Big difference in convenience: laptop vs. ultrabook in 2022

The difference between an ultrabook and a laptop

Every computer user probably knows what a notebook is. But what is behind the term ultrabook? How it differs from the laptop, and who is suitable for it? There are a lot of questions, so now we will answer each one.

There are many variations of ultrabooks. Some will only go 3 patti game online play, and some will be able to pull large and complex games. The main thing is to choose the right one for your requirements.

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What is an Ultrabook, and when did it appear

Ultrabooks are the thinnest and lightest laptops with less size and weight. Their design is usually much more straightforward, but the characteristics can be pretty basic and quite advanced.

The brand name “Ultrabook” belongs to Intel. Still, manufacturers and the mass consumer began calling thin and light laptops ultrabooks after the market launch of the very first MacBook Air in 2008. Its ultraportable design has set the trend for all device manufacturers, who also introduced similar solutions.

Commonly accepted, the term “ultrabook” came in 2011 when the company Intel and Apple finally approved the specifications of such devices. Later, ultrabooks also began to refer to hybrid devices, a cross between tablets and notebooks. For example, you can unhook the screen or be folded in the opposite direction, making them in some tablets.

Unlike netbooks (inexpensive and overly compact subnotebooks), ultrabooks are expensive and solid devices with more powerful processors and high-capacity batteries that allow them to be used throughout the day. But ultrabooks have several notable differences, pluses, and minuses compared to conventional laptops.

What are the main differences between an ultrabook and a laptop

The key differences are several. First, the size and weight. Modern ultrabooks are available with screen diagonals from 11 to 13 inches and weigh not much more than one kilogram. Their thin and stylish cases are usually made of high-quality materials, usually suitable plastic or aluminum.

Secondly, ultrabooks usually have far fewer ports for connecting peripherals. For example, the first MacBook 12, released in 2015, had only one USB-C port. It can be called the epitome of an ultraportable computer in an expensive stylish all-metal case. In the future, all manufacturers began to take the example (although without such a radical rejection of extra ports).

Thirdly, ultrabooks, despite their high price, are usually inferior in performance to their more advanced and bulky counterparts from the camp of conventional laptops. They use lighter versions of processors – mobile processors explicitly designed for ultraportable PCs and built-in graphics processors that are not particularly efficient. As a result, no ultrabook can be called a full-fledged gaming notebook, even ten years after the concept of “ultrabook.”

With the advent of ultrabooks with touch screens and the fourth key difference – the touch screen. Such ultrabooks have tried to combine the best of both worlds – the traditional form factor and a touch panel, allowing them to use as tablets in suitable work scenarios. However, it is not always possible to unbutton the screen or keyboard or fold them in reverse, so the mass buyer did not like the first experiments in this field.

The fifth (and perhaps the most significant) difference between ultrabooks from laptops is their low maintainability. Whereas in a regular notebook, if you want, you can disassemble the entire chassis and replace half of the components, in an ultrabook, often the whole chassis can not be disassembled. The components can not be replaced because they are soldered to the motherboard and represent a single unit. It also means less reliability of such devices – they are easier to break, flood, or drown, and damage to a small component can entail the complete replacement of the device.

Thus, it is possible to identify several pros and cons of such devices.

Pros of ultrabooks:

  • compactness, small size, and weight;
  • stylish design, slim body, all-metal construction;
  • advanced features like a touch screen, hybrid design, and the ability to use it as a tablet.

Minuses of ultrabooks:

  • Fewer ports;
  • higher price;
  • weaker specifications;
  • less maintainability.

What work is better suited for an ultrabook than a laptop?

Because of the above, it may seem that ultrabooks were created exclusively for affluent users who prefer to sit smartly in cafés and take pretty pictures. But this is far from it. So why do you need an ultrabook?

Ultrabooks are great for work, study, entertainment, communication, and correspondence. And more modern and powerful models can be used for photo editing and simple video editing. Also, these devices are loved by all who do not like to sit in one place and prefer to take the most lightweight and compact but still powerful machine on the road.

Hybrid Ultrabooks with touch screens take the entertainment side of such devices to a new level, allowing moments of relaxation by flipping the ultrabook’s lid to the other side or unhooking the keyboard, completely switching the control and attention to the display.

Ultrabooks for work and study

Consider a few models. For example, Asus Zenbook 13. It is a fragile, light, and compact device with an impressive OLED screen – not usually found in both ultrabooks and more expensive full laptops. In this case, in such a small body (20 cm by 30 cm, the thickness of the ultrabook only 1.4 cm), the company could accommodate a full range of ports, including USB and HDMI, as well as Thunderbolt 3. Yes, the Intel Core i5 is not the most powerful processor, the RAM is only 8 GB, but 512 GB of internal storage will be enough for a vast library of photos and videos. It can be called the optimal laptop for work and study.

Also worth noting are the ultrabooks of the MateBook X series from Huawei. They can be called borderline devices, combining the key features of ultrabooks (style, compactness, case materials) with high performance and versatility for different tasks.

Among the hybrid devices is the MSI Summit E13 FlipEvo. Folding it backward, you can use it as a standard laptop and as a tablet. A very smooth and responsive screen compensates not the most efficient hardware with a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes all content on the screen look smoother and faster – which is especially important when using the device in tablet mode.

Gaming Ultrabooks

The Acer Swift 3 can also be considered a borderline device. But it should be regarded as not the most modern and demanding game. It combines very compact dimensions for a device with a 14-inch screen. Still, it offers a more powerful AMD Ryzen 5-series processor and Radeon Vega graphics, which do well in games like CS and Dota. So if you’re looking for an ultra-portable computer that you can not only work on but also play, you’re looking for a great candidate to buy.

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Modern laptops for work and entertainment

Modern laptops, too, have not stood still and evolved toward smaller diagonals, better artistry, and providing more powerful features. For example, the ASUS Zenbook 14 with a screen of 14 inches. It has 16 GB of RAM, enough to work with any application, and 512 GB of internal storage, allowing you to download many files. At the same time, it has a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 processor with Radeon Vega graphics, which will enable you to run not the most modern games on high settings (such as GTA V) and more modern games (such as the latest “Assassins” and Cyberpunk 2077) on low and medium graphics settings. And all this with a complete set of ports.