It looks like a ThinkPad and offers what you would expect from a ThinkPad: the build quality, the keyboard, clickpad, and TrackPoint, a diversified IO, configurability and repairability.

The latest X1 Carbon generations are available with OLED displays and improved speakers, but still only a 57 Wh battery inside, which is smaller than what you can get with many other 14-inch ultrabooks. Sustained performance under load isn’t quite on par with the competition either, due to the minimalist cooling design, implemented most likely in order to keep the weight down.

follow this link for up-to-date details on the available ThinkPad X1 configurations and potential discounts, or this link for all our reviews of the ThinkPad lines.

The ThinkPad X13 is a more mid-range series, but still a ThinkPad with all the bells and whistles expected from such a computer.

These are available as either a clamshell or 2-in-1 variant, both lightweight and well built and highly configurable, with either Intel or AMD hardware, up to 64 GB of RAM and up to 55 Wh batteries – still small.

Unlike most other options mentioned so far, these ThinkPads are offered with IPS displays, so not with punchy and vivid OLEDs. But at least this means you can get a matte panel on the clamshell X13 model.

These X13s are also fairly priced in most markets, making them competitive built-to-last daily drivers in the mid-range segment.

Framework Laptop 13 and Framework 12 – configurable, upgradable, repairable

Framework is a smaller laptop manufacturer specialized in building devices that are highly customizable and repairable. The Framework Laptop 13 has been available in stores for a few years now, and is a clamshell 13-inch laptop, while the Framework 12 is a newer launch and a more compact 2-in-1 convertible chassis with a 12.2-inch touchscreen.

These are both barebone designs, which means they come with swappable motherboards, RAM, storage and ports. The latest versions of the Framework 13 are available in either Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen AI variants in mid-powered implementations (around 30W sustained), with mid-range cooling and 61 Wh batteries. You can either get models preconfigured from Framework, or can build your own and user your own memory and SSD sticks – prebuilt configurations are usually more affordable priced, though.

The chassis is a slightly taller 13-inch format, designed to accommodate a 13.5-inch 3:2 display. It weighs around 1.3 kilos / 2.9 lbs, and is entirely built out of metal. The build quality and overall feel are alright, but not on par with MacBooks and even some of the better Windows models (Zenbook S 14, Dell Premium, etc).

The ports are on user-replaceable slots, which means you can replace and swap them around based on your needs. The keyboard is a full-layout with 1.5 mm of travel, excellent for a thin-and-light design, and the touchpad is matte glass. Finally, the display is matte with IPS panels, either 2K 60 Hz or 2.8K 120 Hz, both with 100%sRGB color coverage. There’s no OLED option, no touch and no wide-gamut colors.

Pricing can get fairly steep for the Framework 13, so this laptop is not necessarily a best-value buy. Latest Ryzen Ai models start at $899 for the Ryzen AI 5 Krackan configuration, but the Ryzen AI 9 version starts at $1500++. Both without RAM and SSD, those are extra. So you’re paying a premium for the format and internal design.

The Framework 12 is a convertible chassis expected for mid-2025. It’s a similar barebone design with upgradeable internals and ports, a touchscreen, and Intel hardware. Look for more details over the next few months.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 and ProArt PX13, Zephyrus G14 – powerful options for work and gaming

These are more powerful devices, with faster processors and graphics chips and higher-end cooling capabilities, but still portable and lightweight.

I’ve mostly covered these options in a separate article that discusses high-performance and gaming ultrabooks and thin-and-light laptops, but here’s a brief summary of these lineups as well, with links to our reviews.

The Zephyrus G14 is a 14-inch laptop with a premium design and a weight of around 1.55 kilos. It comes with an OLED display, latest gen hardware from AMD and Nvidia (up to Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 + RTX 5080), complex tri-fan cooling, 6x speakers, and a 73 Wh battery. Is available in a multitude of configurations and at the very top, is the fastest device in its segment today.

The ROG Flow Z13 is a 13-inch tablet format built on AMD’s Strix Halo Ryzen AI Max hardware, with a powerful CPU and a Radeon iGPU that offers similar performance to mid-tier Nvidia RTX chips. This can be specced with up to 128 GB of RAM and comes with a fast IPS ​display. It’s expensive, though.

The ProArt PX13 is a 13-inch convertible 2-in-1 laptop format, thus more versatile in laptop mode. It is built on AMD Strix Point Ryzen AI hardware with up to an RTX 4060 and 32 GB of RAM, and comes with an OLED display. It’s expensive as well.

There are quite a few other options in this space of powerful portable computers, such as the previous-gen ROG Flow X13 and Z13 that you can get at discounts today, as well as a multitude of other 14-inch models such as the Razer Blade 14 to the HP Omen Transcend 14. But these latter ones aren’t as portable as the Zephyrus.

Honorary mentions

Given the multitude of excellent premium ultrabooks out there, I’ve also put up together this list of honorary mentions in this segment, with links towards our detailed reviews and guides.

You might want to consider these for specific features and traits that might not be available with our recommendations above, such as certain screen formats and types of panels, certain design choices, longer battery life, or more affordable price tags in your region.

• Asus ExpertBook B9 series – review – sub 1-kilo 14-inch business laptop with low-power modern Intel specs, IPS matte screen, big battery, uncompromised IO and business features;
• Dell XPS/Premium series – configurations and prices – Dell’s premium-tier 13 to 16 inch models, with excellent build quality and features, but questionable ergonomics and minimalist IO;
• Microsoft Surface Laptop – configurations and prices – compact 13.5-inch and 15-inch ultrabooks with 3:2 high-resolution screens, AMD or Snapdragon hardware, and excellent keyboards, all tucked inside portable unibody designs; small batteries and limited availability;
• Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and T14s – mid-range 14-inch business ultrabooks, clamshells or 2-in-1s, value alternatives for the X1 Carbon, with mostly similar traits, but increased dimensions/weight and mid-tier builds;
• Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i – preview – premium ultra-compact 14-incher, 1.2 kilos, modern Intel specs and 75 Wh battery;
• LG Gram series – configurations and prices – compact and ultralight 13 to 17-inch ultrabooks with matte screens, good inputs, and large batteries; not as sturdily built as other premium options;
• Samsung Galaxy Book series – ultralight premium 13 to 16-inch laptops with Intel hardware and big batteries, available as clamshell or 2-in-1 convertibles; only offered in some markets.
• XMG Neo 14 – barebone mid-tier 14-inch chassis, IPS display, good IO, Intel or AMD specs, 80 Wh battery, competitive pricing but not available everywhere.

And don’t forget this section mostly touches on premium clamshell ultrabooks, and we’re also covering the value options and the 2-in-1 convertibles further down.

The best-value ultrabooks and thin-and-light laptops

While the market offers compact laptops that range from between several hundred to several thousand dollars, most of you are looking to maximize the return of your money, and my years of experience show me that the sweet spot for that is somewhere in the $700 to $1000 price range or local equivalents in your area.

Shopping at the higher limit of that budget would allow you to get versatile mid-specced variants of some of the premium ultrabooks mentioned earlier (such as the Apple MacBook Air M2, Asus Zenbook 14, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7).

There are, however, some excellent-value options to consider at the lower-end as well, in the $500 to $800 price range, and we’ll go over them down below, listed alphabetically.

Acer Swift Go

The Acer Swift Go is one of the best-selling lineups of thin-and-light laptops for the last many years, and a direct follow-up of the even more popular Swift 3 series. Over the years, Acer refined this series into mature and uncompromised products, while keeping prices competitive.

The Swift Go series is available in a multitude of options, in 14 and 16 inch clamshell formats. They’re built alright and ergonomic, and offers the latest features and specs available today. That means you will find these laptops with either IPS or OLED displays, and AMD, Intel or Snapdragon hardware. They tend to perform faster than the average thin-and-light, due to the higher power settings and beefier cooling, but at the same time implement 54 to 65 Wh batteries, smaller than the segment’s average.

We’re reviewed many Swift 3 and Swift Go models and generations over the years, and you’ll find our articles over here.

Apple MacBook Air M1

While this is an older design and doesn’t look as exquisite as the updated Air M2-M4 models, the Air M1 is still a recommendation if you can snag it for around $500-$600.

It’s still a sturdily built unibody laptop with decent performance for daily use and excellent battery life, as well as good inputs. The IO is minimalist and the display is average at best, with an older-gen IPS panel and chunky bezels, but I’d reckon these could be compromises worth taking when shopping on a budget.

The video below goes over reasons why the MBA M1 was a solid budget choice in 2024, and those reasons are still valid in 2025 as well.

Asus VivoBook S 14 OLED

The Asus VivoBook S series is a worthy alternative to the Acer Swift Go lineup, Asus’s mid-range lineup and a slight step-back from the Zenbooks.

VivoBooks are still all-metal builds with compact clamshell formats, OLED displays, good inputs and IO, as well as either Intel, AMD and Snapdragon hardware and 75 Wh batteries. These are mostly the same features and specs that Asus offers on their mainstream Zenbook models, but with some subtle differences. Among them, Vivobooks are a little heavier and get lower-quality speakers, but at the same time are more powerful and implement better cooling.

For the most part, VivoBooks tend to be somewhat more affordable than similarly specced Zenbooks, but the differences are limited. The Snapdragon-powered VivoBook S 15 is especially well priced, but that’s ARM-based, so meant for casual use.

You’ll find more about this series from our detailed review of the VivoBook S 14 OLED, as well as this review of the VivoBook S 15 OLED model.

HP Pavilion Plus 14 and Pavilion Aero 13

HP have been constantly pushing and improving their mid-range laptop lineups over the last years, and they end up with two value mentions in this section.

The Pavilion Plus 14 is a mid-range metal chassis that weighs around 1.4 kilos. The laptop is offered with either IPS matte or OLED touch displays, Intel or AMD specs and a 68 Wh battery. It’s also cooled well, although the internal cooling module differs between generations and configurations, so you’ll want to get the one with two fans and heatpipes.

The Pavilion Aero 13 (reviewed here) is an older series from a few years ago, and a compact 13-incher that weighs just 2.2 lbs (1 kilo). If you can still find this in stores, you’ll get AMD Ryzen specs, a matte IPS display, a good keyboard, but a rather small battery. This was affordable in its prime, and can be dirt cheap today. Worth considering used as well, if that’s an option.

You’ll find more about HP laptops from our reviews and coverage over the years.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 and Pro 5

While alphabetically last in this section, Lenovo make some of the most competitive mid-tier and budget ultrabooks right now, with the IdeaPad Slim 5 and IdeaPad 5 Pro series.

As the name suggests, the Slim 5 is a lower-powered and lighter options, while the 5 Pro implements more advanced cooling and allows for higher power settings. These are offered in multiple versions, with Intel or AMD hardware, mid-sized batteries and 14 to 16 inch displays with IPS or OLED panels. The IPS 2K options are low-quality, so stay away from those.

You’ll find more about Lenovo IdeaPad laptops from our reviews and coverage over the years.

The best gaming ultraportables

We’ve already thoroughly covered this topic in a separate article, sofollow this link for our detailed guide on gaming ultrabooks and portable gaming laptops.

In just a few words, though, gaming ultraportables are compact and light-performance laptops with capable processors and graphics, as well as matching cooling module to handle those specs in sustained loads. Most of these are full-size devices with 15 to 17-inch screens, but with compact designs.

The best options include premium 16-inch ultraportables such as the Razer Blade 16, Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i, or the MSI GS68 Stealth, but also good-value full-size notebooks like the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 or the Asus ROG Strix G lineups.

Those interested in smaller and lighter options should consider some of the available 13 and 14-inch gaming ultrabooks, such as the compact Asus ROG Flow X13 and ROG Flow Z13, as well the 14-inch gaming notebooks with more capable graphics such as the Razer Blade 14 or the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.

As mentioned, follow this link for our detailed guide on gaming ultrabooks, or this one for a wider coverage of the thinnest and lightest 14/15-inch laptops out there.

Productivity lightweight laptops for work, creators, or programmers

This section caters to those among you in need of a portable and powerful laptop for complex workloads and school tasks, the kind you could not properly run on most of the ultra-compact devices mentioned in the previous sections of the article. These recommendations are meant for university students, engineers, programmers, architects, and creatives, but still with a portable and slim form-factor in mind.

For sure, the gaming/performance ultraportables already covered above make for excellent all-around work&play devices. However, most of those laptops are primarily gaming-focused and thus prioritize performance over fan-noise and fast high-refresh-rate screens over the color coverage (100% DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB) and image fidelity that you might require in your creative endeavors. And here’s where the options in this class come in handy, which offer power profiles better optimized for everyday use and work, high-gamut high-resolution displays, as well as certain software and hardware optimizations meant to enhance your productivity.

Apple MacBook Pro 16

I’ve listed these options alphabetically and hence the Apple MacBook Pro 16 comes first, but this is nonetheless the prime choice in this space, as long as you’re OK with the software particularities of Mac OS and your work applications run on a Mac.

Even in a performance computer, beating the smoothness of the hardware and software integration on a recent-gen MacBook is darn tough for other models. On top of these, the overall build quality, typing experience and battery life are nearly impeccable on a Mac as well. On the other hand, the IO is rather minimalistic and certain ergonomics aspects are questionable, such as the sharp edges and limited screen angle, but perhaps these don’t matter as much on a 16-inch chassis as on the more portable versions.

Among the features added by the latest refresh of the MBP 16, there’s a new nano-texture finish, Thunderbolt 5, a wider webcam and a brighter mini LED display with quantum-dot technology. And M4 Pro/Max Apple silicon, of course.

And then there’s the price factor. These days, the entry-tier MacBook Pros are priced around 2500 USD/3000 EUR, but these come with 24 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD space, and upgrading the RAM and storage is expensive. Outrageously expensive. You’ll most likely want at least 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage on this sort of a computer, so a properly-configured version will set you back 3-4K $.

Asus ProArt P16

The ProArt P16 is an ROG Zephyrus G16 with a cleaner all-black design and a 4K OLED display. Otherwise, it’s the same chassis and functionality, with a compact 16-inch format, sturdy build quality, good IO, excellent inputs and punchy speakers that can even keep-up with the audio in the MacBook. The display is 4K OLED, so not as bright as the mini LED on the MacBook, but mostly comparably otherwise.

Specs wise, the ProArt P16 is built on Ryzen AI processors and up to an RTX 4070 dGPU (with updates to RTX 5000 perhaps following at some point). That’s a mid-level performance configuration in the Window space, and paired with mid-level cooling. The Zephyrus G16 is available with newer RTX 5000 graphics already for the 2025 generation, and the higher-tier vapor-chamber cooling on the top models.

I’ll also add that the ProArt P16 is fairly well priced for what it is, at sub $2000 for the 4060 model with 32 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD. More details on this series are available in our review.

Dell Premium 16, Lenovo ThinkPad P1 and Yoga Pro 9i , HP ZBook Power 16, MSI Stealth 16 Studio

These here are a bunch of other portable workstation lineups from Dell (XPS 16, and the updated Premium 16 Pro Premium 16), Lenovo (ThinkPad P1, ThinkBook P16), HP (ZBook Power) or MSI (Stealth 16 Studio, Stealth A16 AI+).

They’re designed to balance a premium portable chassis with mid-level performance and good efficiency on battery power, while offering excellent displays, audio, inputs and IO. That means you’re getting metal builds here and mid-powered implementations of the latest Intel, AMD and Nvidia hardware platforms – however, not all these models have been refreshed to 2025 specs at the time of this update.

You’ll need to look into reviews for the exact particularities, pros and quirks of each of these models. You’ll also want to set aside a consistent budget if aiming for a higher-specced configuration, although these are all highly customizable and the lower-tier models aren’t that expensive.

2-in-1 convertibles with touchscreens

Hybrids are modern devices with convertible or detachable touchscreens, and they can be used as either regular notebooks or as tablets. We’ve covered this topic in-depth in this separated article about the best 2-in-1 laptops, which you should head over to if you’re primarily interested in a convertible over any of the other ultrabooks in this article., But we’ll also quickly go through our top recommendations down below.

First, though, you need to be aware that there are mainly two kinds of 2-in-1s: stand-alone tablets that can act as laptops when hooked to an external dock or keyboard-folio, and regular notebooks with 360-degrees convertible screens. The latter are more versatile in laptop use, especially when used on the lap, and tend to get larger batteries, faster hardware, and more ports, while the former are highly portable and excellent tablets, but less practical when not used on a flat surface.

Tablets: Microsoft Surface Go, Surface Pro, and iPad Pro

Microsoft makes some of the best Windows tablets out there, with the compact and affordable Surface Go and the powerful Surface Pro series.

The Surface Go is an older-generation 10-inch tablet with a high-resolution 3:2 touchscreen, fanless Core Y hardware, and a base selling price of around $400. It’s compact, lightweight, and rather inexpensive, which makes it an awesome mini-computer for school or travel companion. It runs Windows S by default but can be upgraded to regular Windows for extra functionality. Follow this link for more details.

The Surface Pros are more powerful and capable devices, able to handle daily multitasking and demanding chores, in a lightweight and compact magnesium chassis. For many generation, the Surface Pros came with 13-inch IPS 3:2 touchscreen and Intel hardware, while the latest generation has transitioned towards an OLED display and Qualcomm Snapdragon hardware. That has a positive impact over the daily-use snappiness and efficiency on battery power, but a negative impact over what you can actually run and do on these devices.

The latest Surface Pros start at $999, but previous-gen models can still be found for much less. Follow this link for more details.

Finally, the iPad Pro makes its way into this section as well, as a competent choice for graphics artists and creators. It’s a lot more versatile than in the past, with the latest hardware and software updates, and includes an excellent OLED screen with pen support, for the same budget you’ll pay for a fully accessorized Surface Pro. Of course, it’s not a Windows tablet and can’t run the things you can run on the Surface devices, but has its own software advantages and integration with the Apple ecosystem. Follow this link for more details.

Premium 2-in-1s: HP Spectre x360, Lenovo Yoga 9i

All these lineups of premium 2-in-1s have been available for a while now, and were incrementally updated and improved over the years.

The HP Spectre x360 14 is available in either a 14-inch or a 16-inch variant. The Spectre x360 14 makes more sense as a convertible, due to its more compact build, but the x360 16 offers faster hardware, a larger battery, and improved IO. Both are premium computers and bundle the latest and greatest in terms of features, connectivity, and everyday user experience in their niche. They also emphasize on their excellent OLED screens and premium chassis.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i is a 14-incher, while the more powerful Yoga Pro 9i 16 is not a convertible. The latest iterations of the Yoga 9i make it more portable than the Spectre 14, despite packing a similar OLED and extra speakers in the screen hinge.

Follow this link for a more thorough list of recommended 2-in-1 laptops and hybrids.

Affordable 2-in-1 convertibles: Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 and Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

As far as Windows laptops go, the Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 series is the best value 2-in-1 available today. You can get these in either 14-inch or 16-inch sizes, and built on multiple hardware platforms over many generations, either Intel or AMD. The latest models as of 2025 are built on Intel Lunar Lake V hardware.

What you’re getting here are good-quality metal chassis, good IO, good keyboards, quad speakers and either IPS or OLED touchscreen displays. Plus 70 Wh batteries.

As far as pricing goes, the latest generations are available from around 800 USD/EUR an up, but previous-gen variants can be found for less.

There are many compelling 2-in-1 Chromebooks available today, but the Flex 5i from Lenovo is the better value option, with plenty-powerful hardware, decent build quality and a decent IPS display. Just make sure a ChromeBook meets your expectations and requirements. More options and details on the latest Chromebooks are available in this separate article.

The Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is available for around $350 at the time of this update. Follow this link for more details.

Fanless ultrabooks and tablets

If you want a completely silent computer without a fan inside, fanless passively-cooled options are the ones for you. Just keep in mind that most of these passively-cooled models are not going to be as powerful in sustained loads and multitasking as the beefier platforms with more competent active cooling.

The Apple MacBook Air (M1 or later) is by far the go-to fanless multi-purpose ultrabook to get these days and the exception to the rule mentioned above, as it’s at the same time both faster and more efficient than the Intel variants of the MacBook Air or most of the available Windows ultrabooks.

MacBooks aside, most of the competent Windows models are not fanless, with very few exceptions.  Here’s a complete list of fanless ultraportables if you’re interested in a deeper dive into this topic.

Wrap-up – what’s the best ultrabook?

Ultrabooks have come a long way over the years.

The hardware is more powerful and more efficient these days, and alongside came new form factors and features, as well as improvements on all the fundamentals that make for a competent laptop: build quality, inputs, screens, IO and connectivity, and battery life, among them. As a result, there are now many excellent options to choose from.

As for what’s the best ultrabook for you, that’s for each one of you to decide. You know what you want and value in a laptop, so go through the options in this article and pick the one that best fits your needs and budget.

And if by any chance you haven’t found what you were looking for in this massive post, you could also check out these other articles on the site:

• 10 and 11-inch mini laptops or smaller ;
• 14, 15-inch or larger thin and light laptops.

• good value portable notebooks available for under $1000 (and many under $500);

• gaming thin-and-light laptops with dedicated graphics chips (recommended for gaming, but also programmers, engineers, or creators);
• 2-in-1 convertibles with touchscreens;
• fanless ultra portables – perfectly quiet, without a fan or a spinning HDD inside;
• best-rated Chromebooks – affordable mini-laptops for Internet-based activities, selling for between $150 and $400;
• what is an ultrabook and how do ultrabooks compare to regular laptops?

Last but not least, you can check out the reviews posted here on the site and our thorough comparisons, or get in touch in the comments section if you need any help with your decision, have any questions, or just want to add something to this article.

Keep in mind that we’re updating this list of recommended ultrabooks and portable lightweight laptops every three to four weeks, if not more often. Your support is greatly appreciated.