The birth of ultrabooks marked the start of a new era in mobile computing. Under the watchful eyes of Intel and their set parameters for such machine, companies slug it out to meet or even exceed those standards while trying to differentiate their brainchild from the rest of the pack by adding their own personal touch.
If you’re planning to get one this coming holiday season, it may be tough to decide which one to get. So we’ve come up with a list of current Ultrabooks from 7 distinguished manufacturers and its respective pros and cons to give you a better perspective about each of the candidate.
Note: This list is arranged alphabetically and not based on hierarchy. We picked two Ultrabooks from each company based on pricing with one being the cheapest and the other their high-end model.
1.a) Acer Aspire S3 – Unveiled last November, the S3 is one of the cheapest Ultrabook available in the local market with its latest configuration priced at Php39,990. With that price, it is also the first Ultrabook to break the Php40k price barrier.
Pros:
• Very competitive price
• Slim and Lightweight profile
• Solid construction
Cons:
• No backlit keyboard
• Measly 36Wh battery
Read our review of the Acer Aspire S3 here.
1.b) Acer Aspire S5 – This Ultrabook has brought a handful of design and performance enhancements from the previous model. The Acer Aspire S5 holds the title as the second thinnest 13†ultrabook in town (14.9mm) next to the Samsung Series 9 13†(12.7mm). This ultrabook was able to achieve this feat thanks to its hidden compartment which houses the majority of its ports.
Pros:
• Thin and lightweight profile
• Spacious and very responsive touchpad
• Thunderbolt port
Cons:
• Pricey (Php65,000 for i7-3517U 1.9GHz, 4G DDR3, 128Gb SSD config.)
• Sub-par display (1366 x 768) esp. for its price
• Unimpressive 2310 mAh battery which only promise upto 6.5hours of use.
You can read our first impression of the Acer Aspire S5 here.
2.a) ASUS Zenbook UX31E – From its solid aluminum alloy — sand-blasted lid with concentric-pattern finish to its 17mm thin frame, the Zenbook UX31E has SEXY written all over it. But this machine proves that it isn’t just about looks, as it boasts 1600 x 900 display which is the densest we’ve seen on a ultrabook when it was launched. This record was only bested by its successors Zenbook UX31A and Zenbook Prime UX32VD.
Pros:
• Sleek and Solid design
• Crisp 13.3†1600 x 900 display
• 50Wh battery that can stretch up to 9.5hours
Cons:
• Erratic Touchpad
• No backlit keyboard
• Lacking ports
You can read our full review of the Asus Zenbook UX31E here.
2.b) Asus Zenbook Prime UX32VD – Simply put, take a UX31E, put an Intel Ivy Bridge processor and an NVidia GT620M GPU, put in other extra features on the side and you got yourself sexy beast. But these added features, especially the dedicated graphics card, also have its drawbacks especially in pricing and design. In terms of design, it seems that the GPU made the UX32VD a bit thicker and bulkier. Though there’s not much of a difference in pricing between the UX32VD and UX31E, which both a change shy of PhP60K, ASUS has to cut some corners with the former to achieve this pricing. This is evident on 1366 x 768 display of the UX32VD compared to the 1600 x 900 of the UX31E and a slightly lower battery capacity (48Wh vs 50Wh).
Pros:
• Sleek and Solid design
• Dedicated Graphics card
• Large storage capacity
Cons:
• Pricey
• Slow HDD drie (500GB 5400rpm)
• Lacking ports
You can read our first impression of the ASUS Zenbook Prime UX32VD here.
3.a) Dell XPS 13 – Protection is the name of the game for this ultrabook; actually it’s a bit of an overkill in our opinion. This armored machine’s display is coated from edge-to-edge with a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, a feature only previously used on mobile devices. The base is made of durable Carbon fiber material which also dissipates heat. These added protections come at a premium price, but if you’re willing to shell out a few extra grand for a durable Ultrabook, you won’t be disappointed with the Dell XPS 13.
Pros:
• Sleek and Heavily armored design
• Evenly lit keyboard
Cons:
• Pricey
• Limited ports (No HDMI and Card Slot)
You can read our first impression of the Dell XPS 13 here.
3.b) Dell Inspiron 14z – If you’re really not into the flashy appeal and the fancy armor of the XPS 13 and you’re looking for a more feature-packed ultrabook, then you should definitely consider this one. But in terms of its design, the Inspiron 14z barely made Intel’s standards for a 14†ultrabook (maximum of 21mm) with its 20.7mm thickness. Weighing more than 4lbs, this ultrabook is also among the heftiest in that category. These minor design drawbacks shouldn’t overshadow its 4GB 1600MHz RAM, AMD Radeon HD 7750M 1GB GDDR5 and its 2 fancy 2-Watts Skullcandy Speakers with Waves MaxxAudio 4 sound technology.
Pros:
• Speedy RAM at 1600MHz
• Dedicated GPU
• Loud sound output
• Good price-to-feature ratio
• Long battery life
Cons:
• Slow HDD (500GB 5400rpm)
• Insufficient battery capacity (44Wh) esp. with a dedicated GPU
• Not so appealing design
You can read our first impression of the Dell Inspiron 14z here.
4.a) HP Folio 13 – Much like the Dell Inspiron 14z, this ultrabook is forced to play the sidekick role for its highend counterpart even though in reality there’s not much of a difference in terms of specs. The HP Folio 13 is in essence your bare minimum, meaning no over-the-top protection and no cutting-edge thinness. But what it lacks in glamor, it makes up for ergonomics and battery life which makes for a good price-to-feature ratio albeit not as good as the Dell Inspiron 14z.
Pros:
• Ergonomic design
• Long Battery life
• With backlit keyboard feature
Cons:
• Not so appealing design
• Poor touchpad performance
4.b) HP ENVY 14 Spectre – HP’s ENVY product line is reserved for their top-of-the-line offerings, one that would make any on-looker envious. Just like the XPS13, this ultrabook sports an edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass not only on the crisp 1600 x 900 display but also on the palm rest and on the top of the lid. It also features an equally fancy Beats Audio technology. But for its premium price one would expect an dedicated GPU, large SSD and at least 1920 x 1080 display. Unfortunately these features are nowhere to be seen on this ultrabook.
Pros:
• Sleek and sturdy design
• Beats Audio technology (a Pro for some)
• Good battery life up to 9.5Hrs
• Fancy HP Brilliance Backlit Keyboard
Cons:
• Way too pricey (most expensive ultrabook in the local market)
• Sub-par screen resolution and processor (Sandy Bridge) for its price
You can read our first impression of the HP ENVY 14 Spectre here.
5.a) Lenovo U310 – this machine joins the ranks of the few Ultrabooks that were able to break the PhP40K price barrier and without sacrificing too much feature at that. Nothing too fancy about this one, but it is a well-rounded ultrabook. So much that we find it hard to think of cons for this computer. This is certainly a note-worthy option for those who’re looking for an affordable ultrabook.
Pros:
• Very affordable (Good price-to-feature ratio)
• Glass touchpad and well-lit keyboard
• Solid construction
Con:
• Not so impressive battery life
• Display is a bit dim
You can read our full review of the Lenovo U310 here.
5.b Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon – taking cues from its earlier version, Lenovo has revamped the ThinkPad X1 making it more sleek and purposeful. Holding the title as the lightest 14†Ultrabook thanks to its lightweight and durable Carbon fiber body. It also boast Matte display with 1600 x 900 resolution which is makes for a very crisp display. But you’d have to prepare your wallet ‘cause this premium ultrabook isn’t as affordable as the U310.
Pros:
• Very thin and lightweight profile for a 14†Ultrabook
• One of the best touchpad on an ultrabook
• Durable Carbon fiber body
Con:
• Hefty Price tag
You can read our first impression of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 here.
6.a Samsung Series 5 13†– this is the Samsung’s first shot on the ultrabook market and they did pretty well on their first attempt. The Samsung Series 5 13†as well as its 14†sibling have all tools to be an ultrabook, but other than barely meeting Intel’s standards there’s really nothing in the Series 5 that one can write home about.
Pros:
• Complete ports (inc. VGA via dongle)
• Decent sound quality
• Bright display (300nit)
Cons:
• Plastic build
• Poor keyboard and touchpad performance
• Unimpressive battery life (3.5-4.5hrs)
6.b) Samsung Series 9 15†– this version is the boasts the biggest screen by far in the ultrabook category. The Samsung Series 9’s 15†1600 x 900 400nit Matte display is certainly its key seling point. But since Samsung banks heavily on this ultrabook’s screen, we just wished that they went all in on it by putting a denser resolution like the 1920 x 1080 of the UX31A.
Pros:
• Bright and large screen
• Minimalist design and solid construction
• Long battery life
Cons:
• Pricey
• No discrete graphics for asking price
• Screen Reso could’ve been better
You can read our first impression of the Samsung Series 9 15†(2012) here.
7.a) Toshiba Portegé Z830 – this ultrabook may not hold the title as the thinnest 13†ultrabook but at 16mm it’s without a doubt one of the thinnest, but what it can be proud of is that it was once the lightest 13†ultrabook. It only weighs 2.45lbs and is only bested by a hair 6 months later by the Samsung Series 9 13†which only weighs 2.43lbs.
Pros:
• Slim and lightweight profile
• Solid construction
• Complete full-sized ports
• Neat Matte A4 tile keyboard, large multi-touch touchpad
Cons:
• A bit pricey
• Sub-par screen reso for asking price
• No dedicated GPU for its price
• Processor should have been better
7.b Toshiba Portegé Z930 – sitting perfectly in the third spot in both the thinnest and lightest 13†ultrabook, the Portegé Z930 is among the sexiest machine in town. This ultrabook joins the crew of the elite few to have a 1600MHz RAM right from the get go. It inherits most of the feature of its older sibling Z830, unfortunately it also got its steep pricing.
Pros:
• Slim and lightweight profile
• Neat Matte A4 tile keyboard, large multi-touch touchpad
• Speedy RAM at 1600MHz
• Solid construction
Cons:
• Steep pricing
• Lackluster 1366 x 768 screen reso
• No discrete graphics card for its price
You can read our first impression of the Toshiba Portegé Z930 here.
Here’s a tabular view of the ultrabooks mentioned above. The specs listed above is based on the manufacturers base configuration or the configuration of the unit we saw on the product launch and may vary depending on customizations due to pricing.
Click on image to enlarge.
So that’s our ultrabok round-up. We hope that this post may come in handy in case you’re in the hunt for an ultrabook. We’ll be publishing another round-up after 6 months or so with an updated list. Expect more exciting ultrabook lineup by then.
YugaTech.com is the largest and longest-running technology site in the Philippines. Originally established in October 2002, the site was transformed into a full-fledged technology platform in 2005.
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Matheus says:
it isnt that difficult. Ipads are next level to moltiiby and is for light users who use laptops for merely surfing and mail checking. Don’t use Ipad if you hate touch screen keyboard as if you want to use it for office purpose then you wont feel like typng more than 2-3 lines that too is an overkill. again you cannot install any app you want in Ipad so its only apps from Apple market whereas in laptop you can install anything you want from internet and even have the choice of most apps being free. so the kind of apps you use will also define if you would move to ipad or stick to laptop. hope this helps.
neil says:
I’m an owner of a first gen ultrabook, a Toshiba Portege z830, business model.
13.3″
4gb RAM
Intel 3000
128 SSD
Sandy-bridge
intel core i5 1.6ghz turbo boost 2.6ghz
Cons:
1. Yep, too pricey.
Pros:
1. Decent graphics cards which allows me to play League of Legends and NBA2k12 at school. LOL
2. Long battery life. With a economy settings which allows 8-10 hours of net surfing. Gaming settings which allows 5 hours straight.
3. Auto updates every now and then.
4. The finger print application is super cool!
5. Super fast start up, mine is 12s without activating its Hi-speed start mode application which turbo to 8s.
6. Great for editing videos.
7. VERY #$@#$#!% THIN and LIGHT!
8. Very cool, and classy. Carry it down the hallway and guys just stares at your ultrabook until you’re out of sight. LOL
Been thinking of switching to a 3rd generation ultrabook once the touch screen app is really works good. Protos like lenovo’s pad really doesn’t convince me yet.
The only difference between a first and 2nd generation is it’s processor. You can always upgrade the ram and graphics card. But if you only use a laptop for surfing just go with those ultraportables which cost less.
Mr. Serious says:
Yes I have considered that. but because the entry level air 13″ is only at 128gb, installing 2 OS may take up a huge chunk of that. And although MBA13″ runs roughly 7 hours with wifi on (mac osx), on windows it runs 2 hours less.
Mr. Serious says:
2 hours less sir. So bali 5 hours. Which is paltry compared to the ultrabook-standards today. (Benchmarks tested through win7) so baka maka tipid pa ng konti ung battery pag nag win8
Abubot says:
talaga two hours lang ang running time ng windows sa macbook air? how about macbook pro? the same ba or mas maigsi?
Mr. Serious says:
I’ve been a windows user from the start. I’ve been looking for a new laptop to buy. What I need are the ff: (Minimum)
1. Ultrabook form factor (less than 3 lbs)
2. 13″
3. Resolution minimum: (1400×900)
4. Backlit Keyboard
5. 128 GB SSD
6. 4Gb 1600MHz RAM
7. Battery Life atleast 5.5 hours
8. 2x USB 3.0 Ports
9. Must be Ivy-bridge
I’ve seen that the MBA 13″ 2011 is almost exactly what I’m looking for. However, I’ve never used a mac. So I decided to wait for pc’s answer to it. It has already been well over a year and STILL nothing. I would REALLY like to stay Windows but it is getting difficult. Not only has it been difficult to find a windows-version of a MBA, but the ones that are avilable are even WAY more expensive than the MBA.
How did it came to be that windows-ultrabooks are more expensive than apple laptops? Apple used to be the king of overpriced. you can always buy a windows-version of a mac for way cheaper the price. It seems that this is not the case nowadays. I’ve been looking at zenbook prime, samsung s9, and acer aspire. However, they lack one or two of the key features that I’m looking for.
I used to believe that if you’re looking for a specific pc/laptop-built you can always find it on a pc-build because of the number of options available (and also flexibility). But since recently, everybody has been copying everybody, it has rather been difficult. Is it time to go mac? Suggestions?
Mark says:
Okay naman yung Zenbook prime sa hinahanap mong specs ah, plus its i7 / 256GB SSD Sata 3.0 pa tapos panalo yung 1920×1080 IPS display, which is more that what you ask for.
crackinthewall says:
Just get the Air and dual boot it with Windows. Most Windows ultrabooks are too pricey and only comes with one year warranty. At least you can have the option to extend the Air’s warranty by two years if you want to. Macbooks (Air and Pro) still have the best multitouch trackpads even on Windows.
Hassle-free din ang warranty sa Apple even if they don’t really have an official service center. Puro authorized service centers lang. When they say one-week, you’ll get it in one week and if they can’t fix your device and it’s still covered by warranty, they’ll replace it. :D
newbie says:
you can always buy the air and dual boot it with windows with ease with the help of boot camp assistant. best of both worlds.
Ratheon7000 says:
You forgot to mention the acer timeline m5, at 44k, 15 inch and dedicated graphics
Christoff says:
I wonder kung ano yung “lack of ports” sa UX32VD, I bought one and it has 3 USB 3.0 slots, HDMI, Mini-VGA na may kasama pang adapter.
Backlight keyboard pa, saka its not slow kasi may 24GB SSD for cache eh.
Gerhard says:
nice compilation, would have been great to include the windows experience index scores in the table.
SpiderWak says:
Didn’t the UX31E came out last year? Shouldn’t the UX31A be there instead of the 31E?
SpiderWak says:
Oops! That’s didn’t the… come out…
tim says:
bakit po walang acer aspire timeline ultra m5 and HP envy 4? both are in the 40k~ish price range with dedicated video cards. some configurations of the hp envy 4 are even below 40k since their processors are 2nd gen ivy bridge, pero meron din 3rd gen 43k i think
H says:
they really should stop trying to look like a macbook and start creating their own signature look.
John says:
next for next year, siguradong less than 25k nalang mga yan.
I need something like:
Windows 8
i5 Ivy Bridge
8gb 1600mhz ram
128gb or 256gb ssd
Touch screen at least 1600 x 900
like the design of LENOVO u310 but slimmer
backlit keyboard, like macbook pro
price must be below 25k php.
Jane says:
Dream on
John says:
i forgot, it is must be equal or small than 11″ for portability..
or kung kaya, form factor ng sony vaio P (8″ screen)
girlteki says:
…Until Ultrabooks become priced below 25K, I will be a believer Intel and OEM’s
wilde says:
Nice specs, but too pricey.
Will wait for the first one to offerP30k.
Jeff says:
Hi. I think you missed the Samsung Ultrabooks in the table that you created.