Where the name comes from
Intel introduced “Ultrabook” in 2011 as a label for laptops that met its rules for thickness, battery life and wake-up speed. The official programme has ended, but the word stuck as a general name for slim, premium laptops.
How an ultrabook differs from a regular laptop
| Ultrabook | Regular laptop | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Usually 1 to 1.5 kg | Often 1.6 to 2.5 kg |
| Battery | A full working day is the goal | Varies widely |
| Ports | Few, mostly USB-C | More, often HDMI and USB-A |
| Upgrades | Memory is usually soldered | Memory and storage are often replaceable |
| Graphics | Integrated | Integrated or dedicated |
Which one should you buy?
Choose an ultrabook if you carry your laptop every day and mostly work in a browser, documents and video calls. Choose a thicker laptop if you want to play games, need many ports, or plan to add memory later. The “Work” and “Students” scores in our reviews weigh battery life and build quality more heavily, which is where ultrabooks do well.