15 most powerful laptops

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Modern laptops are presented on the market in the widest range of modifications, completely covering the demand from inexpensive models with limited characteristics to top-end portable machines of outstanding power. Until recently, there was actually only one niche in which laptops could not compete with desktop PCs – the field of video games, but in recent years, laptops have made a breakthrough and firmly established themselves in the market. Our today's release is devoted to an extremely interesting topic – the most powerful laptops, relevant as of spring 2019. Experts have compiled a rating of the top-end models from different manufacturers in the most 'stuffed' configuration options.

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The most powerful all-purpose laptops	1	Apple MacBook Pro 15	RUR 144,300
	2	HP ZBook 17 G4	RUB 285,580
	3	DELL PRECISION 7730	RUB 180 860
	4	MSI WE73 8SK	RUB 184,400
	5	HP EliteBook 1050 G1	RUB 140,505
The most powerful gaming laptops	1	ASUS ROG CHIMERA G703GX	RUB 230 890
	2	Alienware 17 R5	RUB 139,990
	3	Acer Predator Helios 500	120 230 RUB
	4	MSI GT75 8RF Titan	RUB 239,990
	5	Razer Blade Stealth 13.3	RUB 91,400
The most powerful ultrabooks	1	ASUS ZenBook Pro 15	RUB 101 600
	2	DELL PRECISION 5530	RUB 136,290
	3	Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme	RUB 127 300
	4	Microsoft Surface Book 2 15	RUB 165,000
	5	Fujitsu LIFEBOOK U758	RUB 145,328

Rating of the most powerful laptops

The most powerful all-purpose laptops

The first nomination is dedicated to general purpose notebooks for general use. These are laptops without an underlined functional focus (like, for example, gaming models or highly specialized for some professions), externally and in weight for the most part do not differ much from models of the middle class, but thanks to the outstanding hardware they are able to solve super tasks.

Apple MacBook Pro 15

Rating: 4.9

First of all, let's pay tribute to the most prestigious electronics brand in the world and look at the top-end laptop configuration Apple MacBook Pro 15. This laptop not only has exceptional technical characteristics, but is also a value in itself, emphasizing the high status of the owner.

In the maximum configuration, it is a high-performance machine in a slim and light design, with a laconic and elegant design typical for Cupertin devices. Dimensions – 349.3×240.7×15.5 mm, net weight – 1.83 kg. The body is metal with a natural silver tint.

The computing base is the most powerful top-level processor Core i9 of the 8950HK series Intel. Its six Coffee Lake cores are clocked at 2900 MHz. And this is the minimum – in boost mode, the frequency can be increased up to 4.8GHz. The cache of the 2nd level in the volume of 1.5 MB, the 3rd – 12 MB. Installed high-speed DDR4 RAM with a frequency of 2400 MHz in more than a decent amount of 32 GB. There are two video subsystems: the first is a standard built-in processor, but the second is of much greater interest – a discrete Radeon Pro 560X card from AMD with 4GB of GDDR5 RAM on board.

The screen of this model is equipped with an IPS-matrix with a somewhat unusual resolution for those who have not yet dealt with laptops Apple – 2880×1800, but for fans of Apple electronics this resolution is ideal. The screen size is 15.4 inches diagonal.

Following a decent amount of RAM, the Cupertinians did not skimp on the data storage subsystem. Here it is a high-speed solid-state SSD with a capacity of 1 or 2TB, depending on the specific modification, which needs to be clarified at the point of sale. There is no optical drive, but this morally outdated device would look completely unnatural here and would be simply superfluous.

Connecting to networks here is realized via a wireless Wi-Fi module of the 802.11ac standard with support for all younger generations – b, g, n. Wireless connection to peripherals – via Bluetooth version 5.0. For wired communication with peripherals and charging, there is a concise set of Thunderbolt 3 ports, typical for devices Apple, in the amount of 4 pieces.

This powerful laptop is equipped with an equally powerful 83.6 Wh battery, manufactured using lithium polymer technology. This configuration of autonomy, according to the manufacturer, is enough for 10 hours of Internet surfing or watching videos from iTunes. In standby mode on such a battery, the laptop can work up to 30 days.

The laptop differs for the better from its closest competitors even in relative trifles: a built-in 720p high-resolution FaceTime camera, high dynamic range of speakers, three microphones, a light sensor, a backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint scanner.

Advantages

• premium class, status thing;
• thin and light at ultrabook level;
• impeccable image quality;
• powerful battery that provides record autonomy;
• exceptional stability and reliability;
• carefully designed ergonomics with typical Apple pedantry.

disadvantages

• no wired network card.

HP ZBook 17 G4

Rating: 4.8

The second position in our ranking is occupied by a powerful laptop from the famous American manufacturer Hewlett-Packard. In terms of most important parameters, this car will easily give a serious head start to the previous model, but at the same time it loses significantly in size and weight. But the MacBook Pro 15 is so special that our experts didn't categorize it as an Ultrabook just because of the even airier MacBook Air.

So, the dimensions of this powerful and super-productive laptop are 420x280x33 mm, the weight without packaging is 3.14 kg. Made in a classic black case without any special design delights – in this model everything is aimed exclusively at working power and performance.

Laptop screen size – 17.3 inches, widescreen with matte surface. The most popular equipment has a resolution of FHD 1920×1080, the matrix is ​​IPS. But the powerful discrete graphics card NVIDIA Quadro P4000 with 8GB of GDDR5 memory on board with a large margin also copes with the top-end Ultra HD DreamColor 3840×2160 matrix, which this laptop can be equipped with.

The most important part of this model is the powerful Xeon processor E3-1535M series. This is the mobile version of the eponymous class of production server processors Intel. The performance is impressive – four Kaby Lake cores are clocked at 3100 MHz and still have room for overclocking up to 4.2 GHz in Turbo Boost mode. The chipset of the Intel CM236 series, as well as the processor itself, supports the 'error-free' ECC memory, which can be installed here up to 64GB (2.4GHz frequency) in four slots.

The best-selling configuration, which is also the most appropriate for most possible tasks, includes a tandem of hard drives – a 256GB solid-state SSD and a 1TB mechanical rotating classic disk. There is no optical drive.

For wired communication with networks, a gigabit network card with a standard RJ-45 interface is used. Wireless communication is represented by Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 modules. Other interfaces: 4 USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, HDMI, VGA. There is a slot for external memory SD, SDHC, SDXC.

The battery in this laptop is even more powerful than in the previous example – 96 Wh, only lithium-ion, but with support for fast charging using HP's own Fast Charge technology.

The keyboard of this model is supplemented with a pleasant backlighting; as an option, a fingerprint scanner can be present.

Advantages

• powerful server-class Xeon processor;
• high power battery;
• 4K matrix;
• fast charging;
• ECC memory support.

disadvantages

• thickness and weight.

DELL PRECISION 7730

Rating: 4.7

The rating continues with an interesting laptop from DELL of the PRECISION line. And this laptop is interesting in that it is not only powerful, but also has advanced functionality and useful options that are not implemented in every model. In terms of thickness and weight, the laptop is not much different from the previous version, but the thickness is not so noticeable here due to the competent design.

Dimensions of the device – 414.02×273.55×29.97mm, weight without packaging – 3.17 kg. Screen size – 17.3. Like the previous model, this laptop can be equipped with different matrices up to 4K 3840×2160. The technology is the same everywhere – IPS. A complete set with a cheap TN-matrix is ​​possible, but this is beyond the scope of the topic, and we do not consider such options. It is also possible to choose a discrete graphics card – Quadro P4000 or P4200 from P4200. The memory in both cases will be 8GB DDR5.

By the type of the installed central processor, this laptop is the 'sibling' of the above-described MacBook – in the maximum configuration, the electronics center is a Core i9 of the 8950HK series on six Coffee Lake cores with a frequency of 2900 MHz. Chipset – Intel CM246. As for the RAM, this model can be equipped with up to 64GB of DDR4 'error-free' ECC at 2666MHz, and a powerful increase in the upper bar is expected soon – up to 128GB DDR4 NECC. There are 4 slots for the slats.

What else inspires genuine respect in this laptop is the ability to complete the storage subsystem. So, this model is able to hold as many as four SSD drives on the PCIe M.2 interface or a set of two solid-state PCIe M.2 SSDs and one to choose from – solid-state or mechanical SATA. In the factory configuration, SSDs from 256 to 512GB, including self-encrypting ones, can be installed, as well as HDDs in volumes from 512GB to 2TB. There is no optical drive.

This laptop connects to networks via a wired network card or via a Wi-Fi 802.11ac radio module. Connection to peripherals – via Bluetooth 4.0 or by wire: 3 USB 3.1 Type A ports, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI. Supports external memory SD, SDHC, SDXC.

The keyboard, as in the two previous laptops, is equipped with a backlight, the camera is sensitive in the IR range, as an option, there can be a fingerprint scanner and / or a contactless smart card reader. The high-capacity 97 Wh battery is capable of fast charging.

Advantages

• expanded potential for RAM and hard drives;
• enhanced security (self-encrypting drives as an option and TPM);
• efficient innovative cooling – dual fans;
• contactless module for smart cards;
• fast charging;
• accelerated system and application loading thanks to Intel Optane technology.

disadvantages

• great weight.

MSI WE73 8SK

Rating: 4.7

Next in the rating of the most powerful laptops from the editorial board is a bright model produced by the Taiwanese company Micro-Star International Co. – the holder of the world famous brand MSI.

This laptop is even slightly thinner and lighter than the previous one: 419x285x28.5mm and weighs 2.79 kg. The body is partly metal, partly plastic, black. The screen size is 17.3 inches. Designer performance is classic with unobtrusive individual aesthetic artifacts.

The electronics of the laptop are controlled by a processor of the same brand as that of the aforementioned HP model, but of a different series and slightly less powerful – Xeon E2176M on six Coffee Lake cores with a frequency of 2700 MHz. Chipset – CM246. The maximum possible memory configuration is 64GB DDR4 2400MHz on two slots.

The manufacturer offers two basic options for completing the matrix. It can be an IPS with a top 4K resolution 3840×2160, or a cheaper TN model with a lower 1920×1080 Wide-View format, but with a frequency of 120Hz and a lightning-fast 3ms response. The surface of the screen in both versions is matte. A high-quality picture in static and dynamics is provided by a discrete Quadro P3200 video subsystem from NVIDIA with 6GB GDDR5 memory.

The maximum set of hard drives includes a tandem of 256GB SSD and 1TB mechanical rotating HDD with Serial ATA interface. There is no optical drive. There is support for external flash memory.

The network capabilities of the laptop are provided by a powerful gigabit Ethernet card and the latest generation Wi-Fi radio module. Wireless connection of devices – via Bluetooth 5.0. Other wired interfaces: Three USB 3.1 Type A ports (two Gen1 and one Gen2), USB 3.1 Type C, HDMI, S / PDIF, Mini DisplayPort.

A 6-cell lithium-ion battery is responsible for autonomous operation, but it is no longer as powerful and capacious as in previous laptops – 51 Wh. The laptop keyboard has a nice white backlighting.

Advantages

• server processor;
• the ability to install a TN-matrix with a record frequency and response due to the rejection of 4K resolution;
• support for three external 4K monitors simultaneously thanks to Matrix Display technology with NVDIA Mosaic mode;
• powerful cooling system Cooler Boost 5;
• loud high-quality sound of built-in speakers.

disadvantages

• not the most powerful battery for this configuration.

HP EliteBook 1050 G1

Rating: 4.7

Completing the list of the most powerful notebooks for general use is another notable model from the HP brand. Powerful and efficient at the level of all previous models, this laptop fully justifies the 'Elite' prefix in the series name. Apart from the MacBook, the EliteBook 1050 G1 is the thinnest and lightest in this group.

Laptop dimensions – 360x254x18.9mm, weight without packaging – 2.06 kg (slight variations are permissible depending on the final configuration). The body is metallic silver with an elegant design, which clearly traces the references to laptops Apple.

The system is built around a powerful computing core – a Core i7 8750H series processor on 6 Coffee Lake-class cores, operating at a frequency of 2200MHz. Two slots are allocated for memory, the system is able to “see” up to 32GB of DDR4 standard at 2666 MHz with support for 2-channel operation. The video subsystem is, in addition to the integrated into the processor, a discrete GeForce GTX 1050 card from NVIDIA with 4 gigabytes of GDDR5.

The EliteBook 1050 G1 Series supports only up to three SSDs: one PCIe® NVMe ™ M.2 interface for storage capacities ranging from 256GB to 2TB; one PCIe® NVMe ™ M.2 SED interface for 256GB to 512GB media and one SATA SED interface for 256GB media. There is no optical drive. External memory supported.

This laptop has a screen size of 15.6 inches diagonally, equipped with an ultra-high resolution 3840×2160 IPS matrix. A complete set is also possible with a cheaper 1920×1080 matrix, but with increased brightness – 400 or 600 cd / m2. All three options include a glossy display with an anti-glare layer. Image parameters can be adjusted automatically according to the readings of the ambient light sensor.

This laptop uses only the wireless path to communicate with networks, just like the above-described MacBook, a Wi-Fi radio that supports 802.11a / ac / b. Wireless communication with peripherals – via Bluetooth 5.0. There is an NFC controller. Other wired interfaces: two USB 3.0 ports (of which one can be used for charging), two USB 3.1 Type-C ports with Thunderbolt support, HDMI (one of two options – 2.0 for configurations with a discrete graphics card or 1.4 for integrated).

Autonomy is one of the most striking features of this laptop. A powerful 6-cell lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 95.6 Wh provides an average of about 16 hours of laptop power-independent operation.

The laptop keyboard is equipped with a backlight, an optional fingerprint scanner can be installed.

Advantages

• thinnest and lightest in the collection (not counting the MacBook);
• there is an NFC controller;
• record autonomy;
• 4K-IPS-matrix in the top configuration;
• exquisite design;
• premium class.

disadvantages

• no wired network card and few interfaces in general.

The most powerful gaming laptops

The second selection of devices in the ranking of the most powerful laptops according to the version was compiled by our experts specifically for passionate fans of video games and all related paraphernalia. Gaming laptops, by definition, need to be fast, high-performance, well-optimized, well-cooled, and more. We will consider the most powerful of the powerful. The experts looked at brands that inspire the most trust among users and specific models that have been verified by at least some lengthy experience of mass use.

ASUS ROG CHIMERA G703GX

Rating: 4.9

Let's start this part of the review with 'taming the beast' – just such a call sounded in a powerful advertising campaign, which presented the release of the outstanding ROG G703 series of notebooks for gamers from ASUS with the semi-official name CHIMERA.

The dimensions of the laptop are expectedly impressive – 425x319x51mm, the weight is also 4.7 kg in its pure form without packaging and power supplies. The massive metal case sparkles with a colorful expressive futuristic design, angular aggressive shapes and ominous backlights.

In the top configuration, the laptop is powered by a Core i9 processor of the 8950HK series on six Coffee Lake cores with a frequency of 2900MHz. The multiplier is unlocked, which means that the processor allows additional overclocking, which is also good news. The maximum amount of DDR4 2800 MHz RAM is 64GB. Discrete video subsystem – GeForce GTX 1080 with 8GB memory from NVIDIA.

The data storage subsystem here is arranged in the form of a tandem of one 512GB solid-state SSD and a 1TB mechanical HDD with a 7200 rpm spindle. As you can see, even the mechanical “hard drive” is high-speed here, which in the best way affects the performance of an already powerful laptop. There is no optical drive. External memory supported.

The 17.3-inch screen can be equipped with different matrices. For the game, IPS with a resolution of 1920×1080 will be optimal – this option will easily reproduce a dynamic picture with a frequency of 144Hz. Configurations with 4K resolution are also available, but here you need to understand that a modern game in such a resolution with high fps, a video card, even a top-end one, may not be able to pull it off.

To connect to the network, either a wired connection via a gigabit Ethernet card or a Wi-Fi module of the 802.11ac standard is used. Wireless peripherals are connected via Bluetooth 5.0. Other interfaces: three USB 3.1 Type A ports, Thunderbolt 3, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI.

The laptop is equipped with a 4200 mAh lithium-ion battery, which provides up to 3 hours of active battery life.

Other notable features of the notebook: colorful multi-colored keyboard backlight; 1.3 megapixel webcam; 4 speakers with a total power of 10W provide high-quality sound with deep lows; significant headroom for comfortable gaming with VR glasses – this is clearly evidenced by the VR Ready logo.

Advantages

• impressive, expressive design;
• exceptional build quality;
• the ability to overclock the processor, memory and video card;
• a large supply of performance for connecting Oculus Rift and similar VR devices (VR Ready);
• silent operation at moderate loads;
• ergonomics;
• the ability to select a configuration with FHD or 4K matrix;
• 144 Hz display;
• reliable and efficient cooling;
• high-quality, deep sound without distortion.

disadvantages

• no objective shortcomings have been identified.

Alienware 17 R5

Rating: 4.8

The top flagship of the specialized brand Alienware is the second most powerful gaming laptop. The manufacturing company started out as a team of like-minded gamers, and after its first notable successes, it was bought by the tech giant Dell.

This laptop hardly differs in weight from the previous one – 4.42 kg. but much thinner – 29.9 mm. Width and depth – 424 and 332 mm, respectively. The body is metal, materials and workmanship are of the same decent quality as in the case of ROG CHIMERA.

In the top configuration of this model, the functions of the command center are performed by the Core i9 processor of the 8950HK series. Its six cores operate at a nominal frequency of 2900 MHz and can be overclocked. The upper limit for the amount of RAM is two times lower here – up to 32GB in two slots, the maximum frequency is 2400 or 2666 MHz, there is support for dual-channel mode. The storage subsystem is a tandem of SSD up to 512GB and HDD up to 1TB with a spindle speed of 7200rpm. There is no optical drive.

The wide 17.3-inch screen with a matte finish is equipped in one of three configurations with a TN-matrix with a resolution of 2560×1440. This is the best modification in terms of refresh rate – 120Hz with G-Sync support. However, this is still a TN technology with known drawbacks, so the manufacturer offers two alternatives: IPS matrices with FullHD resolution of 1920 × 1080 and 4K 3840 × 2160.

Graphics subsystem – GeForce GTX 1070 or 1080 from NVIDIA with a chip frequency of 1480MHz and 8GB GDDR5 memory at 8GHz.

An integrated gigabit wired card and a Wi-Fi module are used for network connections. There is also a module Bluetooth 4.1 for wireless connection of peripherals. Other interfaces: two USB 3.1 Gen1 ports; one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C and another similar, but with support for Thunderbolt 3; HDMI 2.0; DisplayPort; card reader; separate outputs for microphone and headphones.

The keyboard is backlit, while the keyboard itself is full-fledged, and the touchpad is autonomous here, and does not combine the functions of a digital block, as in the previous version. Quite good speakers with a subwoofer are built into the case, but, unfortunately, they do not “pull” the maximum volume – noticeable distortions appear. Integrated 1080p high quality webcam.

The standard lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 66 Wh, but higher-capacity versions are available – 99 Wh.

Advantages

• discreet but attractive design;
• high-quality assembly;
• full keyboard (including the numeric block);
• relatively thin for a powerful gaming laptop;
• selection of different types of matrices;
• high quality webcam;
• the ability to choose a high-capacity battery.

disadvantages

• distorted sound at high volume.

Acer Predator Helios 500

Rating: 4.8

The third number in this selection of the ranking of the most powerful laptops is the novelty of 2018 from the world famous company Acer, famous for its high-quality and mostly inexpensive electronics. This is the Helios 500 laptop from the Predator series of gaming devices.

In terms of dimensions, this model is almost equal to the previous solution – 428x298x38.7 mm and a little lighter – 4 kg without packaging. Even in appearance, there are some similarities with the Alienware 17 R5 – here we see a similar understated design, which nevertheless clearly emphasizes the gaming focus of the laptop.

The maximum configuration of the laptop uses a processor of exactly the same series and model as the previous one – Core i9 8950HK with a frequency of 2900 MHz. The manufacturer also took care of the preferences of AMD fans – there are configurations with a powerful Ryzen 7 processor at a frequency of 2700 MHz.

As for equipping with RAM, the possibilities are expanded exactly twice – four, not two slots, and the maximum volume is 64GB. Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 with 8GB of memory. Data storage is a set of 512GB and 2TB HDD and SSD, respectively. There is no optical drive.

The 17.3-inch IPS screen with 4K 3840×2160 resolution and a record 144Hz refresh rate creates a uniquely clear and realistic picture. The surface of the screen is matte.

The network connections in this model are organized in the same way as in the previous one – a wired gigabit built-in Ethernet card and a wireless Wi-Fi module. Bluetooth in the plan of the newer version – 5.0. Other interfaces: three classic form factor USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt 3 connectors, DisplayPort and HDMI. Microphone input and headphone output are separate.

A 4-cell lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 4810 mAh is responsible for the autonomy of the laptop. The average time independent from the socket is 3.5 hours.

The full-format keyboard features colorful RGB lighting. Speakers with a subwoofer are built into the body.

Advantages

• quality materials and assembly;
• expressive and original asymmetrical design;
• One of the quietest gaming laptops thanks to extremely efficient cooling;
• top matrix characteristics;
• extremely comfortable and pleasant keyboard;
• overclocking capabilities.

disadvantages

• difficulties with self-installation of drivers for Windows.

MSI GT75 8RF Titan

Rating: 4.7

There was also a place in our rating for a striking example of the MSI gaming notebook line. The Taiwanese manufacturer has relatively recently mastered the production of powerful laptops for gamers, and almost immediately won a wide audience of fans.

A remarkable feature of this laptop is clearly visible in the context of this particular review from. Namely, the technical part of the laptop is almost a complete analogue of the above model from Acer, only with a number of some improvements.

Let's briefly list the elements of the top-end configuration: Core i9 processor of the 8950HK series with a frequency of 2900MHz (six cores); Chipset – Intel CM246; maximum potential for RAM – 64GB with a frequency of up to 2666MHz on four slots; discrete graphics card GeForce GTX 1070 with 8 gigabytes of RAM; a pair of hard drives SSD + HDD with volumes of 512GB and 1TB, respectively; support for flash cards of external memory; gigabit network card; Wi-Fi radio module and Bluetooth 5.0; the maximum set of the matrix – IPS with a resolution of 4K 3840×2160.

Everything listed in the previous paragraph is common characteristics with the above model. Now let's take a quick look at the differences. The 17.3-inch screen can be equipped with different types of matrices – from inexpensive TN with FHD resolution, and 4K 3840×2160 with IPS technology. The coating is matte in any case. The set of interfaces includes as many as five USB 3.1 Type A connectors, a Thunderbolt 3 socket, Mini DisplayPort and HDMI. The autonomy is significantly extended compared to the previous model – the 8-cell lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 90 Wh.

The dimensions of this laptop are 428x314x58 mm, weight – 4.56 kg.

Advantages

• quality materials and assembly;
• high-capacity battery;
• variations with matrix type and resolution;
• attractive design;
• all other advantages of the previous model.

disadvantages

• dimensions and weight.

Razer Blade Stealth 13.3

Rating: 4.7

To round off our list of the most powerful gaming laptops, we take a look at something very special. This is another amazing creation of one of the most famous and, probably, the most ideological manufacturer of gaming hardware – Razer Blade Stealth 13.3. This is the thinnest, lightest, most compact, and at the same time quite powerful laptop, and its quality, performance and thematic focus are beyond doubt – the poisonous green snake logo acts in a magical way on knowledgeable people.

The dimensions of this laptop are comparable to the most airy ultrabooks – 321x206x13.1mm, in terms of weight it is also practically a “feather” – 1.33 kg. And such parameters of compactness are by no means a direct consequence of the small screen size – 13.3 in the diagonal. The system is perfectly optimized by itself, and the resolution of the matrix even in such modest dimensions in the top configuration is 4K 3840 × 2160, and the screen is touch-sensitive. Modifications with a resolution of FHD 1920×1080 are also available.

The central processor is a Core ™ i7-8565U with a base frequency of 1.8GHz and 4.6GHz in overclocking mode. Memory – 16GB LPDDR3 @ 2133MHz and dual channel support. Get the most graphics power – discrete NVIDIA® GeForce® MX150 with 4GB GDDR5 memory. Data storage – 512GB solid state media on PCIe M.2 interface. There is no optical drive.

Communication with networks in this model is only wireless, via Wi-Fi of the latest standard with full backward compatibility. Wireless connection of peripherals – Bluetooth 4.1. Other wired interfaces: two USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt 3, combined input / output for microphone and headphones, HDMI.

The autonomous operation of the laptop is provided by a lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 53.6 Wh. The keyboard is equipped with iridescent RGB lighting.

Advantages

• thin and light;
• renowned specialized brand;
• exceptional image quality;
• optimization;
• cooling;
• a range of individual features found in many Razer products.

disadvantages

• there is no full service in the Russian Federation.

The most powerful ultrabooks

The third nomination in the ranking of the most powerful ultrabooks according to the version includes a selection of five thin and light notebooks, which are powerful in themselves and in the top configuration. Из всех перечисленных моделей в эту номинацию 'просятся' Apple MacBook Pro 15 и Razer Blade Stealth 13.3, но наши эксперты определили их в другие категории по объективным причинам: современные MacBook’и по определению тонкие и лёгкие, а Razer Blade Stealth 13.3 is too narrowly specialized. Below are five models of powerful ultraportable notebooks – one each from the most recognized and reputable manufacturers.

ASUS ZenBook Pro 15

Rating: 4.9

The first number in this nomination is a representative of the famous ZenBook line from the no less famous company ASUS. This is one of the most successful series in this market segment, it is also one of the best-selling, despite the rather impressive price.

Laptop dimensions – 365x241x18.9mm, weight without packaging – 1.88 kg. The metal body is made in a sophisticated design that emphasizes the premium class of the device. This is one of the few such successful exterior implementations, the recognition of which is comparable to that of gadgets Apple.

Top-of-the-line, this sleek laptop is powered by a powerful Core i9 8950HK processor with six Coffee Lake cores clocked at 2900 MHz (simple overclocking to 4.5 GHz is allowed). Chipset – Intel HM370. The physical limit for RAM is 16GB DDR4 at 2400MHz. Discrete Video – GeForce® GTX 1050 with 4GB of memory. Data storage – only solid-state SSDs on PCIe or SATA3 interfaces up to 1TB. There is no optical drive.

The screen size in this laptop is 15.6, the matrix package includes two options to choose from – with a resolution of 4K 3840×2160 or FHD 1920×1080. In both cases, it will be IPS technology with the suppression of the harmful part of the blue spectrum. Optionally, the screen can be touchscreen with multitouch support.

The connection to the network and the Internet in this model is carried out only wirelessly (at least through an adapter to USB) – via Wi-Fi at speeds up to 1Gbps. There is also a module Bluetooth 5.0. The wired kit includes two USB 3.1 Type A ports, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, HDMI, a combined microphone and headphone interface. External memory flash cards are supported.

With a relatively modest power consumption, this laptop is equipped with a fairly powerful lithium-polymer battery of eight cells with a total capacity of 71 Wh. According to the manufacturer, it should provide an average autonomy of about 9.5 hours.

The keyboard is equipped with a pleasant backlighting, a fingerprint scanner can be used to access the system. The package may include a USB to RJ-45 adapter for connecting to a wired Ethernet network, but this should be checked with the point of sale.

Advantages

• premium class;
• elegant, sophisticated and recognizable design;
• optimization;
• performance;
• Ethernet adapter included;
• flawless 4K picture quality.

disadvantages

• no objective disadvantages have been identified.

DELL PRECISION 5530

Rating: 4.8

The second number in the final selection of our rating, we will return to the PRECISION series from DELL, only in terms of dimensions it will be the exact opposite of the universal notebook of the 7730 sub-series discussed above.

Laptop dimensions – 357×235.3×16.82mm, net weight – 1.78 kg. The design is extremely laconic, but pleasant – the materials combine polished metal and high-quality plastic with an interesting texture, on which fingerprints are not visible. The minimal thickness of the frame around the screen adds airiness to the ultrabook.

In the maximum configuration, the systems are controlled by a Core i9 8950HK processor with 6 Coffee Lake cores with a base frequency of 2900 MHz. Chip kit – Intel CM24. The physical limitation on the amount of RAM is 32GB DDR4 with a frequency of 2666 MHz and support for 2-channel mode. Two slots are allocated for the slats. The discrete video subsystem is the NVIDIA Quadro P2000 with four gigabytes of memory or the more common version in the Russian Federation – the Radeon ™ WX Vega M GL with 4 gigabytes of HBM2 memory.

The storage subsystem allows you to connect different types of media (only solid-state): up to 128GB SATA; 256GB to 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe; 256 to 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SED. There is no optical drive.

The 15.6-inch widescreen display can be equipped with IPS-matrices with various resolutions to choose from – FHD 1920×1080 or 4K 3840×2160. Configurations with multi-touch screens are available.

For network connection in this model is a multi-standard Wi-Fi radio module. Yes Bluetooth 4.2. Wired interfaces: Two USB 3.1 Type A ports with PowerShare support, Thunderbolt 3, unified audio interface, HDMI, card reader.

Autonomous operation is ensured by a powerful non-removable battery with a capacity of 75 Wh. A notable feature of this laptop is the TPM 2.0 trusted module, which guarantees the protection of confidential data from unauthorized access.

Advantages

• pleasant appearance;
• quality materials;
• speed of work;
• high-quality image;
• increased security of confidential data.

disadvantages

• no pronounced disadvantages were noted.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme

Rating: 4.7

The third number in the list of powerful ultraportable notebooks is the ThinkPad series. In terms of dimensions, this laptop balances on the verge of an ultrabook and an ordinary universal laptop, but still fits into the nomination.

The dimensions of the model are 361.8×245.7×18.4mm, weight without packaging – 1.7 kg. The laptop is made in a strict and restrained design, well recognizable due to the branded PointStick bright red in the central part of the keyboard.

In the top configuration, the laptop is equipped with a Core i7 vPro 8750H series processor on six Coffee Lake cores with a frequency of 2200 MHz. The upper limit of memory is up to 64GB DDR4 with a frequency of 2666MHz on two slots. Graphics subsystem – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB of memory. Data storage – up to two M.2 2280 PCIe TLC or SATA solid-state drives up to 2TB. There is no optical drive.

The 15.6-inch screen in the most powerful configuration is equipped with an IPS-matrix with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. Options for an amateur – matte or glossy surface, multi-touch screen. The 'junior' option is IPS with a resolution of FHD 1920×1080 without touch capabilities.

Connecting to networks is carried out via a dual-band Wi-Fi module with support for all standards. Wireless peripherals are connected via the Bluetooth 5.0 module. The set of interfaces includes two USB 3.1 Type A ports, network expansion, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a combined headphone and microphone jack, and a card reader.

Long battery life of the laptop is provided by a powerful 4-cell lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 80 Wh. Such a resource, according to the manufacturer, should be enough for up to 15 hours of work independent of the outlet.

Notable personality features: Docking station support (must be purchased separately), backlit waterproof keyboard, fingerprint reader, smart card reader (optional).

The infrared sensitivity of the built-in camera supports Glance technology – moving the cursor and windows by looking.

Advantages

• extended autonomy due to a capacious battery;
• fast charging;
• Glance technology (eye control);
• waterproof backlit keyboard;
• docking station support.

disadvantages

• there are users' complaints about the convenience of the keyboard and heating.

Microsoft Surface Book 2 15

Rating: 4.7

Now, in our rating, we will pay attention to a special device, the form factor of which is preferred by a fairly significant part of consumers. This is an ultrabook-transformer, which turned out to be one of the few, but very successful examples of the corporation Microsoft realizing its ambitions in the hardware sphere.

Dimensions of the device – 343x251x15-23mm, weight without packaging – 1.91 kg. The body is mostly metal, and the design is rave reviews not only by ardent fans, but even those who are proactively skeptical about the 'hardware' Microsoft.

The 15-inch diagonal tablet screen can be equipped with an IPS-matrix of different resolutions up to full 4K 3240×2160 with a density of 260 pixels per inch and support for 10-point multitouch.

In the top configuration, the most powerful processor option in this ultrabook is a Core ™ i7 8650U series with four Kaby Lake Refresh cores with a nominal frequency of 1900 MHz and overclocking potential up to 4.2 GHz. The top bar for RAM – 16GB LPDDR3 with a frequency of 1866MHz. Discrete graphics card – GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB memory. Data storage – 256GB to 1TB solid state drive.

A 2-band Wi-Fi module with support for all standards is used to connect to networks. Wireless peripherals are connected via Bluetooth 4.0 or 4.1. Wired interfaces: two USB 3.1 Type A ports, one USB 3.1 Type-C port, combined microphone and headphone interface; card reader.

The tablet screen is equipped with rear and front cameras with a resolution of 8 and 5 megapixels, respectively. Both can record videos in 1080p quality. The ultrabook's keyboard is backlit.

The powerful battery provides autonomous operation of the laptop during video playback up to 17 hours.

Advantages

• premium class;
• transformer;
• exceptional quality materials and workmanship;
• design with one of the best feedback even among non-users;
• carefully calibrated default screen;
• image quality;
• autonomy;
• sensitive and accurate touchpad without false positives;
• overall performance.

disadvantages

• SDXC cards require an adapter to reduce ergonomics.

Fujitsu LIFEBOOK U758

Rating: 4.6

Completing the ranking of the most powerful notebooks according to the version is the remarkable ultraportable notebook of the LIFEBOOK series from Fujitsu. It is interesting not only for its key characteristics, but also for successfully introduced innovations and additional functions, which are almost never found among equivalent competitors.

The dimensions of the laptop are 378x256x19.2mm, the weight without packaging is 1.74 kg. It is made in an aluminum-magnesium case with a strict design without any special frills, but this is a well thought-out feature, since this model is positioned by the manufacturer itself as a special 'business class' for solving serious problems.

The top-end configuration is equipped with a Core ™ i7 8650U series processor with a base frequency of 1.9GHz and overclocked to 3.9GHz (4 Kaby Lake-R cores). The maximum amount of RAM is 32GB DDR4 with a frequency of 2400MHz on two slots. The graphics subsystem – only integrated into the HD / UHD Graphics 620 processor from Intel – is the weakest point of this model, but given its business specialization, it is not entirely justified to be considered a disadvantage. Storage subsystem – PCIe M.2 or SATA III solid-state media with a capacity of up to 1TB.

The 15.6 screen is equipped with the ultimate 4K 3840×2160 matrix. Matte finish. The screen itself can be touchscreen, but only in a configuration with a resolution of FHD 1920×1080.

Special attention should be paid to the networking capabilities of this laptop. Here you can connect to the Internet in a variety of ways – via a wired network gigabit card, wireless dual-band Wi-Fi, and even cellular communication in two standards to choose from – 3G or LTE. This configuration is designed specifically to meet the needs of business people to be constantly online. Indeed, it is possible to be cut off from the global network with this laptop only on a desert island. In addition, there are even GPS and GLONASS satellite positioning modules.

In addition to the above, this model has the following set of interfaces for connecting peripherals: wireless module Bluetooth 4.1; 2 Type-A USB ports (one with support for charging off laptop); USB 3.1 Type-C with power delivery function; USB 3.0; VGA; HDMI; DisplayPort; RJ-45 with LED indicator; docking station for port replicator; smart card slot; SIM card slot; card reader.

One of the most important and striking moments in this model is multifactor security. Not only the fingerprint reader, but also the biometric vein scanner and the TPM 2.0 trust module protect against unauthorized access.

The 4-cell, 50 Wh lithium-polymer battery provides an average of 12 hours of autonomous operation.

Advantages

• Business Class;
• aluminum-magnesium body;
• multi-factor protection against unauthorized access;
• performance;
• reliability;
• autonomy;
• fast charging;
• satellite navigation;
• cellular communication 3G and LTE.

disadvantages

• no obvious disadvantages were found.

---

Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.