MacBook Air is undoubtedly the pioneer of this niche. In fact, one can even go to the extent of saying that ultrabooks are modeled on the prototype established by MacBook Air. Over time, all major gadget companies have come up with state of the art ultrabooks making way for intense competition in the market. Rumor has it that Intel has invested $300m million in developing this category. The way things are going, ultrabooks might just replace laptops entirely in the near future.

At alaTest, we have put together a list of the best ultrabooks launched in the year 2012.

1. Acer Aspire S5- As of now, this ultrabook from Acer is one of the slimmest ultrabooks in the market. It is only 15mm thick and it weighs a mere 1.2 kgs. Simultaneously, it comes with several “ultra abilities” as well; it is powered by 1.9 GHz Intel Core i7 and 500 GB RAM, USB 3.O and HDMI. The CPU performance is great, the keyboard is comfortable to use and it is a treat for the eyes. On the flip side, physical durability of the Magic Flip feature is somewhat suspect.

2. Sony Vaio T13- Sony took quite a while to enter the ultrabook niche. Having said that, the wait was quite worth it since Sony Vaio T13 successfully packs performance with portability. At 1.6 kgs and 17.8 mm thickness, Vaio T13 is definitely not the slimmest or prettiest ultrabooks around. However, it is very competitive for its price. It comes with a 1.4-1.7 GHz Intel i3 or i5 processor and 4 GB memory storage. Even as the ultrabook is strong and durable, there are a few problem areas in the form of battery life and performance.

3. Samsung Series 9- Samsung Series 9 ultrabooks were some of the earliest to hit the market and therefore, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to state that they became the face of ultrabooks in the initial stages. The latest Samsung Series 9 900X3B weighs 1.2 kgs and thickness is just about 13.3 inches. On the technical front, the ultrabooks of this series boast of 1.4-1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The performance is not compromised due to the light weight of the ultrabooks. At the same time, these ultrabooks are physically resilient and durable.

4. Lenovo Idea Pad U510- If one were to go strictly by first appearances, Lenovo Idea Pad U510 might not even qualify as an ultrabook. At 2.2 kgs, it is almost a kilogram heavier than other ultrabooks and its thickness is also on the higher side(21mm). Lenovo has taken a different approach altogether as it is focusing on offering the positive features of a laptop even if this means a little more weight. On the bright side, you get better performance and higher battery life and it is still lighter than an average laptop. Additionally, you can also play DVD and Blu Rays, a feature usually absent in lighter ultrabooks.

Asus Zenbook UX31

Of all of the laptops on alaTest, the Zenbook is ranked number one, and it’s an ultrabook. The UX31 is the 13.3” variant of the Zenbook and features a design that is just as thin as the MacBook Air and every bit as stylish. Its 128GB and 256GB Solid State Drive options are fairly common among ultrabooks, but USB 3.0, Micro HDMI, and Mini-VGA ports are a bit more rare. It also features a Core i5 or i7 CPU, depending on model and a 1600×900 resolution display. Even though it bests Apple’s offerings in performance, it actually costs a bit less. It’s an excellent balance of style, performance, and price.

Apple MacBook Air (2012)

One could argue that the MacBook Air was the first practical ultrabook to hit the market. At the start, it was a bit under powered to be of considerable use, but a lot has changed since then. Available in 11.6 and 13.3-inch configurations, the current MacBook Air features a Core i5 or i7 processor and 1366×768 or 1440×900 resolution display. Its only real deterrent is its price, starting at $999 and reaching $1599. Other similarly spec’d ultrabooks are considerably cheaper; however, if you prefer OSX, the MacBook Air is your only real option.

Samsung Series 9

The Series 9 is very similar to the Zenbook in that it features a 13.3-inch 1600×900 resolution display, Core i5 processor, USB 3.0, and Micro HDMI; however, it is a bit more expensive. In fact, apart from the higher resolution display and USB 3.0, the same specs in a MacBook Air would cost you less. Where the Series 9 impresses is with its display, illuminated keyboard, and surprisingly good sound system. Its battery life is also quite commendable, and out of these top 4 Ultrabooks, it’s also the thinnest (in case that sort of thing matters to you). It’s quite stylish as well.

Acer Aspire S3

Acer has been in the ultra-portable game for a while, and the Aspire S3 is probably one if its best ultrabooks to date. Like the others, you get a super thin, super portable laptop with Core i5 processor and 13.3-inch display. The Aspire S3’s display is a bit weaker than the competition with a resolution of just 1366×768, and you don’t get things like USB 3.0; however, it has a few benefits that really do turn the tables in its favor. For starters, it has a full-sized HDMI port, so no adapters necessary. It also has a 320GB hard drive, which is considerably more storage than the others. To keep things peppy, it has a 20GB SSD as well. Perhaps most impressive is its price. It’s actually one of the most affordable ultrabooks on the market, available for less than $900.

So why are these little guys so popular? Well up until now, ultrabooks had always been a bit short on the performance side, but today’s offerings, such as these four, can actually keep up with similarly priced full-sized notebooks. On the downside, you’re generally going to have to part with things like ample storage space and other luxuries (a DVD drive, for example), but if you want solid performance in a lightweight package, an ultrabook might be the perfect choice.