Ultrabooks have carved out a distinct niche in the laptop market, known for their sleek design, portability, long battery life, and powerful performance packed into thin and lightweight frames. In 2024, the market for ultrabooks continues to evolve as manufacturers push the boundaries of what’s possible in compact, efficient laptops tailored for professionals and travelers alike.
Whether you’re a business professional seeking a reliable work companion, a creative in need of powerful tools, or just someone who values the convenience of portability, choosing the right ultrabook is essential. This guide covers the best ultrabooks of 2024, examining factors such as design, performance, battery life, and overall value for different types of users.
What Defines an Ultrabook?
Before diving into the reviews, it’s worth noting what qualifies as an ultrabook. These laptops typically offer:
Portability: Ultrabooks are designed to be lightweight and slim, usually under 3 pounds and less than 0.8 inches thick, making them easy to carry.
Battery life: Long battery life is a hallmark of ultrabooks, often lasting 10 to 20 hours on a single charge.
Performance: Despite their thin designs, ultrabooks pack a punch, often featuring high-end processors (like Intel Core i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen) and fast SSD storage, making them capable of handling demanding tasks.
Display quality: Ultrabooks typically feature high-quality displays, with many now offering Full HD, 2K, or even 4K resolutions, along with touchscreen capabilities.
Build quality: Most ultrabooks are crafted from premium materials like aluminum or magnesium alloy, ensuring durability while maintaining a lightweight feel.
1. Apple MacBook Air M2 (2024)
Overview:
Apple’s MacBook Air has always been a leader in the ultrabook category, and the 2024 version featuring the M2 chip continues this tradition. With its fanless design, impressive battery life, and unrivaled performance, the MacBook Air M2 is a favorite for creative professionals and business users alike.
Key Features:
Processor: Apple M2 chip
Display: 13.6-inch Retina Display, 2560 x 1664 pixels
Weight: 2.7 pounds
Battery life: Up to 18 hours
Storage: 256GB to 2TB SSD
RAM: 8GB to 24GB
Ports: Two Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports, MagSafe 3 charging, 3.5mm headphone jack
Pros:
Incredible performance with the M2 chip, offering faster processing power and better energy efficiency compared to its predecessors.
Battery life that lasts a full workday and beyond, thanks to the efficiency of Apple’s ARM architecture.
The lightweight and sleek design makes it highly portable and professional-looking.
Excellent display with rich colors and sharp detail, perfect for creative tasks like photo editing and video production.
Cons:
Limited port selection, requiring adapters for non-USB-C devices.
Slightly more expensive compared to Windows ultrabooks.
Best For:
Creative professionals, content creators, and business users who want the best balance of portability, power, and macOS’s ecosystem.
2. Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024)
Overview:
The Dell XPS 13 has long been a staple of the ultrabook category, and the 2024 Dell XPS 13 Plus takes it to the next level with a radical redesign. Featuring an edge-to-edge OLED display, capacitive touch keys, and an ultra-thin form factor, this model pushes the boundaries of modern ultrabook design.
Key Features:
Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i5/i7
Display: 13.4-inch InfinityEdge OLED (up to 4K UHD)
Weight: 2.7 pounds
Battery life: Up to 12 hours
Storage: 512GB to 2TB SSD
RAM: 8GB to 32GB
Ports: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-C
Pros:
Stunning 4K OLED display with deep blacks and vibrant colors, ideal for watching content or creative work.
Impressive design featuring an edge-to-edge display and a minimalistic keyboard layout with capacitive touch keys.
Strong performance with 13th Gen Intel processors, capable of handling productivity tasks, photo editing, and light gaming.
Cons:
Battery life is decent but not the best in its class, especially for the 4K display variant.
Limited port selection and the absence of a traditional function key row may take some getting used to.
Best For:
Design-conscious professionals, media consumers, and creative individuals looking for an ultrabook that balances form and function with top-tier display technology.
3. HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)
Overview:
HP’s Spectre x360 14 stands out for its convertible 2-in-1 design, combining the power of a laptop with the flexibility of a tablet. With a premium build, gorgeous OLED display, and solid performance, it’s one of the best choices for users who want versatility without sacrificing performance.
Key Features:
Processor: Intel Core i7 (13th Gen)
Display: 13.5-inch 3K2K OLED, 3000 x 2000 pixels
Weight: 2.95 pounds
Battery life: Up to 15 hours
Storage: 512GB to 1TB SSD
RAM: 16GB to 32GB
Ports: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-A, headphone jack
Pros:
Versatile 2-in-1 design allows you to use it as a traditional laptop or flip it into tablet mode for drawing or presentations.
Bright OLED display with a high resolution, perfect for artists and those who prioritize screen quality.
Solid battery life and good port selection compared to other ultrabooks.
Excellent build quality with a premium aluminum chassis and sleek design.
Cons:
Slightly heavier than other ultrabooks due to the 2-in-1 design.
Pricier compared to non-convertible ultrabooks with similar specs.
Best For:
Creative professionals, artists, and business users who want flexibility in their device for drawing, note-taking, or multimedia tasks.
4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 (2024)
Overview:
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is the go-to ultrabook for business professionals, known for its legendary keyboard, solid build quality, and excellent performance. In 2024, the 11th-generation ThinkPad X1 Carbon brings refinements like better battery life and a more powerful Intel 13th-gen processor, keeping it among the top ultrabooks for productivity.
Key Features:
Processor: Intel Core i7 (13th Gen)
Display: 14-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) or 4K UHD
Weight: 2.48 pounds
Battery life: Up to 17 hours
Storage: 512GB to 2TB SSD
RAM: 16GB to 32GB
Ports: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm audio jack
Pros:
Outstanding keyboard with the signature ThinkPad typing experience, ideal for long typing sessions.
Durable, lightweight design with military-grade certifications for toughness, making it perfect for professionals on the go.
Excellent battery life that easily lasts a full workday.
Wide variety of ports, a rare advantage in the ultrabook category.
Cons:
More expensive than many competitors, especially for higher-end configurations.
The design may feel less modern compared to ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 13.
Best For:
Business professionals who need a reliable, portable laptop with excellent typing experience and battery life, and those who prefer the rugged build quality of ThinkPad devices.
5. Asus ZenBook S 13 OLED (2024)
Overview:
Asus has made waves in the ultrabook world with the ZenBook S 13 OLED, offering one of the lightest and most compact laptops on the market. With an impressive OLED display and AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 series processors, this ultrabook offers a great balance of power and portability.
Key Features:
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7735U
Display: 13.3-inch OLED, 2880 x 1800 pixels
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Battery life: Up to 15 hours
Storage: 512GB SSD
RAM: 16GB
Ports: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, microSD
Pros:
Super lightweight design, making it one of the most portable ultrabooks available.
Vibrant OLED display with deep colors and excellent contrast, perfect for multimedia tasks.
Impressive battery life for its size, lasting up to 15 hours on a single charge.
