Best Ultra-books Of 2015
Best Ultra-Books Of 2015
If you’re looking for the skinniest
and lightest PC laptops on the market, you’ll over and over again find them
labeled as “Ultra books.” A
brainchild of Intel,
the Ultra book specification means that a notebook has long battery life and
svelte chassis. The category is very wide and includes many models at different
prices and form factors, including hybrids that double as tablets for the ultimate
in versatility. You’ll also find high-end machines with super-sharp, quad HD
screens and speedy SSDs. Here’s our list of the Top Ultra books today.
1. Dell XPS 13 - 2015 Edition
The 2015 edition of the Dell XPS
13 grasps a 13-inch screen into a chassis
the size of an 11-inch notebook by using the world's slimiest bezel. In
addition to its slender
form factor, this consumer Ultra book has an optional WQHD touch screen (or
standard full HD panel), an SSD and the latest Intel Broad well processor. Add
in a professed 15 hours of battery
life and we have a winner.
2. Asus Zenbook UX305
With the Zen Book UX305, you get an Ultra book that packs an Intel Core M CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB hard state drive into a stylish all-aluminum body -- for just $699. The UX305 also traits a 13.3-inch display with a matte screen for super-wide viewing angles and easy outdoor visibility. And with its fan less design, there's no noise to disturb your work or Netflix spree session.
3. HP Specter X360
With 9.5 hours of battery life,
the 3.3-pound HP Specter x360 lasts longer than most other Ultra books, and
still provides the full power of an Intel Core i5 processor. Its aluminum
chassis is one of the most attractive we've seen, and its screen folds back 360
degrees, converting this notebook into a tablet.
4. Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro
Lenovo's Yoga 3 Pro is the most flexible
Ultra book yet -- and also the shiniest. This 2-in-1 hybrid sports a well-designed watch band-style pivot
that makes it a cinch to change from laptop to tablet mode, or use it in tent
mode. Plus, the Harmony software presents suitable apps as you switch modes.
The Yoga 3 Pro weighs just 2.6
pounds but packs a brilliant 3200 x 1800-pixel touch screen and fairly speedy
Core M CPU.
5. HP EliteBook Folio 1020
One of the skinniest and brightness’s
Ultrabooks yet, the EliteBook 1020 is just 0.62 inches broad and weighs just
2.68 pounds, making it svelter than the Dell XPS 13 and the MacBook Air.
Inside the aluminum chassis is a 12.5-inch quad HD display, Intel Core M
processor and a Synaptic Force Pad, which uses pressure to register clicks.
Business users will like the Elite Book’s fingerprint reader, docking port and
durability, but we wish the battery lasted a little longer.
6. Lenovo ThinkPad X240
The extensive lasting laptop yet, the Think Pad X240's 6-cell battery
provided an astounding 20.5 hours of juice in our tests. The smaller 3-cell
battery yields a still exciting 7:40 of runtime. We also love the X240's comfortable
keyboard with extended palm rest, durable design and wide viewing angles
from the IPS
display.
7. Acer Aspire S7 (2014)
One of our preferred Ultrabooks has gone quad
HD. The 3-pound Acer Aspire S7 attributes
an influential 4th generation Intel Haswell processor, a fast 128GB
SSD and a new super-sharp 13-inch
screen that packs 2560 x 1440
pixels. The new S7 doesn't last as
long on a charge as its predecessor, but it's still one of the most outstanding
systems in its class.
NOTE: A new Intel 5th Generation
Core Series-powered version of the S7 is launching in early 2015.
7. Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus (2015)
Combining well-designed good glance
with Windows acquaintance, Samsung's ATIV Book 9 Plus should be on your short
list of Ultrabook options. It features a super sharp, 13.3-inch, 3200 x
1800-pixel touch screen, and is powered by an Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM
with a 128GB SSD. It even lasts 8 hours on a charge.
8. Lenovo LaVie Z (Innovative and Prominent)
At 1.73-pounds, Lenovo's forthcoming
LaVie Z is the lightest 13-inch
laptop ever, but doesn't skimp on specs. This $1,299 laptop sports an Intel 5th
Generation Core i5 or Core i7 CPU, a full HD screen and a speedy SSD. There's
also a folding adaptable
model of the Lavie Z that will cost $1,499 and weigh a slightly-higher, 2.04
pounds. Both models are set to lighten your wallet in May.