If you're in the market for a new laptop, you may have come across the term ultrabook. But, what is an ultrabook?
Read on to discover everything you need to know about ultrabooks, including what they are, how they differ from laptops and notebooks, and where you can find them.
What is an Ultrabook?
An ultrabook is a slim and lightweight laptop. The term ultrabook was originally coined by Intel in 2011 to refer to laptops that are less than 0.8-inches thick and don't compromise on performance or battery life.
Ultrabooks are designed to give people the power to create and consume in a sleek, light, secure, and elegant device that offers an immersive and responsive experience without compromising performance, all at mainstream price points, explained Intel in its press release.
The first ultrabook devices launched at the end of 2011 and were powered by 2nd generation Intel Core processors. They also came with Intel's Rapid Start technology, allowing them to boot up almost instantly.
Hp 2540p notebook: ultimate guide for professionalsHowever, over the years, the term ultrabook has expanded to include any thin laptop from various brands and manufacturers, regardless of specific dimensions or processor type. This means you can find ultrabooks with AMD and Apple chips as easily as you can find those with Intel processors.
Difference between a Notebook, an Ultrabook, and a Laptop
If you've seen the terms ultrabook, notebook, and laptop floating around, you may be confused about the differences.
An ultrabook is essentially a slim and lightweight laptop that doesn't compromise on power and battery life for its portable design.
A notebook also fits these criteria. Both ultrabooks and notebooks are laptops, but not all laptops are ultrabooks or notebooks.
It's important to note that laptops, including ultrabooks and notebooks, feature clamshell designs with fixed keyboards. This means that devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro can't be considered ultrabooks.
Pros and cons of hewlett packard laptopsHowever, there isn't a set criteria to define these terms, so the categorization is subjective.
Who Makes Ultrabooks?
While ultrabooks were initially made by Intel, nowadays, you can find them sold by a wide range of brands with different processors inside.
Some of our top picks right now are made by Asus, Apple, Microsoft, and Acer. Head over to our best ultrabooks guide to discover what we liked about each of these devices and find links to our full, in-depth reviews.