While reports say laptops may be dead because of the surge of tablet and smartphone sales, this may not be true. As Apple and Sony put out their latest ultrabooks, these companies prove that tablets, smarpthones and smaller portable devices still cannot replace the computing power of such. Likewise, anyone coming across Apple's Haswell MacBook Pro Retina and MacBook Air, including Sony's Vaio Pro will realise that the laptop era is far from over.

So which one should shoppers get for the holidays?

2013 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro

Many sources agree that the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is even better than its 15-inch counterpart. The device has successfully combined the portability of tablets with the functionality of laptops. The machine offers computing performance and ability unlike any other. The 13-inch model offers three configurations:

  • Base model features a 2.4 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5-4258U Haswell processor with 3 MB of shared L3 cache
  • Update the base model to a 2.6 GHz Core i5-4288U
  • The third upgrade features 2.8 GHz dual-core Intel Core i7-4558U with 4 MB of shared L3 cache

Starting price of the device is $1,299 and can go up to $1,499 depending on the configuration. Many sources agree one of the best selling points of the MacBook Pro is still the stunning Retina display. For the 13-inch model, the display offers 2,560 x 1,600 pixel resolution which means it offers a density of 226 ppi.

The latest generation of the Retina MacBook Pros offers longer battery life and improved graphics. This is thanks to Intel's latest chips. The device also supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi specification. It comes with faster flash drive and Thunderbolt 2 ports.

Apple's MacBook Pro Retina sports an aluminium unibody that has spawned similar products on the market today. Still, many sources agree that only a few can truly match the design of the MacBook Pro. The texture and keyboard will ensure users can work with the device just as comfortably.

Apple focused on performance. It removed the optical drives from last year. It may not appear as sleek as Sony Vaio but it will not fall short on performance. Nonetheless, the device remains portable at 3.46 lbs. It is also only 0.71 inch thick.

Although the MacBook Pro Retina offers resolution, performance and portablity all rolled into one, consumers who choose to upgrade to this feature can never go back, according to Pete Pachal of Mashable. Apple also included flash storage to PCIe connections which meant faster storage reading and writing. Apple claims the device can last up to 9 hours and some stress tests indicate it can even stretch up to 11 hours. That's almost a full day work of work without charging.

2013 MacBook Air

Similar to previous updates of the MacBook Air, the mid-2103 refresh offers two types of models: 11-inch and 13-inch variants. All models pack on Haswell 1.3 GHz Intel Core i5 dual-core processors along with Intel HD Graphics 5000. Intel's HD Graphics 5000 is the latest of it's the integrated graphics chipset series. All models also feature the OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion operating system, although users can now upgrade them to the OS X Mavericks.

The cheaper version sports 128 GB solid state drive, whereas the higher end version features 256 GB SSD. Both models provide 4 GB RAM. As mentioned, the newest MacBook Air runs on Intel's latest Haswell processors: dual-core 1.3 GHz Intel Core i5 chips. These chips have Hyper-Threading features which allow the two cores to work with two threads at the same time. Those underused components can be reassigned to the Turbo Boost speeds reaching up to 2.6 GHz.

The new MacBook Airs have faster Wi-Fi because of their 802.11ac wireless Internet support. The MacBook Air running on Haswell can run up to 9 hours. The previous generation only lasted for 7 hours. Supported resolutions for the 11-inch model include: 1,366 x 768 (native), 1,344 x 756 and 1,280 x 720 pixels at 16:9 aspect ratio; 1,152 x 720 and 1,024 x 640 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1,024 x 768 and 800 x 600 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio. The 13-inch model, on other hand, support the following resolutions: 1,440 x 900 (native), 1,280 x 800, 1,152 x 720 and 1,024 x 640 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; and 1,024 x 768 and 800 x 600 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio.

The MacBook Air is cheaper compared to the MacBook Pro. It can pass up as a substitute for those looking for a cheaper but also functional Apple laptop.

Sony Vaio Pro 13

Sony proved it is a force to be reckoned with in ultrabooks when it released the Sony Vaio Pro 13. The company offered the market something chic looking but also highly functional. The device is a full-featured 1,080p laptop that weights just a little beyond 2 lbs. It runs a fourth-generation Intel Core processor and includes PCIe SSD for storage rivaling MacBook Pros.

The VAIO Pro 13 offers a thin design and measures only 0.68 x 12.75 x 8.5 (HWD). It defines portablity, as it can fit in many types of travelling bags. Made of carbon fiber for durablity, the device can hold its own against other metal-constructed devices like the mid-2013 MacBook and Acer's Aspire S7.

The Vaio Pro offers a bright 1,920 x 1,080 resolution IPS display. It provides a similar viewing experience to HDTVs. Despite the settings, the screen will remain clear and bright assuring users of an excellent viewing experience. The device also comes with an impressive touch screen allowing users to switch between their keyboards or the screens whenever they want to.

The VAIO Pro 13 offers great performance particularly because of the fourth-generation Intel Core i5-4200U processor including the PCIe-based 128 GB SSD. It can hold its own against the MacBook Pro, ensuring ease of use and speed. Nonetheless, consumers may want to add to the 128 GB if they work with a lot of video files. The device also starts at a similar price as the MacBook Pro at $1,299.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions that this article may contain are solely those of the writer and do not express those of IBT Media.