At just 0.46 by 11.9 by 7.8 inches and 2.68 pounds, the Dell XPS 13 ($784.78 at Dell) is a prime example of what's possible. You can get smaller, lighter laptops that still offer a 13.3-inch screen. At 0.59 by 11.97 by 8.36 inches (HWD) and 3.02 pounds, its size and weight are average for a high-end 13-inch ultraportable.

Unlike on many Windows machines, no Intel stickers mar the aluminum finish, despite the Intel silicon powering the works. It's a sleek ultraportable, clad in a silver or space gray aluminum finish that has spawned many clones, such as the near-dead-ringer Huawei MateBook X Pro ($1,407.42 at Amazon). Those wedded to macOS, though, now have new vistas of processing and local storage that just didn't exist in a small Mac laptop before.Īt first glance, the 2018 13-inch MacBook Pro looks identical to the version that Apple introduced in 2016.

The laptop's Achilles' heel remains price it's still a no-doubt-premium buy versus competing Windows laptops such as the Dell XPS 13. The key upticks in Apple's 2018 model include more processor cores and threads (the biggest deal, for most folks considering an upgrade), better security, and a tweaked keyboard and display. Savvy configuration options let it serve as an everyday ultraportable for a self-employed frequent traveler or a well-heeled college student, a platform for light-to-moderate video and photo editing, and many uses in between. The non-'Pro' Apple MacBook may be the most portable macOS laptop, but the 13-inch, Touch Bar-equipped Apple MacBook Pro (starts at $1,799 $3,699 as tested) is the most versatile.

Macbook pro 2018 touch bar