If you’re reading this article, it’s likely because you’re in the market for an ultrabook. Or perhaps you’re gathering all the necessary information before making the purchase, as there are various factors to consider.
This type of laptop has several advantages over normal devices that we all have at home, but it also has disadvantages that you should consider.
To choose one of these laptops, you have to keep in mind your needs, according to which you have to opt for one model rather than another.
Don’t worry, and we have created this article to guide you in all that is important to know about ultrabooks so that you can easily find the one that’s right for you.
Here we had selected some of the best and advanced models of ultrabooks that are given below.
Buyer Guide to Choose Ultrabooks
If what you want is a small computer with excellent performance and light that can be transported comfortably, the ultrabook is a superb option for you.
On the market, as you have seen, there are many options with remarkably different prices. To learn more about all aspects of this type of computer, read this section where we answer the most frequent questions asked by those who, like you, are looking for information on ultrabooks.
What Is an Ultrabook?
Intel thus called in 2011 a series of laptops intended to compete with Apple’s MacBook Air. Nowadays, it is a term extended to many brands of computers, which may contain Intel, AMD, and other processors.
However, to be called ultrabooks, they must have several features, although there are exceptions. Ultrabooks must be between 18mm and 21mm thick and must be very light. The screens usually don’t exceed 14 “.
They also have an excellent WIFI connection, a USB 3.0 port, low voltage processors, SSD disk, metal case to dissipate heat, long-lasting batteries, and fast start thanks to Intel Rapid Start.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Ultrabooks
Ultrabooks have several advantages, and the different models can have more or less interesting features. It is also true, however, that they have some negative aspects that you should take into account before buying one.
Below you can find a short table summarizing their main advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
- Small size
- Full HD screens up to 14 “
- light
- Quick start
- Powerful processors
- Metallic case
- SSD disk
- Excellent connection
Disadvantages
- They often have a high price
- They have a lower storage capacity
- They do not have a CD / DVD player
Advantages of The Ultrabook SSD Disk
The ultrabook has the characteristic of being fast, and this also thanks to the hard SSD (Solid-State Drive). We talked about SSD technology in a previous article, given its importance. SSDs are more responsive than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), but they also have flaws.
Below you will find their main strengths and weaknesses so that nothing will escape you.
Advantages
- Faster data transfer rate
- Quick start of OS
- silent
- They overheat a little
What Can I Do with An Ultrabook?
As a rule, ultrabooks are equipped with low-voltage Intel i5 or i7 processors. This means that they are powerful enough to be used not only for surfing the internet or for the main office jobs, but you can also see films and videos at the top and use editing programs.
They have been designed to be transported easily, but without affecting their performance while carrying out various activities. Their performance is, thanks to all their characteristics, higher than that of notebooks, and they have nothing to envy to desktop computers of a certain level.
Can I Use an Ultrabook for Gaming?
This essentially depends on the type of graphics that the ultrabook has. With an integrated graphics card, you can normally play 2D or headlines with little technical detail.
Certainly, on the market, there are more powerful devices in this sense, equipped with suitable characteristics to be able to play even at a better graphic quality.
If you are interested in gaming and still need an ultrabook, you will need to check the graphics card supplied. You must make sure that it has a minimum of 2GB dedicated.
Often in these devices, you will find the Nvidia GeForce GXT1050, which, although quite basic, certainly offers you the opportunity to play some games with good graphic detail.
Why Don’t Ultrabooks Have Cd and Dvd Players?
This is one of the characteristics of ultrabooks and one of its weak points. Their lack is due to the little space, and the lightness they have to offer to be considered in this category of laptops.
If you are still interested in having a CD or DVD player, you can always buy an external one and connect it to one of the PC ports. Today there are various manufacturers selling players/recorders at a low price. As you can see, what could be a problem has an easy solution.
Is the Battery of An Ultrabook Efficient?
In a laptop, among the things that are most sought after, there are the convenience and ease of being moved and used practically everywhere.
The ultrabook is designed for this, not only for their small size and lightweight, but also because they bet on a technology that consumes little and, at the same time, almost always incorporate batteries of considerable duration.
It all depends on the manufacturer and the model, but it must be said that many of them incorporate an intelligent battery that optimizes its performance.
At the same, specific computers are added to some computers – as happens in Asus – which protect battery life and limit its consumption.
Purchase Criteria
By now, you know the most important aspects of ultrabooks, and you know what features they must have to carry this name. In addition to this, however, you must keep in mind the main criteria that will lead you to make the right choice according to your needs.
We have summarized them briefly below, keep them in mind, and we are sure you will not regret your purchase.
- Processor and RAM
- Solid disc
- Graphics card
- Screen
Processor and Ram
Although other brands exist, such as AMD, most ultrabook processors are from Intel. At the moment, most of them are Intel Core i5 or i7 from the seventh generation onwards, and they are all ‘low voltage,’ although very efficient.
Low voltage means that they have a longer battery life, which is at the expense of clock speed and a TDP compared to normal processors. As for RAM, the most likely thing is to find 8 GB DDR3 or DDR4 in the medium ranges. They are more than enough for an adequate return.
Some of the hottest ultrabooks may be equipped with a 12 GB, 16 GB or 32GB DDR4 RAM. As a principle, the minimum acceptable would be 8 GB of RAM, but be aware that there are also 4 GB of RAM.
Solid Disc
As we have seen, the ultrabooks are equipped with the SSD disk, which, as we explained before in detail, offer more data transfer speeds and drastically reduce the seconds needed to start the operating system. For this purpose, these devices are also equipped with the Intel Rapid System.
It also ensures that the loading of programs is not slow, even if they are large. They work differently than HDDs; they are also less noisy and have the advantage of not overheating much. It is common that they are 256 GB, but you also find them with a larger storage capacity.
Graphics Card
Many ultrabooks are equipped with an integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics card, which is sufficient if you use your device for normal use not addressed to the world of gaming.
In case you want to use it to play, remember to buy a product that has a dedicated graphics card of at least 2GB, such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050.
Screen
Currently, practically all screens on an ultrabook are Full HD. Many of them are also tactile. First, everyone should have been, but then with the expansion of the market and distinctive features, now you can find both tactile and not. The size in inches of the ultrabook is normally between 13’3 “and 14”.
