Storage
Speedy hardware is all well and good, but you also need somewhere to keep all your digital stuff. For most ultraportables, this means a solid-state drive (SSD). These compact, flash-based storage devices are less prone to data loss from damage because they don't have any moving parts, which is ideal for systems doing a lot of traveling. Some SSDs use a connection standard called M.2, which is smaller than traditional SATA connections—and smaller connectors allow smaller designs—but both are serviceable. Some (but not all) of these M.2-connected drives use a PCIe connection for faster data transfer (and thus faster overall performance).
While SSDs are the most common for ultraportables, you will see two other storage options used on less-expensive systems. A few use an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC), a form of solid-state storage that is often identified as an SSD in product specs but is actually a memory card (like an SD card). As such, it's a little slower and a lot smaller in capacity (32 to 64GB) than a standard SSD.
Finally, some systems still use good-old-fashioned spinning hard drives. These drives are less expensive than SSDs, and they offer substantially more room for your files—you will often see hard drives with capacities of 500GB or more. You won't get the same speedy performance as you do with an SSD, but there's something to be said for lots of storage space.
While SSDs are the most common for ultraportables, you will see two other storage options used on less-expensive systems. A few use an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC), a form of solid-state storage that is often identified as an SSD in product specs but is actually a memory card (like an SD card). As such, it's a little slower and a lot smaller in capacity (32 to 64GB) than a standard SSD.
Finally, some systems still use good-old-fashioned spinning hard drives. These drives are less expensive than SSDs, and they offer substantially more room for your files—you will often see hard drives with capacities of 500GB or more. You won't get the same speedy performance as you do with an SSD, but there's something to be said for lots of storage space.
Display
As for a more visible portion of the laptop, the screen, ultraportables are available with a wide range of display options. These include an increasingly varied array of resolutions, from standard high definition (1,366 by 768) to full HD and even Ultra HD or 4K (3,840 by 2,160). Lower-resolution screens are most frequently found in entry-level systems simply because they're the least expensive option. They work well enough for reading and typing text, and YouTube usually defaults to something lower than full HD anyway, so less discerning users can get by just fine.
Full HD screens are standard on most midrange systems, and are still used in a fair number of premium ultraportables. These displays offer support for 1080p video and are better equipped for multitasking, since you can fit more readable text and two side-by-side windows onto a 13-inch screen. This is a sharp, true HD resolution, generally ideal for most daily uses.
Ultra HD is currently the resolution of choice for high-end ultraportables. As 4K screens have four times the resolution of a full HD display, you can fit a lot onto them. The sheer number of pixels requires more power, however, and 4K-equipped systems usually see a significant drop in battery life compared with similar full HD systems. There's also the question of content. Although 4K TVs and displays are becoming increasingly common, there still aren't a lot of places to stream 4K video, and gaming in 4K is presently more than most ultraportables' GPUs can adequately support without a drop in performance. At the present, these displays are best suited to uses like photo and video editing, but they do look stunning.
The other feature to watch for is touch. While touch-capable displays were uncommon just a few years ago, they're now pretty ubiquitous in ultraportable systems, even in the entry-level and business categories. Windows 10 includes some baked-in gesture controls and touch-friendly features, which helps promote its use. Touch technology is also often more useful on a bus or train where you may not have a mouse, making it a good match for ultraportables. Even if you don't regularly use touch in your day-to-day computing and don't plan to incorporate it, it may be worth having just so you don't regret the decision down the road.
As for a more visible portion of the laptop, the screen, ultraportables are available with a wide range of display options. These include an increasingly varied array of resolutions, from standard high definition (1,366 by 768) to full HD and even Ultra HD or 4K (3,840 by 2,160). Lower-resolution screens are most frequently found in entry-level systems simply because they're the least expensive option. They work well enough for reading and typing text, and YouTube usually defaults to something lower than full HD anyway, so less discerning users can get by just fine.
Full HD screens are standard on most midrange systems, and are still used in a fair number of premium ultraportables. These displays offer support for 1080p video and are better equipped for multitasking, since you can fit more readable text and two side-by-side windows onto a 13-inch screen. This is a sharp, true HD resolution, generally ideal for most daily uses.
Ultra HD is currently the resolution of choice for high-end ultraportables. As 4K screens have four times the resolution of a full HD display, you can fit a lot onto them. The sheer number of pixels requires more power, however, and 4K-equipped systems usually see a significant drop in battery life compared with similar full HD systems. There's also the question of content. Although 4K TVs and displays are becoming increasingly common, there still aren't a lot of places to stream 4K video, and gaming in 4K is presently more than most ultraportables' GPUs can adequately support without a drop in performance. At the present, these displays are best suited to uses like photo and video editing, but they do look stunning.
The other feature to watch for is touch. While touch-capable displays were uncommon just a few years ago, they're now pretty ubiquitous in ultraportable systems, even in the entry-level and business categories. Windows 10 includes some baked-in gesture controls and touch-friendly features, which helps promote its use. Touch technology is also often more useful on a bus or train where you may not have a mouse, making it a good match for ultraportables. Even if you don't regularly use touch in your day-to-day computing and don't plan to incorporate it, it may be worth having just so you don't regret the decision down the road.
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