Intel has developed a series of processors for laptops called the Core Ultra series that boasts better efficiency, longer battery life, and improved graphical performance. These processors are not as powerful as the company’sdesktop-grade Core i5/i7/i9 processors. Because of them being more efficient, the laptops carrying these processors are relatively thinner and lighter, which makes them more portable than ever, without compromising on performance.
The Core Ultra series includes four main chips – Core Ultra 3, Ultra 5, Ultra 7, and Ultra 9.As with the desktop series, the Core Ultra 3 processors are the entry-level models while the Core Ultra 5 SKUs are more mid-tier offerings. The Core Ultra 7 and Ultra 9 are the high-performing chips in the series. There are different models with various core counts and clock speeds. This means there are quite a few Intel Core Ultra laptops on the market to choose from, and this guide will help you make the right decision.
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Intel Core Ultra Laptops in 2024
MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is a thin and light laptop that is ideal for day-to-day tasks. It is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7-155H CPU and Intel ARC graphics. It comes with 32GB LPDDR5 RAM and 2TB NVMe SSD storage. The OLED display is 16 inches and has a resolution of 3840x2400 with 100% DCI-P3 coverage.
Even though it is not the most powerful Intel Core Ultra-based laptop, the MSI Prestige 16 AI EVO checks all the right boxes when it comes to an all-rounded, well-built laptop. As the name suggests, it meets Intel’s EVO certification, which is a set of rules based around the form factor and efficiency of the laptop. It is also a 16-inch laptop, so there’s plenty of screen real-estate for all kinds of tasks.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI EVO is powered by the Core Ultra 7 155H processor that comes with 16 cores, of which six are performance cores or P-cores, eight efficiency cores or E-cores, and two low power efficient-cores or LP-E cores. The laptop has 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 2TB of NVMe storage. The visuals are handled by integrated Intel Arc Graphics, meaning that while this laptop is highly power efficient, the lack of a dedicated gaming GPU makes it hard to recommend it to users who only wanta gaming laptopwith a Core Ultra chip.
The16-inch OLED displayhas a 3840x2400 resolution and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. All this performance is backed by a 99.9W/hr battery, which is the largest possible battery allowed in a laptop, and you would think that this would make the laptop quite a bit chunky, but the MSI Prestige 16 AI EVO is just 19mm thick and weighs 1.5 kg. For connectivity, you get Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, one USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A) port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a full-size SD card reader.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI EVO is a solid all-round package that offers great value, especially when it is on discount.
Acer Predator Triton Neo 16
The Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 is an Intel Core Ultra processor powered gaming laptop that offer incredible performance thanks to the RTX 4070 GPU and the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU. It features 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of PCIe SSD for storage. It comes with a 16-inch IPS display with a 3200x2000 resolution. You also get ample connectivity options for both wireless and hardware connections.
Gaming on an Intel Core Ultra powered laptop without a dedicated GPU is still very possible thanks to the integrated Arc graphics in the H-series of Core Ultra chips. However, for the optimal gaming experience, having a dedicated GPU is recommended and that’s where the Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 comes in. This gaming laptop is a beast powered by the Core Ultra 9 185H processor that has 16 cores and 22 threads with the cores split into the same configuration as the Core Ultra 7 155H.
You get 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of NVMe storage. The display is a 16-inch IPS panel with a 3200x2000 resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate, which is perfect for all kinds of games. Speaking of visuals, the graphics are handled by theNvidia RTX 4070 140W GPU, which means it can handle any game you throw at it. If you are a fan of single-player, campaign-driven games, then the high resolution will improve that experience. At the same time, if you prefer fast-paced shooters, the high refresh rate will help with that.
Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 is not a thin and light machine, and that’s to be expected because of the powerful components and the need to keep them cool. There is also a 76Wh battery inside the chassis that is 20mm thick. This thickness does allow for ample connectivity options, and you can find four USB ports, an HDMI port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a microSD card slot.
When it comes to gaming, the Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 is an excellent Intel Core Ultra powered laptop.
ASUS Zenbook Duo Laptop
The ASUS Zenbook Duo UX8406 is a versatile laptop that can be used in many different configurations, thanks to its dual displays and detachable keyboard. It is powered by the Core Ultra 9 185H processor, 32GB LPDDR5X RAM, and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD. It features two 14-inch OLED panels with touchscreen support, 2880x1800 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 0.2ms response time, and 500nits HDR peak brightness.
The ideal productivity setup either involves a large screen with a lot of screen real-estate or having multiple monitors, both of which were impossible to achieve with laptops until the release of dual screen laptops, and ASUS was one of the first brands to jump on that bandwagon. Precisely because of that, the 2024 model of the Zenbook Duo stands as the best Intel Core Ultra laptop for productivity.
It features a dual-screen laptop form factor with a detachable keyboard. This allows you to use the ASUS Zenbook Duo UX8406 in multiple different configurations. It can be used as a regular laptop by placing the keyboard on top of the second screen. It can act as a dual-screen computer by setting the two displays vertically and using the keyboard via Bluetooth. You can even get rid of the keyboard entirely and use it as a large tablet. Alternatively, users can set up the displays horizontally for a traditional dual-screen experience.
Powering this productivity beast is the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, 32GB LPDDR5X RAM, and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD for storage. There is no dedicated GPU which would be quite challenging to fit and keep cool inside this slim convertible form factor. Both the displays are 14-inch OLED panels with touchscreen support, 2880x1800 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 0.2ms response time, 500 nits HDR peak brightness, and factory color calibrated.
With aversatile form factor and solid performance, the ASUS Zenbook Duo UX8406 is the perfect laptop for productivity enthusiasts.
Acer Swift Go 14 (SFG14-72T-71QF)
The Acer Swift Go 14 (SFG14-72T-71QF) is a budget-friendly thin and light laptop that is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and Intel Arc graphics. It is equipped with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB NVMe storage. The laptop features a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 resolution display in a form factor that weighs just 1.32 kg.
Finding a solid performing laptop that doesn’t break the bank has become easier thanks to the Intel Core Ultra chips and the Intel Evo certification. Those shopping on a budget will find the Acer Swift Go 14 to be the perfect daily driver, if your demands are not too heavy. Powered by the Core Ultra 7 155H processor and Intel Arc graphics, the Swift Go 14 can perform all your day-to-day tasks efficiently and even let you play games on it.
It comes with a 14-inch IPS touchscreen display that has a 1920x1200 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and 16:10 aspect ratio. You get 16B of RAM and 1TB of storage, which is pretty standard with budget laptops. There are plenty of connectivity options as well, including Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, a microSD card reader, two USB Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack.
The Acer Swift Go 14 is backed by a 65Wh battery which on paper may seem like a low capacity, but it only powers a 1200p display at 60Hz, so the battery life should be enough for a full day of use, depending on the tasks being performed. It is also athin and light machinethanks to its Evo certification, and it comes in at just 14mm thick, weighing just 1.3 kg.
Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H)
The Dell XPS 13 is a thin and light premium-looking laptop that has a unique design that stands out even more with its Platinum color variant. The laptop is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Intel Arc graphics, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, and 1TB PCIe SSD for storage. It comes with a 13-inch FHD+ (1920x1200) 120Hz display, and two Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C) ports.
If portability takes priority for you, the Dell XPS 13 is the laptop for you. Not only is it compact with a 13-inch display, but the chassis is also sleek and does not extend too much beyond the display. This gives rise to a stylish keyboard presentation with keys going from one edge to the other. There are slim bezels all around the display that help to maintain the compact form factor.
The Dell XPS 13 features a 13.4-inch 1920x1200p display with 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM clocked at 7466MHz, and a 1TB PCIe SSD. Because of its compact form factor, Dell has only managed to fit a 55Wh battery that charges via the 65W USB Type-C charger. The connectivity options are fairly limited here with only two Thunderbolt 4 ports, of which one will be occupied when charging.
Despite these drawbacks, the Dell XPS 13 shines bright thanks to its stylish design and Platinum color option. The keyboard is backlit and there is a fingerprint reader as well. It is just 15.3mm thick at its thickest point and weighs just 1.19 kg. It brings Dell’s excellent build quality with a CNC-machined aluminum chassis that feels premium to look at and use. Dell also has a version of the XPS 13 with abrighter OLED displaywhich, of course, is more expensive.
Those looking to get the best performance, a sleek form factor with a large display, and have no budget concerns should check out the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio. It is powered by the Core Ultra 9 185H CPU and the Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU with 12GB GDDR6 VRAM. You also get 64GB (32GBx2) DDR5 of RAM and 1TB of storage. The MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio uses AI to adjust various system settings according to the use case. This means more efficient use of the battery for overall better battery life and better component longevity.
The 16-inch UHD+ (3840x2400) display is a Mini-LED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR 1000 support. You get all the latest connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port with DP, and a microSD card slot. MSI has managed to install a 99.9Wh battery inside the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio, yet keep it slim at just 21.6mm thick and weighs under 2 kg.
The MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio is the ultimate media consumption laptop partly because of its high resolution and high contrast display, but also because of its Nahimic 3 enabled speaker setup that includes two 2W speakers and four 2W woofers. MSI also offers two color options with this laptop; a black and a blue color. Both carry aSteelSeries keyboardwith per-key RGB lighting as well.
Factors to Consider When Looking for the Best Intel Core Ultra Laptop
There are a few things you should take into consideration before making the purchase decision:
Chip series
The Intel Core Ultra lineup has four major categories; Core Ultra 3, 5, 7, and 9. If you want a performance-focused device, stick with the Core Ultra 7 or Ultra 9 models. For everyone else, a Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 3 laptop will suffice. These laptops are relatively thinner and lightweight compared to the typical Intel Core i-series laptops. They are also relatively cheaper.
Use Case
If gaming is why you want a new laptop, ensure to get one with a dedicated GPU, preferably one with an RTX 4060 GPU or better. The Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 is a great choice for gamers, and it features the RTX 4070 GPU which can run pretty much any game at a high FPS. For thosetargeting productivity, the ASUS Zenbook Duo UX8406 (2024) stands as a great option with its dual-displays and several different usable orientations.
Budget
The Intel Core Ultra powered laptops are generally more affordable than the AMD Ryzen 7000 series or 14th Gen Intel Core processors. They typically target efficiency over raw performance, so you’re able to find a solid everyday performer for under $1000, like the Acer Swift Go 14. That being said, there are also high-end offerings like the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio that comes with high-end graphics and a stunning Mini-LED display, with a price tag of over $3000.
FAQ
Q: What is the Intel Ultra series?
The Intel Core Ultra series is a lineup of processors that feature 3D performance hybrid architecture which brings together two core microarchitectures on a single chip. These are laptop or mobile chips that target efficiency using AI and the three dedicated CPU, GPU, and NPU engines.
Q: Is the Ultra 7 better than the i7?
In terms of raw performance, the Intel Core i7 takes the cake as it is more powerful and efficient at completing tasks. The Core Ultra 7 is more efficient in terms of power consumption and also uses AI to maximize its efficiency.
