The 7 Best Ultrabooks of 2020

If you think Huawei's hardware design chops are limited to their smartphones, just wait till you gaze upon the MateBook X Pro. Having a CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) machined metallic unibody with a premium sandblasted finish, this is an ultrabook that looks gorgeous from every angle. Up front, it features a crisp, 13.9-inch display with a resolution of 3000x2000 pixels and a 3:2 aspect ratio. The panel has 10-point multitouch support and comes with ultra-thin bezels, giving the laptop a screen-to-body ratio of 91 percent. Powering the MateBook X Pro is Intel's 8th-generation Core i7 CPU, helped by 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

You also get NVIDIA's GeForce MX 150 GPU with 2GB of dedicated graphics memory. External ports include USB Type-A, USB Type-C, Thunderbolt 3, and 3.5mm audio, with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.1 taking care of wireless connectivity. Perhaps the most interesting design element of Huawei MateBook X Pro is its pop-up webcam, which stays hidden underneath a key when not in use and thus provides additional privacy. Speaking of which, the ultrabook has a fingerprint sensor built right into its power button. Other perks include a quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos, a four-microphone array, 15 hours of battery for web surfing, and Windows 10 Home (Signature Edition).

Dell's computing products are generally regarded as being among the foremost in the business, and the XPS 13 is no exception. With its thoughtful feature set and exceptional overall performance, this is an ultrabook that ticks all the right boxes. Weighing 2.7 pounds, the XPS 13 sports a 13.3-inch Full-HD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

The Infinity Edge panel features minimal bezels on three of its four sides, giving the XPS 13 the physical footprint of a much smaller laptop. Our recommended configuration includes an 8th-generation Intel Quad-Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. Running 64-bit Windows 10 Home, Dell XPS 13 comes with a full-size backlit keyboard and a precision touchpad. For external inputs and outputs (also known as I/O), you get a USB Type-C port, two Thunderbolt 3 ports (with Power Delivery and DisplayPort support), a 3.5mm audio port, and a microSD card reader.

There's also a nifty battery gauge on the laptop's left side that lets you find out the remaining battery level with the press of a button, using an array of tiny LED lights. You won't have to check it very often, however, because you can get up to 13 hours on a single charge. Other notable inclusions are Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 4.1, an HD webcam, a four-microphone array, and stereo speakers.

Dell also has a 2-in-1 ultrabook in its XPS line, and it just happens to be one of the best hybrid laptops and tablets you can buy today. Refreshed for 2019, the XPS 13 2-in-1 boasts a captivating display and great processing power while remaining lightweight and impressive in the battery life department. The XPS 2-in-1 has an awesome 1920x1200 resolution touchscreen display. Dell has tweaked InfinityEdge design, narrowing the bezels to provide 13.4 inches of screen real estate.

Available in four different configurations, the XPS 13 2-in-1 offers versatility. Its starting configuration has a 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 256GB NVMe SSD. Don’t be scared off by the Core i3, as its 10th-generation analog packs more of a punch, and Dell used high-quality memory and storage to make the XPS 2-in-1 a fast, efficient machine. If you want more power, though, you can opt for the Core i5 version with 8GB of RAM. 

For those who regularly use their laptops with rigorous software, Dell has two Core i7 configurations, each with 16GB of RAM and better graphics. The top Core i7 configuration also comes with an Ultra HD display and 512GB of storage. The XPS 2-in-1 is sleek and alluring, and Dell claims the battery can run for up to 16 hours between charges.

If not in name, Apple’s MacBook Air was actually the original “ultrabook” in design. At least three years before the term was even heard (it was coined and trademarked by Intel in 2011), Apple’s then-CEO Steve Jobs famously slid the company’s flagship ultra-portable MacBook out of a manila envelope. Since then, however, the MacBook Air has taken up its rightful place as the basis of Apple’s MacBook lineup.

It may be slim and sleek, weighing only 2.75 pounds and measuring just 0.61 inches at its thickest point, but it’s no slouch when it comes to performance. Apple has packed in an 8th-generation 1.6GHz dual-core Core i5 CPU that our testing showed can burst up to 3.6 GHz, along with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, although you can pay a bit more for more memory of storage — up to 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD, respectively. There are also two Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports for connecting more storage, external displays, or even an external GPU for more graphics power. 

The display is also something to be admired in a laptop of this class. Apple hasn’t pulled any punches in putting the best display that it can into the MacBook Air, featuring everything found in its MacBook Pro Retina display except the wider color gamut. But you still get a 2560x1600-pixel and 227 PPI native resolution, and with the latest model, Apple has even added the True Tone display feature for amazing color accuracy. 12 to 13 hours of battery life ought to keep you running for longer than most Windows ultrabooks, and Apple’s T2 security chip, as well as its Touch ID sensor, keep you more secure.

Microsoft's original Surface Book was a revolutionary machine when it came out: a high-powered laptop with a removable screen that acts as a fully-featured tablet computer, and unique input options aimed squarely at designers.
The second edition improved on almost every aspect, configurable with the latest CPUs, plenty of RAM and storage, and a high-end graphics card. No matter which version you buy, you can add the Surface Pen for drawing directly on the screen, and the Surface Dial, a puck-like device with customized shortcuts depending on the app you're using.
The Surface Book 2 is available in 13" and 15" versions, with the larger version also having the best graphics card (NVIDIA GTX 1060.) We'd recommend getting more storage than you think you'll need—those design files aren't small!
The crisp, high-resolution 3240 x 2160 screen has exceptional color accuracy and is easily calibrated for your specific requirements. You'll get up to 17 hours of battery life in laptop mode, so you can keep working late into the night if inspiration hits.
This is by no means an inexpensive machine, but there's nothing else on the market like it for graphic designers. For the ultimate power and flexibility, you can't go past the Surface Book 2.

Although ASUS makes a lot of great laptops, some of the Taiwanese company's offerings stand out more than the others, a case in point being the Zenbook 14. Having the right blend of design, features, and performance, this well-priced ultrabook offers a lot of bang for your buck. ASUS Zenbook 14 comes with a 14-inch Full-HD display, having a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The Nano Edge panel sports minimal side bezels, resulting in the ultrabook having an impressive 92 percent screen-to-body ratio. Delivering horsepower to the Zenbook 14 is Intel's 8th-generation Core i7 CPU, paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

The unique Ergo Lift hinge automatically tilts the keyboard upwards by 3 degrees whenever the lid is opened; this not only enhances the typing experience but also improves cooling by increasing airflow around the underside of the laptop's chassis. Another interesting feature of the Zenbook 14 is its dual-function touchpad, which doubles up as a touch-enabled number pad. You also get USB Type-A (x2), USB Type-C, HDMI, 3.5mm audio and a MicroSD card reader for I/O, as well as Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity, and 14-hour battery life.