This guide explores the best ultrabooks available in 2025, categorized for various user needs. The definition of "ultrabook" has broadened beyond Intel's initial marketing, encompassing thin, light, powerful laptops (excluding gaming-focused models) prioritizing portability and productivity.
TL;DR – Top Ultrabook Picks:
Asus Zenbook S 16: Our top overall pick.
See it at Best Buy See it at Asus
Razer Blade 14: Best for gaming.
See it at Razer
Microsoft Surface Laptop 11: Best for students.
See it at Amazon
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max): Best for creative professionals.
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Today's top ultrabooks offer surprising capabilities for their size and weight. The Asus Zenbook S 16, our top choice, rivals high-end desktops in performance while maintaining exceptional energy efficiency and quiet operation. This guide covers options ranging from budget-friendly to high-performance models suitable for 4K video editing.
1. Asus Zenbook S 16 – Detailed Review:
Best Ultrabook of 2025
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Specifications: 16" (2880 x 1800) OLED display, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, AMD Radeon 890M GPU, 32GB LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, 3.31 lbs, 13.92" x 9.57" x 0.47" - 0.51". Approx. 15-hour battery life.
Pros: Dual OLED screens, exceptionally thin and light, outstanding performance, all-day battery, beautiful 3K OLED touchscreen, impressive gaming performance.
Cons: Minor keyboard flex.
The Zenbook S 16 exemplifies the ideal ultrabook: incredibly thin and light, boasting fantastic battery life, a stunning OLED display, and exceptional integrated GPU gaming performance. Its connectivity is superior to many competitors, featuring two USB-C ports, a full-size USB-A port, an SD card reader, and an HDMI port.
2. HP Pavilion Aero 13 – Detailed Review:
Best Budget Ultrabook
Specifications: 13.3” 2K (1920 x 1200) IPS display, AMD Ryzen 5 8840U CPU, 16GB DDR5 6400MHz RAM, 512MB NVMe SSD, 2.2 lbs, 11.7" x 8.31" x 0.69". Approx. 12-hour battery life.
Pros: Excellent price-to-performance ratio, fast processor, ample memory, ultraportable design, all-day battery life.
Cons: Limited storage (512GB).
3. Razer Blade 14 (2024) – Detailed Review:
Best Ultrabook for Gaming
Specifications: 14” QHD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS 240Hz display, AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU, Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, 16GB DDR5 5700MHz RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, 4.05 lbs, 12.73" x 8.97" x 0.70". Approx. 9-10 hour battery life.
Pros: Excellent gaming performance, 240Hz display.
Cons: Shallow keyboard.
4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 11 – Detailed Review:
Best for Students
Specifications: 13.8" (2304 x 1536) display, Snapdragon X Plus to Snapdragon X Elite CPU, Qualcomm Adreno GPU, 16GB-32GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB-1TB PCIe SSD, 2.96 lbs, 11.85" x 8.67" x 0.69". Up to 20-hour battery life.
Pros: Great performance, various color options, long battery life.
Cons: App compatibility limitations.
5. Asus Zenbook S 14 – Detailed Review:
Best for Business
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Specifications: 14" (2880 x 1800) display, Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU, Intel Arc GPU, 32GB LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, 2.65 lbs, 12.22" x 8.45" x 0.51". 15+ hour battery life.
Pros: Thin, light, powerful, great battery life, improved gaming performance, gorgeous OLED touchscreen.
Cons: No microSD card reader.
6. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max) – Detailed Review:
Best Ultrabook for Creatives
Specifications: 16.2" (3456 x 2234) display, M3 Max CPU, Integrated (40-core) GPU, 48GB-128GB RAM, 1TB-8TB SSD, 4.8 lbs, 14.01" x 9.77" x 0.66". Up to 22-hour battery life.
Pros: Incredibly powerful, highly configurable, very good battery life, thin and relatively light.
Cons: Can be very expensive.
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