Best Ultrabooks for Business 2015 (and Why We Love Them)

Modern Ultrabooks are superslim, without sacrificing performance.

 

A great business laptop doesn't have to be bulky. Ultrabooks — usually defined as notebooks with slim frames and long battery life — provide plenty of computing power without weighing you down on your daily commute.

The term “Ultrabook” was actually coined by Intel for a new generation of slim, fast PCs. Today, it’s used to refer to notebooks that are similar in design to Apple’s MacBook Air, most of which are lightweight and come with fast SSD storage drives. The best Ultrabooks can be pretty pricey, but they might be worth the cost for a laptop that's as portable as it is powerful. Here are our favorite slim work machines for 2015.

HP EliteBook Folio 1020

HP's new EliteBook Folio 1020 packs a ton of goodies for business users into a supersleek package. In fact, at just 0.62 inches thick and 2.68 lbs., it's thinner and lighter than both Dell's XPS 13 and Apple's MacBook Air. People who want to work on the Folio 1020 will appreciate its fingerprint reader, which ensures that only you will be able to access your business files. It also comes with a sharp 12.5-inch quad-HD display and a docking port, so you can easily use a bigger monitor, as well as accessories like a mouse and external hard drive, when you arrive at the office. We also like the inclusion of the Synaptics ForcePad, a touchpad that uses pressure to register clicks more reliably. Here are some of the features we like:

• Thin and light design
• Fingerprint scanner
• SSD drive
• Quad-HD display
• Touch screen
• Desktop dock compatible (not included)

 

 

Lenovo ThinkPad X250

If you want a work laptop with serious longevity, this is the one to get. Last year's ThinkPad X240's beefy 6-cell battery lasted an incredible 20.5 hours on a charge in our tests, even though it adds a bit of bulk to the notebook's underside. Now, the updated X250 model promises even longer battery life, thanks to Intel's more efficient 5th generation Core processor. Other key features include the return of Lenovo's TrackPoint buttons, which let you maneuver your mouse pointer precisely without moving your fingers from the keyboard. You also get a sharp 12.5-inch display, Lenovo's excellent ThinkPad keyboard and an elongated palm rest that makes typing more comfortable. Here are our favorite features of this work machine:

• Long battery life
• SSD drive
• HD display
• Touch screen
• Desktop dock compatible (not included)

 

 

Samsung Ativ Book 9 (2015)

Samsung's updated Ativ Book 9 is stunningly thin and light, thanks to the inclusion of Intel's Core M processor, which allows for good performance in a thin design. Measuring about a half-inch thick and weighing just 2 lbs., it feels more like a tablet than a laptop in my hands. Samsung also packed in a variety of handy security features, including the ability to blur the screen or block the microphone and webcam with the push of a button. The Ativ Book 9's luxurious design includes a solid aluminum body, a comfy keyboard with sculpted keys, and a big, responsive touchpad. Its 12.2-inch display is a bit small for serious productivity, though. Still, we like the following features:

• Thin and light design
• SSD drive
• HD display
• Security software

 

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro

Lenovo's Yoga 3 Pro is the most flexible Ultrabook you can buy — literally. The 2-in-1 hybrid device can fold backward a full 180 degrees, so you can use it like a large tablet or fold out the keyboard when it's time to work. And the Yoga 3 Pro features an elegant watchband-style hinge that allowed for a thinner overall design. Other hardware highlights include an eye-popping 3,200 x 1,800-pixel touch-screen display, a zippy Core M processor and a lightweight design — the 13-inch notebook weighs just 2.6 lbs. Plus, the hybrid device's handy Harmony software lets you set up customized layouts for both laptop and tablet use. Here are our favorite features of the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro:

 

• Thin and light design
• 2-in-1 hybrid
• SSD drive
• Quad-HD display
• Touch screen
• Desktop dock compatible (not included)

BUY Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro >>> 

 

 

Dell XPS 13

If it's an eye-catching laptop you want, you can't go wrong with Dell's new XPS 13. The notebook sports the world's thinnest bezel, measuring just 5 mm on either side. That means that its sharp display stretches almost from one edge of the lid to the other. The design feature is also functional, since it allows for a 13-inch screen on a laptop that's roughly the size of the average 11-inch laptop — a big perk for business users who want more screen space for work, without sacrificing portability. The XPS 13 also comes with a responsive touch screen and long battery life — about 15 hours, according to Dell. In summary, here's what you get on the XPS 13:

 

• Thin and light design
• Long battery life
• SSD drive
• Quad-HD display
• Touch screen
• Desktop dock compatible (not included)

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