What is the best ultrabook to date? Review and rating of TOP-14 models of 2021

Ultrabook - what kind of device is it. How is it different from a laptop? What are the important characteristics to look for when choosing. The best ultrabook models.

Not much time has passed since the appearance of the first ultrabooks in stores.

What is it, how does an ultrabook differ from laptop, which model to choose and what to look for when choosing, we will tell in the article.

The rating includes 14 best models according to customer reviews and ratings, as well as in terms of price and quality ratio.

Rating TOP-14 best ultrabooks

Place	Model	Price
Inexpensive models
#1	Xiaomi RedmiBook 14?
#2	Acer Aspire 3 A315-42
#3	ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 TP412
#4	Lenovo IdeaPad C340-14
Middle price segment
#1	Xiaomi RedmiBook 16? Ryzen Edition
#2	Apple MacBook Pro 13
#3	Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14
#4	ASUS VivoBook S15 M533IA
#5	HONOR MagicBook Pro
Premium devices
#1	Apple MacBook Pro 13
#2	Apple MacBook Pro 16
#3	HUAWEI MateBook X Pro 2020
#4	Lenovo ThinkPad E15
#5	ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481

What is an ultrabook?

Stay up to date! An ultrabook is a compact and lightweight laptop, usually of a single-board design.

The specifications for this class and the concept of the first device were implemented by Intel together with Apple in 2008 in the MacBook Air subnotebook.

What is the difference between an ultrabook and a laptop?

An ultrabook is generally similar to a laptop, except for a few differences:

first of all, it's smaller size with a thickness of up to 2 cm;
the weight - up to 1.5 kg;
no DVD drive;
fewer ports;
built-in graphics chip;
SSD drive;
improved battery;
higher cost.

Criterias of choice

When choosing an ultrabook, it is recommended to pay attention to the following points:

Number of ports.
The most commonly used are USB, HDMI, memory card slots and audio jacks.
Usually all ultrabooks are equipped with them.
Some models have DVI, DisplayPort and VGA interfaces.
Touchpad and keyboard.
Components should be as comfortable as possible and not cause discomfort during operation.
Some ultrabooks are equipped with a backlit keyboard.
Screen options.
Diagonal - the smaller one is not so convenient, the larger one is not too compact.
Resolution - Full HD (1920 × 1080), the best option with high picture quality.
Matrix - IPS or VA have the best quality, TN matrices have poor viewing angles.
Touch screen - not found in all devices, it can be convenient for working in the "field" conditions.
Memory.
4-8 GB of RAM is enough for comfortable work on the Internet and with documents, but may not be enough for games.
It is better to choose a solid state drive with the largest possible capacity.
Processor and video card.
The Intel platform and integrated graphics chips dominate here.
In recent years, solutions from AMD have begun to make some competition.

Inexpensive models

In this niche dominated by ultrabooks for home, office, travel.

Keep in mind! They do a good job with office programs, Internet content, video, but are not suitable for running heavy applications.

Rating of the TOP-4 best budget ultrabooks according to customer reviews and ratings.

Xiaomi RedmiBook 14?

It has an all-metal body made of a special aluminum alloy, despite this the laptop is quite light and thin.

This device is not only attractive and durable, but also multifunctional.

The model is equipped with a large number of ports, controls, a Full HD screen with oleophobic and anti-glare coatings, a full-size keyboard and a highly sensitive touch touchpad with gesture support, full-screen scrolling and zooming.

Model Xiaomi RedmiBook 14? Equipped with a powerful processor and a powerful graphics card.

Specifications:

OS - Windows 10;
processor - Core i3 / i5 / i7;
RAM - 4-8 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 14?, 1920? 1080;
IPS matrix;
graphics - Intel UHD Graphics 620, NVIDIA GeForce MX250;
hard drive - SSD with a capacity of 256-1000 GB;
wireless technologies — Bluetooth, Wi-Fi;
interfaces - USB, HDMI, audio;
battery capacity - 4000 mAh;
working time - 5-8 hours;
weight - 1.5 kg.

Advantages

high build quality;
metal body;
good performance;
large and fast SSD.

Flaws

no webcam;
no keyboard backlight;
screen has glare.

Acer Aspire 3 A315-42

Powerful, functional and at the same time affordable device designed for comfortable everyday tasks.

AMD processor and video card, DDR4 memory module are responsible for speed and performance.

HDD and SSD drives allow you to run the system and applications with lightning speed, store a large amount of data.

Stable connection to the outside world is guaranteed by built-in network modules.

Screen ultrabeech Acer Aspire 3 A315-42 implemented using TN+film technology.

Specifications:

OS - Windows 10, Endless OS, Linux;
processor - Athlon, Ryzen 3/5/7;
RAM - 4-16 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 15.6 ?, 1366? 768 / 1920? 1080;
TN matrix;
Graphics - AMD Radeon 540X/RX Vega 10/Vega 10/8/3;
hard drive - HDD, HDD + SSD, SSD with a total capacity of 128-1256 GB;
slots SD, SDHC, SDXC;
wireless technologies - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
interfaces - Ethernet, USB, HDMI, audio;
battery capacity - 3200-4810 mAh;
working time - 5-7 hours;
camera 0.3 MP;
weight - 1.9 kg.

Advantages

productive iron;
light weight;
connector for wired internet;
the ability to install UNIX-systems.

Flaws

unimportant screen;
weak battery;
Wi-Fi module is not the most powerful.

ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 TP412

The ultra-slim ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 TP412 Ultrabook features a stylish design and powerful hardware for smooth multitasking.

The central element of the hardware of the device is a powerful, but energy-efficient processor from Intel.

The RAM here is LPDDR4-type. The graphics are represented by the built-in Intel 600-series video chip.

An SSD drive up to 512 GB provides a fast start of the operating system, fast operation of any software and instant access to the information stored on the disk.

Specifications:

OS - Windows 10;
processor - Core i3 / i5, Pentium;
RAM - 4-8 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 14?, 1920? 1080;
matrix - IPS, TN;
graphics - Intel HD Graphics 610/620/UHD Graphics/UHD Graphics 610/620;
hard drive - SSD with a capacity of 128-512 GB;
slots SD, SDHC, SDXC;
wireless technologies - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
interfaces - USB, HDMI, audio;
battery capacity - 3550-3640 mAh;
working time - 9-10 hours;
camera 0.3 MP;
weight - 1.5 kg.

Advantages

two in one - laptop and tablet;
high-quality screen with good viewing angles;
stylish appearance;
compact size, light weight;
three USB ports.

Flaws

small glare at the corners of the screen on a black background;
the keyboard flexes in the center when you press the keys.

Lenovo IdeaPad C340-14

Compact ultrabook Lenovo IdeaPad C340-14 is structurally a laptop-transformer.

Thanks to this, it is an indispensable assistant on trips and travels.

The touchscreen Full HD-display of the device provides convenient operation, high definition and detailing of the picture.

A bunch of central processor + RAM + video card are responsible for speed and performance.

Quick launch of software and data storage is provided by a modern solid-state drive with a capacity of up to 512 GB.

The capabilities of the model are expanded by a camera, a microphone, an acoustic system, and wireless modules.

Specifications:

OS - Windows 10;
processor - Core i3 / i5, Athlon, Pentium, Ryzen 3;
RAM - 4-16 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 14?, 1366? 768/1920? 1080;
matrix - IPS, TN;
graphics - AMD Radeon Vega 3, Intel UHD Graphics/UHD Graphics 610/620;
hard drive - SSD with a capacity of 128-512 GB;
slots MultiMedia Card, SD, SDHC, SDXC;
wireless technologies - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
interfaces - USB, HDMI, audio;
battery capacity - 3000 mAh;
working time - 8-10 hours;
camera 1 MP;
weight - 1.65 kg.

Advantages

high overall performance;
sensitive sensor;
convenient fingerprint scanner;
thin top and side bezels.

Flaws

weak battery;
no anti-reflective screen coating;
large and heavy power supply.

Middle price segment

Mid-range ultrabooks may have heavier weaponry on board.

Note! They are equally good for solving simple and resource-intensive tasks.

The best ultrabooks to date in terms of price and quality.

Xiaomi RedmiBook 16? Ryzen Edition

It boasts a wide screen with narrow bezels, the display area relative to the entire surface of the front panel reaches an impressive 90%.

In the Xiaomi RedmiBook 16 ultrabook? The Ryzen Edition uses the innovative Hurricane cooling system with specially designed fans and dual heat pipes.

The device is equipped with the main interfaces for connecting peripherals, Harman Kardon speakers, advanced data transfer technology.

An interesting option is the Xiaomi key, based on Modern Standby technology, with instant unlock and auto-lock of an inactive device.

Specifications:

OS - Windows 10;
processor - AMD Ryzen 5;
RAM - 4-16 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 16.1 ?, 1920 × 1080;
IPS matrix;
graphics - AMD Radeon RX Vega 7/Vega 6;
hard drive - 512 GB SSD;
wireless technologies — Bluetooth, Wi-Fi;
interfaces - USB, HDMI, audio;
battery capacity - 4000 mAh;
working time - 5-7 hours;
weight - 1.8 kg.

Advantages

perfect build quality;
full metal body;
excellent color reproduction;
fast SSD.

Flaws

insufficient maximum screen brightness;
no webcam;
no keyboard backlight.

Apple MacBook Air 13 Retina Display with True Tone Technology Early 2020

True Tone Early 2020 brings a more natural look to the Retina display on the MacBook Air 13, but that's not all Apple's Ultrabook has to offer.

MacBook Air 13 is a compact and lightweight device with a metal body.

A powerful processor, a powerful graphics card, a large amount of RAM, a Wi-Fi module and other nodes make it easy to perform tasks of various levels.

The lithium-polymer battery ensures a long operating time of the device without recharging. The keyboard of the model is equipped with a spectacular backlight.

Specifications:

OS - macOS;
processor - Core i3 / i5;
RAM - 8-16 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 13.3?, 2560x1600;
IPS matrix;
graphics - Intel Iris Plus Graphics;
hard drive - SSD with a capacity of 256-1024 GB;
wireless technologies — Bluetooth, Wi-Fi;
interfaces - Thunderbolt 3, audio;
operating time up to 12 hours;
camera 1 MP;
weight - 1.29 kg.

Advantages

spectacular appearance;
quality assembly;
excellent sound from the built-in speakers;
the presence of fast charging;
good autonomy.

Flaws

case heating;
easily soiled body and screen;
high price.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14

The classic design with a 14-inch screen diagonal is best combined with the excellent performance of the device.

The matte anti-reflective Full HD IPS screen with a refresh rate of 60 Hz does not cause eye fatigue during prolonged use of the device.

Responsible for the performance of a powerful processor, integrated graphics card and high-speed RAM.

The autonomy of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 model is supported by a high-capacity Li-Pol battery. At the same time, the device is quite light and compact.

Specifications:

OS - Windows 10;
processor - Core i3 / i5;
RAM - 8-16 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 14?, 1920? 1080;
matrix - IPS, WVA;
graphics - AMD Radeon Graphics, Intel UHD Graphics;
hard drive - SSD with a capacity of 256-512 GB;
slots MultiMedia Card, SD, SDHC, SDXC;
wireless technologies - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
interfaces - USB, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, audio;
battery capacity - 5000 mAh;
working time - 10-14 hours;
camera 1 MP;
weight - 1.39 kg.

Advantages

powerful hardware configuration;
assembly at height;
nice design;
charging from USB Type-C;
good autonomy.

Flaws

the color balance of the picture is disturbed (the problem is solved by setting);
too dim keyboard backlight;
the power button is not the most convenient (requires getting used to);
webcam quality is below average.

ASUS VivoBook S15 M533IA

It was developed for users who want to get a reliable and productive computer device with up-to-date functionality at an affordable price.

The installed solid state drive allows not only to store the necessary information for a long time, but also to instantly launch any software.

Thanks to the autonomy of the ASUS VivoBook S15 M533IA laptop, built-in wireless modules, webcam and microphone, you can establish a video call anywhere in the world.

For added convenience, a carry bag is included.

Specifications:

OS - Windows 10;
processor - AMD Ryzen 7;
RAM - 8 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 15.6 ?, 1920 × 1080;
IPS matrix;
graphics - AMD Radeon Graphics;
hard drive - SSD with a capacity of 256-512 GB;
microSD slot;
wireless technologies — Bluetooth, Wi-Fi;
interfaces - USB, HDMI, audio;
battery capacity - 3650-4210 mAh;
operating time up to 6 hours;
camera 1 MP;
weight - 1.8 kg.

Advantages

light weight;
comfortable keyboard with good backlight, separate numeric keypad;
high performance;
good autonomy.

Flaws

mediocre contrast and color reproduction of the screen;
no slot for additional RAM;
strange design decision of the acid-yellow edging of the Enter button.

HONOR MagicBook Pro

Equipped with a highly efficient SharkFin cooling system and a quality webcam integrated into the keyboard.

Its widescreen display features a bezel-less design with 90% usable area.

The HONOR MagicBook Pro Ultrabook's matte screen finish minimizes flicker and glare. The hardware part is mounted in a metal case.

From iron, it is worth noting the AMD Ryzen quad-core processor and Radeon graphics, which can pull, including heavy programs and games.

Sound with Dolby Atmos promotes total immersion when listening to music and watching video content.

Specifications:

OS - Windows 10;
processor - AMD Ryzen 5;
RAM - 8 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 16.1 ?, 1920 × 1080;
IPS matrix;
graphics - AMD Radeon Vega 6/8;
hard drive - 512 GB SSD;
wireless technologies — Bluetooth, Wi-Fi;
interfaces - USB, HDMI, audio;
battery capacity - 7330 mAh;
working hours - 9-12 hours;
camera 1 MP;
weight - 1.7 kg.

Advantages

matte screen without glare;
fast processor;
powerful Wi-Fi module;
Dolby Atmos sound + good speaker placement.

Flaws

not too convenient touchpad;
you can not increase the RAM;
Structurally unfortunate arrangement of USB ports.

Premium devices

It is worth noting! These are expensive and productive devices with high-end components and premium build quality.

The design here is given no less attention.

Apple MacBook Pro 13 Retina display with True Tone Mid 2020

To perfectly adapt the screen to lighting conditions, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 ultrabook has True Tone Mid 2020 technology, which automatically changes color based on the environment.

Also, the 13.3-inch model is equipped with a Magic keyboard, processor and graphics from Intel.

The device is equipped with an excellent monolithic metal case and a high-quality display.

Another feature is an incredible number of ports for external connections, which is generally unusual for ultrabooks.

Specifications:

OS - macOS;
processor - Intel Core i5;
RAM - 8-32 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 13.3 ?, 12560? 1600;
IPS matrix;
graphics - Intel Iris Plus Graphics / Iris Plus Graphics 645;
hard drive - SSD with a capacity of 256-1024 GB;
wireless technologies - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
interfaces - Thunderbolt 3, USB, DVI, DisplayPort, VGA, audio;
operating time up to 10 hours;
camera 1 MP;
weight - 1.4 kg.

Advantages

natural reproduction of colors on the screen;
long battery life;
physical Esc button;
variety of ports for connecting external devices.

Flaws

low maximum volume of built-in acoustics;
low resolution webcam;
high price.

Apple MacBook Pro 16 with Retina Display and Touch Bar Late 2019

The Touch Bar Late 2019 technology in the Apple MacBook Pro 16 Ultrabook with Retina display allows you to work using gestures directly from the panel.

Pro-version is the most powerful device in the MacBook lineup with the corresponding capabilities.

In addition to the 16-inch Retina display, the device is equipped with an incredibly fast processor, powerful graphics card and a long-lasting battery.

The Magic Keyboard is responsible for input, and a capacious solid-state drive is responsible for data storage. Touch ID will help you quickly log in.

Specifications:

OS - macOS;
processor - Core i7 / i9;
RAM - 16-64 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 16?, 3072?1920;
IPS matrix;
graphics - AMD Radeon Pro 5300M/Pro 5500M;
hard drive - SSD with a capacity of 512-8000 GB;
wireless technologies - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
interfaces - Thunderbolt 3, audio;
working time up to 11 h;
camera 1 MP;
weight - 2 kg.

Advantages

large screen size;
excellent autonomy;
huge amount of RAM;
high-quality sound;
comfortable touchpad.

Flaws

weak webcam;
the body can get quite warm;
high price.

HUAWEI MateBook X Pro 2020

With pre-installed Windows 10, a high-resolution screen, a powerful processor and a large amount of RAM, it perfectly copes with the launch of the most resource-intensive software.

Another advantage of this thin laptop is the GeForce MX250 discrete graphics card with the highest performance and graphics processing speed.

The HUAWEI MateBook X Pro 2020 Ultrabook is also equipped with a fast and silent SSD with a capacity of up to 1TB, a large-capacity Li-Ion battery and wireless modules.

Main characteristics:

OS - Windows 10;
processor - Intel Core i7;
RAM - 16 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 13.9 ?, 3000? 2000;
LTPS matrix;
graphics - NVIDIA GeForce MX250;
hard drive - SSD with a capacity of 1000 GB;
wireless technologies — Bluetooth, Wi-Fi;
interfaces - USB, audio;
battery capacity - 7565 mAh;
working time up to 13 h;
camera 1 MP;
weight - 1.33 kg.

Advantages

light weight;
good performance;
quality assembly;
perfectly working touchpad;
powerful battery.

Flaws

no Dolby Atmos, the sound is not up to par;
the case is very hot;
bad webcam.

Lenovo ThinkPad E15

Best suited for everyday tasks at home, in the office and while traveling, it is not afraid of accidental bumps and spilled liquids on the body.

A modern processor, a powerful graphics card and fast RAM of the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 model are complemented by several pleasant and useful little things.

These are, for example, an audio system with a built-in subwoofer and support for Dolby Audio technology, a fingerprint scanner with a touch of a finger, and many interfaces for connecting peripherals.

Main characteristics:

OS - Windows 10;
processor - Core i3 / i5 / i7;
RAM - 8-16 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 15.6 ?, 1920 × 1080;
IPS matrix;
graphics - AMD Radeon RX 640, Intel UHD Graphics;
hard drive - HDD, HDD + SSD, SSD with a total capacity of 128-1512 GB;
wireless technologies - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
interfaces - Ethernet, USB, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, audio;
battery capacity - 3980 mAh;
operating time up to 12 hours;
camera - 0.9-1 MP;
weight - 1.9 kg.

Advantages

silent cooling system;
good build quality;
the fingerprint sensor is built into the power button;
comfortable keyboard with large arrows + microjoystick.

Flaws

screen backlight with PWM;
poor positioning accuracy of the touchpad.

ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481

Unlike other devices thanks to the futuristic design of the case with an asymmetric ornament of the thinnest concentric circles.

The ASUS ZenBook Duo UX481 dual-screen ultrabook uses an innovative ErgoLift screen hinge, thanks to which the keyboard automatically tilts at an optimal angle of 5.5 degrees when the lid is raised.

This engineering idea brought to life improves the cooling and sound of the device's speakers.

But most importantly, the ultrabook is equipped with two displays at once, while the additional ScreenPad Plus touch screen is as wide as the main one.

Main characteristics:

OS - Windows 10;
processor - Core i5 / i7;
RAM - 8-16 GB;
diagonal and screen resolution - 14?, 1920? 1080;
IPS matrix;
graphics - NVIDIA GeForce MX250;
hard drive - SSD with a capacity of 256-1024 GB;
microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC slots;
wireless technologies - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
interfaces - USB, HDMI, audio;
battery capacity - 4880 mAh;
operating time up to 9 hours;
camera 1 MP;
weight - 1.5 kg.

Advantages

additional touch screen;
excellent color reproduction;
convenient software for working with screenpad;
quiet operation of the cooling system even under load;
light weight and compactness of the laptop itself and the power supply.

Flaws

the keyboard is not very ergonomic;
there is no possibility for an upgrade - everything is soldered on the motherboard;
high price.

Reviews

Customer Reviews

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Conclusion

Based on the foregoing, the following conclusions can be drawn:

Ultrabook - this is, by and large, thin and compact laptop with not the most powerful hardware.
When choosing an ultrabook, there are a number of things to consider. parameters - dimensions, hardware performance, autonomy.
The price of the device directly depends on these parameters, although a number of mid-range devices are no worse than premium ultrabooks.

Useful video

This video provides a rating of the TOP 5 best ultrabooks in 2020:

Reviews Ratings