2012 will surely be a year for the ultrabooks and soon most people will be able to afford these pricey high-end subnotebooks as its prices are decreasing each year. Some reports even foresee that the ultrabooks of 2013 will only cost as low as $500. This year, we have been able to see a few brands that offer their ultrabook models less than $1000, though some are still has a hefty price less than $1500 which is mainly due to the expensive SSDs used by these devices.
Apple Macbook Air is the greatest competitor of the Ultrabook market and according to reports, Apple will soon be releasing a $799 Macbook Air that would really make a significant impact to the market and might even kill some brands. The price of the Apple Macbook Air starts at $999.00 for the 11 inch model with 1.6 GHz dual-core i5 processor, 2 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of SSD. The higher-end model of this ultrabook costs $1,599.00 which is powered by a 1.7 GHz dual-core i5 processor, 4 GB of installed RAM, and 256 GB of SSD.
Let us explore the cheapest ultrabooks that were released from 2011 to 2012, these are perfect for students due to its longer battery life, slim profile, and impressive performance. We came up with a list that is basically influenced by the price of the device and its performance as well.
1. Acer Aspire S3-951
One impressive aspect about the Acer Aspire S3-951 is its design build. The aluminum body makes the device sturdy, keeping the screen protected from slight bumps and it is not shaky like the Toshiba Protégé Z830. Its brushed aluminum finish also makes it resistant to fingerprints and other marks, which maintain the clean and shiny look of the Aspire S3-951. The base model costs $799.99 and is powered by a Core i5-2467M processor clocked at 1.6GHz complemented with a 4GB DDR3 RAM and a combination of 320 GB HDD + 20GB SSD. It will have an average thickness of 13.1mm and weighs 1.35 kg. The 13.3 inch Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook will have a battery life of 6 hours. A high-end model is also available at price of $1,199.99 and will come with a Core i7-2637M 1.7GHz processor and 256GB SSD with other specifications similar to the i5 model.
2.Toshiba Portege Z830
Toshiba Portege Z830 is the company’s first attempt to enter the ultrabook segment. This device has a 13.3” screen display and powered by Intel’s Core i3-2367M clocked at 1.4 GHz that is complemented by 4GB DDR3 RAM. It has an internal storage of 128 GB SSD and has a thickness of 16mm (0.6 inch) and weighs about 1.11kg (less than 2.5 pounds). What even makes it appealing is that you will get 8 hours of mobility and impressive performance at price of $899.99.
The Portege Z830 also boots ups fast and it has a good array of ports for a ultrabook. At the back, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, VGA, and Gigabit Ethernet port is located, a USB 3.0 is placed on the right and the card reader and audio connectors are on the left. So you are assured not to fall short of connectivity options while on the go.
3. Novatech nFinity 2367 Plus
The Novatech nFinity 2367 Plus is the first Ultrabook that is not released by established, global computer company. It is made by a British company who has been already in the industry for quite some time, though it has not been able to take on the global market yet. This Ultrabook might be its first attempt to have a global market entry.
It is powered by a Core i3-2637 1.4 GHz processor complemented by a 4GB RAM and will have an internal storage of 128GB via an SSD. The device will also come with a Windows 7 OS out-of-the-box. What makes the nFinity stand-out is its pricing, the low-end model costs only £534.98 or around $850 and its high-end model powered by an i7 processor will cost around $1200 which is the cheapest price for an i7-powered ultrabook so far.
4. Samsung Series 5 Ultra
The Samsung Series 5 Ultra does not offer the same premium feel as its higher-end sibling the Samsung Series 9 and it is not able to out-power its rivals with the likes of the Dell XPS 13, Aspire S3, and Asus Zenbook UX31. However, this device still offers a relatively good performance for an ultrabook. The 13 inch model is priced less than $900 with a 500GB HDD device and runs a core I5-2467M 1.6 GHz processor with 4GB DDR3 memory. Its models with the Solid State drive however are a bit pricey. The Samsung Series 5 ultra has a thickness of 17.6mm for the HHD model and 14 mm for SSD. It will weigh aroung 1.38 kg and has a battery life of 6 hours.
5. HP Folio 13
HP Folio 13 is HP’s thinnest and lightest ultrabook so far. This device boasts of its 9 hours battery life as well as its impressive performance with its Core i5-2467 1.6 GHz processor that is complemented with a 4GB DDR3 memory. It comes with a 128 GB SSD and has a thickness of 18mm and weighs around 1.49 kg. This 13.3” ultrabook was initially sold for $949.99, however, it is now sold for $899.99 on their website.
The Folio 13 has an SD card slot on the left along with the HDMI, USB 3.0, and Gigabit Ethernet jack while on the other side is a USB port and audio-out/microphone combo jack.
6. Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 13 have gained much buzz after it was announced in the CES early this year, the company has revealed that the device will feature uncompromising performance, extended battery life and Intel’s Rapid Start and smart Connected Technology which was taken well by the eager consumers. The design and build of the XPS 13 is really impressive with a combination of Carbon Fiber composite and Aluminum chassis, the ultrabook feels solid and durable and adding to that is the 13.3 inch screen that is constructed edge-to-edge wherein the display seems to have no bezel at all, it also comes with a gorilla glass protection that even adds up to its durability. This impressive device sells for $999 and is powered by a 2nd generation i5-2467M 1.6 GHz processor with 4GB of installed RAM and 128 GB of internal storage through its SSD. The XPS 13 is really slim with an average thickness 12 mm and weighs about 1.36 kg. It offers increased mobility through its 8-hour battery life.
7. Lenovo IdeaPad U300s
The Lenovo IdeaPad U300s falls between the standards of a high-end device and an average model. Its design can somehow be considered timeless and premium. The body of the U300s is made similarly as the Macbook Air with a single aluminum sheet that blankets the lid, bottom, bezels, and interior of the device. However, the chassis of the ultrabook is susceptible to scratches and will require a sleeve to prevent objects from having direct contact with the device. The U300s lacks the backlit keyboard and SD card slot, though it has added several multi-gesture trackpad inputs that are somehow similar to the Macbook Air’s controls. This 13.3 inch ultrabook costs $999 for the Core i5-2467 1.6 GHz processor model and has 4 GB of installed RAM and 128 GB SSD. The U300s is 14.99mm thick and weighs 1.34 kg. Mobility is also greatly increased with its 8 hours of battery life.
8. Asus Zenbook UX31E
What makes the Asus Zenbook UX31E stand out from most its competitors is its incredible 3mm front and 9mm rear profile. Asus also uses an exclusive Super Hybrid Engine II which allows the device to power-up from standby in just 2 seconds. However, the very slim body of the UX31E limits the number of ports on the sides of the ultrabook which is a trade-off to its thin profile. The 13.3 inch core i5—2557 1.7 GHz processor model costs around $1,199.88, which is a bit pricey. The ultrabook comes with 4GB of RAM, 128 GB SSD, 17mm thick and weighs about 1.3 kg. The UX31E will also last for about 7 hour and can last for several on standby.
9. Asus Zenbook UX21E
The Asus Zenbook UX21E costs around $900 to $1000 and it offers a unibody aluminum casing that makes the ultrabook sturdy and solid. UX21 is part of the 1st generation of ultrabooks that was released last year and this particular device have dominated the market segment that time in terms of its design and performance, though things may not be that friendly in terms of prices. At its current price range, you can already buy a dell XPS 13 or any other ultrabooks that has larger displays and faster processors. The 11.6 inch UX21E is powered by a core i5-2467 processor clocked at 1.6 GHz and complemented with 4 GB of RAM. It is slim and lightweight with a thickness of 16.76mm and weighs for only 1.1kg, though battery time is not that impressive as it can only last for 5 hours which is quite low compared to other ultrabooks.
10. Lenovo IdeaPad U300e
The Lenovo IdeaPad U300e disappointed some consumers due to its retail price. It was expected to have a price around $800 but when it was released, it had a $959 price tag on the company’s website. This device is just on the edge of the requirements to be considered as an Ultrabook, the 13.3 inch IdeaPad U300e is powered by a Core i3-2367 1.4GHz processor and has an installed RAM of 2GB. The internal storage will be a combination of a 500 GB HDD plus a 32 GB SSD. The form factor is quite near the point of disqualification with a thickness of 18.3mm and a weight of 1.58 kg. Battery life is fine which can reach up to 8 hours.
Year 2012 will surely be a year of ultrabooks, especially with the release of some ultrabooks coinciding with the release of the latest Ivy Bridge processor of Intel. The following are among the 2nd generation of ultrabooks that wil be released this month or around Q3 of 2012, these will also sell less than $1000.11. Toshiba Thinkpad T430u
Toshiba is set to release the ThinkPad T430u this Q3 of 2012 and will target the businesses that are looking for a portable, well-performing, and inexpensive ultrabook for its employees. This devices seems more like a full-fledged laptop rather than an ultrabook since it is the first in the class to have a dedicated GPU and it has 1 TB of HDD, not the usual SSDs that other ultrabooks are installed with. However, the expected price of $899 is quite appealing. The Toshiba ThinkPad T430u has a 14 inch screen and will be powered by a 2.2 GHz processor that is complemented by a 4GB RAM. It will have a 0.89 inch thickness, a weight of 4.36 pounds, and six hours of rates battery life.
12. Lenovo IdeaPad U310 and U410
The IdeaPad U310 and U410 is best fitted for students that are looking for a new ultrabook. These ultrabooks are expected to sell starting at a price of $699 and will have almost similar specifications as the U300s with the addition of another USB 3.0 port and a memory card slot which was lacking on the older models. However, the consumers will have to choose whether to have a 500 GB HDD or a limited 64 GB SSD. The 14 inch U410 will also have a dedicated GPU, Nvidia GeForce 610M card, which is similar in concept with the Toshiba ThinkPad T420u.
13. Gigabyte U2442N & U2442V
Gigabyte will be joining the ultrabook segment with its latest U2442N and U2442V models. Both devices were announced during the CeBIT 2012 and it was revealed that the ultrabooks will have a 14 inch screen and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics card with 2GB of Vram. Consumers will also be able to choose whether to have an SSD or up to 750 GB of HDD. Between the two models, the U2442N is the one that is designed to take on the performance challenges as it runs a standard voltage processor whether i5 or i7. On the other hand, the U2442V will be using the ULV or Ultra-Low Voltage versions of the Intel chips, though the battery life has not yet been announced for both models. The devices will have a thickness of 18.5 to 20.5 mm depending on the type of storage and weighs below 1.49 kg.
CONCLUSION
The list is arranged in terms of the price of the ultrabooks and is also determined by its perceived performance and if it is worth its value. So far, we think that the Acer Aspire S3-951 is the best choice for ultrabooks that cost $800 for now. Competition will be quite tough when the Lenovo IdeaPad u310 and u410 gets officially released in the US since it also bears almost the same specifications as the Aspire S3 and might even be cheaper.
For those consumers that willing to stash out $1000, the Dell XPS 13 is one of the best choices. It has a great design, sturdy, and performs really well. The device even has one of the best audio performance compared to other ultrabooks in the market.
Please feel free to leave comments on the list that we came up with. You may also want to provide additional feedbacks that might help readers in choosing the best inexpensive ultrabook for them. Watch out for more Top 10 Best devices!
0 comments:
Post a Comment