Ultra portable PC are the spearheads of manufacturers. They complement or replace a home PC, they intended to follow you everywhere, all the time. Here are the 10 best in the time.
For three good years,
ultraportables and
ultrabooks bloom in the ranges of the main manufacturers of the PC world. Their prices have dropped well and it is possible to obtain one without getting angry with his banker. Since the release of Windows 8, the convertible, hybrid and other convertible bud and scramble formats and standards of ultra nomadisme of our computers. A metamorphosis accentuated by deploying Windows 10. Of course, here we speak of machines with screens no more than 13.3 inches diagonally, weighing less than 2 kg and finesse lets slip into a bag or a backpack.
Between
HP, Lenovo, Dell, Acer and
Asus, all shots are allowed! Some are inspired by others, trying to innovate with more or less success, while offering solutions halfway between the PC and the tablet. But manufacturers do not forget to bet on as many notebooks "classic" with or without touch screen to leave the choice to the end user.
Moreover, no question of reserving the precious screen 13.3-inch high-end machines. During the past two years, many brands have tried to offer affordable references, the template is contained and endurance over 4 hours 30 minutes. We could mention the
Asus Zenbook UX305FA or the
Acer Aspire V13.
But make no mistake, between an ultraportable sold 700 dollars and another sold more than double the range of possible uses is not exponential. On the contrary ! Also keep an eye on the data sheets of the devices. It includes, for example, many Intel processors (AMD brilliant by its absence), but all are not equal. Furthermore, the finishes, the presence of SSD or the quality of the screen are all elements that will make the difference - sometimes..
Question uses finally, in general, should not be too many demands. All the machines we tested since the beginning of the year are primarily made for office use, web browsing and watching videos.
For more advanced uses such as photo editing on Photoshop and the creation in After Effect, it will at least include machines with Core i5 or Core i7 with more than 4 GB of memory.
Excluded from
our Top 10 last, the
Alienware 13 Dell, XMG A305 being tested and
3X + Aorus. These are ultra-powerful, primarily dedicated to gamers, but not as durable and lighter than their cohorts considered here. Also note the remarkable debut of
Microsoft Surface Pro 4, which is positioned in the top rankings.
Apple: Air Fizzle, MacBook 12 not Revolutionize Anything
Admittedly, Apple retains a prominent place on the ultra mobility. Worse, for over four years is the brand "to shoot" for PC manufacturers who would both get to offer machines as well finite, so the optimized system and the endurance record. Yet Apple so innovative ordinarily difficult to renew.
For instead of equipping its precious
MacBook Air (MBA) with Retina display and to further improve the autonomy, the Cupertino company has chosen yet another MacBook out in March 2015. 12-inch ultra-thin and ultra minimalist (yes, really), he opted for the low technical platform Intel Core M consumption last year (Broadwell) which is known to really not make miracles in terms of performance. But where Apple might sink the nail too, is the price! $1,499 + for a typewriter luxury, it's indecent! And MBA? They always have Intel Core processors Broadwell-U (pending update on Skylake this spring) but no new screen! And the image of these definitions begin to furiously date. Finally, comparing the last two generations of MBA, the conclusion is bitter: stamina is down ... but still among the highest in the market.
For the classification below, everything is scrutinized: the equipment, the performance but, above all, ease of use and portability of the machine. This concept encompasses both the video playback, the device volume and weight. In addition, for 6 months, we have included a second test of autonomy in our procedures. We regularly evoke in test items. This is a known measure "versatile" that simulates all the above mentioned activities: office, video, surfing, etc.
For now, only a few machines tested were submitted there, but by the spring, we will add as noted criterion.
10. Apple MacBook Pro Retina 13-inch (Core i5 128GB SSD)
Proof that Apple is quite able to place Retina screens on portable size PC contained! The
MacBook Pro 13 Retina, tested here in its version
Core i5 processor,
8GB of memory and
128GB of SSD, offers one of the most homogeneous configurations within the range of the manufacturer to the bitten apple. And if power is to go to more than just office or surfing the Internet, endurance -it is also- of the game: more than
7 hours of video playback on our reference test, 30 to 40 minutes better than some PCs that prance in mind. So why is not he ranked higher? His weight playing tricks on him, not to mention its quite massive power consumption when not much. A final pitfall, ventilation present in the beautiful aluminum case makes a lot of noise.
Overall Rating: 7.38 / 10 |
Price: $1,499 approx.
9. HP Envy 13 (13-d001nf)
Handsome, the
HP Envy 13 is more than one. Starting with its beautiful finish anodized aluminum that would give him almost the Mac tunes. Then it has a good screen and
13.3-inch Full HD matte, perfect to fight effectively against the reflections in the train or on a well-lit open space. It continues with his
excellent keyboard which, in addition, has the good taste to be fully backlit, which is not so common for a machine to 800 euros. Very good penultimate point is the very content price. The last positive note is that HP does not mégote on embedded components. These rotate all apps. But where the shoe he hurt? On autonomy, unfortunately. Less than 5 hours of video playback and versatile endurance is little for an ultraportable ... so affordable it is.
Overall Rating: 7.44 / 10 |
Price: $800 approx.
8. Apple MacBook Air 11-inch (Core i5 128GB)
The
Macbook Air small size continues to fall in our ranking and loses three places! He went from first to eighth in a few months and that, because of the introduction of new PC models, but also because we have revised our calculations and requirements on the rise.
The 11-inch Air tested here is the cheapest declination sold by Apple. Its small aluminum housing is still recipe, like its excellent keyboard. However, this small air starts to be a little ... too familiar and worn. This is neither the most enduring (7 hours of video playback and 6 hours 20 versatile) or the technically more advanced (
Core i5, 4GB of memory, 128GB SSD) of these competitors. Not to mention the slab whose image definition is almost obsolete (1366 by 768 pixels)! But it is a
light weight (1.07 kg) that fits in any bag or purse and remains ultra quiet no matter apps Apple being asked to turn.
Overall Rating: 7.47 / 10 |
Price: $1000 approx. | See details and test results of the Apple MacBook Air 11-inch
7. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (Core i5, 256GB)
For many, this is the king of the ultra mobility (to shoot)! Yet the 13-inch
MacBook Air has to settle for the 7th running of our ranking. Proof that he is invincible and that PCs manage to make him shade. It remains, however, the most enduring computer from Apple family. And the irony is that the
MacBook Air 13-inch is almost twice as powerful as the last 12 inches according to our tests.
However, this star is clearly out of fashion, technically. Defining image of his relatively narrow screen (1440 by 900 pixels) annoys like the
4 GB of RAM available on our test model yet sold 1350 dollars.
Overall Rating: 7.48 / 10 |
Price: $1350 approx. | Read the full review of the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch
6. HP Spectre 13 x360
Value for money endurance of
HP Spectre 13 x360 is simply one of the best time in the world ultraportable PC. It is found in different configurations on the Web and, experience, the
Core i5 versions,
Full HD screen and sold around 1000 dollars are those preferred. Our reference is the Spectre x360 this summer, which reference is now 13-4107nf since officially migrated from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. The brushed aluminum case is of high quality and, again this summer, endurance exceeded 8 hours video playback 45 (6 pm and 20 versatile). Maybe the OS change will vary these times of a few minutes, but little else.
And if the Spectre x360 only in sixth place, it is because of the arrival of new models in the arena. For fans of PC contortionist Specter gets Yoga Lenono principle, that is to say that the screen can rotate 360 ° around the backlit keyboard to transform the machine into a touch tablet Windows 10 or position the appliance carrier mode on a bar or tent mode to enjoy photo or video content to many.
Overall rating: 7.56 / 10 |
Price: $1000 approx. | Read the full review of the HP Spectre 13 x360
5. Acer Aspire S7 (S7-393-75508G25ews)
The
Aspire S7 vintage 2015 pranced top of our rankings until Christmas. Moreover, the 2015 version is currently sold at broken prices on some commercial sites, because over in Intel Core sixth generation is running. And the new version should arrive in our hands soon!
This configuration goes from first to 5th place as the competition is fierce and we continually review our rating criteria.
Its advantages are numerous: beginning with the fact that it is a pure laptop and not a
13.3-inch screen hybrid. Then, despite the strength of its case, he does not forget to be relatively
light 1.31 kg. Finally, its endurance video playback reaches almost 6:30 that, even in 2016, remains.
Overall Rating: 7.61 / 10 |
Price: $1500 approx. | Read the full review of the Acer Aspire S7 (S7-393-75508G25ews)
4. Apple MacBook 12-inch (Core M 1.1 GHz, 256 GB)
The latest in the family of Apple ordis, the Retina MacBook 12-inch screen is at the door of our podium. Yes, harvest the best mark in portability, with a deserved 10/10. Yes, it is a lightweight (920 grams) whose housing is among the finest on the market (1.31 cm) and remains enduring for more than 8 hours of video playback. In mixed use, it flirts with 7:00 MacOS X Yosemite. But, as we suspected, the Intel Core M platform is no miracle, and is not tailored to anything other than the email consultation, surfing, etc. A bit like the Asus UX305 sold, yes, half the price.
Overall Rating: 7.65 / 10 |
Price: $1,450 approx.
3. Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (Core i5, 8GB, 256GB SSD)
Arrive in style for the tablet
Surface Pro 4 Microsoft! It is positioned on the third place, and it is clear that its small size of 12.3 inches and the good quality of its screen are not strangers. Better is the technical platform top of the most current range of our comparison with a latest-generation Intel processor Skylake, efficient and consumes little for the services. The tablet under Windows 10 also has a new pen 2.0, Windows Pen, which offers a handwriting comfort far above that of the previous case. Always the best, with the quality backlit keyboard coming to magnetize the tablet to turn it into a laptop and protect the screen.
However, the Redmond giant continues to offer its input device ... optional !! We must add 150 dollars at 1450 requested for the
Surface Pro 4 to finally get an ultraportable worthy of the name. And since we are to mention the points that annoy, stamina is not up! Despite the low CPU consumption, the Surface Pro 4 does not exceed 5 hours video playback 30. She manages to climb up to 7 h 30, provided to lower the backlight intensity and limited to the basic desktop. Pity.
Overall Rating: 7.81 / 10 |
Price: $1,450 approx. (+ $ 150 for the keyboard) | Read our review of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4
2. Lenovo Yoga 900 (900-13ISK)
Lenovo made a big splash in our Top 10 with his new Yoga 900. His goal? Replace Yoga 3 Pro and its configuration unstable, inefficient and yet sold the same price is 1800 dollars. And, frankly, this newcomer manages to forget the old version without any harm!
The version we had in the test will only be available in early March. Inside, it's a roaring
Core i7 is to maneuver and which replaces the
Core M. timid And it's not because the configuration is more powerful than stamina is down. On the contrary. It takes
8 hours of video playback and 6 hours round use while the Yoga 3 Pro could barely 5 hours in both cases. The only real problem of Yoga 900 is the quality of its
13.3-inch screen. Not at all in harmony with the price and the rest of the machine. It is not reset by the lab, but one thing is certain, he disappointed.
Overall Rating: 7.9 / 10 |
Price: $1800 approx. | Read the full review of the Lenovo Yoga 900 (900-113ISK)
1. Dell XPS 13 (CNX9302)
Dell is back! The Texan manufacturer benefits from the release of Intel processors Skylake to update its beautiful
ultraportable XPS 13 and comes in eight or nine versions on its website. One that comes first in our ranking is the machine equipped with a
13.3-inch matte slab Full HD. It features a
Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD to run
Windows 10 and all apps daily without the slightest concern.
Another argument to convince: the price of $1300. Or $50 less than the MacBook Air 13-inch for better equipment, and an endurance record of 10 hours 20. It's two hours more than the Apple, and without forcing. The only flaw of this Dell, is to have a screen that lacks brightness. But for the rest it deserves its top spot on the podium.
Overall Rating: 7.97 / 10 |
Price: $1300 approx. | Read the full review of the Dell XPS 13 (CNX9302)
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