Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus: With a sleek metallic body, there is definitely something sexy about the ATIV Book 9 Plus. Powered by a 1.6 GHz Intel Haswell dual-core i5/i7 ULV processor, the ultrabook features a 13.3-inch IPS touchscreen display, 4 GB RAM and a 128 GB SSD internal storage.

However, retailing at around $1,399.99 to $1,500.00, there is also something very expensive about the ATIV Book 9 Plus. With its price tag generally higher than most of its competitors, and even $300 higher than the 13-inch Macbook Air, the ultrabook needs to prove its worth.

Measuring 12.58 x 8.78 x 0.54 inches and weighing 3.06 pounds (with battery), the Book 9 is one of the thinnest laptops ever made. Its backlist keyboard feels comfortable under the fingertips for continuous typing and gears to beat the MacBook’s. Meanwhile, its oversized trackpad is impressively responsive.

Although it is a bit heavier than its predecessor, the Book 9 Plus’ metallic body provides a more solid feel. Even if you tightened you grip, the ultrabook does not squeak, thanks to its hard body.

With an impressive resolution of 3200 x 1600 pixels, the ultrabook’s 13.3-inch IPS touchscreen panel is bursting with color and clarity. It is also very responsive and non-reflective.

Meanwhile, it boasts of a Wolfson WM5102 audio CODEC (encoder/decoder). And because Wolfson is known as the world’s finest DACs (digital-to-analog converters), the Book 9 has great sound quality. However, its audio software is a bit mediocre. Just make sure to install Foobar2000 and its WASAPI component.

Its impressive screen and advanced sound system are tempting features for those who enjoy gaming and watching movies. Samsung even claims you can get up to 7.5 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Thanks to its Haswell-based processor, the ATIV Book 9 Plus promises faster performance without quickly draining its battery life.

However, the question remains: Is It worth it?

PCWorld rated the ultrabook as 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying “Samsung's ATIV Book 9 is an exquisitely designed laptop with an unusually high-quality audio subsystem, but it's also very expensive.”

If you’re a sound or movie savvy type of user who could spend more, then the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus’ price tag is not a problem. But if you’re looking out for your budget, then there are other ultrabooks to consider.