Introduction
Windows 10 works on most old hardware, but you might see upgrading as a good excuse to get a new laptop, anyway. Today's portable computers are so slim and elegant, they wouldn't look out of a place on a catwalk. But it's not all style over substance: fitted with Intel's latest (in some cases, fanless) processors, the top laptops and Ultrabooks offer impressive power and versatility.
What's more, those that offer two-in-one capability enable you to transform your machine from an office to a home cinema, with the mere swivel of a screen or the detachment of a keyboard. Introducing our super six…
Apple Macbook
4/5
From £1,049 www.apple.com/uk
Need to run Windows on a very portable Mac? At just 13.1mm thick, Apple's new MacBook is the brand's slimmest laptop yet. It won't suit everyone due to its single USB Type-C port, which means you'll need an adapter to use your old monitors and peripherals – but it crams in some top tech. A 2,304 x 1,440-pixel Retina Display accompanies a unique 'butterfly' keyboard that reduces key wobbling, a Force Touch trackpad that adds a third click and haptic feedback. Even better, it's fanless, silent and lasts up to nine hours on a charge. Grab it in Gold, Silver or Space Grey.
Asus Zenbook UX305
4.5/5
From £650 www.asus.com
The UX305 doesn't cost a bomb and it's slimmer than the MacBook (it's just 12.3mm). It also packs Intel's latest fanless processor and crams in two full-size USB 3.0 ports, along with an HDMI output for hooking it up to a monitor or TV. The 13-inch Full HD display's matte coating avoids sun glare when outdoors and the battery life of up to six hours means you won't have to keep going back into the house to charge it up. A fast 128GB SSD and comfortable keyboard add to the appeal.
HP Spectre x360
5/5
From £849 www.hp.com/uk
Few laptops literally bend over backwards for you, but this one will. A rotating hinge enables the keyboard to flip 360 degrees, so the machine can be used as a tablet or stood upright for watching video hands-free. Thanks to the Intel Broadwell chip inside, the Spectre x360 boasts a competition-smashing 12.5-hour battery life and crisp 3D graphics, while its solid aluminium body is almost tank-like in durability. Backed up by 8GB of RAM, it'll let you edit images and chew through demanding tasks with ease. It's a triumph of form and function.
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro
4/5
From £999 www.lenovo.com/uk
The Yoga 3 Pro screams boardrooms, luxury cruise ships and complex Scotch whiskey. Its sharp 13.3-inch touchscreen spins 360 degrees around a watchband-inspired hinge made up of 813 individual pieces of aluminium and steel. Thanks to its flexibility and lightness, the Yoga can be used as a laptop, tablet or upright display, and the ThinkPad-inspired keyboard is one of the best around. Lenovo's Harmony software, which optimises settings depending on how you use it over time, means it'll adapt to you.
Dell XPS 13
3/5
From £849 www.dell.com/uk
This is a smartly designed laptop that stands out from the others here due to its gorgeous 13-inch edge-to-edge 'Infinity' display. Its border is so thin that it's virtually not there, creating a cinematic effect that's perfect for watching movies and videos. The XPS 13's clever screen also gives it a small footprint, making it incredibly bag-friendly and the opposite of a table hog on transport. While it's no gaming monster, the inclusion of Intel's latest HD Graphics 5500 solution means you'll certainly be able to run less demanding titles. Frogger, anyone?
Asus T300 Chi
4/5
From £800 www.asus.com
The Asus T300 Chi is a 2-in-1 machine that combines the best bits of a laptop and a tablet. The touchscreen magnetically detaches from the keyboard with a sharp tug, meaning you can sit back and use it to stream movies on the couch or prop it up against the wall to watch footie in the bath (keep an eye out for those bubbles). The Chi's razor-thin aluminium design is as impressive as any competing Ultrabook, making it stylish, versatile and portable. It's quiet and nippy, too, thanks to Intel's latest fanless chip under the hood. An impressive option for the money.
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