Ultrabook

Workhorse. The 730U3E ultrabook is a new member of Samsung's Series 7 Ultra family. A first-rate metal casing, swift hardware, a matte Full HD IPS screen and agreeable input devices are its initial key specs. We tested the model featuring 256 GB flash memory for 1349 Euros (~$1761, RRP).
Intel Core i5-3337U | AMD Radeon HD 8570M | 13.30" | 1.5 kg

Understatement. Samsung restyles its midrange dubbed Series 5 with plain, high-end looks and fresh components. Onboard we find a matte 14-inch screen, a dual-core processor from Intel and a dedicated graphics from AMD. This configuration is currently priced at about 800 Euros (~$1034).
Intel Core i5-3337U | AMD Radeon HD 8750M | 14.00" | 1.8 kg

Elite versus low-cost. 4K workstation, 1.3K gamer and 375 Euros (~$5195, $1688 and $487 respectively) typewriter. With Dreamcolor display, HP set a high standard. Samsung favor AMD and use a Radeon HD 8870M in their new Chronos. Lenovo aim to sell masses and cut the price with a cheap AMD APU. These were the best laptops in February.

Evolutionary. Acer takes a new approach to the familiar Ultrabook: a laptop with a touchscreen, optical drive and gaming-ready GPU. How will their "all-around device" fare in our tests?
Intel Core i5-3337U | NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M | 15.60" | 2.3 kg

Against the flow. Sony equips its first 15-inch ultrabook with a Full HD resolution and touchscreen right away. Less than 900 Euros (~$1171) also appears very low compared with The Spectre XT Touchsmart 15 and ZenBook UX51VZ. Where's the catch?
Intel Core i5-3337U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 15.60" | 2.2 kg

High-priced Ultrabook. HP integrates Thunderbolt technology, a FullHD touchscreen, and a fast solid state disk into a premium Ultrabook made from aluminum, magnesium, and glass. The latest in technology doesn't come cheap though: the Spectre XT TouchSmart retails for 1600 Euros (~$2150). Is the high price really justified?
Intel Core i5-3317U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 15.60" | 2.2 kg

Head-to-head. Being more expensive is not always better, and successors are sometimes worse. HP and Asus confirm this truism with the EliteBook Folio 9470m and the Touch-Zenbook UX31A. Who offers the best laptop for the lowest price? This question arose in the Office and Multimedia category.

Endurance machine. An Intel ULV processor fused with a solid state drive and a high-capacity battery adds up to a swift, enduring ultrabook on paper. Our review reveals whether this is true and shows the Xirios S402's strengths and weaknesses.
Intel Core i7-3517U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 14.00" | 1.7 kg

Ultra-Hybrid. Toshiba presents quite a few interesting Ultrabooks to the world. Our latest test model is a fusion of a tablet and Ultrabook. It employs a 12.5-inch touchscreen and a power-saving Intel Core i5-3317U processor with integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 IGP. The Hybrid model looks great but what does it have to offer on the hardware side?
Intel Core i5-3317U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 12.50" | 1.5 kg

Ultra-Touchbook. Few laptops of 2012 impressed us as much as the premium Ultrabook from Asus. The model achieved a rare 90%. Everything was perfect - even the display maintained a high standard. Will the touch panel make this great model even better?
Intel Core i7-3517U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 13.30" | 1.5 kg

Inspiring. Ultrabooks have found their way into Dell's Inspiron family. The all-rounders of the past now benefit from lower weight and longer battery life, in addition to the good performance. We examine whether the ultrabook measures up to the broad multimedia class.
Intel Core i5-3317U | NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M | 15.60" | 2.2 kg

Cheap and light. First of all many ultrabooks are expensive. But Toshiba use a simple plastic case for the Satellite U940 and equip the 14-inch laptop with attractive components including a Core i5 and a dedicated SSD cache.
Intel Core i5-3317U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 14.00" | 1.7 kg

Finale. Smart convertibles, surprising ultrabooks, business classics, slim gaming laptops and a crippled Power-Radeon. We complete the year 2012 with 31 assorted reviews.

Multifaceted. A compact subnotebook with an 11.6-inch display that can be transformed into a tablet in seconds. Special 360 degree hinges, a touchscreen, and Windows RT make it possible. The ideal companion for mobile use or just a neat idea for certain individuals?
NVIDIA Tegra 3 | NVIDIA GeForce ULP (Tegra 3) | 11.60" | 1.2 kg

That special touch. The Samsung Series 5 540U3C is the successor to its forefather, the 530U3C. On the outside, the two notebooks look as similar as a pair of eggs; but in terms of the technological innards, Samsung has jazzed up the compact subnotebook with Windows 8 and a touchscreen -- and they've affixed an asking price of 1000 Euros (~$1320). Are the new alterations worth the steep 200 Euros (~$261) price jump?
Intel Core i5-3317U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 13.30" | 1.6 kg

An anorexic XPS. Dell's XPS 13 is a 13-inch ultrabook in an 11-inch casing. This is a slim, light and portable notebook which was tested for its suitability in a work environment.
Intel Core i7-3517U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 13.30" | 1.4 kg

Ultra(Gaming)Book. Acer equips their Ultrabook with a 20.6 millimeter (0.81 inch) thick aluminum chassis and a Kepler GT640M GPU suitable for gaming. Does this combination work and do the temperatures remain within acceptable limits? Read our review to find out.
Intel Core i5-3317U | NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M | 15.60" | 2.2 kg

New family member. Lenovo expands its T400 range with a mobile ultrabook that is to appeal to both business and private customers alike. Classic ThinkPad assets as well as high-performance, including a dedicated GPU, make the T430u an attractive total package.
Intel Core i5-3317U | NVIDIA GeForce GT 620M | 14.00" | 1.9 kg

Be envious. A touchscreen, strong speakers and a 32 GB SSD cache sounds like a powerful combination. Quick, clever, and versatile - but how well does the HP Envy Touchsmart 4-1102sg Ultrabook really perform the balancing act between tablet and notebook?
Intel Core i5-3317U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 14.00" | 2.1 kg

Long live the laptop. A smart tablet instead of a heavy laptop? Do men and women only buy tablets these days? We don't think so, since the spectrum of offers available for laptops leading up to Christmas is bigger than ever: Windows 8 touchscreens, low-cost typewriters, Ultrabooks, mid-range gamers, SLI gamers and workstation juggernauts. A diversity of devices such as this has seldom been available.

Revolutionary. One device designed for all jobs. Browsing, presentations, typing, mobility and working with a partner. The simple idea of installing a dual-TFT on the front and rear is to revolutionize using a Windows PC.
Intel Core i7-3517U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 11.60" | 1.3 kg

Entry-level Ultrabook. Premium slim and light chassis, fast processor, and a long battery life - those are the attributes of Ultrabooks. Until now, the prices for such systems have been rather steep. HP sets out to redefine the lower end of the spectrum and introduces a model with an Intel Core i3 processor. What compromises had to be made to keep the price in check?
Intel Core i3-2367M | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | 14.00" | 1.8 kg

Hot stuff. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 is now available with a high-resolution IPS display, a slimmer chassis, and new ports. The newcomer demands a price premium of 500 Euros (~$650) above the cost of the time-tested standard model. Do the changes really warrant the lofty starting price of 1750 Euros (~$2275)?
Intel Core i5-3210M | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 13.30" | 1.6 kg

Windows 8 Book. The VivoBook S400CA provides the ideal symbiosis for Windows 8: Conventional notebook and touchscreen combined. This allows traditional programs and apps in the tiled layout to both be used as they were intended. The question is whether this makes the VivoBook a well-rounded package?
Intel Core i5-3317U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 14.00" | 1.9 kg

Full HD peanut. The tiny Asus Zenbook Prime UX21A features an 11.6-inch display and a class-leading resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The other specs are noteworthy as well: Intel Core i7 Ivy Bridge dual-core processor, SSD, backlit keyboard, and a sturdy aluminum chassis.
Intel Core i7-3517U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 11.60" | 1.1 kg

Elegant and high-end despite an entry-level price? Has Sony succeeded in creating a better compromise than the competition with its low-priced ultrabook? Will the screen and keyboard ergonomics make work both pleasant and efficient?
Intel Core i3-2367M | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | 11.60" | 1.4 kg

Affordably good. Samsung's Series 5 13-inch laptops do not only feature frequently used Intel components, but also alternative equipment from AMD. Despite the low price, AMD's combination might even reap in a few advantages for itself. We scrutinized whether this is the case.
AMD A6-4455M | AMD Radeon HD 7500G | 13.30" | 1.5 kg

Facelift. Under the name 900X3C-A04DE Samsung offers the well-known 13.3-inch Premium Subnotebook with fresh hardware from Intel. In addition to the matte display with a resolution of 1600x900 pixels, an Intel Core i7-3517U dual-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD will be offered. Prices start from around 1500 Euros (~$1940).
Intel Core i7-3517U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 13.30" | 1.2 kg

High-end debut. With the 1500 Euros (~$1927) ultrabook Aspire S5, Acer wants to attract customers in the luxury segment. In order to achieve this, the manufacturer sets on fast hardware, fine materials, and a couple of interesting features. Is this enough to put pressure on the established competition?
Intel Core i7-3517U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 13.30" | 1.2 kg

Entry-level Zen. Asus has been one of the first out of the blocks when dipping their hands into the ultrabook market. Now, with the UX32A-R3001V, it wants to rock the low-priced competition offering the laptop at around 800 Euro (~$1050). Our test shows how successful it is.
Intel Core i3-2367M | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | 13.30" | 1.5 kg

The cat's meow. With the sleek 13.3-inch Envy Spectre XT 13-2000eg, HP expands its ultrabook portfolio. Featuring an aluminum case, the latest hardware, a Beats Audio system, and a backlit keyboard, does this ultrabook offer substance in addition to its style?
Intel Core i5-3317U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 13.30" | 1.4 kg

More than just an Ultrabook? Most Ultrabook buyers have to sacrifice performance in favor of enhanced mobility. HP's Envy 6 bucks the trend, and aims to woo gamers with a dedicated graphics card, all while delivering good value for money. Unfortunately, the slim 15-inch model isn't much use outdoors.
Intel Core i5-3317U | AMD Radeon HD 7670M | 15.60" | 2.2 kg

Softened Ultrabook. The Dell Inspiron 14z is an ultrabook with a ULV CPU and a dedicated graphics card. While it may not be as thin as others, it has better hardware and is a good candidate for mobile multimedia use.
Intel Core i5-3317U | AMD Radeon HD 7570M | 14.00" | 1.8 kg

Number one's successor. In late 2011, Acer launched its first ultrabook, the Aspire S3. Now updated, the 13.3-inch Aspire S3-391 ultrabook features Ivy Bridge components starting at 799 Euro (~$999). We tested whether the ultrabook is worth its price.
Intel Core i5-3317U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 13.30" | 1.4 kg

Fresh Air. Cupertino's smallest notebook receives new components in Apple's mid 2012 update. Cornerstones of the new Macbook Air 11 are the Ivy Bridge processors, flash storage, an 11.6" display and new USB 3.0 ports. Have various Ultrabooks caused the air to get thinner?
Intel Core i5-3317U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 11.60" | 1.1 kg

Ivy Air. Sounds like an airline, but it is the newest generation of Apple's successful subnotebooks. We tested the entry-level model featuring a 13.3-inch screen and Intel's Core i5. Its exterior is - as always - (virtually) nothing new.
Intel Core i5-3427U | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | 13.30" | 1.4 kg

Golden mean. The new XPS 14 Ultrabook was presented to the press during the Dell Technology Camp 2012. After the official start at the end of June, the first units with Intel Ivy Bridge and Nvidia GeForce GT 630M are now being delivered. An ultrabook of the upper class that is available from 1149 Euro (RRP, ~1410 USD).
Intel Core i7-3517U | NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M | 14.00" | 2.1 kg

Miracles happen. The first rumors about Asus' new, revised Zenbook series made some waves: Full-HD IPS displays in skinny 13" cases. Hard to believe: non-reflective display surfaces! The rumors turned out to be true, in front of us sits an Asus UX32VD, one of the first specimen of the series with the sought after display panel.
Intel Core i5-3317U | NVIDIA GeForce GT 620M | 13.30" | 1.5 kg

The Second Ivy Bridge. After the quad core models were successfully launched in April, the dual core Ivy Bridge processors are following now. We checked how the new notebook and ultrabook processors perform and whether Sandy Bridge owners should upgrade.