Looking for a top-of-the-line 13-inch ultrabook that lasts a long time on a single charge?
Looking for a top-of-the-line 13-inch ultrabook that lasts a long time on a single charge?
Hello there,
I’m looking for a new business laptop suitable for travel and remote work. My current Lenovo P15 Gen 2 works as a desktop but is too bulky and heavy for everyday trips. I also own an M1 MBP13; although I appreciate its build quality and the seamless integration with iPhone and MBP, I’m not comfortable using Office for Mac, particularly Excel.
Below the completed form, the requirements are clear: the device should run on Windows, be no larger than 13 inches, offer excellent battery life, and provide strong multitasking performance (especially for Office 365 with Teams and handling large Excel files).
Some laptops that come to mind are:
- Zenbook S 13 OLED AMD 6000
- Yoga 6 AMD 5700u
- Lenovo XPS 13s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3
Thank you!
Budget: Open to any range, but around £2k ($2.4k) excluding VAT.
Size: 13" (14" is too big), as thin and lightweight as possible.
Resolution: Preferably 4K OLED.
Portability: Not a need for a replacement desktop.
Battery life: Very important; I can last nearly two days on my M1 MBP13, which is impressive. Most laptops only last 6–8 hours.
Gaming: Not required.
Storage: At least 1TB.
Preferred brands: Windows-based machines are acceptable.
Country of residence: Based in the UK.
Additional notes: I value a durable build similar to Apple’s MBP, a comfortable keyboard for typing, a high-quality screen (ideally OLED), and fingerprint recognition.
Here are two articles for further reading.
Link 1: https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/bes...ch-laptops
Link 2: https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/best-13-inch-laptops
In summary, many laptops offer good or excellent battery life, but each comes with a full review available at the end of the article. Reading the complete review will clarify exactly how long the battery lasted during testing.
If you're seeking a high-quality, portable ultrabook, the Dell XPS 13 is a strong starting point:
https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/laptops/.../cn93407cc
This model offers an i7 1250U processor, 32GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 13.5" UHD display. While the 13.5" screen provides excellent visuals, I wouldn't recommend it for those prioritizing battery longevity, as the lower resolution results in longer usage time.
The Dell XPS Plus delivers impressive performance with up to 14-core processors, though it tends to overheat more and lacks a dedicated physical keyboard row for better cooling. Battery life is generally shorter compared to other options. OLED displays are visually striking but often suffer from reduced battery life, potential image burn-in risks (mitigated by software), and eye strain. I’m unsure about the specifics of the XPS Plus OLED or the Zenbook S, but it’s typical for laptop OLED screens to use PWM dimming, causing noticeable flicker at around 60Hz—often too frequent for comfort. A review on notebookchecks highlights that this model flickers at 240Hz, which is the highest reported for OLED, though still relatively low. More information can be found in the 'Screen Flickering / PWM' section:
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-...op...450.0.html
Examine the Lenovo X1 models.
They are compact with solid keyboards.
The 13" nano versions won't include 4k screens.
However, the 14/15/16" models can be purchased with different display options.
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/configurato...BCTO1WWUS1
The weight will be 2.5 pounds and the battery life around 12 hours.
Thanks for the feedback. I do like the Thinkpad z13. but overall I am a bit underwhelmed by Lenovo's and Dell's quality. That said, it appears to me that the Dell XPS has pretty poor efficiency (performance might be good, but in most tests the battery did not seem to last for even 10 hours).
I have looked at a few more reviews and it appears those are the ones with best performance efficiency. What do you think? I have also checked which ones of those support LTE or 5G.
HP Dragonfly G3 (5G and decent spec, battery seems to run long but does HP make good laptops?)
Zenbook S 13 OLED AMD 6000 (no LTE)
Zenbook 14 (no LTE)
ASUS ExpertBook B7 Flip (supports 5G, but how is the performance?)
Asus ExpertBook B9450 (unfortunately does not support 5G or LTE)
Yoga 6 AMD 5700u (no LTE and not really convinced)
It's interesting what you mention about Lenovo and Dell. I'm currently using a Lenovo device. Could you tell me if you've worked with any of their premium models? Keep in mind there are two XPS models in the list—the XPS 13 with a U CPU and the XPS 13 Plus with a P CPU. The first should offer better battery performance. Also, higher resolution screens such as 4K tend to consume more power than a 1920 x 1200 display.
Personally, my choices from this selection would be:
HP Dragonfly G3
Zenbook S 13 OLED
Asus ExpertBook B9450
The Asus ExpertBook B7 Flip looks appealing, but it seems unavailable with the latest 12th generation CPUs. I wouldn't consider older CPU models given your price range. You should opt for Intel 12th generation or AMD Ryzen 6000. The more powerful the processor, the longer it will last.
I can't see the HP Dragonfly G3 or Zenbook S 13 available for purchase right now, but those are the top two laptops in the list. I'd suggest skipping the Zenbook 14 and Yoga 6—you're unlikely to be happy with them.
Thank you for your input. Are you confident about the quality of HP hardware? Your thoughts seem accurate regarding the XPS Plus' performance, though your research suggests the battery life falls short with only 5-7 hours of usage (Source 1, Source 2). I own a Lenovo P15 Gen 2 where the performance is satisfactory but the battery life is disappointing. Previously, I had a Dell Precision and faced issues with poor hardware quality, including a battery that expanded and pushed the keyboard out of place.
I also use an M1 MBP13, which appears to be one of the best notebooks I've used in terms of performance, power efficiency, and compatibility with Apple devices (like AirPods with your phone and MacBook). However, Parallels Desktop is quite challenging to operate, especially for someone who relies on Microsoft applications and shortcuts. Using MacOS just doesn't seem practical in this case.
I don't have personal concerns about HP's quality, though the Dragonfly laptops tend to be quite costly. I wouldn't choose the XPS Plus because you mentioned its short battery life; I'd only look at the standard XPS 13 if performance matters. The Zenbook S 13 with its Ryzen 7 6800U offers better performance compared to the Lenovo P15 and Dell Precision workstations, which are larger and not ideal for battery efficiency. The battery problems you referenced aren't limited to Dell models—they can occur with any laptop.
Hi everyone, the HP Dragonfly isn't available in the UK and support seems very limited.
Are there any new laptops released recently (since the thread started in August)? Also, would it be helpful if the device offered 5G or at least LTE connectivity? I usually prefer not to connect my phone while traveling.