What is an Ultrabook?

An essential criterion of a laptop PC, mobility, is at the heart of the concerns of laptop manufacturers. The ultimate goal is always to offer more power in ever more refined products. The name ” ultrabook ” suggests finesse and compactness. However, you do not know its strict characteristics.

So let’s come back to the history of the Ultrabook.

Contrary to popular belief, the first Ultrabook is not the MacBook Air. Moreover, the MacBook Air is not an ultrabook, strictly speaking. Indeed, a concept launched in 2007 by Intel Corporation’s manufacturer, “Ultrabook,” has been a registered name since November 2011.

As such, any ultrabook meets specific specifications.
Initially, for a laptop to qualify as an Ultrabook ™, it must meet some criteria imposed by Intel:

  • Its thickness does not exceed 18 mmfor screens up to 13.3 inches and 21 mm for 14 inches and more.
  • It is light(no details).
  • It starts up instantlyand must end in less than 7 seconds.
  • Its autonomy is at least 5 hours.
  • It must be securedusing technologies such as Anti-Theft Technology or Identity Protection Technology.

Then, in 2013, with the arrival of its 4th generation Haswell processor, Intel made changes to these specifications and added new criteria to the Ultrabook ™ name.

Thus, an Intel processor required, a standby time of fewer than 3 seconds imposed, better autonomy required, the thickness of the machines revised upwards ( 20 mm for screens up to 13.3 inches and 23 mm for screens of 14 inches and more ), and many of the other criteria detailed in the infographic below.

In addition, the Ultrabook is to be distinguished from the ultraportable because it is a sub-category by its format. So not every ultraportable is an ultrabook.

Storage

Due to its thinness, its robustness, and its speed, the SSD has established itself as a storage solution for ultrabooks – but it is not mandatory as the Dell XPS 14 proves -.SDD technology has continued to evolve to offer more memory ever.

SSDs can have various capacities up to 1TB, depending on the ultra-book make and model. A minimum of 128 GB recommend.
But you can always opt for an external SSD to compensate for the lack of memory, if necessary.

Selection of the Best Ultrabooks 2018

The ultrabook design for mobile use of the computer.
Thin, light, and easy to use, it must be able to manage your daily office automation and multimedia activities without difficulty. However, it is not suitable for power-hungry tasks such as programming or video editing. However, the offer tends to expand, and it is possible, with an Intel Core i5 or i7 configuration and a substantial RAM, to manage fairly robust uses.

Here is our selection of ultrabooks to guide you in your choice according to your expectations.

Asus ZenBook 3 Deluxe

The Asus ZenBook 3 Deluxe is an ultrabook whose keyword is high-end portability.

In addition to its elegant design and perfect finish, the ZenBook 3 Deluxe stands out with its 14-inch screen on a 13-inch chassis, Full HD IPS screen in 16: 9 format ensuring consistent display quality.

This Ultrabook provides excellent performance for a jewel of such finesse with a seventh-making Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD.  It is ideally suited for advanced and versatile use.

.Especially since on the connectivity side, there is enough to satisfy all your needs with Thunderbolt 3 compatible USB-C ports and a mini-dock (with USB 3.0, HDMI, and USB-C ).

However, despite its power for an ultrabook, the Zenbook 3 Deluxe is not suitable for ” gamer ” use since it equips with the Intel HD Graphics 620, which does not allow it to run games that are too heavy.
Finally, the brand promises 9 hours of autonomy and a quick recharge of fewer than 50 minutes.
This luxurious Ultrabook is perfect for users seeking elegance and power who want to work in the office or outdoors and on a budget.

HP Specter x360

The HP Specter x360 is a convertible ultrabook synonymous with ultra-lightness and power.
Available in two versions of 13 or 15 inches, the Specter x360 sports an optional full HD IPS micro-edge and 4k touchscreen, delivering a remarkable viewing experience.

Equipped with an eighth-generation processor (Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7), backed by up to 16 GB of RAM and a 256 GB (or 512 GB) SSD,  this high-end ultraportable is powerful enough for office and multimedia work, even a little more cumbersome tasks such as video editing, photo retouching, etc. However, in terms of graphics performance, the Specter x360 is limited to the latest generation video games with its HD Graphics 620 graphics chipset.

It remains an excellent tool for work and entertainment, especially with its advanced connectivity, such as USB 3.0. , USB-C including a Thunderbolt 3 compatible, HDMI, micro SD, among others. All the more so since it has a theoretical autonomy of 16 hours and reaches 12 hours in practice. That will depend in particular on the use of your machine and its maintenance. Jewel of technology, the Specter x360 represents high-end ultra-portability intended for mobile users who have budgeted to work or have fun with tact.