Samsung has been hyping the Galaxy Book S – an ultra-slim, ultra-portable, always-connected clamshell laptop – for months, but it is now finally on sale. Samsung sent my review unit for testing last night, and I've been playing around with it ever since.
Featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx processor (2.84GHz), 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB Samsung SSD (200GB available) this traditional laptop promises 4G LTE, longer battery life than the Surface Pro X, and the ability to work anywhere at any time.
Samsung is going the carrier-route in the United States partnering directly with Verizon and Sprint to sell the Book S. That means you can get a subsidized deal (and those carriers help promote it). It also means that this is, in theory, carrier-locked (and there is no eSIM support).
That said, I just dropped a T-Mobile SIM in, and while I got a warning message – surprise, surprise – T-Mobile LTE is up and running with no problems.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy Book S |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Display | 13.3 inches Full HD TFT (16:9) Touch (no inking) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx |
| Memory | 8GB RAM (LPDDR4X) |
| Storage | 256/512GB |
| Expandable Storage | MicroSD slot (up to 1TB) |
| Front Camera | 720p HD |
| Security | Windows Hello with fingerprint sensor |
| Connectivity | 802.11 Wi-Fi LTE Nano SIM Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | 2x USB Type-C |
| Audio | Stereo (sound by AKG) |
| Battery | 42Wh Up to 23 hours of video playback) |
| Dimensions | 305.2 x 203.2 x 6.2-11.8 mm |
| Weight | 2.1lbs (0.96 kg) |
| Colors | Earthy Gold Mercury Gray |
Samsung sees the Book S as an ideal choice for those who need to work on-the-go with reliable 4G LTE, instant-on, and exceptionally long battery life (around 20-30% longer than a comparable Intel Core i5 10th Gen processor).
The hardware is impressive, and the battery endurance looks to be outstanding. As I start my evaluation process, feel free to shout out in comments with any questions you want to be answered in the review (and I'll likely answer a few directly here too).
The Samsung Galaxy Book S is among the first laptops to sport a Snapdragon 8cx. It's incredibly thin, and light and Samsung estimates put the battery life at around 23 hours.
