HP reveals first Ivy Bridge laptops

HP has quietly launched its first laptops to feature Intel's Ivy Bridge processors.

The mid-range Pavilion DV4-5000, DV6-7000 and DV7-6000 are now listed on HP's website, but the costs are not listed and the device's aren't available to pre-order.

All three include the new, third-generation Intel i7 processor, known as Ivy Bridge, with varying screen sizes and storage options.

The DV4-5000 will have a 14-inch screen with a 1366 x 768 resolution, along with up to 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard-drive and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M graphics card.

The 15.6-inch crew

The DV6-7000 has a 15.6-inch screen which improves resolution to 1600 x 900. It boasts the same speed processor, again with 8GB of RAM and the same graphics card. Hard drive space doubles to 2TB

The final model, the DV6-7000 also rocks a 15.6-inch screen, the same storage and RAM, but with a slightly faster version of the i7 processor (2.6GHz compared to 2.3GHz on the other pair.)

The laptops feature HP's new Mosaic design and according to a leaked press release will be available for order on April 8th with a shipping date of April 29th.

We've been hearing lots about Ivy Bridge delays in recent weeks, but it would appear that the release date may indeed be on track for April.

5 Great Ultrabooks at Consumer Electronics Show 2012

If there’s a sure bet to come out of CES 2012, it’s that the shape of laptops is changing, getting thinner, sleeker, and much more portable. Ultrabooks have dominated the laptop news coming out of CES, with new products and updates coming at a dizzying pace. Intel has thrown a lot of money into the new category, hoping to bring some sexy back to Windows PCs now that the Apple MacBook Air has shown consumers what a fully capable and truly portable laptop can be.

Intel isn’t alone in thinking big about these little PCs; analysts at IHS (formerly known as iSupply) speculate that ultrabooks will make up 12% of the laptop market this year, and that by 2015, the number will grow to 40%. Looking at the slew of new offerings and the unexpected number of innovations, we can’t help but wonder if this estimate is a bit low.

Plenty have decried the ultrabook category as being a handful of Apple clones, but with the designs being touted at CES, it’s likely that by next year consumers won’t even remember how heavily influential the MacBook Air was upon the first crop of ultrabooks. The new ultrabooks range from boring to dazzling, with new models that flip around into tablets or feature nearly bullet-proof Gorilla Glass on every exposed surface. New features and market segments are pushing the ultrabook category in multiple new directions, bringing the light and thin laptops to the workplace while also redefining the convertible tablet. And it’s not limited to these five here; the ultrabook category has exploded in the last week, with updates from every major player and stunning entries from unexpected newcomers. With so many new takes on the concept, there’s simply no telling where ultrabooks will go from here.

HP Envy 14 Spectre

Last year, HP quietly slipped out its HP Folio 13, burying the announcement in an avalanche of other product launches. Not so with the HP Envy 14 Spectre. Weighing in under 4 pounds and only 20 millimeters thick, the most eye-catching aspect of the Spectre is the edge-to-edge glass that covers not only the screen, but the lid and palmrest as well. It’s a drastic departure from the plain aluminum chassis of the Apple MacBook Air, but it’s exactly the sort of bold move needed to bring ultrabooks into their own. 

The HP Envy 14 Spectre also packs a 14-inch 1,600-by-900 resolution display into its 13.3-inch chassis, and comes with Beats Audio, a physical volume knob, and full versions of Adobe Photoshop Elelments, Adobe Premiere Elements, and 2 years of Norton Internet Security. This is one laptop you’ll want to keep an eye on.

Samsung Series 9 (2012)

Samsung’s ultraportable Series 9 actually predates the creation of the ultrabook category, and helped set the bar for all that followed. With the newest iteration of the Samsung Series 9, Samsung is doing itself one better, shaving off 0.4-pound and coming in both 13- and 15-inch varieties. Throw in to the mix a 1,600-by-900 resolution screen, aluminum construction, a backlit keyboard, and a fistful of easily accessible ports, and it’s not hard to see why our own Eric Grevstad says he was impressed. Samsung may not embrace the ultrabook moniker—its laptops were thin before it was cool, after all—but there’s no question that it's setting the tone for the new category.

Lenovo ThinkPad U430u

Ultrabooks have been almost exclusively aimed at consumers, but if there’s any area that has been crying out for the productivity of a full laptop with the portable convenience of a tablet, it’s business. Lenovo has made its name providing reliable laptops to serious professionals, and the new Lenovo ThinkPad U430u continues that with an ultrabook for the desk set. Measuring 0.8-inch thin and weighing less than 4 pounds, the new thin ThinkPad will be coming equipped with Intel’s new Ivy Bridge Core i-processors, a choice of solid-state drive (SSD) or huge (up to 1TB) spinning hard drive. Lenovo has made a business laptop that you’ll want to take everywhere with you.

Acer Aspire S5

All ultrabooks are thin, as a rule, but Acer is slicing things paper-thin with its new Acer Aspire S5, which it touts as the “world’s thinnest ultrabook.” While that particular claim may not last long as newer models are announced, the 15mm (0.59-inch) thin Aspire S5 is also the first Windows system with the same Thunderbolt interface seen on Apple’s current laptops and desktops. Thunderbolt technology offers dramatically faster data transfer speeds than the current USB 3.0 or FireWire connections, and uits presence also suggest that the Aspire S5 will be equipped with Intel’s upcoming Ivy Bridge processors.

Alongside the Thunderbolt port, the Acer Aspire S5 has USB 3.0 and HDMI ports behind an automatic “MagicFlip” cover panel, a solid-state drive (SSD) and Dolby Home Theater audio. Acer is also adding its Green Instant On technology, promising even faster boot and wake times than Intel’s RapidStart technology.

Lenovo IdeaPad YOGA

Last, but certainly not least, Lenovo makes the list again for the Lenovo IdeaPad YOGA. Coming in the second half of this year, the IdeaPad YOGA promises to be a game changer in the Ultrabook space, featuring a capacitive touch screen and running Microsoft’s touch-centric Windows 8 operating system. It’s the first ultrabook to include a touch screen, and thanks to Lenovo’s 360-degree, double-hinge design you can use the YOGA as a laptop, a tablet, or a standalone touch-screen computer. It’s also going to be equipped with Ivy Bridge processors inside and sport a soft-touch rubberized exterior with pebbled leather palm rest. The technological roots of the YOGA may be found in older convertible tablet designs, but it’s a giant leap forward for the ultrabook category.

Buying Guide: Best 13-inch laptops : which one is right for you?

The 13-inch laptop has gone on leaps and bounds recently, thanks massively to Intel's Ultrabook specifications.

At the moment, all Ultrabooks feature 13-inch screens, with 14 and 15-inch models incoming later this year.

In many ways, a 13-inch laptop is the perfect size for a portable PC; they're not as fiddly and squint-inducing as netbooks, but not as heavy and awkward as a full-on notebook.

The price of these machines is higher than netbooks though, so if your wallet's feeling the strain we recommend you take a look at our guide to the 15 best netbooks in the world today.

Or for a broader view, look at our 20 best laptops in the world today. But whatever you do, read on to find our favourite 13-inchers of the past few months - all in price order.

1. HP Envy 13 - £533

HP's Envy cost a whopping £1499 when we reviewed it, and we rightly criticised it for being far too expensive. Now that price has dropped to under £1000, making it a worthy competitor to Apple's 13-inch MacBook. Like the MacBook, it sports a quality build, lozenge-type keys, a lovely screen and a dedicated graphics card. Unfortunately, battery life isn't that great, but if you fancy buying something of Apple's inscrutable quality without the Apple branding, look no further.

2. Acer Aspire S3 - £680

Acer's take on the Intel Ultrabook specifications may not be quite as skinny as half-sister company Asus' Zenbook, but the price is certainly slimmed down. Packed with a Core i7 processor and 4GB of memory, the Aspire S3 proved a capable multi-tasker able to run powerful photo and video editing software. The keyboard is impressive for such a slim machine, and we were impressed by just how quietly it ran. 149 minutes of battery life won't see you taking it on extended trips, but the price and form factor makes it an ideal first venture into the Ultrabook market.

3. Lenovo IdeaPad U300S - £893

Sitting firmly between other Ultrabooks in terms of both price and performance, Lenovo's IdeaPad still proved that Intel's specifications make for versatile and powerful little lappies. Lenovo has prioritised business use on the IdeaPad, so you'll find a comfortable keyboard and matt screen. While the latter may not be ideal for photos and movies, it's perfect for working outside or in the glare of the sun. Long battery life and low weight make it great for long business trips, and while the design is nothing special it's still head and shoulders above non-Ultrabook laptops.

4. Toshiba Satellite Z830-10U - £900

Toshiba's Ultrabook somehow includes a sub-woofer, an ethernet port and three USB ports in a package that weighs a mere 1.1kg and is just 16mm wide at its thickest point. The miracle of micro-engineering comes at a cost, though: it's one of the flimsier Ultrabooks we've looked at. It's not quite as powerful as other Ultrabooks we've looked at, although it proved perfectly adequate for photo editing and was quick to boot up and shut down. Battery life impressed, too, and we reckon it'll last a full day of real-world use.

5. Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Late 2011) - £942

Intel's Ultrabooks may have Apple's 13-inch ultraportable firmly in their sights, but they still have quite a fight on their hands. The MacBook Pro's handsome looks make everything else look a little bit pathetic, and the buttonless touchpad is one of the best we've ever seen. This update includes a faster processor and larger hard drive, on top of standard Mac-centric luxuries like a backlit keyboard, an excellent screen and an HD webcam.

6. Asus Zenbook UX31 - £1,000

An incredible introduction to Intel's Ultrabook specification, Asus' Zenbook is a draw-droppingly well-designed piece of kit. It draws favourable comparisons to Apple's MacBook Air, with an ultra-slim form factor (just 17mm at its widest point when closed) and distinctive concentric design on the lid. Add to this powerful components, long battery life and excellent sound, and you've got an immensely capable little laptop. The fact that the biggest problem we had was with the trackpad buttons says it all here, really.

7. Dell XPS 13 - £1,000

The Dell XPS 13 makes its debut in March and it looks like a cracker. The first thing that strikes you about the XPS 13 is how compact it is. Despite it being a 13-inch display, the 31.6 x 20.5 cm footprint is narrow and Dell makes no secret of its desire to be smaller than the 13-inch MacBook Air but with a similar screen size. It's thin, too, with a 6-18mm footprint and is a gorgeous-looking device. Our previous Ultrabook design best has to be the Asus Zenbook but the Dell XPS 13 really cuts it. It looks the part and feels it too at 1.4Kg.

8. Samsung 9 Series - £1,300+

Although we've reviewed the old model - check out our Samsung 9 Series review - we got hands on with its successor at CES 2012. The original Series 9 was one of the world's thinnest laptops, but Samsung has managed to shave another 4mm from its size-zero body, and the updated 13" model measures just 12.9mm when closed. The 15-inch version measures just 15mm, and one certainly gets the impression that Samsung wants to prove a point to the Ultrabook crowd. Duralumin, the tough alloy used on the original model, has been axed - possibly because it was prone to scratches - and replaced by standard aluminium, which feels much more resilient, and should stand up to contact with other items in your bag.

9. Sony VAIO Z Series - £1,931

Just under £2,000 is a lot to spend on a laptop, especially one so small. But this Sony VAIO is basically a desktop in a tiny laptops' clothing, and it includes a proper desktop Core i7, 6GB of DDR3 RAM and an Nvidia GT 330M graphics chip. You needn't worry about this beefy setup draining the battery, either: we got a decent 285 minutes out of it. It's all wrapped up in VAIO's exquisite style and rugged build quality, and the screen is a sight to behold. As we said in our review, "this is easily one of the best laptops you can currently buy."

Sony VAIO Z Series

Sony's VAIO Z-Series comprises some of the only sub-2kg laptops to currently feature Intel's Core i7 technology and are among the best ultraportable laptops you can buy. While the price is high, the VAIO VPC-Z12V9E/X continues this tradition.

Due to the high-powered performance of Core i7 processors and the subsequent cooling they require, it is rare to find them inside such a slim laptop. As a result, some rivals have used low-voltage variants of the Core i7 range to reduce heat output.

Sony has not chosen to take that route. Instead a full-powered Core i7 620M CPU running at 2.66GHz is in place here. Backed by 6144MB of DDR3 memory and with the ability to automatically overclock itself to 3.333GHz when required, this is by far the fastest laptops in its class.

Blazing through our benchmark tests with a level of speed we rarely see, even the most taxing software is dispatched with ease.

Graphics are equally stunning, with the dedicated Nvidia GT 330M GPU again a true rarity in such a small laptop and more than capable of running the latest games.

Due to its roots as a business machine, a matt finish is in place on the 13.1-inch widescreen panel, eliminating reflections for optimum visibility in all conditions. While this type of finish often reduces image vibrancy, no such flaw is seen here, with stunning colour and contrast on offer.

At just 1.4kg this is a very lightweight laptop and its 285-minute battery life makes it ideal for frequent travel use.

Built using a mix of hybrid carbon fibre and milled aluminium, it is one of the toughest ultraportables around and more than resilient enough for life on the move.

Excellent usability

Usability also excels. The isolation-style keyboard features firmly fixed keys that respond well and, although there is slightly too much spacing between each key, it is a very comfortable machine to work with. The board is also backlit, making it easy to keep working when in low light conditions.

An integrated HSDPA module lets you connect to mobile phone masts when on the move for wirelessly accessing the internet at broadband speed. As the only laptop in this group to be equipped with this feature, it adds to the VAIO's mobility.

Extra value is added by an excellent duo of multimedia software. Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Elements provide fantastic entry-level photo and video-editing tools, and with the Sony's ample power you can easily get to work editing your media files.

With its combination of style, power and chic design quality, the VAIO VPCZ12V9E/X is a stunning ultraportable. With Intel's Core i7 technology providing the best performance we've seen to date, if you can afford it this is easily one of the best laptops you can currently buy.

Samsung 9 Series

The humble laptop is having a major makeover, and here at CES 2012 you can't move for super slim and light Ultrabooks, from every manufacturer from Dell to Lenovo.

Samsung announced their Series 5 Ultrabook in Monday's press conference, but it seems they held all the good stuff back for flagship laptop, the Series 9.

The original Series 9 was born before Intel had poured a fraction of their $300m fund into convincing manufacturers that making fast and desirable portables would be good for business, and at CES 2012, Samsung has given it an update.

The original Series 9 was one of the world's thinnest laptops, but Samsung has managed to shave another 4mm from its size-zero body, and the updated 13" model measures just 12.9mm when closed.

The 15" version measures just 15mm, and one certainly gets the impression that Samsung wants to prove a point to the Ultrabook crowd.

Duralumin, the tough alloy used on the original model, has been axed - possibly because it was prone to scratches - and replaced by standard aluminium, which feels much more resilient, and should stand up to contact with other items in your bag.

Inside is a 1.7GHz Intel Core i7 processor, and up to 8GB of RAM, and an SSD hard drive, which really makes a difference in boot times. Samsung boasts that the Series 9 can resume from sleep in just 2 seconds, and when we got hands-on, this claim certainly doesn't seem wide of the mark.

In a surprise move, Samsung has opted for an 1600x1200 matte screen on the Series 9, and there's no option for a glossier, more vibrant Super-TFT option.

For a portable laptop, it makes sense to include a matte panel, to stop annoying reflections when working in direct sunlight, however, this updated model feels more about style than business. The detail is fantastic, the screen bright, but it does lack vibrancy in colour and contrast, which may put off media lovers.

Dell XPS 13

You didn't think Dell was going to sit out the Ultrabook fad, did you? We'll never know exactly what the hold-up was, but whatever the company's excuse it finally has something to compete with the likes of the MacBook Air and ASUS Zenbook UX31. The company just announced the XPS 13, which weighs in at a shade less than three pounds (2.99, to be exact) and has a wedge profile that tapers from .71 inches to .24 (18 to 6mm). With a starting price of $1,000, it sports an aluminum lid and carbon fiber chassis -- a material we wish more Ultrabook makers would incorporate. Though it has a 13-inch screen, it's the kind of panel with bezels so narrow that Dell was able to build a chassis small enough for a 12-inch system. Put bluntly, expect this to be one of the most compact Ultrabooks around (though not the lightest).

What's that? You want technical details too? At the entry level, it'll come with a Core i3 i5 processor, 128GB SSD, 4GB of RAM and backlit keyboard, though you'll also be able to upgrade to a 256SSD and either a Core i5 or i7 CPU (Sandy Bridge at launch, with Ivy Bridge to follow in a refresh later this year). Other specs include a 300-nit, 1366 x 768, Gorilla Glass display; Intel HD 3000 graphics; a 47Wh battery rated for up to eight hours; Bluetooth 3.0; and Intel's Smart Connect and Rapid Starttechnologies. As HP is doing with the Folio 13, Dell plans to sell this in both its consumer and business channels; accordingly, the machine will be offered with TPM, asset tagging, corporate images and custom BIOS to keep the IT guys happy. It'll be available at the end of February, but if you need to know as much as you can now, we've got hands-on photos below, along with impressions after the break.

Look and feel

When we first glimpsed the XPS 13 behind closed doors last month, it was sitting on the table, lid shut. At first blush, it looked like a shrunken version of the XPS 14z and 15z we reviewed earlier in the year, aluminum lid and all. In fact, Dell's toned down the design a good deal, leaving many of the 14/15z's embellishments by the wayside. The two generations of laptops are clearly cousins, as evidenced by the smooth aluminum lid and cushy keys, but make no mistake: this is a design do-over. (Or an "evolution," as Dell's PR team carefully describes it.)

This time around the aluminum cover is a slightly darker shade of gray (think pewter), but it's underneath the lid where Dell re-tooled the XPS aesthetic. This time, the entire deck is black, not silver, though the wide (and rather controversial) font on the keys hasn't changed. The hinge is still made of metal, though this time it's a solid piece that doesn't call much attention to itself -- a far the ridged hinge on the 14/15z. Dell's also moved to a clickpad, which, if nothing else, makes for a more streamlined look. Overall, the design is worlds more reserved than the XPS laptops you know and judge -- other than a thin chrome band ringing the chassis, there really aren't many flourishes marking this as a premium system.

But then you pick it up. As understated as the XPS 13 looks, it feels like a premium system, with its smooth aluminum lid and tough carbon fiber chassis. We were especially taken with the soft rubbery coating on the bottom side, and thought the subtle pattern there was a nice touch.

Most importantly, though, it's more compact than other Ultrabooks we've handled -- a point that will be especially salient during this year's CES, where quite a few companies will be showing off 14-inch Ultrabooks with optical drives (optical drives!). As you can see in the comparison shots we took with the 13-inch MacBook Air, Acer Aspire S3, Samsung Series 9 and Dell XPS 14z, the XPS 13 isn't necessarily skinnier or even lighter than its brethren, but it at least has a more condensed footprint.

Ports

We can't help but feel underwhelmed by the XPS 13's port selection. It starts off on the right track: USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, the latter of which has so-called PowerShare technology for charging gadgets while the computer is asleep. So far, so good. The laptop also has a Mini DisplayPort, audio jack and 1.3MP webcam.

And... that's it. No HDMI, which you'll see on most every other Ultrabook, save for the ASUS Zenbook UX31. And no memory card slot. Truly, we were hoping Lenovo would be the only company to make this mistake, but it looks like we need to repeat ourselves: lots of consumers need this feature. Not a niche group of customers, mind you, but anyone who owns a camera and regularly takes photos. And it's not like space constraints are a good excuse either: the MacBook Air manages to cram in an SD slot, and it's markedly thinner than the XPS 13.

Keyboard and trackpad

 


Though Dell gave the XPS' backlit keyboard a paintjob, it was wise enough not to muck with the design. These are the same sturdy, pillowy keys we loved so much on the 14z. True, we haven't spent much time with it now that it's been cut down to fit a much smaller chassis, but we at least feel confident that it's less shallow than what you'll find on most other Ultrabooks.

We won't lie: it makes us a bit nervous that Dell moved away from discrete touch buttons and opted instead for a clickpad. It makes for a more modern design, sure, but the buttons on the XPS 14z were easy to press, and we didn't have to suffer the foibles of a flaky trackpad that stumbles over multi-touch gestures and frequently mistakes left clicks for right ones. For now, though, we have no choice but to reserve judgment, since the XPS 13 we saw last month was a pre-production model with not-final drivers.

Outlook

In some ways, we can see the XPS 13 being a hit in the style of the HP Folio 13: it's a tasteful machine offering some good specs for the money and a host of IT-friendly perks. Still, the XPS 13 starts at a higher price than either the Folio 13 or Toshiba Portege Z835, but has fewer ports, with a couple major ones MIA. That said, this wouldn't be the first time we found use for an Ultrabook without an SD slot: after all, the Lenovo IdeaPad U300s has a timeless design, fast performance and a comfortable keyboard-and-trackpad combo. Ports are nice, but they don't need to be deal-makers for everyone. On that note, then, we'll be keeping an open mind until we can put this guy through its paces.

Asus Zenbook UX31

Ultrabooks are slowly, but surely getting into the notebook segment, as they are emphasizing more on the key aspect of a laptop, i.e. ‘portability’, than previous gen notebooks. However, as this segment is still in its nascent stages, Ultrabooks are selling at ‘ultra’ high prices. Asus has announced the launch of its latest Ultrabook, the Zenbook UX31. We put it through its paces in our labs and let’s have a look at how it fares.

13.3 inch screen with a 1600 x 900 res!!

Design and Build Quality

The UX31 looks quite stunning with the all metal finish. It’s thin, tapering, stylish and can be easily mistaken for a laptop sleeve. The exterior sports a similar concentric circle design as the Transformer Prime. There’s a tiny rubber casing that runs across the full length of the flap. The matte silver around the keyboard adds to the look and the entire laptop is practically fingerprint free. There’s ample handrest below the keyboard and very little elevation, so it’s comfortable for long hours of typing, but we’ll delve further into that in our performance section.

Dangerously thin

It’s extremely thin and only the most important ports have been included. The right consists of the power slot, the USB 3.0, the micro HDMI slot and the mini VGA slot, whereas the SD card reader, second USB slot and the headphone jack are located to the left. The heat sink is located at the back. We have mixed feelings about the build of the Zenbook, though. The power slot is extremely delicate and wobbly when the charger is connected. So much so, that a slight push or nudge might just break the connector or the port. The hinge, however, is surprisingly sturdy and the only time it does feel a bit loose is when you turn the flap to its max position. The area around the LCD has been reinforced well with the aluminium casing, but the LCD itself does feel a little cheap and the panel doesn’t seem to be of the best quality.

The connectivity ports on the side

In terms of design, the Zenbook clearly holds its own in this huge market full of similar looking laptops. However, build quality could have been better.

Features

The 13.3 inch UX31 Zenbook has quite a high resolution of 1600 x 900 and is powered by an Intel Core i7 – 2677M CPU running at a frequency of 1.8GHz. There’s 4GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and Intel’s integrated HD Graphics card 3000 onboard. All this is kept together by the 64 bit Windows 7 Home basic operating system. The UX31 comes with the latest Bluetooth Radio 4.0 + HS, Wi-Fi b/g/n, a webcam and Bang and Olufsen ICE power speakers.

Hinge is sturdy

The laptop comes pre-installed with various utility software - a virtual camera app, a secure delete application, a power management utility, a driver update app and a Live Update software. You wouldn't find yourself using them, too often, still they’re pretty good in terms of functionality.

Speaking about portability, the bundled adapter is quite miniscule and compact, unlike the bulkier ones we see often. Also, Asus has acknowledged that users might require a LAN port or a VGA port over a period of time, and have bundled them along with the Ultrabook. It’s basically a USB to LAN port and a USB to VGA port, so all those complaints about Ultrabooks missing some crucial ports have been put to rest.

Performance

Boot up times are exceptionally quick, at an average of sixteen seconds, so you’ll be started off with your work within no time. The brightness levels of the laptop are brilliant, infact they’re almost blinding even if you’re in a low light environment. Naturally, they do have a direct impact on your battery life, so it’s best that the laptop functions at fifty percent brightness, because it’s not too hard on the eyes, and does not consume too much of the battery. The Bang and Olufsen ICEpower speakers flex their muscles when you’ll play media content on the UX31. They’re quite loud and will cater well for personal usage.

Keyboard leaves a lot to be desired

The trackpad is the biggest flaw of this notebook. The keys are normal-sized, but the feedback is extremely poor. More often that not, key presses weren’t registered and as compared to most other laptops, we just couldn’t type quickly on the keyboard without making errors. That said, probably it could be just an issue with our test unit, but the trackpad did leave a lot to be desired. The trackpad isn’t as bad as the keyboard, but it isn’t one of the smoothest ones, either. It borders a little on the erratic side and maneuvering using the trackpad isn’t exactly quick. Also, it’s placed bang in the centre, so you’ll have to be careful to not accidentally register touches, while typing.

Looks like the T. Prime from top

The biggest problem with ultra thin laptops is heating. However, the Zenbook does a brilliant job at managing that and the brilliant heat dissipation ensures that the laptop doesn't get too hot when you’re using it. We put the laptop through a couple of synthetic tests and the SSD clearly flexes its muscles. We’ve compared it to the Lenovo U300s Ultrabook we reviewed earlier and we compared the scores in the chart below.

A good performer

Battery Life

The Zenbook UX31 comes with a powerful 50Whrs non-removable battery. In our Battery Eater Pro test, the notebook cranked out 3 hours and 40 minutes of non-stop usage with performance and brightness settings maxed out, which is definitely an impressive feat. Under normal usage, you will easily be able to double that to around six and a half hours.

The Zenbook UX31

Verdict

The Zenbook UX31 is priced at Rs. 89,999 (MRP). For those on-the-go; a powerful battery coupled with portability is always a brilliant feature to have in your laptop and the Zenbook does exactly that. However, the biggest drawback the UX31 has is the glitchy keyboard and trackpad. If you’re paying big bucks for a notebook, you’d pretty much get at least a decent keyboard. In comparison to the Lenovo U300s, this one definitely has better looks and performance. But, simply for the want of a better keyboard and trackpad, we would recommend the U300s over the Zenbook UX31.