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The Best Ultrabooks

Updated April 2026·Experts: The Verge, CNET, WIRED, PCMag

Best Overall

Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5, 2026)

$1,149-$1,599

If you're not locked into Windows, just get this. It's been the consensus pick for years and the M5 only widens the gap, the community has spoken, and they're right.

What holds up

  • M5 chip delivers class-leading performance and efficiency
  • ~13 hours of real-world battery life
  • Fanless design runs completely silent
  • Best-in-class trackpad and solid keyboard
  • Thin at 0.45 inches, light at 3.3 lbs

What to know

  • No touch screen option
  • Starting price is $100 more than M4 generation
  • MacBook Neo now exists at less than half the price
  • No ProMotion display (exclusive to MacBook Pro)
Expert verdict
Just get the latest MacBook Air. It's been a little same-y for a few years, but it's still the best for a reason. Every part of it is good to great.
The VergeView source
Expert verdict
The 15-inch MacBook Air is proof that you don't need a Pro to get a larger display. It supplies a larger screen that you once found only on the pricier Pro models.
CNETView source
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Best Business Ultrabook

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition

$1,800-$2,500

If your company is paying or you travel constantly for work, this is the one. No other Windows ultrabook matches its combination of weight, build quality, and battery life, it's earned its premium price.

What holds up

  • Remarkably light at 2.17 lbs with carbon fiber, magnesium, and aluminum construction
  • 2.8K OLED display with excellent color accuracy
  • Nearly 20 hours of battery life in testing
  • Generous port selection for its slim profile
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 258V with strong AI performance

What to know

  • Premium price puts it out of reach for many buyers
  • No SD or microSD card slot
  • WWAN option not yet available at launch
Expert verdict
It's an ultraportable dream, from the carbon fiber, magnesium, and aluminum construction to the 2.8K OLED display, generous port selection, and nearly 20 hours of battery life. We gave it five stars.
PCMagView source
Expert verdict
The 2.17-pound work machine is among the best AI PCs we've seen yet, including a blend of killer features and leading performance, updated with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor.
PCMagView source
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Best Battery Life

HP OmniBook 5 14

$800-$1,000

The battery life here is genuinely shocking, 34 hours isn't a typo. If you're a student, traveler, or anyone who hates hunting for power outlets, this is your laptop.

What holds up

  • 34+ hours of battery life in independent testing, best in class
  • Vivid OLED display with deep blacks and vivid colors
  • Ultra-thin and light at 2.98 lbs
  • Aggressively priced under $900 for the specs
  • Copilot+ PC with full AI feature support

What to know

  • Plastic keyboard deck lacks rigidity
  • Ho-hum integrated graphics performance
  • OLED display isn't the brightest
  • Slow USB-C ports
Expert verdict
The laptop's standout feature is its field-leading battery life, which lasted more than 34 hours in testing, surpassing almost every conventional laptop tested in years.
PCMagView source
Expert verdict
Only a few weeks after ceding the battery life throne to Lenovo in our tests, HP has snatched back the crown with the OmniBook 5 14.
CNETView source
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Best Budget Ultrabook

Apple MacBook Neo

$499-$699

This is the laptop that changes the budget conversation. For students or anyone who doesn't need heavy creative workloads, the Neo is genuinely the best $600 laptop ever made, full stop.

What holds up

  • A18 Pro chip faster than most Windows laptop chips in single-core performance
  • Premium MacBook build quality and trackpad at $599
  • Surprisingly impressive stereo speakers
  • Perfect for students, $499 with educational discount
  • Seamless integration with iPhone ecosystem

What to know

  • Only 8GB RAM, may feel lean for power users
  • Relatively slow storage compared to MacBook Air
  • No keyboard backlighting on base model
  • Only 20W charging with included charger
  • 256GB base storage fills up fast
Expert verdict
Most inexpensive laptops are bulky and creaky, with bad keyboards and screens. Like the Air, the Neo nails the basics, just at a lower price. Its build quality is unbeatable for its $600 price.
The VergeView source
Expert verdict
The MacBook Neo is easily the best laptop for school use, especially if you (or the student you're buying for) already have an iPhone. At $599, the Neo is nearly half the price of the cheapest MacBook Air.
CNETView source
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Best Windows Ultrabook

Dell XPS 14 (2026)

$1,890-$2,900

If you need Windows and want the closest thing to MacBook Pro build quality, the XPS 14 is it. It's expensive, but it's the Windows ultrabook that actually feels premium in your hands.

What holds up

  • Premium build quality with stunning display
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 or X7 processor options for serious performance
  • Thin and light design that competes with MacBook aesthetics
  • Strong port selection for a slim ultrabook
  • Recommended by WIRED, PCMag, and The Verge as best high-end Windows ultraportable

What to know

  • Expensive starting price, $1,890 and up
  • Top configurations exceed $2,700
  • Battery life trails MacBook Air and HP OmniBook
  • Runs hot under sustained load
Expert verdict
Best High-End Ultraportable Laptop, Dell XPS 14 (2026), selected after rigorous benchmark testing of CPU and graphics speeds, display quality, battery life, connectivity, and overall value.
PCMagView source
Expert verdict
Dell XPS 14 (2026) listed among top recommended laptops, available from $1,890 at Dell with Core Ultra 7 configuration
WIREDView source
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