Top 7 Premium Ultrabooks and Laptops 2024: Pros and Cons Revealed💻✨
Laptops have become indispensable tools in today's world. Whether you're a student turning in assignments, a professional creating documents, spreadsheets, or presentations, or just someone who wants to connect online with family and friends, you need a laptop that has the right components and features for your daily activities. This includes a high-quality display, a comfortable keyboard, and a long-lasting battery (an attractive design also scores points! 😎).
If you're looking for a powerful and easy-to-carry laptop, you probably want a \»ultrabook\». Este término fue creado por Intel en 2012 para describir un grupo de laptops premium y ultradelgadas que cumplían con ciertos estándares. Surgió cuando las PCs comenzaron a competir con el icónico MacBook Air. Sin embargo, al igual que muchos llaman Kleenex a los pañuelos desechables o Googlear a buscar en la web, «ultrabook» se utiliza hoy para referirse a cualquier laptop ultraportátil de calidad, tenga o no la aprobación de Intel.
Of course, the technology is making great strides 🚀. Intel's latest chips include the Intel Core Ultra and processors Core HX de 14ª generación. Los primeros son perfectos para productividad y gaming, mientras que los segundos están diseñados para juegos de alto rendimiento 🎮. Los primeros procesadores «Hawk Point» de AMD de la serie 8000 se encuentran en dispositivos como el Asus Zephyrus G14, y las primeras máquinas Strix Point se presentaron en Computex.
In the world of Macs 🍏, the most powerful chips in Apple son la serie M3. Tanto el M3 estándar, como el M3 Pro y el M3 Max, están disponibles en la línea MacBook Pro y MacBook Air. El recién anunciado M4, por el momento, solo está disponible en iPads.
Con los chips Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite y Plus impulsando Windows en Arm, la competencia en el mercado de laptops se vuelve más intensa. Estos dispositivos priorizan la duración de la batería y no utilizan chips x86 🔋.
Best Ultrabooks and Premium Laptops You Can Buy Today
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)🎉 La línea MacBook Air de Apple es una opción súper popular entre quienes están comenzando con las computadoras Mac. Ahora, Apple ofrece dos tamaños: 13 y 15 pulgadas, manteniendo su ritmo habitual de updates. 📆
Both models share most of the components, differing mainly in the screen size and speakers. 🎧 They are excellent, portable and powerful laptops. 🚀 With 16GB of RAM as standard, these MacBook Airs offer improved value. 💪
Both feature bright displays and the classic square design of Apple. 🌟 Plus, they managed over 15 hours of battery life in our battery test, which is impressive. 🔋
Each model includes the same set of ports and uses MagSafe, the magnetic power connector. 🧲 They also have a notch in the display that houses the 1080p webcam. 📸
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
🎧 Aside from the displays, one of the big differences is in the audio. The 15-inch laptop is equipped with six speakers and force-cancelling woofers, while the 13-inch features just four speakers. 📢
The fanless design is completely silent, but it also means that the M3 chip has no active cooling. This means that during intensive tasks such as video editing and rendering, the chip could slow down. 🔥
During our testing, we noticed that the 13-inch laptop experienced a faster performance drop, possibly because the 15-inch Air has a larger surface area that helps cool the chip. ❄️
However, for most everyday tasks like handling emails, working with documents and spreadsheets, you shouldn't have any worries. 📧📊
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
🌟 Check it out! If you're looking for a laptop that will surprise you, the ThinkPad T14s It's an option you can't miss. Its bright screen is really impressive, but that's not all. 🌟
🖥️ The ThinkPads are famous for their excellent keyboards, and this model is no exception. In addition, the TrackPoint It's a gem for those who want to move the mouse without taking their fingers off the home row. 🖱️
🔋 Battery life? 21 hours! ⏳ Yes, you read that right, 21 hours is the longest we've seen. This is largely due to the processor's efficiency Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite. Additionally, the 1920 x 1200 IPS panel also contributes to this durability, as high-resolution OLED touchscreens typically consume more power. 💪
🚀 As for performance, the Snapdragon X Elite is no slouch and delivers solid results. Priced at just under £1,700 in the tested configuration, it is admittedly on the expensive side. 💸
🪟 But if you need Windows and battery life is your top priority, the ThinkPad T14s It really impresses. Give it a try! 😍
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
💻 Have you ever wondered how much impact does the PC AI revolutionAlthough the debate continues, we cannot ignore that there are ultraportable very attractive in the market. One of them is the HP OmniBook Ultra which stands out for incorporating the processor AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 in a sleek chassis, ensuring powerful performance in productivity. 🚀
🔋 Regarding the battery life, HP has achieved an acceptable figure: 12 hours and 52 minutes in our tests! Although it is not the best on the market, considering the high resolution screen, not bad at all. 👀
Also, it's great to see ports Thunderbolt 4 On an AMD system, something that is extremely rare. ⚡️ However, the experience may be slightly affected by a significant amount of bloatware. But, if you are looking for a AMD laptop solid, the HP OmniBook Ultra It's a strong contender, as long as you don't mind uninstalling some stuff. 🛠️
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
🌟 If you're looking for something beyond the MacBook Air, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is a great option that meets most needs. 💻 This model comes with the powerful processor M4, air-cooled, ensuring optimal performance. 🚀
🔌 The base MacBook Pro includes an additional Thunderbolt port on the right side, allowing you to connect more peripherals and offering flexible charging. For those willing to invest an additional $150, the nano-texture display option is highly recommended if you ever use your laptop outdoors. ☀️ The matte display not only looks amazing, but is also ideal for desks near windows. 🌿
🔍 For those who need more power than the M4, the 14-inch MacBook offers the option of an M4 Pro. We tested it against a high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro with 48GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. 🏆 Our 14-inch model had an impressive battery life of 18 hours and 31 minutes, while the 16-inch model managed an even 21:01. ⏳
🎶 Either way, you'll enjoy high-quality speakers and solid performance, and the device comes with a minimum of 16GB of RAM. Just make sure you choose the specs you need when purchasing, as there are no upgrade options available. 📈
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
😲 Es fácil impresionarnos con una gran pantalla o un rendimiento veloz, y el Asus Zenbook 14 OLED ofrece ambos. Pero donde realmente se destaca es en su precio. 💰 Obtienes un Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 32GB de RAM y 1TB de almacenamiento por solo $1,299 en el momento de escribir esto. 🤑 Muchas otras compañías te cobrarían cientos de dólares más.
Aside from those specs, you’re getting a lightweight laptop that weighs just 2.82 pounds (1.28 kg) that feels plenty sturdy, though the “Ponder Blue” metal body is a fingerprint magnet. 🖐️ We found that the Asus laptop offered fast and powerful performance, achieving a single-core score of 1,809 and a multi-core score of 10,962 on Geekbench 5. 🚀 But when we put the laptop through stress testing using Cinebench, we found that the chip throttled back in continuous testing. So the laptop is good for bursts of speed, but not for long-term heavy workloads.
The keyboard is a bit soft for our taste, but otherwise, you get pretty high specs for that $1,299 price tag. 💻 Other laptop companies should take note of the pricing. 📉
🔍 If you're looking for a laptop that combines power and affordability, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is an option you can't miss. With a light and elegant design, it's ideal for those who need mobility without sacrificing performance. Do you dare to try it? 😉
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
✨ There are many reasons why the ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a classic among laptops. Its slim design and high build quality are highly valued by ThinkPad fans in Argentina. 💻
The latest model, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 11), offers impressive battery life and excellent quality speakers. Perhaps most importantly, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon features a exceptional keyboard. 🖱️ Lenovo's reputation is built on high-quality typing experiences, which is crucial for users. For those who love Lenovo's TrackPoint, it's still present, allowing you to move the mouse without taking your fingers off the home row on the keyboard. 🎯
La versión más reciente viene equipada con los procesadores Core de 13ª generación de Intel. Nosotros lo probamos con un Core i7-1355U, 16GB de RAM y un SSD PCIe Gen 4 de 512GB. 🚀
The only drawback we found is that the base screen could benefit from a bit more brightness. Those who want a more vivid experience can opt for a OLED panel, although at a higher price. 🌟
When purchasing the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 11), it is advisable to be aware of the frequent Lenovo Deals, as there are often promotions available. 🤑
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
🌟 Microsoft may promote the Surface Pro as an all-in-one AI machine, but the truth is that it's simply a Really nice PC, portable and slim, offering a long lasting battery and one Beautiful OLED display. It is definitely one of the best Surfaces to date. 💻✨
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processors provide the required performance to compete with x86 models, making it one of the first Arm-based Surfaces to really get behind. 🚀 There are now more Arm compatible applications que nunca, incluyendo el navegador Chrome, lo que hace que haya mucho menos que extrañar de los modelos anteriores con Intel. 🌐
However, this does not mean that it is perfect: there are still some problems with the games and the drivers for specialized peripherals that may need to be adapted for the new platform. 🎮🔧
The 45 TOPS NPU powers some of the functions of Copilot+ of Windows 11, as Co-creator, Live subtitles and study effects Windows. None of these features prevent the purchase, but they are interesting tricks. 🤖🖥️
If you are looking for a premium tablet running Windows 11, the Surface Pro is one of the few products in the high-end available. And that means paying a premium price by a separate keyboard. But for those who love this form factor, the Surface Pro remains the best available option. 🏆💼
Quick Tips for Buying a Premium Ultrabook / Laptop 💻
Get a good keyboard: Whether you use an ultrabook to browse the web, send email, program, type, or do other productivity work, the keyboard is one of your primary ways of interacting with your computer. Make sure you choose something with responsive keys that aren't mushy. Low travel distance is fine if the keys have the right feel, but the last thing you want is "pulling" while typing. Ideally, you can try out a model in a store before you buy. 🛍️
Consider what you need in a screen: At a minimum, your laptop should have a 1920 x 1080 display. Some laptops offer 4K options, though it's sometimes harder to tell the difference on screens that are 13 inches or smaller. While 4K may be more detailed, 1080p displays offer much longer battery life.
OLED displays are becoming more common in laptops, with deep blacks and bright colors, but often at the cost of battery life. Many laptop screens still use a 16:9 aspect ratio, but consider 16:10 or 3:2 if you want a taller screen that shows more of your work at once. 16:10 has become increasingly popular in recent years, while 3:2 is rarer. 📺
Some laptops can be upgraded: While CPUs and GPUs are almost always soldered on, some laptops let you replace the RAM and storage, so you can buy something cheaper now and add more memory and a larger hard drive or SSD later. But thinner laptops may not have that option, so buy with the future in mind. Some, like the Framework Laptop 13, are designed to be easily upgradeable. 🔧
Battery life is important: Aim for something that lasts 8 hours or more on a charge (gaming is an exception) as a minimum. For productivity, many laptops easily exceed this number, so 10 hours would be even better. But be wary of manufacturer claims, which don't always use rigorous testing. Some laptops are starting to add fast charging, which is a nice extra that recharges them more quickly. 🔋⚡
