Top 10 ultrabooks

Formally, the HP ENVY laptop is not an ultrabook, as it works on the AMD platform. But according to the other criteria, it fits into the category of ultrabooks, so he found a place in our rating.

It's nice that the latest AMD processors are again a real competitor to Intel in terms of performance. Unfortunately, it is impossible to say so about their energy efficiency. As a result, the recommended model may surprise with the presence of an active cooling system and the noise it creates. Especially when the power adapter is connected. For the sake of fairness, we note that such an “anti-file” is typical of many HP laptops. If we evaluate the capabilities of the Ryzen 3 and Core i3 platforms in comparison, then we can consider the first to be the best when working with multimedia applications, and the latter - with office applications. The ultrabook in question has a transformable design, three USB ports, including a modern Type-C with support for Power Delivery 3.0 technology (can be used for charging), and also a fairly decent audio path from Bang & Olufsen.

Acer laptops have almost no equal among the products of famous brands in terms of financial attractiveness. Another thing is that the modifications of models available from this manufacturer are great and they may have different design features. Specifically, the SF314-54 line is interesting with the possibility of simply increasing the amount of RAM. Pay attention, 4 GB in it is unsoldered on the motherboard, and the rest, relying ultrabook on the configuration, "finish off" by installing a standard strap of the desired nominal (up to 12 GB). In addition, we recommend focusing on a model with a solid-state drive. Otherwise, problems with regular stop / promotion of HDD are not excluded. Finally, unlike the 52nd series, here the display lid has a special hook for easier opening. Significant disadvantages of SWIFT 3, we believe frankly small battery capacity and mediocre webcam.

This ultrabook has so thin frames around the touchscreen display that there is simply no room left for a webcam. It was found in the series of function keys and this is a rather controversial decision, as long as the lens here constantly overlaps the hands when typing, and the view of the face from below is definitely not a winning one. Say more, the camera is the strangest component of the recommended ultrabook.Agree, in a device for a hundred thousand, with four microphones, a sensor with a resolution of one megapixel is nonsense. Actually, it is this fact, as well as the impossibility of simply replacing a solid-state drive, that was the reason for reducing the overall assessment to an excellent laptop. Neither the smart screen, nor the most convenient fingerprint scanner, integrated into the power button, nor a competent cooling system, nor decent autonomy (more than 7 hours of 4K video playback at half brightness) saved. Or maybe you do not need a video call?

Another good ultrabook with thin frames, this time transformable. The model of the Yoga C930 can be considered a speaker built into a long loop hinge. In theory, the design features of the latter should ensure the correct orientation of the audio stream at any angle of disclosure. At the same time, Lenovo decided to play it safe and did not begin to remove the standard front speakers, thanks to which, in a classic position, the laptop pleases with a really good sound.

The advantages of the recommended device include a moderately quiet 2-fan cooling system and the bundled Active Pen 2 stylus, for which a slot with automatic charging is provided in the case.

Unpleasantly surprised by the lack of a built-in card reader. The drive for the Yoga C930 is removable, but there is no slot for RAM.

Fashion for displays with thin frames is expanding. Asus also learned how to create durable full-screen modules for laptops and last year introduced the first improved generation of the ZenBook line. Note that the Taiwanese brand has found quite an interesting design solution that allows you to visually mask part of the lower frame, and at the same time lift the back of the ultrabook for better ventilation. In fact, the only fundamental disadvantage of asymmetrical hinge loops is the limited opening angle. In the case of the UX333FA model, it is 143 degrees. Yes, it will also be inconvenient to keep this device on your lap.

I am glad that the thinness of the Asus Ultrabook has not prevented its designers from placing the webcam in the usual place. Of the other amenities, we note the ability to self-replace the SSD and install a discrete video card. Grieves the impossibility of charging via the USB Type-C port.

Powerful work tool with a large screen diagonal. At the same time, due to the use of a new type of display module (with very thin frames and a hinge of the original design), it is one of the most compact 15-inch notebooks to date. Of those equipped with a productive discrete graphics card - for sure. Among other trump chips, we cannot but mention a full-fledged keyboard with an additional digital unit, compliance with the requirements of the MIL-STD-810G standard, an infrared scanner of the recognition system (working even in complete darkness) and a tremendous data transfer rate via Wi-Fi twisted pair is also included). The autonomy of the ultrabook UX533FD is good: up to three hours at maximum load and at least seven in normal mode. Of the obvious flaws - the lack of interface Thunderbolt.

Xiaomi products are familiar to us with affordable price tags. In this case, we are dealing with an inexpensive version of a business class ultrabook. An elegant and easily recognizable design, powerful stuffing, a fairly high quality of performance and components - few people will resist the temptation to save a decent amount.

The “bottleneck” of the Mi Notebook Air 13 of the 2018 model is weak autonomy. Even all sorts of tricks, such as turning off unnecessary services and forcing a voltage drop on the processor (undervolting), make it possible to increase the average operating time per battery charge only to 5-6 hours. The disadvantages are smaller: the power key in place of the Delete button, a glossy screen and a fingerprint scanner built into the touchpad. The first is relative - the switch does not respond to occasional short presses. Glare on the screen of the working mood does not add to anyone, but a powerful ultrabook is usually taken not for entertainment. And the dactyloscope simply “eats away” the useful area. Yes, there is also no memory card slot.