Recently, Intel and several other manufacturers have focused on offering lightweight laptops with incredible performance and features that really give tech titan Apple, a run for its money. As consumers struggle to choose which devices, available on the market, are the right choice, a comparison between Ultrabook and MacBook Air 2014 might just help guide them.

Appearance

Macbook has been known to retain a certain look with their laptop devices. For the most part, the systems come in silver style aluminum cases, with a white backlight and black keyboard. Conversely, Ultrabooks will come in an assortment of designs, bringing originality and flair to the table.

As far as the screens are concerned, MacBook Air 2014 certainly requires some improvement. The latest 13-inch MacBook model comes with a 1440 x 900 resolution LCD panel, while the smaller version, the 11-inch comes with a 1366 x 768 resolution panel. On the other hand, the Ultrabooks provide high-density displays and touchscreens, giving them an edge vis-à-vis color sharpness and angles. However, Apple is currently trying to improve the display quality of MacBooks with their new Retina display.

Hardware and Software

While the UltraBooks run on Windows OS, MacBooks are powered by Mac OS X. Both these systems offer a separate set of apps and features, but one cannot say for certain which is superior. However, while choosing a device, one should bear in mind the precise apps that they would require. The latest Ultrabook as well as MacBook versions are powered by Intel Haswell processors and the buyer has the option to choose from the Intel Core i5 and the Intel Core i7 processors for both these laptops.

Battery Life

As of date, there is no 11-inch Ultrabook that can outlast the MacBook Air 13-inch model, whose battery lasts for over 12 hours of regular use daily. However, batteries on a number of 13-inch Ultrabooks, which are relatively heavier, can last longer than the 13-inch MacBook Air.

Price

While most people think Ultrabooks are inexpensive, in reality, they cost more compared to MacBooks. The latest 13.3-inch MacBook Air having an Intel Core i5 processor and 4 GB RAM is available at $999, while Ultrabooks with the same specifications are priced between $1,100 and $1,400. Although much cheaper Ultrabooks are available in the market, they do not match the specs of MacBooks.