The Best Ultraportable Laptops We’ve Tested for 2026

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Buying Guide: The Best Ultraportable Laptops for 2026

While ultraportable laptops as a class may look sleek, several key differentiators set models apart. The first to consider is price. You’ll notice a significant difference between a $400 system and a $1,300 one, even if they share the same brand name, looks, and features.

At the low end are entry-level systems, which generally cost $500 or less. For many casual users, this is the only price range worth looking at, but keep certain caveats in mind. The processing power, display resolution, and storage capacities are usually lower on inexpensive ultraportables, and the construction can be flimsy. The weight of these models also ranges up to 4 pounds, whereas we consider a true ultraportable to be under or at least close to 3 pounds.

Entry-level ultraportables make solid systems for younger family members to use for homework or watching movies at home, as they are both highly portable and relatively inexpensive. Value is a significant factor in this category, as many budget ultraportables can entice you with low prices. If you’re not careful, you may be let down by a system that’s a bargain only because its manufacturer cut too many corners.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

However, the spec floor has risen in this category. As faster base parts become less expensive and more common, cheaper systems with decent build quality have become more capable. Your average $500 laptop is adequate for simple web browsing, word processing, and media viewing.

Midrange systems are better but, by definition, also cost more, ranging from about $800 to $1,300. Materials and components that were once exclusive to high-end ultraportables are now the norm in midrange systems, including full HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) or even QHD (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) panels, touch displays, and all-metal chassis. Battery life and storage have also improved, making it easier to get a better bang for your buck in this price range. You’ll still have to compromise in one or two areas (such as storage capacity, port options, and resolution) compared with the high-end systems, but for most shoppers, this price range represents the best mix of price and performance.

At the top of the price ladder are premium ultraportables, which we categorize as anything costing $1,400 or more. With these high-end systems come premium materials, cutting-edge components and features, and top performance that will accelerate photo editing and other productivity tasks. Here, you’ll also see 3K- or 4K-resolution displays, quality sound hardware (often from familiar brands like Bang & Olufsen), spacious and speedy storage, and other exciting features, all while the system’s form factor remains slim and compact.

Due to specialized remote management and corporate features, many premium business laptops also fall into this class. This pricing tier yields the best overall user experience, the most features and port options, and the fastest internal hardware, but not every premium system is created equal. When you’re spending this much money, do you want second best? If you have the budget and spend a lot of time on your laptop, it may very well pay to invest in quality.

Which Processor Should I Get in an Ultraportable?

For smooth performance and a decent user experience, you’ll want to be choosy about your processor. Even in a less expensive system, today’s average Intel or AMD processor is more capable than ever of handling routine tasks, but if you need speed, choose carefully. For the latest Intel CPU products, you’ll want one of its Core Ultra processors, also known as “Lunar Lake” (Core Ultra 200V Series) and “Panther Lake” (Core Ultra Series 3). In these families, the Core Ultra 7 and 9 deliver top performance. The newest Intel chips with “X7” or “X9” in the name support much better integrated graphics than Intel’s earlier laptop chips.

Intel Processor Options in Ultraportables

Lunar Lake and Panther Lake utilize a tiled system-on-chip (SoC) design that combines modular chip components, such as the CPU, graphics, and I/O, to handle tasks like PCI Express connections. The most significant new addition to Lunar and Panther Lake is a neural processing unit (NPU), a core cluster that’s tailor-made for AI processing tasks. If you’re seeking one of Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs and looking at models based on an Intel processor, it’ll come equipped with one of these two Intel CPU families.

Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC program outlines the minimum specifications for laptops that can fully leverage the Copilot AI suite in Windows 11. A certain level of AI performance, measured in total operations per second (TOPS), is required: 40 TOPS. A minimum memory capacity of 16GB and a solid-state drive with at least 256GB of storage are also required.

The Copilot-compliant Lunar Lake chips are officially known as the Intel Core Ultra 200V series, introducing some of the market’s best power and thermal efficiency. The “V” designates chips optimized for no-compromise performance while still delivering long battery life.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Core Ultra series processors are designed for thin-and-light laptops that need power while keeping wattage low enough for extended battery life. Designed for systems with limited thermal headroom, these processors are ideal for ultraportables that require performance without the added weight of bulky cooling systems. Also worth looking for: Intel Evo. A subset of Intel Core-based ultraportables, laptops with the Intel Evo badge meet strict Intel criteria for performance, fast charging, and connectivity. They also have longer battery life and excellent connectivity options.

Finally, among budget-priced ultraportables, look out for systems with Intel “Wildcat Lake” chips inside, with the first models, like the overhauled Dell XPS 13.

AMD Processor Options in Ultraportables

AMD has also made inroads with ultraportable laptops, with its AMD Ryzen U series filling the same role. Now in the 8000 generation, these Ryzen chips are also optimized for low power consumption and lower thermal design power (TDP), enabling longer-lasting batteries in thinner, lighter laptop designs. (Like Intel’s Core Ultra line, AMD’s Ryzen chips also come in H-series options for thicker, more powerful laptops.)

However, AMD’s latest mobile chips available are the “Strix Point” Ryzen AI 300 processors, which are even higher-power ultraportable laptop chips with upgraded integrated graphics and even more raw AI performance. While intended as the flagship top-tier power chips, the first Ryzen AI 300 models still run on just 28 watts, the same as the 8000-series Ryzen U CPUs. Stay tuned for Ryzen AI 400 chips from AMD set to hit laptops this year.

Qualcomm Processor Options in Ultraportables

A third option for Windows laptops, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X- and X2-series chips, finally provides a viable alternative to the x86 architecture. Using an alternative architecture called Arm, Qualcomm’s chips are found in thin-and-light systems from several major retailers, driving competitive performance and graphics capability.

These Arm processors support emulation in Windows 11 and run native versions of many key Windows apps, making them compatible with most expected software. (Snapdragon X Elite-based laptops were the first entrants in Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI PC initiative.) Please note that Windows on Arm differs from how Windows runs on x86-based Intel and AMD processors, so be sure to read up on these if you’re considering it.

Apple and Other Processor Options in Ultraportables

Finally, at the low end, are Intel’s now-discontinued Celeron, Pentium, N-series, and Core i3 processors, which are being slowly replaced with a new line of entry-level “Intel Core” processors (without the “Ultra” in the name). Ranging from Core 3 to Core 7, these newer budget processors are inexpensive, energy-efficient updates of “Raptor Lake” chip designs. Some power users, a key audience for ultraportables, may be frustrated by slower performance, so you won’t see many of these in the category.

None of this applies to Apple laptops. A few years back, Apple shifted away from Intel silicon, moving in stages to its own processor designs for the entire MacBook line. The latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models use M5 processors, the fifth generation of Apple’s homegrown CPUs. Given recent MacBooks’ tested performance, we’ve been impressed with every successive processor in the Apple Silicon lineup, making these MacBooks a safe bet for shoppers who can afford them and are cool with macOS. As a more affordable option, the Apple MacBook Neo uses an A18 Pro chip from an iPhone to deliver laptop-grade performance at an aggressively low price.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Note that Apple uses its own-design processors in all of its current-model laptops. That reduces complexity when choosing among Apple models. Still, if you’re a Windows user, you must decide whether Apple Silicon’s impressive speed (particularly with specially written native software) is worth switching to macOS.

One related spec to keep an eye on: memory. As RAM becomes a hot commodity for AI data centers, we’re seeing memory shortages and rising prices, which are reflected in laptop prices and the memory options available in ultraportable systems. Read our guide to how much RAM you need for each use case to ensure you don’t overspend this year.

Which Graphics Processor (GPU) Should I Get in an Ultraportable?

The graphics processor, aka the GPU, is also essential. Most ultraportable systems rely on integrated graphics, whose graphics processing hardware is integrated alongside the CPU cores on the same silicon die. (In contrast, mobile workstations and gaming laptops use a dedicated GPU, a separate chip devoted to rendering graphics with higher frame rates and more detailed textures.) The integrated graphics capability is suitable for productivity and casual media work, but it does not perform well in demanding PC games or significantly aid with power-intensive photo and video editing.

Since 2022, Intel has equipped most of its CPUs with Intel Iris Xe graphics, first introduced in 2020 on its higher-end chips, and has since made Iris the baseline integrated GPU for its Core chips.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

However, Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors upgraded their integrated graphics to Intel Arc Graphics, a scaled-down version of Intel’s dedicated Arc GPUs. The performance edges closer to what you’d get from a low-end dedicated GPU a few years ago, especially with the latest Core Ultra X7 and X9 chips, which feature the Intel Arc B390 GPU on board.

Additionally, Apple has pushed its integrated graphics to new heights of performance with the latest M5 processors. Top-end Mac laptops no longer use discrete third-party GPUs; all have multi-core GPU hardware on the same chip die as the CPU, sharing the main system memory. These combined CPU/GPU hybrids blur the line between integrated and discrete graphics, but the distinction is still evident in the price tag, especially in current high-end MacBooks. At the entry level, though, the base M5 chip’s performance is similar to Intel’s current Arc integrated graphics.

If you want to do more with media and play games at higher settings and frame rates, you’ll need a discrete graphics chip, like the mobile versions of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX graphics cards. These GPUs require more power and cooling and, as such, are generally found only in gaming laptops or bulkier desktop-replacement notebooks. Typically, you’ll find them in only a few ultraportables. The most travel-friendly systems are not suited to gaming, so don’t expect the integrated graphics to handle much more than a few less demanding games on lower detail settings.

How Much Storage Should I Get in an Ultraportable?

Speedy hardware is all well and good, but you also need a place to store all your digital content. This means that all ultraportables now come with a solid-state drive (SSD). These compact, flash-based storage devices are weight savers and immune to data loss from shocks or bumps because they have no moving parts, making them ideal for systems that travel a lot.

Nowadays, almost all SSDs in laptops (when they’re not soldered down) use a stick-of-gum form factor called M.2, which is much smaller than your traditional 2.5-inch SATA SSD. Smaller connectors enable smaller designs, making them a perfect fit for ultraportable devices. Now, most such M.2-connected drives use a PCI Express (PCIe) bus connection for faster data transfer, improving overall performance. Skinny ultraportable designs, though, may just solder the storage directly to the motherboard for even greater space efficiencies. (You can’t upgrade those SSDs. What you buy is what you’re stuck with.)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

SSD storage with 512GB or 1TB of capacity is mostly the standard now on midrange and high-end ultraportables. It’s helpful to have a bit more than 256GB, but boosting SSD capacity is still pricey, and the cost can increase significantly if you opt for a larger 1TB option, especially if the manufacturer sells it. A 512GB drive is a happy medium for most, while a 256GB drive will suffice for many users, especially if you won’t store large media projects on this type of computer.

What Is the Best Kind of Display in an Ultraportable?

Let’s go from what’s inside a typical ultraportable to the most visible aspect of the exterior: the screen. Ultraportables’ displays come in an increasingly varied array of resolutions, from now-humdrum 720p (1,366 by 768 pixels) in the very cheapest budget models, to full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) as the mainstream norm, to Ultra HD or 4K (3,840 by 2,160 pixels), with a few nonstandard resolutions peppered between full HD and UHD.

Lower-resolution screens are most frequently found in entry-level systems simply because they’re the least expensive option. They work well enough for reading and typing text, and YouTube often defaults to something lower than full HD, anyway, so less discerning users can get by just fine. However, a 1,366-by-768-pixel screen is best avoided in any new laptop with a screen size of 13 inches or larger.

Full HD (often referred to as 1080p or 1200p) screens are what you can expect on many budget systems, all midrange models, and some premium ultraportables. The 1080p display is now standard enough that even most budget options include it, a far cry from just a few years ago, when a much grainier 1,366-by-768 resolution was the norm for budget laptops. These displays are better suited to multitasking, as they can fit more readable text and two side-by-side windows on a 13- or 14-inch 1080p screen. This sharp, true full-HD resolution is ideal for most daily use and video playback.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Ultra HD is currently the resolution of choice for the highest-end ultraportables and models designed for content-creation professionals. As 4K screens have four times the resolution of a full HD display, you can fit a lot onto them. However, the sheer number of pixels requires more power, and 4K systems usually see a significant drop in battery life compared with similar full HD systems. You also have the question of content. Although 4K TVs and displays are becoming increasingly common, 4K content streaming is far from universal (this is slowly improving on some streaming services), and gaming at 4K is well beyond what any ultraportable can support. Currently, these displays are best suited for uses such as photo and video editing. Regardless, they do look stunning.

Many premium laptops now use QHD or QHD+ screens, which are resolutions that fall between 1080p and 4K. They represent a helpful middle ground between expensive, power-draining 4K resolutions and sharp, better-than-full-HD picture quality, so you should be happy to see QHD or QHD+ on a laptop you’re considering buying. In addition, an increasing number of laptop makers have shifted their ultraportable models to screens with squarer aspect ratios, such as 16:10 or 3:2, away from the much more common 16:9. This trend began a couple of years ago and is continuing. Additionally, brilliant OLED displays are available across several of our favorite laptop lines.

The other feature to watch for is support for touch input. While touch-capable displays were uncommon just a few years ago, they’re now much more prevalent in ultraportables, even in the entry-level and business laptop categories. Touch technology is particularly useful on a bus or train, where you may not have enough elbow room to use a mouse or touchpad, making it a smart match for ultraportables. Even if you don’t regularly use touch in your day-to-day computing and don’t plan to incorporate it, it may be worth having anyway, so you don’t regret not getting it later.

Should Your Next Ultraportable Be a 2-in-1?

Some ultraportables are designed as convertible hybrids or 2-in-1s. Most 2-in-1s rotate 360 degrees around the screen hinge; a few have a separate keyboard base that detaches from the screen. In the former case, these mash-up machines let you enjoy both laptop and tablet functionality, thanks to hinges and swiveling joints that enable you to bend the display back around to use it without a keyboard.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Rotating-hinge convertible devices are laptops first, but they aren’t limited to traditional clamshell designs. Because they feature specialized hinges and touch screens, you can also prop them up like a tent or flip the keyboard face down so the screen is better positioned for watching a movie or giving a presentation. While convertibles are a category in their own right, the ability to shape-shift naturally lends itself to making a decent travel laptop. You’ll notice that some of our highest-rated ultraportable laptops are also convertibles. (See our guide to the best 2-in-1 convertible laptops and detachables.)

Should You Consider a Lightweight Chromebook, or a Googlebook?

Depending on what you do with your computer, you might find a Chromebook to be one of the best values in ultraportables. A Chromebook is a bare-bones laptop that runs Google’s ChromeOS. It limits you to using web apps and Android apps.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Running ChromeOS means that you won’t have access to traditional Windows software, so if that’s central to how you work and play, a Chromebook may not be the best choice for you. However, if you use a web-based email client such as Gmail or Outlook for communications, rely on Google Drive for doing your work, and spend most of your time watching videos on YouTube or playing web games—and you don’t expect your needs to change—chances are you’ll get along just fine with a Chromebook. Considering that computers of this type can be extraordinarily affordable (most cost $500 or less), you could outfit your family with several Chromebooks for the cost of one high-end Windows ultraportable.

An emerging class of Google-powered laptop is the Googlebook; these models run a form of Android and look like the eventual heir apparents of Chromebooks. They’ve just started hitting the market in late 2026 and start at around $900; we don’t recommend any yet in our top-picks list here, but you can see an overview of the five initial models. They all qualify as ultraportables.

Ready to Buy the Right Ultraportable for You?

With ultraportables that are now thinner, lighter, and more powerful than ever, you’ll find something in this vibrant class of laptops to suit your usage habits and travel needs. Check out our component-by-component spec breakout of the top ultraportables we’ve tested for more details. We continually refresh the list to include the latest products, but due to the wealth of laptops we review each year (100-plus!), not every top-rated product makes the cut. Rest assured, though: These are all winners in their own ways.