Today seems like the perfect time for ranking, organizing and comparing what we think are THE laptops of the last couple of months and what will probably be some of the most popular computers of the next couple of years: ultrabooks.
We are going to quickly compare in the following lines all the important ultrabooks already released on the market, including such devices as the Acer Aspire S3, Asus Zenbook UX31, Lenovo IdeaPad U300S, Dells XPS 13, HP Folio 3 or Samsung Series 5 Ultra and Toshiba Portege Z835, which are in fact most of the ultrabooks worth your attention these days.
If you’re also looking for what I consider the Best Ultrabooks of the moment, based on my hands-on experience with these machines, this other post here on the site is the one you MUST read.
We’re not going to get into details though, I’m going to insist on the most important features and specs, trying to find out if there is one ultrabook today that manages to detach itself from the rest and be the best choice for a technology enthusiast.
For more details about each portable laptop in particular, check out our reviews posted here on the site in the dedicated category.
Design and build quality
While it’s true that practically all of today’s ultrabooks have been accused of stealing or copying design elements from Apple’s MacBook Air, it’s also true that all of these computers are thin, slim, sleek and solid built.
So many possibilities, so little money to spend...
Most ultrabooks offer metal casings, with aluminum being the chosen material for most of them. Dell’s XPS is an exception, with a very sleek magnesium alloy and carbon fiber body, while Acer’s S3 is the only one in the class to use plastic for most of the case (except for the lid, covered in aluminum).
Thus, aside from the Acer, all the available ultrabooks are robust and elegant, having pretty much the same dimensions and weight (about 0.7 – 0.8 inches thick and weighing around 3 pounds). There are once again exceptions, with the XPS having a smaller footprint than most of the other ultrabooks, while the HP Folio being a bit on the heavy side, weighing 3.3 pounds.
Which is the most stylish and the best built ultrabook? That’s up to you to decide, as there are enough models and styles to satisfy all your needs, from classy ans sober models like the HP or the Lenovo, to fancy and extravagant ones, like the Dell and the Asus.
As for sturdiness and reliability, I’d give a special bonus to the Asus, Lenovo and HP units, while the Toshiba and the Acer ultrabooks feel a bit poorly built and flimsy.
Keyboard and touchpad
Unfortunately, while in terms of design, most of today’s ultrabooks have managed to get very close to the MacBook Air, as far as the keyboards and touchpads go, none of these ultraportable computers are right there on par with the MBA, as none manage to bring a truly good trackpad+keyboard combo.
The Lenovo U300S comes with a very nice design, but also a cool and comfortable keyboard and a strong touchpad.
The Toshiba Z835, Dell XPS 13 and the HP Folio are the only ones to offer backlit keyboards for the time being, if we’re not considering the 2011 Samsung Series 9. More on ultrabooks with illuminated keyboards over here.
You do get good keyboards on the Lenovo U300S, HP Folio 13, Dell XPS 13 and the Samsung Series 5, but when it comes to trackpads, only the Lenovo and the Samsng manage to offer decent solutions. If I’m to declare a winner though, perhaps I’d go with the Samsung, as the Lenovo has click buttons integrated within the trackpad and I for one am not a big fan of this approach.
The Asus UX31 and the Acer Aspire S3 are on the other hand the worst when it comes to keyboard-touchpad combo, with flimsy keys and rather tacky and imprecise trackpads (mostly a drivers issue on the Asus, while on the Acer the trackpad is just utterly poor designed).
Screens
Most of these ultrabooks sport standard 1366 x 768 px glossy displays, with slight variations between the better (on the Lenovo) and the worse ones (on the Dell and HP) in terms of contrast and viewing angles.
The Asus Zenbook UX31 has a very capable screen, but also a snappy processor.
The Asus UX31, on the other hand, comes with a 1600 x 900 pixels resolution screen, extremely capable in terms of brightness, but overall average when speaking about contrast and viewing angles. Still, the increased working area is a big plus.
On the other hand, the Samsung Series 5 Ultra and Toshiba’s Z835 are the only one to boost matte panels in this class right now. And while they still offer the standard 1366 x 768 px resolution, the non-glare displays do offer good viewing angle and the ability to use them outside or in strong light.
Hardware and performances
In terms of hardware, there’s a common ground between these five ultrabooks, but also a couple of distinctive elements and details. All of today’s ultrabooks come with 4 GB of RAM and integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics, plus they are also powered by Intel Sandy Bridge ULV processors.
There are some slight differences in terms of configs, but basically all ultrabooks are offered with a Core i5 processor, while some do come with slower Core i3s (the Toshiba) or high end Core I7s (most of them) as well, based on configuration.
We are of course talking about ULV processors, but they are snappy enough for all your basic tasks and even multimedia playing, although some might find them a bit slow when dealing with massive photo/video editing or 3D rendering, which aren’t actually things one would usually do on an ultrabook.
There’s one more aspect to mention: the storage solutions. While most producers bundle 128 GB SSD storage on their default configurations, some chose to go for hybrid solutions, with a regular HDD and a smaller SSD for caching, in order to save costs. With those, there’s also a drop in performances, both in everyday use and especially in booting and sleep resuming times. Acer and Samsung went down this road for their cheapest models, but they offer of course SSD only storage as well if you’re willing to pay more.
Battery life, connectivity and ports
Based on our battery tests, most available ultrabooks are capable of running for about five hours on a single charge, based on an everyday average use scenario.
There are exceptions though, like the Acer or the Dell, that offer a smaller battery, hence will only run for 4 hours and a bit. On the other hand, the HP Folio stretches to nearly 6 hours.
Of course, those numbers will vary a lot based on what you’re running on your machines. And, we are of course talking about real-life battery life figures, and not those fancy numbers announced by producers (as most claim that their ultrabooks can run for 7 to 9 hours on a single charge).
The Acer S3 doesn't come with the greatest battery, but it's slim, pretty snappy and cheap.
In terms of connectivity and ports, all these ultrabooks come with the basics, including WiFi, Bluetooth, USB and HDMI, but there are a couple of small details that could make the difference in this area, too. For example, the Lenovo U300S and the Dell XPS 13 are the only ones to miss an SD card slot, while the Toshiba Z835 is the USB champion, featuring two 2.0 ports, as well as a 3.0 one, and also offers a full-size Ethernet slot (others have it too, but most with adapters).
So, if you’re looking for a summary of available ports, here we go:
- USB 2.0: all offer 1 slot, the Toshiba offers 2;
- USB 3.0: all offer one slot;
- VGA: Toshiba, Asus and Samsung (with a miniVGA to VGA adapter included in the package ), Lenovo, Dell and Acer do not offer one;
- HDMI: Lenovo, Acer, Toshiba, Samsung, Asus (with a mini-HDMI to HDMI adapter not included in the package); the Dell offers only mini DisplayPort output;
- Ethernet: Toshiba, Samsung, HP, Asus(with an USB to Ethernet Adapter included in the package), Lenovo, Dell and Acer do not offer one;
- SD card-reader: all but the Lenovo and the Dell.
Pricing, availability and others
For the moment, it looks like the average ultrabooks goes for about $1000.
However, there are exceptions, like the Acer, Samsung and Toshiba units, that start bellow 900 bucks (mainly because they offer hybrid storage and slower processors). The HP Folio 13 though start at $899 and it does include all the need hardware specs (there’s an SSD as well),m and this makes the Folio an excellent bang for the bucks, at least specs wise.
Dell starts their ultrabook at $999, which feels a bit much considering its poor screen and lack of ports, while the Asus UX31 and Lenovo U300S are a bit more expensive than the average ultrabooks, starting at about 1050-1100 dollars (for the base models).
Of course, prices might have dropped since this post was put together, so you might want to check for up to date info on those big shops, like on Amazon or BestBuy.
The Toshiba Z835 looks pretty great on paper, but hasn't yet been tested, nor is it available for sale.
Most of these units are available in shops all over the globe, but prices might differ from region to region.
As far as other features go, all five ultrabooks come with webcams and stereo speakers, as well as some pre-loaded software and special functions, designed to increase your laptop’s functionality. The Acer S3, Lenovo U300S and Samsung Series 9 have the most capable webcams, the Asus UX31 features the strongest and crispest built-in speakers, while in terms of ‘’special’’ functions, the only one I myself find useful is the RapidCharge feature of the Lenovo U300S, recharging the battery to up to 50 percent in just half an hour.
Final words
No matter what ultrabook you decide to buy these days, you will get a very reliable computer, as well as a high performance level.
It’s pretty difficult to compare so many great laptops these days, to try to keep the ”story” as short and as straightforward as possible and to not forget important details.
However, I honestly hope that you will find this ultrabook comparison post comprehensive and thorough enough to at least help you make an idea on what are the best ultrabooks at the moment and what you should expect from them.
For more details, you should read all the post in our Comparisons category, plus see the reviews for all of the units listed here in the Reviews Section.
Of course, this post will be updated as the other ultrabooks get on the market, so stay tuned for extra details in the near future.
In the end, if there is anything that’s unclear about today’s ultrabooks, don’t hesitate to hit me up with a question in the ‘’comments’’ section! Also, you can check out this other article, listing the top ultrabooks at the moment, to get an even clearer picture of what’s going down right now with these new, hip and strong pieces of computer equipment, the ultrabooks!
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Very useful!
I like your summary but still little confused.
Can you give me a recommendation that must has these features:
- usb, ethernet and hdmi ports.
- high performence since I use it for work.
- long battery life.
- less than 1200$.
Thanks
Hi Manny.
If you want an ultrabook (slim, light) you should go for the Toshiba Z835, it has all the requirements.
However, if you don’t really need an ultrabook, there are other good portable laptops with even more powerful hardware, like the Lenovo x220, e350s or the Asus U36SD. They are a bit heavier and thicker though.
I’ve read quite a few reviews comparing ultrabooks and haven’t purchased yet. I’ve narrowed my selections to the lenovo u300s and the asus ux31.
I’m about to buy the lenovo because of athe complaints i’ve seen about the keyboard and trackpad of the asus.
I’ve also read in a recent review, which i unfortunately can’t locate, that in the more recent shipments of the ux31, the problems have been remedied.
Can you confirm?
Thanks.
Gary and others, i’ve played with a recent version of the ux31 and… I haven’t noticed anwful trackpad issues, but that touch surface is still jumpy and innacurate sometimes.
As for they keyboard, there’s nothing they cand do their. The keys are not sturdy enough so sometimes, they won’t register your command if you don’t press them firmly on their middle. Plus, they are shallow.
So when comparing the ux31 and the lenovo, i still keep my statement: both the trackpad and the keyboard and better on the latter. But they both have other proa and cons, s it’s really up to what you need from such a computer.
Hi,
very useful article that helped me but I still have problem choosing between an ultrabook and lets call it subnotebook (like Asus U36SD). As a student I am looking for light laptop with at least average battery time. However as almost every student I play pc games to relax (not very demanding -FIFA 12, Football Manager 2012) and that is the point where I cant decide: How big can the performance difference be?
first of all, the u36SD has a better processor, a full-load Core I5/i7, not an ULV one like on ultrabooks. This should make it faster when processing images, videos and maybe in some games.
On the other hand, it comes with HDD storage, which does make it feel a lot slower when launching apps, booting the device, getting or resuming from sleep etc. But you can upgrade the HDD later to an SSD if you want to.
The main difference between the two comes when speaking about size and weight, with the U36SD being bulkier. The bigger 8 cell battery also adds to the weight. So it’s really up to what you need. Neither will actually be OK for gaming, the ultrabook is more pleasant for everyday use, while the u36sd offers a bigger battery and faster processor.
thanks you, I love to read it, I think it could be better if you can also give us as table form comparable.
I’ll work on something like this as well
Very good suggestions. Thanks a lot. I look fwd for lenovo……. However good review.. Keep it up Mick.
I am an architect so style matters but I also need to be practical. I was tempted by all of these in your list but got lost when trying to figure out if they can use a docking station and support two monitors. I would also like a DVD/cd write able drive. Thanks for your advice.
they can work with two monitors.
one will be connected via HDMI, the other via VGA, so you need both ports.
as for the cd/dvd, you can find external units that will be connected via USB, that’s your only option right now with ultrabooks.
the samsung series 5 ultrabook
icludes a dvd/rw drive
Thx, I’ve read reviews and this comparison was helpful, since all information just mixed. But the only thing I miss is some information about the body and it’s quality. Im thinking about Toshiba, Im a fan of Toshiba since I have satellite with harman kardon speakers, fell on floor few times and still work like a charm. The only prob that comes with few years old laptops is overheating and its probably time to buy a new one.
So to the point its quite heavy and looked at youtube review of Portege – everything’s fine but the flexibility of display is just scary…and this was not mentioned. When I see some laptops like HP, Asus after few years of use they have the problem of stability. I know Apple is the answer, but its just too expensive for what it offer inside.
I should probably stay with a classic but lightweight PC with all important features ’cause I just hate carrying 2,8 kg with my luggage even if I have a car
Any suggestion?
Thx Martina
well, out of all the ultrabooks, i’d say the toshiba and the acer are the most flimsy. the asus, lenovo and samsung come with metal bodies, which are more rigid and better looking. that doesn’t mean the toshiba is bad, but yes, that screen is bendy, because they made it so very slim. Not sure how that will afffect reliability in time, but as long as you take proper care of it, should be fine.
bottom point, if you’d ask me, if i were to choose a device merely on looks and sturdiness, i’d probably go for the asus or lenovo. the new samsng 5 series ultra is another good pick as well.
What are your thoughts on the HP Folio 13?
haven’t got proper time with it so can’t say much about that one. But i’ll update this once I do, it’s not yet available over here
Hi There, Thanks for your comparisons.They are great. My husband just got me the Toshiba Portege z830. Seems like a great ultrabook — except for the noise. There is a consistent buzzing sound. I read up on this sound and it appears to be the fan. It kind of drives me crazy. Does the Samsung have this fan noise as well? What about the others? Thanks alot! Michele
Yes, the Toshiba is noisy, the reviews mentions that aspect. The others are actually better in terms of noise and the fans only kick on when pushing the devices. So if that’s a bummer perhaps you can return the unit and try something else instead? But be careful, each unit right now has its own hidden flaws
hey i hv a bugdet of $1200-$1300 , and i want i7 with minimum 8 GB RAM and 2GB Graphic card and looks also matter to me . so which is the better choice . please tell me . I also need faster and latest technology like ssd…. and also high battery backup required. which is the best brand to choose and have a better quality performance ?
Amit, there’s no “2GB graphic card” on ultrabooks these days, mainly because you only get integrated graphics on these machines for the time being. So if you plan to play games (otherwise there’s no need for the graphics you required), you’d have to wait for the second part of this year. If you don’t there’s little i can tell you more than I already wrote on this site
Two questions: mobile wireless options, and ‘instant on’. What are the options in terms of wireless connectivity? I would love to get an ultrabook with built-in Vzn data connection as you can sometimes get with a netbook or tablet. If none of the ultrabooks come with built-in wireless data connectivity, can they be upgraded? On the second question, how close to tablet-style ‘instant on’ can you come with an ultrabook? Any difference between the various models? I’m leaning toward either a Samsung or a Lenovo for now. Thank you.
First question: you’re probably asking about an integrated 3G/4G modem, and right now that’s not on any ultrabook. You can still use an external hotspot or an USB powered one, although I know there are few options for the latter in the US, while with the mobile hotspot, you get limited battery life. So, that’s basically a feature we’ll probably see in the next generation of ultrabooks
The second one, ultrabooks resume from sleep in about 2-3 seconds, which is fast, but not as fast as tablets, that will resume in a fraction of a second. Of course, that’s for ultrabooks with an SSD inside. Out of all the tested models, I found the Lenovo a bit slower than the others (3-4 seconds), while the Toshiba, Asus are on par. The Acer is of course bellow, since it does not have an SSD by default. As for the newer HP and Samsungs, I haven’t got to test them personally just yet
Thanks- that’s the clearest answer I’ve found anywhere!
Hey Mike me once again,
could you recommend any lightweight laptops. No need to be ultrabook since u mentioned all have some lacks of features. I’d like one around 800 eur – 1000 USD with i5 processor and weight max 1,5 kg – 3,5 lbs. The most I need a durable one as I mentioned above, no gaming, good speakers for music/video watch, plus using it for photoshop design. I have currently Toshiba Satellite A300. Pretty nice, great speakers but sometimes the operations with big files in photoshop take their time being processed. U mentioned lenovo x220 but its over 1000 and I’d like to fit into this price range
Thx Martina
Thanks for a good sum-up… sounds like the keyboard and trackpad is the only real worry with the Asus… it looks great. Are those elements really that bad on Asus?
well, they are pretty bad. the trackpad issues have been fixed, mostly, but the keys are still wobbly and imprecise
Hi mike, canu suggest me good one from xps 15z, hp dv6, hp 4530,
I need exellent sound, exellent battry, and nic display,
Thanx
Hi Mike! I’m an banker who travels a lot both for travel and leisure. I need an ultrabook that allows me to do mainly internet surfing, uploading of pictures from my travels, and also fast enough that when i need to do my powerpoint presentations and excel spreadsheets it won’t suddenly bog down. i have an office issued laptop which is of course very heavy so i want to buy an ultrabook for my personal use. looking at the i5 version and ive shortlisted it between the asus ux31 and the toshiba portege z830. any thoughts? thanks in advance!
Kael, if you’ll read my reviews, you’ll notice that there are issues with both of them: the Asus has kind of poor trackpad and keyboard, the Toshiba tends to get noisy quite fast.
The Toshiba is also cheaper and offers all the needed ports, while the Asus does not, but I feel like the Asus is more solid built and also comes with the better higher resolution screen.
So, in the end, it’s up to what you need, I can’t tell you which one would be better for you, you just have to scale de pros and the cons of each of the two
Mike
How long to these computers take to boot up from a cold start? The main reason I am looking into ultrabooks is because normal Windows computers take too long to boot up.
about 25-30 seconds, the ones with SSDs. regular laptops with HDDs take about 60-90 seconds
Mike, a Straight question,finally which one is best and cheapest and best configuration and lifetime(ASUS or ACER or Lenova )?
there’s no way for me to give you a straight answer, because i don’t know what you need and expect from an ultrabook. So please put your needs on a piece of paper and then go ahead and analyses the available devices based on their pros/cons and those things you require from them
hi mike ( great article)
i am presently using samsung netbook with atom processor, N 150 plus,
i need a system (netbook/ultrabook/tablet) with:-
1. faster processor (mainly for surfing 7-8 tabs at a time,for office / ppt etc, but no gaming at all)
2. 3 G connectivity (GSM)
3. Weight less than 3 lb
4. screen less than 12”
5. lots of on screen reading ( havent used tablet/ipad yet but think totally sacrificing physical keyboard for onscreen one may not be comfortable for me )
6. USB/HDMI port
7. budget 500-800 $
Manish, you would probably be fine with one of the AMD powered 11.6-12 inchers, like the Asus 1225B or the HP DM1. Those are not ultrabooks though. The problem though: devices in that class do not have an integrated 3G modem, so you might need to use a MiFi or one of those USB 3G dongles.
Hi Mike…thanks for this excellent post. Good analysis of all ultrabooks available till date.
Do you know if Samsung series 5 ultrabook 13 inch (NP530U3B-A02AU) comes with DVD drive ?
Nop, no DVD on Any of the available 13.3 inch ultrabooks
I am currently looking for this acer ultrabook. But I have question about 320GB HDD + 20GB SSD hard drive. is that most likely they try to boot up the computer faster? i really don’t understand why they have 20 GB SSD and 320 GB HDD…
BrandAcerSeriesAspireModelS3-951-6646Part#LX.RSF02.079
GeneralOperating SystemWindows 7 Home Premium 64-bitCPU TypeIntel Core i5-2467M 1.6GHzScreen13.3″ HDMemory Size4GB DDR3Hard Disk320GB HDD + 20GB SSDGraphics CardIntel HD Graphics 3000Video MemoryShared memoryBattery LifeUp to 6 hoursDimensions12.59″ x 8.52″ x 0.51″-0.68″Weight2.98 lbs.
Steve, think about it like this: you’re basically using the 320 GB HDD for the OS and all your files, while the 20 GB is used to cache the apps and the features you’ll be using most often. plus to cache data when putting the computer to Sleep, so it will resume very fast afterwards. So it’s not really a stand-alone SSD, it acts like a flash memory used to make things faster on the machine.
Hi Mike!
Awesome article!
I hope you can make a few suggestions … I’m looking for a small, light laptop (13″ max, even 10″ would be fine). I’ll use it for documents, presentations, Skype, emails, editing vacation photos, and internet surfing. No gaming at all!
I suppose for the above tasks I don’t necessarily need an i5 processor (although it sounds great!), an i3 would do fine as well?
At first I thought of getting a tablet, but a definately need a USB port for my external HD, so now I’m looking for a small, thin light laptop.
What are your suggestions as in makes and models?
Much, much appreciated!
Hei Sonja
Well, for your needs you could either go for on of these, which are in fact over qualified. Or you can go for a mini laptop, like the Asus 1225B for instance, of the Hp Dm1Z, both with an AMD e450 APU inside. Those are not as light or as thin, plus they are definitely not as snappy than ultrabooks, but they are about 50% of their price tag.
Not much else i could add here since you didn’t say anything about your budget. Between the available ultrabooks, I’d pick the Toshiba or the HP Folio 13 (they are the cheapest options). Otherwise, you can also check my article on ultrabook alternatives here on the site: http://www.ultrabookreview.com/836-cheaper-ultrabook-alternatives/
Hi Mike,
it might be worth of adding the new Lenovo Ideapad Yoga to your comparison. Although I know it won’t be around soon, but still it would be an interesting addition to the above bucket… with Windows 8 and a convertible ultrabook and tablet at the same time…
Thanks.
Zoltan, I’m only adding products I’ve played with and products that are available right now. The Yoga is still a prototype from what I know and no one can tell for sure if it’s going to be available in stores in that exact way
Hey Mike,
I’m a research orientated graduate student who is looking to buy an ultrabook this summer; the faster the better. I will regularly be running resource hog statistical software and writing publication manuscripts. So functionality and performance are the most important features to me. I prefer to utilize a mouse over a touch or track pad, so seemingly these are less of an issue to me. Also I will be lugging this thing around with me to my various responsibilities such as practicum sites and conventions, so portability is a central component to my purchase. And finally ports, ports are key. Can you help me select an ultrabook that fits my needs…..so far for all the needs I have; I thought the ToshibaZ835-P370 i5-2467 would probably be best …given the price… I am a student after all. I have the money to buy any of them though.
Hey Noah, I’d probably go for the Toshiba as well, especially since you need all those ports. The Samsung is also an option I fancy a lot these days, but it has a hybrid HDD which is a lot slower than a regular SSD, even than the one on the Toshiba.
Only issue with Toshiba though: the screen seems a bit flimsy to me and I’m not sure if it won’t break in time. Toshiba says it definitely won’t but I don’t know. The HP is good and rugged, has great battery life and good performances for the money. But it’s significantly heavier at 3.3 pounds…
Hey mike, i am an engineering student, i want to buy an ultrabook, which has better batter life, slim, light and which should be able to work efficiently with photos, videos and all educational softwares. I have a budget of $900. For which ultrabook, i should go for?
Suraj, for $900, I’d go for the Toshiba, HP or the new Samsung Series 5 Ultra. The Toshiba has slower SSD, the Samsung has a hybrid HDD though. The HP has the best battery life but it’s also the bulkiest and heaviest of the three.
Mike,
Thanks for the overview…very helpful. I’m a graduate student interested in a sturdy, portable, well performing 13″ machine preferably toward the lower end of the ultrabook price range. I’m finding that the HP folio 13 might be the best choice, but using the laptop in bright light/daylight is very important (I’d like to work outdoors at any chance I get) and I’ve read that the HP display is not the best for this. Can you provide any insight into what using the various ultrabooks in daylight is like (compared to a kindle, say)? I’ve read that the Samsung 5 13″ is quite good in this regard. Thoughts?
Evan, there’s no way you can compare a laptop to your Kindle. One is designed to work with external light, the Kindle, and one is not. So all the screens on a laptop would look dim when in bright light.
The only thing you can do is to pick a screen with a good brightness. And then there’s to pick between a glossy or a matte finish. The glossy one means that everything will be reflected, so in direct sun light will be nothing more than a mirror. Matte displays are usable outside as long as they are bright enough, just don’t expect wonders.
The Samsung Series 5 Ultra and the Toshiba Z830 are the two ultrabooks to feature matte displays as of today.
Hi,
I have been torn between the Asus and the Dell for some time now, and hoping to make a decision this week / next.
However, I wondered if anyone had ran Solidworks (or any other CAD) on an ultrabook. I wont be doing any majorly intensive CAD work on it as I have a home machine that is far more powerful for that type of thing. But I wondered if it would run ok for basic 3D CAD modeling??
The processors on these machines aren’t nearly as powerful as you get on a desktop or a regular laptop.
Those being said, I’m pretty sure CAD will work on them. But it’s going to take a lot of time to finish those jobs. Haven’t tried it myself to know exactly how good it’s going to perform though, but others might have. So, give the fellow a hand, guys
Thanks Mike,
If anyone does have any experience of running CAD on the Low Power i7 in the Asus UX31 that would be great.
Cheers
Russ
Hi Mike,
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I have been following this post regularly.
I need some help in selecting a Matt screen notebook…not necessarily ultrabook.
Which notebook would be good value for money for the following criteria,
Screen Size – 12.5 to 13.3 inch,
Screen Display : Matt
Processor : I3, I5 or I7 (any)
Weight <=1.5 Kg
OS : Windows 7 professional (home will do if upgrade is cheaper)
battery life -4hrs+
SSD preferable but not essential.
Ashley, the only 13.3 inch ultrabooks with a Matt screen are the Samsung Series 5 Ultra and the Toshiba Z830.
Also, I might suggest the Lenovo X220, a 12.5 incher with an excellent IPS display, faster processor (full power cpus, not ULVs like you get on ultrabooks). It is however thicker, heavier (3.5 pound) and more expensive.
Any comments on the use of CAD guys?
Also, just out of interest, I see a number of people talking about they ant matt screen, I never actually knew about them still I read this site!! But wouldnt them anti glare protectors you can get off ebay do the trick?
With anti glare protectors the issues are
1) they need be a proper fit for your laptop screen. Having to cut it to fit the screen size is a bit cumbersome.
2) It is too hard to get rid of all air bubbles.
Yep, I’m not a big fan of them either, but they can do the trick if properly installed. Still, those bubbles are a nightmare.
Dear Mike, I am planning to purchase an ultrabook. What would be the best brand between Sony Vaio and Toshiba? Please Advice. Thanks. Sam, Saudi Arabia
Sam, that’s not how I’d do it… You can’t say one brand is better than the other, you can only compare specific laptops.
Sony does not have an ultrabook available yet, with the Toshiba Portege is fairly good, but not necessarily the best, and you can see if you’ll read my article here.
Cheers, Mike
Dear Mike. Thanks a lot for the response. I would probably need a laptop with a good battery power, more USB ports, faster speed for internet, and also for multimedia (equipped with good speakers along with noice cancellation), and should be able to use it for a long time. Please advice me if this helps me if i buy HP Folio ultrabook or Toshiba portege. Or any other brand. And do you have any idea when will be Sony Vaio inventing the ultrabook? Thank you.
Sony should have an ultrabook by the end of the summer.
As for the others, i don’t know, you’re very vague with your demands. theoretically all the available ultrabooks should do fine for your needs, practically though, it would probably be better to try and see them in your local stores.
Dear mike,
I know literally nothing about this sort of thing, but any help you can give me would be brilliant!
I am looking for either a notebook or ultrabook that I can use for sorting out all my music, a few word documents and excel, perhaps PowerPoint and just the basics really. And it needs at least one USB port.
Any recommendations? Thanks mate!!
Hei Jack. You haven’t said anything about your budget…
Theoretically, for your needs, even a netbook would be fine. But those computers aren’t really fast but are good enough for basic stuff, if you’re willing to cope with occasional sluggishness (when opening programs or a bigger excel file, for example). They compensate with their price tag, usually around 300 bucks.
Then, you also get a class of computers situated between ultrabooks and netbooks, still portable and decently light, and going for about 400-500 bucks. A couple of words about those should be available over here: http://www.ultrabookreview.com/836-cheaper-ultrabook-alternatives/
And then you get ultrabooks, which are thin, light good looking and fast, but go for 800+ . Any ultrabook is more than enough for what you need, you’ll just have to pick which one you’d like
Dear Mike,
Thank you for your review about ultrabooks… Now I have decided to buy Asus Zenbook i7 as I’m working on Graphics design and Software development. But how do you think about Zenbook and Samsung, is both tie? I also like samsung as I know Asus is really in new in Laptop market…
Hei Ahmar
Samsung are actually “younger” in terms of laptops than Asus are, but that’s not the point.
The Zenbooks are excellent machines, if you can cope with the trackpad and keyboard. Since you;re a Software developer, I guess you’re gonna need that keyboard a lot and the one on the Zenbook is a bit shallow and imprecise.
As for the Samsungs, the Series 5 Ultra is not in the same class as the Zenbook, design wise. In terms of features though, it’s pretty much on par. But, Samsung also plan the Series 9 Ultra and that’s going to be a beast also worth checking.
Isn’t the new Dell ultrabook, have a backlit key board and advertises 8 hour battery life? I mostly do notes for depositions and emails. I use a net book now, to travel with, but it is sooooooo sssslllllllowwwwwwwww— only 1gb of ram. I was thinking of get Macbook Air. I like my netbook because the sim card to connect to internet by ATT is embedded in laptop. I don’t need to add an attachment.- but i can always convert. I just need something faster, friends say get MB AIR
Cory
Cory, The Dell ultrabook does indeed have a backlit keyboard, but that 8 hours of battery life will translate in more like 5-6 in everyday use. Still, that’s good.
One issues though: there’s no ultrabook right now with an embedded SIM modem, however by summer we should see some (Fujitsu already announced one)
Well, Ive done it, I went and brought the Asus UX31 last night. I cant comment on it yet as hardly used it, BUUUUUT, Im shocked at the amount of rubbish Asus have put on it, There was that much crap that I almost decided to take it back!!
It had just over 30Gb taken up, and on a small drive (in comparision to today), is a hell of a lot. I got rid of as much of the pre-install rubish as I could, but I still have 24Gb of space used up somewhere.
On top of the above, the drive is advertised as 128Gb, but only actually shows up as 111Gb, so Im guessing 17Gb is reserved for recovery files etc.
All in all though, thats 47Gb of 128gB Drive taken up by Asus.
Massively disappointed in this.
Plus you dont get a window CD in order to do a clean (none asus) install!!
Hey Russ, unfortunately that’s an issue with most, if not all Windows laptops these days
As I usually review test units, those are most of the time stripped of some of the crapware, that’s why I usually treat the subject fairly light. But I’ll be sure to check this aspect more thoroughly in my following reviews.
Anyway, the Zenbook is a solid device and I’m looking forward for your other impressions after you’ll use it for a bit…
I bought the Asus Zenbook 13′. The keyboard is so uncomfortable to type that it makes me want to send it back straight away. Really bad hardware. I am sorry I spent my money on this product.
The Dell XPS Performance 13 has a back-lit keyboard.
You’re right. I’ve updated that section. Cheers for the heads up
I’ve been using the Samsung Series 9 for about 3 months. I’ve also tried the Acer. I see no flaws in the Series 9. It’s an amazing piece of machinery. Great battery life – clean screen – great Wi-Fi and FAST (the i5 model). It can be bought for about $999 – if you look.
Hey Mike;
I’m still very confuse about what to buy.
I have a macbook air running windows now.
I would like to change it for a real PC.
What I need is:
Same display resolution 1440×900 or better
Built in gigabit ethernet port
About the same weight that already have in my macbook air
SSD 256GB
Better cost then a macbook air
Regards;
Lau
Lau, it’s a bit complicated finding what you’d need. Most ultrabooks don’t have HD+ resolutions right now, but 1366 x 768 px, while the ones that do do not offer that ethernet slot (asus UX31). So, you’d better wait for the next generations of ultrabooks
Does someone able to compare their SSD ? i don’t all the 128GB SSD give same performance.
Eddie, right now, the asus is the ultrabook with support for SATA 3 SSDs, thus the Zenbooks offer the best drive performances. However, be careful, there are actually two different versions of SSDs available in SSDs, do some extra research on the subject to find more.
Most other ultrabooks offer decent SSDs, while some, like the Toshiba for instance, bundle lower-speed ones.
how do u know only Asus give Sata 3 SSD ?
how do u know toshiba give low speed SSD ?
see the various reviews posted online and also my review here on the site
Hi Mike,
Your reviews are helpful, thank you.
I discovered the Ultrabook site recently and have a number of points I’d like to discuss, but I limit my comments to a few questions and comments:
1. I thought I was sold on the Sony UltraBooks for style, features, flexibility (customization), performance, and quality. I must be totally out in the left because Sony is not even mentioned in you reviews. What am I missing?
2. WIDI integration in computers and monitors are not covered in your reviews, especially that Ultrabooks do make good use of such new technology. What is the reason for this ommission.
3. Your reviews indicate that none of UltraBooks feature DVDs, but practically all Portègès do. While 13.3 inch Sony may not be considered an UltraBook in your views, the S Series does feature DVDs as well. Please explain.
4. Detailed evaluation of styles and prices in a comparative review muddy up such a review because they depend too much on the tastes and pocket books of the consumer. They should be briefly described in the footnotes, but not taken into consideration in the comparisons as such.
5. What exactly are the limitations of the MAC’s Operating System compared to Microsoft Window?
Thanks
Monji
Monji, you should probably read the post on what is an ultrabook here on the site.
Neither the Sony S or the Toshiba Portege R835 are ultrabooks, as they don’t meet the requirements for that. So yes, there are no 13.3 inch ultrabooks with an optical unit right now.
WiDi, well, yes, it’s important but not really crucial in my eyes. Most ultrabooks lack it today, while some offer it, like the Toshiba Z830 for instance.
All the posts here share my views and mine alone, that’s why I will always comment on style and some of you might agree, some may not, with what I’m saying.
For that number 5 question you should use the ol’ friend Google, that subject alone could keep us talking for hours as there are lots of particularities for each of the two ecosystems.
Hi Mike,
I’m going to be a computer science graduate student this fall. I’d like a powerful but lightweight laptop to bring to classes and do some developing on. I’d also like it if I could do gaming on my new laptop, but this is not a must. Mainly, this computer needs to last me at least two years. I suppose my budget is $1500, but I’d spend up to $2000 if I really thought it was worth it.
Absolute musts for me are a metallic body and i7 processor. I’d love to have a backlit keyboard as well and the higher the resolution the better. I’m a bit hesitant about SSDs as I’ve heard a lot of criticism about them failing suddenly without warning. Also, they seem to be 256 GB large at best.
What do you recommend? I’m not sure if I even fall into the ultrabook category. I’d love to have more than 4 GB of RAM but that doesn’t seem possible so long as I’m looking at Ultrabooks… However, I am tired of carrying a giant laptop around. Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks,
Carmen
Ok, first of all, as a computer science student, you’re going to need a powerful processor. Back when I was in college (Computers Science graduate here
) i used to run MathLab, 3D Studio Max and all kind of other programs that needed a lot of resources, so my advice: go for something with a full-load CPU. Ultrabooks have slower ULV processors.
Games on such machines, that’s not going to happen if you need them small and light…
So, from where you’re standing, you could go for something like the Asus U36SD, a Sony Vaio Z (has an external dock with dedicated graphics), a sony Vaio S or maybe a lenovo X220 (i own one). If you could wait though, by the end of the summer we should see updated versions for all these devices…
As for SSDs, the new ones are very reliable. However, they are quite limited when it comes to write/read cycles. If you need a storage unit that will constantly be filled with data and then cleaned off it, SSDs might not be that good. But if you’re not going to change the content on your drive a lot, they are, as they provide way faster speeds. Of course, the best solution: a smaller 128 GB SSD for the operating system and your important programs and apps, plus a 7200 rpm HDD for the volatile content. Small laptops don’t have two disk drives, but some allow you to use a PCI-E mounted SSD, like the Lenovo X220.
I thought you might tell me that! I figure for the bigger programs I wouldn’t even bother to put them on my new laptop. I’d leave that to my desktop and maybe remote desktop in if I really am desperate to be using them from my laptop.
I’ve been lugging around a decent but heavy laptop for six years now and I’m totally sick of having that much weight with me. So I guess that’s why I’m looking at ultrabooks. There seems to be a pretty big divide between normal laptops and ultrabooks in terms of weight. I went to Best Buy the other day to window shop and was extremely disappointed in the size and weight of their non-ultrabooks. I should add here that I’m a short girl and I don’t want to be hauling around a massive computer on a daily basis.
But of course I have really high expectations in terms of computing power, so that’s why I’m not 100% committed to the idea of an ultrabook yet. However, I’m liking what I’ve read about the Asus UX32Vd, so maybe I’ll wait for that to come out and keep my fingers crossed that between then and now my current laptop doesn’t bite the dust.
Thanks for your input!
Thanx
Are there any data on weight and thickness?
Thank you for your very useful review. After reading your article and doing my own comparisons between the ones you mentioned (minus Toshiba Z835, not available in my region yet), I’ve narrowed my choice to either Asus UX31 or Lenovo U300S. Now I’m really torn between these two. Any advice? Tq again.
Fattah, what are your expectations from such a device:
Comparing the two, the Asus has better screen and sound, while the Lenovo has way better keyboard/trackpad and lacks an SD card reader. The Lenovo is also a bit more expensive. I for one would rather take the Lenovo because I tend to use the keyboard a lot for my blogging, but you might not need it as much…
Hey Mike!
Thanks a lot for your review, really helped. After reading your text and all the comments, I’m between Samsung and HP. Any serious issues about them?
I’m journalist, type a lot – therefore need a good keyboard -, definitely need ports, use external mouse (so touchpad wouldn’t be a problem), use eventually heavy softwares like audio and video editors, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, but usually only Microsoft Office, Skype and normal Internet stuff. Don’t mind spending a bit of money on it, as long as I can count on durability (at least 4 years). What would be your choice?
Thanks again!
Francis, they are both good. Not the best in terms of looks or materials, but for what you’re paying, they provide good value.
The HP is slightly bulkier and heavier, but offers increased battery life. The Samsung is well balanced but you should go for the SSD version, which i believe is slightly more expensive than the HP. I haven’t got to properly test the keyboard on the Samsung so can’t comment on that, but the one on the HP was definitely good.
As for those 4 years, I don’t know what yo say about that. Platforms and devices tend to get renewed every year now and especially with this new Intel hardware line just around the corner, perhaps you should wait for the IVY Bridge ultrabooks before rushing a purchase, especially if you plan keeping those devices for that long
Hi Mike, I really enjoyed when I was reading your great article.
Well, just explain about this product, ASUS VX6S and why do I must choose this?
I don’t really know what else should I say about the VX6S. If you have any particular questions, please state them and i’ll try my best to help you
Hey Mike,
Thanks for the good reviews! I am an architect an do alot of rendering based on 3d apps like sketchup and vray. I am currently using a 1.6 Ghz, 1gb ram acer laptop. In your opinion which ultrabook would handle rendering best based on ram, processor and graphics?
Thanks mate!
Hei Sagar. I don’t know what exactly are you using for your renderings (autocad or something like that?) but basically you’re going to need an as fast processor as possible.
So, go for a something with a Core i7 processor if the budget allows, and 4+ GBs of RAM. Still, if you’re willing to wait, the 2nd gen ultrabooks should pop-out soon and they shoudl bring better processors and dedicated graphics, plus way better displays. And all these should be things you’ll need, right?
Hey Mike:
A really informative post. Thank you for that.
I am not a typist, but do a lot of writing. As a result, I use voice recognition, Naturally Speaking Dragon, a lot. I rely on the built-in microphone, since I don’t want to add carrying a headset to my already overloaded bag of gadgets when I travel, which I also do a lot. I use an external mouse and occasionally a portable Microsoft Arc keyboard, since I often make presentations and don’t want to be tethered to the projector. Do all these have a built-in mic? Same quality? Recommendations, given my use and needs? I’d like to save money, but will pay for what works best. Thanks.
I see the Dell is offered with Windows professional and the Lenovo is not. Do you know if any of the others are available with Windows Professional?
It also looks like they are all limited to USB docking stations. Is that correct?
Not sure John. Most ultrabooks come with win 7 HP, but i don’t know if Professional is an option… You could also check HP’s website in the US, they allow such customizations on their machines.
As for the second question, I don’t think I understand what you’re saying there… If by limited to USB docking stations you mean that there are no dedicated docks for these machines, then yes, you’re right
Thanks for all the useful information and reviews.
Dell, HP and Toshiba are all available with Win 7 Prof.
I was asking about a dedicated docking station (i.e. Dell Latitude). It looks like the best docking station option for an ultrabook is the Toshiba Dynadock U3.0 Universal USB Connect Docking Station.
Hello there!
Now, imagine there’s no limit in what concerns to budget.
I’m only concerned with:
- weight
- performance
- screen size (around, at least, 14 inches)
I cant stand Mac, so sorry, I’m really used to deal with PC… So, I’ve seen Ultrabooks but they seem not good enough… I’m tempted, oh yes, but their capacity wont be the desirable.
What would you recommend?
Ana, there are no good 14+ inchers right now, just the Lenovo U400 or the Acer M3. But give it a month or two, by mid summer we should see plenty of devices that could meet your requirements
Well, unfortunately I must have it now. So, the only problem it’s that it must have a screen bigger than 13″ (so, something between 14, 15 or even 16 would be fine), have a good processor and not too heavy…
I’ll work mainly with heavy pics, deal sometimes with heavy software, with a lot of data and it requires a good and quick connection to Internet.
I though about Toshiba, but I’m not sure…
Sry Ana, if you want it now, then the Acer Aspire M3 or the Lenovo U400 are your only picks. The Acer is probably the better pick, as it’s faster and has dedicated graphics, but might be a bit though to find in stores
hi mike.
thanks so much for this review. its clarified a few things for me. I’ve been tossing up between the asus, dell and hp ultrabooks. portability is essential as I plan on bringing this around with me to university. I’s studying architecture, but my desktop at home will be my primary design computer – that being said, if the ultrabook ran at least photoshop that would be perfect. I’ll mainly be using it for microsoft office and internet browsing and my requirements include SD card capabilities, quiet, a good, responsive and backlit keyboard, wifi, a decent battery life (but they all seem okay with around 5 hours)
unfortunately different ones tick different boxes. one day someone will get it all right…
thanks for all of your help
oh sorry, i forgot to say budget isnt a huge issue as I’d rather spend a bit extra for a better product than skimp on funds and get something im disappointed with.
thanks again
Anna, all ultrabooks will handle Photoshop easily, for light-medium tasks.
If you wand an SD card reader, then the Dell XPS 13 falls short. If you want it to be quiet, the HP is definitely not. IF you want the backlit keyboard, the Asus does not offer one. SO, LIKE you said, different boxes, different ticks. You’ll just have to decide which aspect is more important for you and compromise.
Or wait for the 2nd gen ultrabooks, hopefully they’ll be able to score more ticks
I need to buy a low maintenance,sleek laptop with good battery life.Also,it should be on-the-go with high-end specifications.
I have done a lot of research and narrowed it to Samsung Series 5 NP530U4B Ultrabook keeping in mind it’s competitive price.
Is there a better option available in the market?
Thanks.
Can’t say if there’s a better pick unless i know what you’re going to ask from this machine. so please, state your priorities and maybe ai can offer some help. The Samsung 5 Ultra is however one of the best devices out there, that’s for sure
Hello, i’ve been using the same laptop for around 6-7 years and heading off to college i need a new laptop, your article was very helpful but i still don’t know which to get
i use my lap top mostly for school, I have about a thousand files in my laptop and usually download multiple programs usually for editing video/pictures/music, i also computer program, and play a lot of games.
features i would really like
- i use the usb ports alot and at the same time
-sd card slot
-the bigger the screen the better (my current laptop has a 17in screen), i hate small screens
-good connectivity with internet
-good with gaming
-durable (no laptops that feel like toys, also all laptops in my home have tops that tend to unhinge.)
- safe (immune from viruses)
and i’m picky with the look of the laptop.
any suggestions?
Sarah, the bigger screen and the good for gaming aspects are tough to crack right now. You should expect for the next gen ultrabooks, cause right now most of them come with 13.3 inch screens or smaller. One suitable example could be the new Hp Envy 6, but that’s one of the first 15.6 inch such ultra laptops announced and I expect a lot more to popout in a month or two. Including the new Mac Pro, if that’s an option for you