Ultrabook was a term coined by Intel and is category of notebooks which have great battery life and also portable and have great specs. This category is very broad and includes many models at different prices and form factors, including convertibles which can be also used as a tablet when needed. Ultrbooks have come a long way in terms of features and specs and some of these high-end machines features super-sharp, quad HD screens and speedy SSDs.
At the CES, lot of OEMs announced brand new notebooks powered by Windows 8.1. If you’re looking for the thinnest and lightest PC laptops on the market, here are some of the best options to look out for in 2015.
1. Dell XPS 13:
Dell created a lot of hype at the CES 2015 with the launch of XPS 13. The main attraction of the device is the design. Dell has managed to squeeze a 13-inch screen into a chassis the size of an 11-inch notebook by using the world’s thinnest bezel. This consumer Ultrabook has an optional WQHD touch screen display or a standard full HD panel along with an SSD and the latest Intel Broadwell processor. To add to these high end features, there is also 15 hours of battery life.
The laptop starts at $799 (for the base version).
2. Microsoft Surface Pro 3:
The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is the third-generation Surface-series 2-in-1 tablet or laptop which is designed, developed, marketed, and produced by Microsoft. The version 3 features a larger 12-inch display over its predecessor, but at the same time is both thinner and lighter, weighing 0.22 pounds (100 g) less. It comes with an improved high-friction kickstand, capable of opening up to 150 degrees. It comes in varying configurations starting with Intel i3 processor.
3. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 3rd Gen:
At the CES 2015, Lenovo announced the third generation Thinkpad X1 Carbon laptop. It features Intel’s latest 5th gen processors, a 14-inch FHD display and new battery tech that’ll give you more life. If FHD isn’t quite enough pixels for you, you can also get a QHD touchscreen version. There is also 128GB of SSD storage, 4GB of RAM, 2 USB 3.0 ports and Intel HD Graphics 5500.
4. Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro:
Yoga 3 Pro is one of the first notebooks in the world to be powered by the Intel Core-M processor, which is clocked 2.9GHz. It has a 13.3-inch QHD IPS multi-touch screen and the device features 8GB RAM and 512GB of SSD memory. The device can provide up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge and runs Windows 8.1.
5. Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus:
The all-aluminum ATIV Book 9 laptop is Samsung’s lightest Book 9 yet weighing at just 2.06 pounds. And it’s really thin at 0.46 inches and it features a stunning WQXGA (2560×1600) display that has a low-reflection coating. It comes powered by a 5th generation Intel Core M processor and gets up to 10.5 hours of battery life.
The new ATIV Book 9 will be available for pre-order beginning sometime in Q1 2015 starting at $1,199.99 (U.S.).
6. Asus Transformer Book T300 Chi:
The Transformer Book Chi tablet is one of the slimmest tablets available. The Chi tablet comes with full sized keyboard making it an ultimate productivity tablet/ laptop. The T300 comes in 12.5 inch display which is offered in two resolutions- WQHD and the Full HD. It comes with 4GB/8GB RAM with 128GB SSD and 8 hours of battery life.
7. Acer Aspire S7:
Acer Aspire S7 is one of the high and popular ultrabook from Acer and the company has announced the S7 with the latest Intel Broadwell processors. The 13.3 inch display has super-tough Gorilla Glass lid, strong unibody design and vivid WQHD touchscreen. Acer is also bringing 802.11ac wireless to these PCs as well which is up to 3 times faster than 802.11n.
8. Toshiba Z20t:
Powered by Intel’s new Core M processor, Toshiba’s latest hybrid Z20t comes without the fans and can run for a whopping 17 hours. You can also pull the 12.5-inch screen off the dock for a true tablet experience. Unlike many other thin ultrabooks, Toshiba Z20t features a whole load of ports like ethernet, full HDMI, microSD and a bevy of USB ports, which is always a nice touch. Specs wise, the high end model comes with 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, AC wireless and a 5MP snapper.
9. Asus ZenBook UX305:
Although this was announced at IFA 2014, it went on sale couple of weeks back. The biggest feature of the laptop is the thickness and weight, at 12.3mm (0.48 inches) thin and weighing in at just 1.2kg, it is one of the lightest laptops you can pick. The laptop comes with a 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen display and is powered by Intel Core M CPU with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage.
10. Lenovo LaVie Z:
Lenovo and NEC Personal Computers (NECP) announced the LaVie Z series ultraportable at CES. The Lenovo LaVie Z HZ550 takes the title of world’s lightest 13-in laptop PC at just 1.72-lbs, while the Lenovo LaVie Z HZ750 claims world’s lightest 13-in convertible PC at just 2.04-lbs. It comes with 13.3-in optional WQHD touch screen for vivid, lifelike images and is powered by up to 5th Generation Intel Core i7 processor.
