Intel is expected to release the Ivy Bridge processor platform in April this year - this represents a die-shrink down to 22nm, while retaining the core Sandy Bridge microarchitecture. The current crop of Sandy Bridge Ultrabooks could be seen as less attractive after the launch of Ivy Bridge processors, which could result in a price drop for the older machines in the region of 20 to 30 per cent.

At present, the cost of Ultrabooks is approximately $1000, with many Ultrabooks released during the Consumer Electronics Show costing higher than usual.

Intel has also expressed its desire to cut down the cost of Ultrabooks, although the company refused to give out any details regarding this news.

The chip maker is set to launch a massive marketing campaign over the next few months. This is said to be its biggest, since the campaign during the launch of the Centrino processors, in 2003. Around this period of this time, Intel feels it could reduce prices, reported Time.

The company also believes that Ultrabooks will account for almost 40 per cent of overall laptops sales, while to achieve this, prices need to be reduced.