SINGAPORE — The ultrabook war is heating up with the arrival of Intel’s fourth-generation processors, and Sony could clinch the prize with its latest offering, which is extremely light but also very powerful.

The Japanese technology company’s latest VAIO Pro 11 ultrabook is an ultra-lightweight device, as Sony incorporated carbon fibre — a material used to build the world’s most expensive sports cars — into its design. It is said to be the world’s lightest ultrabook at only 870g, including the battery.

Another interesting aspect is its keyboard. When opened fully, it is slightly tilted towards the user, providing a much more natural and comfortable typing experience. However, due to its small size, the keys are a little too close to each other and may cause several embarrassing typos for those with thick fingers.

The machine also comes with an impressive Full HD resolution 1920×1080 display, which I enjoyed thoroughly. Its 11.6-inch screen was pin-sharp, bright and, thanks to the Triluminos technology used in Sony’s range of Bravia televisions, images looked excellent.

Unfortunately, the audio was a little too weak, which could disappoint entertainment junkies.

The display’s 10-finger multi-touch interface was accurate and quick to respond to input, and the trackpad is very responsive to gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scrolling.

Battery life was excellent, thanks to Intel’s fourth-generation Core processors. The device ran for around six-and-a-half hours based on a test that included word processing, Web browsing and movie watching.

It is also a very speedy machine, with a boot-up taking less than 10 seconds and processing speeds that will please both casual and heavy users.

Sony’s latest ultrabook is definitely light and powerful enough to satisfy the most demanding of frequent travellers. It does have flaws, but the great battery life, speedy performance and brilliant display make this one of the most impressive ultrabooks on the market right now.

The Sony VAIO Pro 11 is now available at selected Sony stores and authorised outlets and costs S$1,899 and S$2,399 for the i5 and i7 versions, respectively.