Best Ultrabooks 2026 – Slim & Powerful Devices, The last few years have seen tremendous advances in the laptop market, and 2016 looks like it will be a very tough year for ultrabooks. Whether you’re a creatively inclined professional on the go, a telecommuter who needs the power to get work done without carrying a portable computer the size of a small brick, or a student who doesn’t want to have to weigh down their backpack with a laptop – there are some great choices.
I’ve had the chance to test and research a number of these computers, and by far the most impressive aspect is the advances in thermal design. Brands are finally learning how to do high-end processing and storage within such thin chassis that it hardly seems worth considering credit cards. Used to be trade-offs. But in 2016, it’s choice.
What’s Great about Ultrabooks in 2016
Before we get into the specific models, let’s consider what makes a good ultrabook, and what makes it look good in photos. Battery life, screen quality, keyboard feel, heat management under load, and ports (among other factors) are all important – sometimes more important than sheer performance.
The other big change is in the architecture of processors. Intel’s Core Ultra and AMD’s Ryzen AI processors have power efficiency as a topic, rather than an afterthought. Apple’s M-series chips continue to push the envelope and are starting to be matched by Windows OEMs.
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4, 2025/2026 Refresh)
If you’ve made any degree of inroads into the Apple world, the MacBook Air is still the best thin-and-light laptop. The M4 chip is not only insanely fast for single-core tasks and the battery life is just outstanding – 15-18 hours of real-world mixed work, not the lab environment.
The fans-free approach is a plus or minus, depending on what you do. Routine video editing, spreadsheets, programming and web browsing – all without thermal throttling. If you’re looking to do some serious 4K video exporting, there will be some hiccups, but you’re unlikely to get there.
Dell XPS 13 (2026 Edition)
Over the last few years, Dell completely overhauled the XPS 13 series and the new design is luxurious, without being ostentatious. The 2026 version has Intel Core Ultra 7 processors, with better integrated graphics that will handle most creative tasks with ease.
The 13.4-inch OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display is gorgeous – deep blacks, bright colors and clear enough that you won’t miss external monitors for the most part. It’s well built in aluminum and Dell has vastly improved the keyboard of previous XPS models, which were abominable to work on for longer periods.
The OLED display is in the region of 10-12 hours of battery life – decent, but not the very best.
ASUS ZenBook 14 OLED (2026)
ASUS is still one of the best bargains when it comes to ultrabooks, the ZenBook 14 OLED being one of them. With AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 processor, this thing is actually quite quick, and will be several hundred dollars cheaper than its Intel equivalents.
What’s new is the 120Hz, 2.8K OLED screen. It’s a joy to watch video or work on multimedia projects, and it’s fast too, thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is the ultrabook for the “power users”. It’s different than most laptops after eight hours a day of typing – the keyboard continues to be the best in the business. This model for 2026 is built on Intel’s new Core Ultra processors, which offer new AI-accelerated features.
It’s military-grade rugged, which may seem an advertising claim, but not if you’ve ever dropped a business laptop on the floor. It offers great portability for the class, with Lenovo’s business-class support not to be rivalled.
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 (with Keyboard)
The Surface Pro isn’t a clamshell, but would be short-sighted to ignore it in a comparison of ultrabooks. The Surface Pro 11 is powered by Snapdragon X Elite, and with that comes the efficiency of an ARM SoC, which is on par with Apple Silicon in some use-cases, especially battery life (which often tops 14 hours).
Software support is rapidly improving with more apps supporting ARM on Windows. The detachable keyboard is comfortable to type on, and the 13-inch touchscreen is responsive and clear – a plus when you’re in a meeting and need to doodle.
Final Thoughts
There is no one best ultrabook in 2016 – it all comes down to your needs, preferred ecosystem and budget. I can say this, though: These new thin laptops are more powerful than any ultrabook we’ve seen. The trade-offs are less, the advancements are tangible, and you can have a comfortable laptop that’s also portable.
Remember, take your time, think about what you use it for and don’t buy it based on the benchmark results. The best ultrabook is the one that you most like using.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best ultrabook for battery life in 2017?
A: The MacBook Air M4 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 have a battery life of 14+ hours.
Q: What amount of memory is sufficient in an ultrabook in 2016?
A: 16GB will be good for most users. Video editors and others doing lots of multitasking should opt for 32GB.
Q: Should I get an ARM ultrabook in 2016?
A: Yes, in most cases – app support has increased. Make sure to check the apps you’ll need work with ARM before you buy one.
Q: What’s the lightest ultrabook for 2016?
A: There are multiple ultrabooks that weigh less than 2.5 lbs, such as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and LG Gram with special emphasis on weight.
Q: Should I get an ultrabook with OLED or IPS display?
A: OLED displays have deeper blacks and better color, while IPS displays tend to be brighter, and have a longer lifespan. For artists, OLED is preferred. For sunny days, a high-nit IPS will be better.
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