Last updated: January 2024
Ultrabooks are among the hottest tech gadgets in the world combining simplicity and elegance. They offer a premium working and studying experience in a thin, light, yet powerful package, above all, minimalist. So what makes a laptop an ultrabook?
What is an Ultrabook
The Best Ultrabooks in Malaysia in the article share a number of characteristics that put them in the same category. In general, a device may be considered an ultrabook if it has the following physical specs:
- 20mm or less in height/thickness for models with displays smaller than 14 inches
- 23mm or less in height/thickness for models with bigger displays (equal to or greater than 14 inches)
- runs on an Intel processor (usually Intel Core i3, i5, or i7)
- equipped with an SSD (solid-state drive)
- at least 9 hours of battery life on idle
- 3 seconds or less resume time from hibernation
Ultrabooks are definitely great to have when you need to work on the go, are studying at school, are working remotely, or travel a lot and need a lightweight, portable yet powerful laptop to help you accomplish your tasks.
Ultrabook prices are pretty competitive and there’s sure to be one or two that will meet your needs while fitting your budget.
If you need help choosing, here’s a list of the top 10 best-performing ultrabooks you can buy online.
| Best Ultrabook in Malaysia | Why Buy? | Price (RM) |
|---|---|---|
|
Microsoft Surface Book 3 |
Laptop, tablet, portable studio in one |
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Dell XPS 13 9350 InfinityEdge Ultrabook |
Fast performance |
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Huawei Matebook 13 i5 |
Efficient multitasking |
|
|
Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga |
Excellent build quality |
|
|
HP Spectre x360 |
Built-in instant privacy screen |
|
|
Apple 13.3” MacBook Air with Retina Display |
True Tone technology for natural-looking images |
|
|
Asus ZenBook 13 |
Numeric keypad on touchpad |
|
|
HP Envy 13 |
Crisp, dynamic audio |
|
|
Dell XPS 15 7590 |
Powerful performance |
|
|
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 |
Everyday productivity tasks |
Top 10 Ultrabook in Malaysia
1. Microsoft Surface Book 3 - Best ultrabook for gaming
Microsoft Surface Book 3 - Ultrabook in Malaysia
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is a feature-packed laptop, tablet, and studio in one. It’s more than 50 percent faster than its predecessor the Surface Book 2, thanks to its quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core processor.
And because of its Nvidia GTX GeForce GPU (graphics processing unit), the Microsoft Surface Book 3 has the fastest graphics on any Surface laptop. It has a long battery life of up to 17.5 hours of active use, even longer on standby. This ultrabook is truly built for performance--its specs make it ideal for gaming, graphics tasks, and even editing large video files.
The touchscreen is easily detachable so you can use it as a tablet for presentations and on-screen graphics work using the Surface Pen. The keyboard is backlit, making typing a breeze. The basic Surface Book 3 has a 13.5-inch touchscreen with PixelSense display, Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB memory, 256GB SSD storage, and WIndows 10 Home OS.
Get the Microsoft Surface Book 3 price starts at
Related: Best Gaming Laptop in Malaysia
2. Dell XPS 13 9350 InfinityEdge Ultrabook - Good ultrabook for programming
Dell XPS 13 9350 InfinityEdge Ultrabook - Ultrabook in Malaysia
The Dell XPS 13 9350 InfinityEdge Ultrabook features an Intel Core i5-6200U Skylake processor paired with 8GB of DDR3L RAM and Intel HD Graphics 520. This configuration promises greater power efficiency as well as better graphics performance compared to its predecessor, the XPS 13-9343. It also features a 256GM NVMe PCIe SSD for faster performance.
This ultrabook has a 13.3-inch QHD+ touchscreen display panel with a near-bezel-less design (just 5mm on the top and sides), which gives it its InfinityEdge name. It has a good wireless performance, so you won’t have to keep moving around in search of a stronger Wi-Fi signal. The backlit keyboard features two levels of adjustable brightness. The lights can also be turned off.
System performance is fast--applications are quick to launch, installations are completed in a jiffy, and browsing websites are a breeze with no hiccups or lags. Battery life is around 7.5 hours for web surfing. All in all, this Dell ultrabook is a great all-around work or study companion.
Get the Dell XPS 13 9350 Ultrabook at
Read also: Best projector for home use in Malaysia
3. Huawei Matebook 13 i5 - Best ultrabook for video editing
Huawei Matebook 13 i5 - Ultrabook in Malaysia
The Huawei Matebook 13 i5 features a 13” FullView Display with a 3:2 aspect ratio that makes it reading and writing more comfortable. It also features a high-precision multi-touch screen that is fine-tuned for sensitivity. The slim 14.99mm profile and weight of just 1.3kg makes the Matebook 13 a good companion for those who like working on the go (or in their favourite coffee shop or milk tea hangout). The large battery lets you play local 1080p videos for more than 11 hours on a full charge.
This ultrabook has an Intel Core i5-10210U processor and can accommodate up to 16GB or memory and 512GB of SSD storage. This allows you to accomplish more tasks without having to wait for one process to finish first. In short, it lets you multitask as you please.
Get the Huawei Matebook 13 i5 at
4. Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga - best ultrabook for students
Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga - Ultrabook in Malaysia
Lenovo’s ThinkPad Yoga laptops have become some of the most trusted devices the world has come to know because of their reliable performance, superb build quality, and innovative convertible design. The Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga is no different.
It’s equipped with an Intel Core i5-10210U processor with Intel UHD integrated graphics, 8GB of memory, a 256GB NVMe SSD, 13.3” FHD anti-reflection touchscreen display, and its own stylus pen. The operating system is Windows 10 Home.
Everything about this ThinkPad is A-okay, except perhaps for the weight. At 1.4kg, it’s just a wee bit heavy for an ultrabook that can be converted into a tablet. Perhaps we just consider 13” ultrabook-tablets above 1.3kg in weight ‘heavy,’ which probably won’t be an issue for other folks who mostly use laptops on desks.
Get the Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga at
5. HP Spectre x360
HP Spectre x360 - Ultrabook in Malaysia
Another fierce contender in the ultrabook arena is the HP Spectre x360. It features an Intel Core i5-1035G4 processor, 8GB memory, 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage, Intel Iris Plus Graphics, and Windows 10 Home OS.
It has a 13.3-inch FHD touchscreen with the Sure View integrated privacy screen, which stops peeping toms from seeing what you’re doing. This feature makes it difficult for onlookers to view from the sides.
With a touch of the F2 button, you can instantly mask out your laptop’s display to anyone sitting next to you.
Any person outside your 70-degree viewing cone will not be able to read what’s on your screen--unless they come nearer and look at your screen straight, which onlookers would rarely do.
Get the HP Spectre x360 at
Read more: Find more HP Laptops here!
6. Apple 13.3” MacBook Air with Retina Display
Apple 13.3” MacBook Air with Retina Display - Ultrabook in Malaysia
The Apple 13.3” MacBook Air with Retina Display hardly needs any introduction, being one of the most popular and ultra-slim gadgets around--especially for students and remote workers looking for a laptop they can bring along with them everywhere.
The basic-specced MacBook Air features a dual-core 10th Gen Intel Core i3 processor with 256GB SSD storage, Intel Iris Plus Graphics, Magic Keyboard, 8GB memory, Touch ID, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and the Force Touch trackpad.
What makes using the MacBook Air truly enjoyable is the Retina Display with True Tone. The True Tone adaptive display technology provides users with a more natural, more comfortable viewing experience. This feature automatically adjusts the colour temperature and colour intensity or brightness of the display and Touch Bar to match the ambient lighting. As a result, images on the screen look more natural and easy on the eyes.
Get the Apple has also made the 13.3” MacBook Air with Retina Display more affordable at
Related: Best iPhone Prices in Malaysia
7. Asus ZenBook 13 (UX334F-LCA4112T / UX334F-LCA4246T)
Asus ZenBook 13 - Ultrabook in Malaysia
Asus created a buzz when it released the ZenBook 13, one of the world’s most compact 13-inch laptops. The new ZenBook ultrabook could seriously give other companies a run for their money with its innovative and revolutionary NumberPad (the ScreenPad on newer/higher models).
The Asus Zenbook 13 isn’t just portable, it’s ultraportable. Weighing only 1.22kg and at only 17.9mm tall, it’s 14 percent smaller than the previous ZenBook 13 (UX331). The NanoEdge display gives users a larger screen real estate, with slimmer bezels (2.8mm) on all four sides. The 13.3” FHD display is crisp and clear too. Other features include an Intel Core i5-10210U processor, 8GB RAM, 512GV SSD, and Nvidia GeForce graphics.
You’ll also love the ZenBook’s ErgoLift hinge, designed to tilt the keyboard to the most ergonomic and comfortable typing position. The tile allows for better cooling and an enhanced audio performance as well.
Of course, the crowning glory of this ultrabook is its touchpad, which can be switched to a numeric keypad. This feature is something that those who spend many hours doing data entry and crunching numbers will really find useful.
Get the Asus ZenBook 13 at
8. HP Envy 13
HP Envy 13 - Ultrabook in Malaysia
The HP Envy 13 has the most affordable price tag on our list, but that doesn’t make it the least performing. With its quad-core Intel Core i5-10210U processor, 8GB memory, 512GB SSD, and Nvidia GeForce MX250 graphics, the Envy 13 can very well make you the envy of your peers.
This ultrabook also features a 13.3” FHD IPS BrightView WLED-backlit touchscreen. The high-resolution, 3-way micro-edge display provides a truly immersive viewing experience, and this is supported by the rich, clear, and authentic sound coming from the Bang & Olufsen speakers.
The Envy 13 also has HP’s Wide Vision HD Camera with digital mic, a compact height of 14.7mm, and a portable weight of 1.17kg. In short, it’s got everything an ultrabook should have, and more.
Get the HP Envy 13 at
9. Dell XPS 15 7590
Dell XPS 15 7590 - Ultrabook in Malaysia
If you’re looking for an ultrabook that’s a bit larger and more powerful but still sleek and portable, the Dell XPS 15 7590 could be just the one you’re looking for.
It’s built for performance, with its 15.6-inch IPS touchscreen, hexa-core Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU. The InfinityEdge display is virtually borderless, giving you the biggest screen space possible.
This Dell ultrabook has an impressive battery life. You can get up to 14.5 hours when streaming Netflix--so that’s about an entire season of your favourite series plus a movie or two.
Along with the bright display, powerful specs, and long battery life, we also like the standard backlit keyboard, which allows for continued productivity in low-light and even no-light settings.
Get the Dell XPS 15 7590 at
10. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 - Ultrabook in Malaysia
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is an all-around ultrabook that’s sleek and classy no matter which angle you look at it.
It performs extremely well too, thanks to its quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G7 processor, 8GB memory, Intel Iris Plus Graphics, and 256GB SSD. It also has a 13.5-inch 10-point multi-touch PixelSense display.
The Surface Laptop 3 ticks all the boxes when it comes to ultrabook specs. It gives you up to 11.5 hours of battery life, a compact profile of 14.51mm and a portable weight of 1.3kg.
It’s got a sturdy build with an aluminum frame, so it can really withstand all those trips to wherever you prefer to work or study. If you’re looking for a Microsoft Surface device that would be excellent for your everyday productivity tasks, this model is definitely worth considering.
Get the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 at
Choosing the Best Ultrabook in Malaysia
When buying an ultrabook, it’s important to consider what you’ll need it for, not whether it has the most advanced specs or tech. What may be the best for someone who needs productivity software may not be the best for a graphic designer or professional gamer.
Each ultrabook model has its strengths and a set of features that would meet the needs of different people. No one model is completely superior over another in this regard. This means that ultimately, the best ultrabook is the one that meets your needs, appeals to you in terms of use and design, and of course, fits your budget.
Read Next:
The Best Under RM3,000 Laptops You Can Buy In Malaysia
