Haswell ushered in a new generation of laptops that can give popular tablets a run for their money. These new line of products proved that tablets are still far from matching the computer power of notebooks. Tablets are great for carrying out tasks like checking email, surfing the Web or socializing online. However, when it comes to editing digitial media, storing considerable data, playing games and other types of work, a slate will not cut it. The list count downs the best of Haswell ultrabooks for the second half of 2013.

Intel's fourth-generation Core CPU family or Haswell changed the game for laptops. The chip giant wants to focus on chips that would ensure excellent performance but also efficient energy use. Haswell-class processors limit heat, thus removing the need for fans. They are also energy efficient, extending battery life.

Intel also made sure the chips come with integrated graphics technology. This means less reliance on heat-generating, discrete GPU. The list comprises some of the best ultrabooks today. They cater to a range of functions and are flexible according to price. The ultrabooks that are part of this list include Asus VivoBook S550CA, Acer Aspire V7, HP Envy TouchSmart 15t, Lenovo IdeaPad U430 Touch, Sony VAIO Pro 13 and Toshiba Qosmio.

CPU, Memory and Storage Specs

CPU, memory and storage specs are some of the most important aspects of a laptop. These components determine how functional and excellent a laptop can be in terms of performance.

  • Asus VivoBook S550CA - CPU: Intel Core i5-3317U, Memory: 6 GB DDR3/1600, Storage: 500 GB 5400-rpm (+24 GB cache)
  • Acer Aspire V7 - CPU: Intel Core i7-4500U, Memory: 12 GB DDR3/1600, Storage: 1 TB 5400-rpm (+24 GB cache)
  • HP Envy TouchSmart 15t - CPU: Intel Core i7-4700MQ, Memory: 8 GB DDR3/1600, Storage: 1 TB 5400-rpm
  • Lenovo IdeaPad U430 Touch - CPU: Intel Core i5-4200U, Memory: 4 GB DDR3/1600, Storage: 500 GB 5400-rpm
  • Sony VAIO Pro 13 - CPU: Intel Core i5-4200U, Memory: 4 GB DDR3/1600, Storage: 128 GB SSD
  • Toshiba Qosmio (Model X75 A7298) - CPU: Intel Core i7-4700MQ, Memory: 16 GB DDR3/1600, Storage: 240 GB SSD 1 TB 5400-rpm

Lenovo's IdeaPad U430 Touch is not a gaming notebook but it will be a good all around device. The device is thin and light. It provides great portability for a starting price of $700. For its price, Lenovo is a good deal in terms of performance and specs.

HP offers better graphics for gaming. The Envy TouchSmart 15t packs the right components without bulking up. Acer, on other hand, has better discrete processor and provides a 12 GB memory. It is $200 more than HP, but it has 30 percent better frames per second.

Graphics, Weight and Display

  • Asus VivoBook S550CA - Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000, Display and Resolution: 15.6 inches, 1366 by 768 touch, Weight: 5.7 pounds
  • Acer Aspire V7 - Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 750M, Display and Resolution: 15 inches, 1920 by 1080 touch, Weight: 4.6 pounds
  • HP Envy TouchSmart 15t - Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 740M, Display and Resolution: 15.6 inches, 1920 by 1080 touch, Weight: 5.6 pounds
  • Lenovo IdeaPad U430 Touch - Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400, Display and Resolution: 14 inches, 1600 by 900 touch, Weight: 4.6 pounds
  • Sony VAIO Pro 13 - Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400, Display and Resolution: 13.3 inches, 1920 by 1080 touch, Weight: 2.3 pounds
  • Toshiba Qosmio (Model X75 A7298) - Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 770M, Display and Resolution: 17.3 inches, 1920 by 1080 nontouch, Weight: 7.3 pounds

For users looking for the slimmest, lightest and chicest device, the Sony Vaio Pro 2013 is the right choice. The ultrabook is one of the thinnest and most stunning products on the market. It also measures 0.68 inches thinner than Lenovo's IdeaPad U430 Touch. The display offers high resolution including computing power like no other. It runs with a Core i5 processor plus 4 GB memory.