We report on a broad range of news related to Microsoft and Windows. It's easy to miss a few stories, especially if you also try to keep up on general tech news. Each Friday, we recap the biggest items of the week covered at Windows Central.

This week included the controversial appearance of an ad (or promo, if you prefer) within the File Explorer and poor expectations for the version of HoloLens that will soon enter testing with the U.S. Army. We also saw the announcement of a new Smart Camera for the Surface Hub 2, a popular Reddit app being optimized for Surface Duo, and news about Intel's first Arc GPU.

Microsoft struggles with HoloLens for U.S. Army

Microsoft's HoloLens teams have reportedly run into issues in recent times. The HoloLens 3 was canceled and the entire division appears to have questions regarding its future. This week, a report indicated that Microsoft's augmented reality headset for the U.S. Army isn't expected to meet expectations. Its name is IVAS.

Sources close to the project expressed fear that the U.S. Army may ditch its $22 billion deal with Microsoft for AR headsets altogether. Negative feedback is expected for the current IVAS units, which are due for field testing in May.

New Surface Hub 2S Smart Camera

Microsoft announced a new Smart Camera for the Surface Hub 2S this week. The camera was designed for the hybrid work experience. According to Microsoft, it is the first webcam powered by artificial intelligence. It features a 12MP 136-degree sensor that can capture people as close as 0.4 meters away or as far as 8 meters.

The Smart Camera costs $800. That is more than the best webcams that people are used to for consumer usage, but it is actually cheaper than some competing products in the enterprise space. Logitech has a similar camera that costs $1,000. The camera is also included with the purchase of a $22,000 Surface Hub 2 after May 31, 2022.

Ads appear in Windows 11 File Explorer

Controversy brewed this week when some Windows Insiders ran into ads in the File Explorer. There was some debate on if the ads were indeed ads, with some arguing that they were just "self-promotion." Regardless of what people chose to call the banner in question, its existence in File Explorer caused frustration for many.

Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc later explained that the ads in File Explorer were not meant to be externally published. Notably, he did not promise that there would never be ads in the File Explorer. Instead, he said that this specific implementation was not meant to be tested publicly.

Sync Reddit app optimized for Surface Duo

Sync, a popular Reddit client on Android, was optimized for the Surface Duo this week. The app now takes advantage of both screens of the device, allowing Redditors to browse through topics on one screen while reading comments on the other. The new functionality is in the Dev release of Sync, which costs just a penny under $5.

First Intel Arc GPU launching this month

Intel shared a few more details about its first Arc GPU this week. The company will hold an event for its new GPU family on March 30, 2022. On that same day, the Intel Arc A370M will launch. The first Arc GPU will deliver up to double the performance of integrated graphics, according to Intel.

Intel Vice President and General Manager Lisa Pearce explained that the first Arc GPUs will be on mobile PCs, such as laptops. More powerful devices will have Arc graphics in the future.

Samsung giving free monitors with Galaxy Book2 orders

Preorders for the new Samsung Galaxy Book2 lineup are live. You now can order the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, Book2 Pro, or Book2 360. If you preorder either of the pro models, you'll also receive a 32-inch Odyssey Gaming Curved monitor, which is a value of $329.

The new Galaxy Book laptops have similar names but varying specs. To make sure you order the right one, check out our breakdown of the new Galaxy Book2 devices from the end of last month.

What you need to know

• Samsung Galaxy Book2 laptop preorders are live.
• If you preorder a Book2 Pro 360 or Book2 Pro, you'll get a free 32-inch Odyssey Gaming Curved monitor.
• If you preorder a Book2 360, you'll get a 24-inch CRG5 Gaming Monitor.

Samsung Galaxy Book2 laptop preorders are live. Right now, you can lock in your order for a Galaxy Book2 Pro 360, which starts at $1,250. You can also preorder a Book2 Pro or Book2 360, which start at $599 and $549 respectively with an eligible trade-in (otherwise, pricing is $1,100 and $1,250, respectively). Retail availability of these products kicks in on April 1, 2022.

Preordering either of the former two laptops will net you a free 32-inch Odyssey Gaming Curved monitor, which Samsung advertises as a $329 value. If you preorder a Book2 360, you'll get a CRG5 Gaming Monitor, which is a $259 value. No matter what you pick, though, you'll be walking away with a free display for your preorder efforts.

If you want the technical rundown of what's under the hood of Samsung's latest lineup, check out our MWC 2022 overview of the new Galaxy Book2 laptops. In short, expect full HD webcams, 12th Gen Intel processors, and some other neat technological bits and baubles.

And as for the free screens you can get, the tech highlights packed into the Odyssey include a 1500R curved panel, 165Hz refresh rate, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, and AMD FreeSync Premium support. However, the screen is only 1080p. The CRG5 Gaming Monitor, meanwhile, basically just levels down the stats of the Odyssey monitor. It has a smaller 24-inch screen, 1800R curved panel, and 144Hz refresh rate. It shares the 3,000:1 contrast ratio, FreeSync Premium support, and 1080p build of its sibling.

In other words, these screens aren't going to run in the same circles as the best gaming monitors, but as far as free preorder bonuses go, you could do a lot worse.

What you need to know

• Select Samsung Windows 10 PCs can now send text messages through the Samsung Messaging app.
• The Samsung Messaging app was recently spotted in the Microsoft Store.
• The app's description says that it is for devices with 5G or 4G LTE connectivity.

Owners of select Samsung PCs running Windows 10 have a new feature that makes it easier to stay in touch with people. An app called "Samsung Messaging" was recently spotted in the Microsoft Store that allows you to send and receive SMS text messages from your PC. The app was first spotted and shared by Aggiornamenti Lumia on Twitter.

The Samsung Messaging app only works for certain Samsung PCs. The app's description specifies that you need one of the following devices to run the app: "Galaxy TabPro S, Galaxy Book 10.6 LTE, Galaxy Book 12 LTE, Galaxy Book2, NT930QCA." The final entry, "NT930QCA," appears to be the Galaxy Flex2 5G. If you search that code on Samsung's website, you see listings for the Galaxy Flex2 5G.

The Galaxy Book2 is one of the best Samsung laptops you can buy right now, and it only gets better with the ability to send text messages.

The app's description reads:

There are other apps that allow you to relay messages from your smartphone through your PC, such as Microsoft's Your Phone, but the Samsung Messaging app seems to let you send them directly from your PC.

Some pieces of the app's listing suggest that it isn't quite finished, such as the fact that the Galaxy Flex2 5G is listed with a product code rather than its name. There's a good chance that Aggiornamenti Lumia spotted the app before Samsung intended people to see it.

Why buy a Galaxy Book2?

The Samsung Galaxy Book2 is an impressive device with excellent battery life and brilliant design choices. It's one of the first PC running Windows 10 on ARM that's powered by the Snapdragon 850. With that processor comes a noticeable performance bump over the first generation of Windows 10 on ARM devices while maintaining excellent battery life (up to 20 hours on a single charge). It also has LTE support meaning that you can switch seamlessly between Wi-Fi and LTE data connections. It's a great device for people commuting or on the go who need a device to last all day without losing internet connection.

The Galaxy Book2 is a thin and light 2-in-1 that comes with a kickstand that can be adjusted to almost any angle, a comfortable detachable keyboard, and a Galaxy S Pen in the box. It's very similar in design to the Surface Pro 6, which in the 2-in-1 convertible space is great company to be in. It has a gorgeous Super AMOLED display, precision trackpad, and a fingerprint reader on the back that supports Windows Hello.

In our full review of the device, we gave the Galaxy Book2 a 4.5 out of 5 thanks to its battery life, design, and included accessories.

Why should you buy a Galaxy Book2 from a carrier?

While the Galaxy Book2 is carrier unlocked, it is carrier optimized. That means that you'll get the best data connection speeds when you use a SIM card from the carrier that you purchase the device from. In our review, the Galaxy Book2, which was a review unit from Verizon, got 55 Mbps download and 17 Mbps upload speeds. When an AT&T SIM was placed in the same device it got 47 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds.

As a result of being optimized for specific carriers, it's best to purchase the Galaxy Book2 from the carrier you plan to use it on. If you just want the Galaxy Book2 for Wi-Fi use, you can purchase it from anywhere as all models sold are the same aside from carrier optimization. Furthermore, the Galaxy Book2 doesn't have any variations when it comes to storage size or chipset. You can purchase the device directly from either Microsoft or Samsung for $999.

Multiple inking options for Galaxy Book2

One of the best Galaxy Note series features (and what separates it from other Galaxy phones) is the S Pen integration with the device, and that same experience is extended to the larger screen of the Galaxy Book2. The included S Pen brings over everything users love about the S Pen on the Galaxy Note series to this Windows 2-in-1 device. With the S Pen, you can use the Air Command radial dial menu to quickly open Samsung tools, such as quick notes, and utilize the well-designed screen capturing tools.

The S Pen can also be used with other Windows 10 tablets, laptops, and 2-in-1s that support inking. Drawing in apps like OneNote is silky smooth and you can use the pen to scroll web pages or hand write text.

Regardless of device, the S Pen will allow you to draw with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, meaning you'll get a precise and easy inking experience. You can write notes, interact with your device without using your finger, and even do some drawing.

Because S Pens can be used interchangeably, you can purchase a replacement S Pen for $54 if you lose the one that comes with your device.

Impressive hardware

The S Pen attaches to the Galaxy Book2 magnetically. This isn't as secure as the pen resting inside the device like with the Galaxy Note series, but the magnet is enough to help you not lose the pen while using the device. It also comes with a holster that prevents the pen from rolling off your desk and protects the plastic nib during transport. The S Pen is a comfortable and well-designed pen that feels natural in your hand. If you use inking for anything on Windows 10, you're likely to enjoy the experience of the S Pen with the Galaxy Book2. Our detailed review of the Galaxy Book2 further breaks down the impressive hardware.

The S Pen that comes with the Galaxy Book2 uses the same technology as the Galaxy Note, so you can actually use the pens interchangeably. Do note that the pen that comes with the Galaxy Book2 is larger and more suited for the 12-inch tablet form factor, however.

Not 4K, but that's OK

The Samsung Galaxy Book2 features a 12-inch 2160x1440 (FHD+) Super AMOLED (sAMOLED) display. While it isn't a 4K screen, it lives up to the high reputation of Samsung screens.

Because it is sAMOLED, the device turns off pixels to show pure blacks. This brings out deep blacks that enhance the viewing experience. The color, contrast, and brightness of the display result in an excellent picture.

The display's unique pixel count is due to its 3:2 aspect ratio. This is becoming more common in devices and is especially popular among 2-in-1s like the Microsoft Surface Pro. The screen ratio provides a more natural-feeling display in both portrait and landscape modes, being neither too tall nor too narrow. Whether you're using the Galaxy Book2 in portrait or ladscape mode, you'll have enough screen real estate to get your work done.

Samsung has earned a high reputation with its displays that are used on a number of flagship phones and devices and the Galaxy Book2 is along those same lines. In our full review of the device , the screen was described as "dazzling." While it isn't a 4K display, it's likely that you'll be happy with the display quality.

More than looks

The display of the Galaxy Book2 has benefits beyond being really, really, ridiculously good looking. First, it supports the S Pen. This stylus earned its fame through the Galaxy Note line of phones and that same technology and experience is available on the Galaxy Book2. The display makes writing with the S Pen easier by supporting palm rejection.

Second, the display consumes less power than its LCD competitors. sAMOLED displays don't use power to show pure blacks, so when you use an app in dark mode, use Windows 10's dark theme, or view anything that has any amount of pure black, your device will use less power than a device with an LCD screen performing the same task. The Galaxy Book2 is already a battery life champion thanks to it running Windows 10 on ARM, but the sAMOLED display helps it last even longer.

Why the lack of LTE support FOR all Yoga Book C930 models?

Although the Yoga Book C930 has a built-in tray set up to handle a microSD card and a SIM card for 4G LTE support, only some select markets have models compatible with LTE connectivity.

During a briefing, Lenovo told Windows Central that there will not be LTE-compatible models of the Yoga Book C930 made available in the U.S. due to inadequate market interest. Instead, there are 4G LTE models available in some European markets.

What can you expect from the Galaxy Book2?

If you absolutely need a portable laptop with LTE support, there is a great alternative — the Samsung Galaxy Book2 — that can fill the role. You don't get the same dual-display build and watchband hinge, but you do get a premium 2-in-1 with outstanding battery life, a brilliant display, and a removable keyboard and touchpad.

This is the first PC that runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 850 processor (CPU), and physically, it's almost an identical clone of Microsoft's Surface Pro line. The built-in kickstand extends from the middle of the back of the tablet, it weighs in at 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg), and it's just 7 mm thin with an all-metal body.

The 12-inch touch display has a 2160x1440 resolution and supports inking with the included S Pen. You also get essentially the same ports as you would on the Yoga Book C930, including two USB-C and a microSD card reader. The Galaxy Book2 also comes complete with a 3.5 mm audio jack.

The Snapdragon 850 CPU is made specifically for running Windows 10, and it offers impressive performance while also helping extend battery life to about 12 hours of constant video playback. Sticking with Windows 10 S Mode boosts in-app performance, but you can always switch to regular Windows 10 and still get performance akin to that of a Surface Go.

LTE support is the big draw here. There's no eSIM support, but it will work with physical SIM cards starting with the AT&T network and moving on to Verizon and Sprint in late November. Each Galaxy Book2 is semi-optimized to a specific network, meaning you can use them across providers but won't see the same performance. Ideally, network performance is stellar. In our testing, three bars of service saw up to 70 Mbps download speeds.

If you've had your eye set on Samsung's new Galaxy Book2, Verizon now has you covered. Big Red has now joined Samsung, Microsoft, and AT&T in offering the Galaxy Book2 in the U.S., priced at $999 or $41.66 per month for 24 months.

The Galaxy Book2 is one of the few PCs currently on the market to sport Qualcomm's Snapdragon 850 ARM processor with 4G LTE. Packed in a form factor that resembles Microsoft's Surface Pro, the Galaxy Book2 sports a Super AMOLED display, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. That's paired up with an S-pen for digital inking, along with an included backlit keyboard.

In our full review, the Galaxy Book2 impressed with everything from its solid performance and superb display to its design and audio.

If you're a Verizon subscriber, you can snag the Galaxy Book2 to now for $999 outright or on-contract. For everyone else, the tablet is available through AT&T, Microsoft, and Samsung as well.

• See at Verizon
• See at AT&T
• See at Microsoft
• See at Samsung

Always connected

One of the main reasons to build a PC that uses a Qualcomm processor it makes it easy to setup an LTE connection. The Snapdragon 850 that powers the Galaxy Book2 is designed to keep you connected no matter where you go.

The device has a physical SIM tray that allows you to pop in a SIM and stay connected to the web no matter where you are. Windows 10 has been optimized to work with these constant connections and will seamlessly switch between Wi-Fi and LTE if you'd like. If you move between areas with and without Wi-Fi you won't even notice a drop in connection as Windows 10 is set up to jump back and forth between different types of connections seamlessly. This setup will feel familiar to anyone who is used to carrying their smartphone around since they also switch seamlessly between connection types.

You can also customize the LTE connection, including on a per app basis, to make sure that it doesn't use up all of your data. That's particularly important as web-powered apps and websites can eat up data quickly on larger screens like that of the Galaxy Book2.

Carrier optimized

The Galaxy Book2 is not locked to a specific carrier but it's optimized for different ones depending on where you purchase it. The device is currently available through AT&T and if you purchase it through that company you will get the best upload and download speeds through AT&T. Our review of the Galaxy Book2 further breaks down the LTE connectivity of the device.

The Galaxy Book2 will also be available through Sprint and Verizon in the future. You can put a card from a different network into the Galaxy Book2, but it won't work as well. We've tested SIM cards from different carriers in the Galaxy Book2 and noticed that connection speeds are slower using SIM cards from networks other than what the device is optimized for. The largest difference appeared to be in upload speeds, though this could vary depending on devices and carriers.

Everything in the box

Many manufacturers sell items with the lowest entry price point possible but don't include the required accessories. By the time you purchase a keyboard and other needed devices, the price is vastly different than what attracted you to it in the first place. Luckily, Samsung took a different approach and included all the needed add-ons in the Galaxy Book2's pricing.

The Galaxy Book2 comes with the smart cover specifically designed for the device. The keyboard cover is well spaced, includes a trackpad, and provides protection for your device when it's in your bag or being carried around.

An impressive keyboard

The Galaxy Book2 can technically run as a standalone tablet without a keyboard but its functionality is greatly improved with a keyboard option. The back-lit keyboard includes a trackpad as well which makes navigating your device much easier. The trackpad isn't as large as on some other devices but it is big enough to navigate your screen. The trackpad uses Precision drivers so you get smooth gesture controls and an overall solid trackpad experience. Our review of the Galaxy Book2 further breaks down the keyboard and trackpad.

The keyboard attaches magnetically and can easily and quickly be popped on or off to switch between being a dedicated tablet or a 2-1 with a keyboard.

No origami folding

The Galaxy Book2 features a built-in kickstand which means that the keyboard doesn't have to have a series of folds that require fiddling around to use your device. The Galaxy Book2 takes designs cues heavily from the Surface lineup from Microsoft. The benefit of this is that you have a kickstand regardless of if your keyboard is attached or not. The downside is that you might need a bit more room to use the device than a traditional laptop. The kickstand can be used at an almost infinite number of angles so the keyboard just focuses on attaching to the device to enable typing.

The keyboard also attaches to the screen of the device when in use so it is at a more comfortable angle, rather than resting directly on the surface your device is on.

Small storage

The Samsung Galaxy Book2 only has one storage option: 128GB. The good news is that the built-in storage is an SSD, so you'll get fast bootups and longer battery. The bad news is that there isn't a lot of it. While there are ways to make that work, you'll likely want more storage if you deal with larger files and apps. Additionally, microSD cards provide flexibility to move files between devices such as cameras.

Windows 10 works well with external storage devices and the Galaxy Book2 will handle files from a microSD card better than an iPad.

You can also leave the microSD card in the device and load apps onto it if you prefer to maintain the largest amount of native storage space on your device possible.

Best card

While the Galaxy Book2 can work with any microSD card, it's important to get one that works with your workflow. The Samsung Evo Plus is a class 10 microSD card with a UHS 3 classification. It has 100MB/s read and 90MB/s write speeds. That means that it's quick enough to record 4K video on your external devices and then transfer them to your PC.

It's also one of the most affordable cards in its class, starting at $14. It's important to note that some storage variants of the Evo Select are only UHS 1. You'll want to 64GB or 128GB variants.

Other options

While the Samsung Evo Select is a great bargain, it is exclusive to Amazon. If you can't order from Amazon in your area or just want to use a different card or retailer, you can use other microSD cards with your device.

A good alternative is the SanDisk Extreme UHS 3. This card has great read and write speeds and will work well for storing files or apps. It also has a smaller 32GB variant that is only $13.

For those looking to pick up the Galaxy Book2, you can now order it direct from Samsung, Microsoft, and AT&T in the United States. Later this month, Sprint and Verizon will also be stocking the device in its stores as well.

The Samsung Galaxy Book2 combines the best of Surface Pro with the long-lasting battery power of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 ARM processor with 4G LTE. Featuring a Super AMOLED display, S-pen for inking, included backlit-keyboard, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage the Galaxy Book2 is built for those who need to work anywhere at any time.

Alanna Cotton, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Samsung Electronics America had this to say about the new Galaxy Book2:

In our in-depth review of the Galaxy Book2, we praised the outstanding display, clean design, pen, audio, and even the performance – which can rival Intel's Core i3 or i5 processors in multi-core tests when using apps from the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft and Samsung are selling the device direct for $999.00 while AT&T has it for $999.99 or $50 a month using a 0% APR on a 20-month instalment agreement.

Microsoft is also offering student, teachers, parents, and military discounts, which knocks the price down to $899.10 for those who qualify. Immediate shipping is available from AT&T, while Samsung is mid-November, and Microsoft is still updating current stock.

There are few devices like the Galaxy Book2 on the market giving Samsung a unique advantage here for those who want a good inking and notetaking tablet PC.

There's no word on when the Galaxy Book2 will sell outside of the United States, but we'll keep you posted if that changes.

• See at AT&T
• See at Microsoft
• See at Samsung

There are two ways of looking at 2-in-1 PC innovation. Companies can either think outside the box, like the Lenovo Yoga Book c930 and HP Envy x2, or clone the Surface Pro.

Samsung did something in between with its Galaxy Book from 2017, which kind of felt like a Surface ... but in all the wrong ways.

Luckily, Galaxy Book2 innovates in the right area but sticks to what works in others. The result is a very satisfying PC experience that fills a hole left by Microsoft in the market.

Differentiators

What makes Samsung Galaxy Book2 unique?

The Samsung Galaxy Book2 is the first PC that supports the brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 processor. The concept of running Windows 10 on an ARM processor is now entering its second generation of devices, and while there are still some rough spots, the tradeoffs are worth it.

At its core, the Samsung Galaxy Book2 is 90 percent a clone of Surface Pro, but Samsung sprinkled in some welcomed improvements and innovations to make the device its own.

The Samsung S-pen, which uses the same tech found in its other tablets and even Galaxy Note series, is arguably better than the Surface Pen. The front and rear cameras are above average and the familiar fully articulating kickstand and keyboard design result in an outstanding user experience.

The real selling points of the Samsung Galaxy Book2 are outstanding battery life – at least four more hours of real-world use compared to a Surface Pro – along with instant-on abilities and always-connected 4G LTE.

Familiar design

Samsung Galaxy Book2 look and feel

Samsung went to the Microsoft well for industrial design and drank heavily with the Galaxy Book2. That's a compliment. The Surface Pro's design is arguably perfect for the device and while mimicking it may sound bad, it's tough to match Microsoft's manufacturing precision. Samsung has the hardware chops to do that, and it succeeds with the Galaxy Book2.

Weighing around 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) with keyboard and being just over 7 mm thin, the Galaxy Book2 is an all-metal Windows 10 tablet that still manages a different flair than Surface. The rounded top and bottom edges are flanked by sides that look cut off, making it easy to hold, with a flat area for the ports and SIM slot.

The all-silver chassis and grey keyboard scream business-first. While the keyboard does not look fantastic, typing is solid, with proper actuation and consistent force curves. There's also two-stage backlighting.

Microsoft Precision Drivers power the trackpad, so it feels great, but the trackpad height is a bit on the short side, making it less enjoyable than devices from HP or Microsoft.

The rear kickstand, while not as sturdy as the Surface Pro's, can still fully articulate giving you endless angles for typing or drawing.

Two USB Type-C ports are found on the right-hand side along with a 3.5 mm headphone jack and one of the AKG-tuned speakers. Those Type-C ports can be used for charging and peripherals but can also be a bit finicky (I could not get the Spyder Elite colorimeter to work when using an adapter, for instance).

On the left side are the physical SIM and microSD slots along with the second speaker. It's dual-sided, saving space compared to most dual-card options.

A power button and volume rocker are found on the top of the Galaxy Book2.

Turn to the rear and things get interesting. Samsung opted for a fingerprint reader near the rear camera instead of a Windows Hello-based infrared camera for facial recognition. Samsung cites concerns about orientation issues for facial recognition that fingerprint readers don't have to contend with. That may be true, but a good IR camera is still more accessible, faster, more reliable and not biased towards left-handers like a fingerprint reader. The reader is mostly good, but there are occasional misreads.

The front and rear camers are also very good (see samples below). Not quite as good as Surface Pro but definitely better - and sharper - than most tablet and PC cameras.

For audio Samsung has dual side-flanking speakers tuned by its audio subsidiary AKG. The included Dolby Atmos software simulates great space and lets users customize the sound profile using the included graphic equalizer. Dolby Atmos is not for everyone and can be disabled.

Finally, for the OS, the Galaxy Book2 ships with Windows 10 Home in S-mode. Users can easily switch out of S-mode, which restricts installation of apps only from the Microsoft Store.

S-s-super AMOLED

Samsung Galaxy Book2 display

The Galaxy Book2 features a dazzling 12-inch 2160 x 1440 (FHD+) Samsung Super AMOLED display. Since AMOLED pixels are their own power sources, there is no backlight compared to how typical LCD operates. Blacks are black because the pixels turn off and the color and contrast are excellent. Brightness is excellent on the Galaxy Book2, and the FHD+ resolution makes text and images sharp.

Just like most AMOLED displays, there is occasional color shifting when using a web browser that has white backgrounds with black text. It's rare but noticeable and an artifact of this technology.

We have not seen any other Windows on ARM laptops with AMOLED displays, nor ones with this high of a resolution. It all works great. The 3:2 aspect ratio and bezels, while large, are expected and shouldn't distract.

A worthy pen

Samsung Galaxy Book2 pen and inking

Samsung went a long way to carry over the S-pen experience from the Galaxy Note to this laptop. It feels 1:1 for features and execution right down to the Samsung Air Command radial menu that gives you quick access to Samsung Notes and screen capture tools. You can literally take your little yellow S-pen from the Galaxy Note 9 and use it on the Galaxy Book2 and vice versa.

Inking with the S-pen is buttery smooth, and the pen is comfortable to hold. Samsung included magnets to keep the pen on the left side of the device, but they're extraordinarily weak. Samsung says that magnets – no matter how strong – would never survive transport in a bag or a sleeve, so the thinking was this would only be used during meetings as a quick, but temporary holder. Maybe, but a stronger magnet would have been better.

Samsung also included an odd holster for the S-pen. It doesn't do much besides preventing the pen from rolling off a table, but it does protect the plastic nib during transport. And a Bluetooth-enabled clickable top button would have been nice.

The turning point

Samsung Galaxy Book2 performance

I believe the Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 will blur the lines between Intel (x86) and Qualcomm (ARM). The 2.96GHz Snapdragon 850 is the first specifically-tuned ARM chip for Windows 10, and it's a welcome improvement over the previous Snapdragon 835, which was almost good enough.

Evaluating performance is tricky with ARM since it just surpasses Intel's lower-end processors for single-core but trounces those same chips for multi-core, due to the different architecture. Geekbench 4.3 can now benchmark Windows 10 on ARM, as well as 32-bit applications running under ARM.

CPU

Geekbench 4.0 benchmarks (higher is better)

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (higher is better)

Based on these metrics, we can say that for single-core processing using ARM-compiled apps, the Galaxy Book2 pulls ahead of the Surface Go. And for multi-core processing using ARM-compiled apps, the Galaxy Book2 beats a Surface Pro 4 Core i5.

Those are some impressive results. When using Windows 10, native in-box apps like Microsoft Edge browser, Mail, News, Weather, Office 365, Movies & TV, and most apps in the Microsoft Store (Netflix, Hulu, Sling, Slack, and Skype) the Galaxy Book2 feels very much like at least a Core i3 processor, but at times more like an older Core i5.

Where the story gets complicated is using non-Store apps, or traditional Win32 programs like the Google Chrome browser downloaded off the web. Here, performance drops due to the way Windows 10 on ARM runs those apps.

To sum that up, for single-core processing using Win32 apps, the Galaxy Book2 performs like a Surface 3 (Intel Atom). And for multi-core processing using Win32 apps, the Galaxy Book2 performs like the Surface Go. In other words, if you stick to Microsoft Store apps and the Edge browser the performance is excellent, but if you go outside the Store, you get Surface 3 to Surface Go performance.

There are other rarer exceptions of apps that don't run at all. Adobe Photoshop Elements found in the Microsoft Store is x64-based and does not run at all on the Galaxy Book2. That's a temporary hiccup as being able to recompile apps for ARM64 is due in the coming months, which should result in Photoshop Elements running near-native in performance.

Gaming is also a weak spot. Most PC-based games are not compatible with the ARM architecture, and the system lacks a comprehensive graphics processor to rival even Intel's HD platform. While you can play some simple Store arcade games like Candy Crush, more intense ones are likely out of the question. Still, brand-new games like Bridge Constructor Portal play just fine and are a blast on the Galaxy Book2.

Turning to storage, the Galaxy Book2 uses a Samsung eUFS (KLUDG4U1EA-B0C). While not as fast as a PCIe NVMe SSD, the 722 MB/s read and just over 200 MB/s write speeds are faster than the HP Envy x2 and Surface Go with eMMC for storage. Faster is always better, and the storage here did not feel slow for this class of hardware.

Battery life is rated at 20 hours of video playback, but real-world usage is around 12 hours. That's a bit less than the HP Envy x2 which can hit 14 hours often, but it is about four hours more than the Surface Pro 6. Combined with excellent standby, instant-on (there is no hibernate mode), and rapid charge using Samsung's included Galaxy charger (same as its Galaxy phones), battery life is still significantly better than any Intel x86 system.

Since the Galaxy Book2 is fanless and it runs an ARM processor, there are no real thermal considerations. It's quiet, it's cool and doesn't throttle.

The 4GB of RAM may be the most significant limiting factor if you have lots of tabs and apps open. Windows 10 does a great job with 4GB of RAM, but having 8GB as an option would give a little extra room to lets apps breathe.

Compared to the HP Envy x2 or Lenovo Miix 630, the Galaxy Book2 feels substantially better for processor performance and even beats the Surface Go especially for multi-core processing.

Always connected (to one network)

Samsung Galaxy Book2 4G LTE

I've covered Microsoft's tweaks to Windows 10 to allow native LTE support that seamlessly changes data between Wi-Fi and LTE. There's so much user control, even down to the app level, that those who are conserving data on their plans should never have to worry. Management is a breeze; drop in a SIM, and the OS does the rest.

Samsung plans to sell the Galaxy Book2 through AT&T starting November 2 in the U.S. and then it should hit Verizon and Sprint later that month. The bad news is each device is semi-optimized for a specific network. The unit tested for this review is for Verizon, and if I drop an AT&T SIM in it works, but it does not always pick up the same LTE bands as a truly unlocked 4G device would. For instance, the Verizon SIM managed 55 Mbps down and 17 Mbps up with only three bars for a signal. Dropping in the AT&T SIM, the Galaxy Book2 picked up the LTE and pulled down 47 Mbps. Upload speeds were a paltry 1 Mbps. The same AT&T SIM in the Surface Pro with LTE did 70 Mbps down and 37 Mbps up revealing quite a difference in how these devices treat different LTE networks.

That puts the Galaxy Book2 in a weird spot. It's not SIM locked – the AT&T SIM works – but it means the Galaxy Book2 is less flexible than truly unlocked devices. Samsung is leveraging its long-standing relations with carriers in the U.S. to get the Galaxy Book2 literally on store shelves (and online). That likely means co-marketing with those carriers like AT&T.

Until now, Surface Pro with LTE, HP Envy x2, and Lenovo Miix 630 have had no carrier ties, and as a result, no carrier push either. In the U.S. having carriers as partners is very important to any product's success. That's good for Samsung, and the success of Windows 10 on ARM, but it's bad for customers.

Another downside is there's no electronic SIM (eSIM) support. The Surface Pro with LTE, Lenovo Miix 630, and the Acer Swift 7 all support the new technology. Chalk this up as another victory for US carriers, who likely pushed back on the idea from Samsung, because the hardware is capable.

Putting aside the carrier concessions LTE performance is good. On Verizon, even with just three bars of reception, the Galaxy Book2 pulled down over 40Mbps and could often hit 70Mbps in areas with a better signal. GPS also works with the integrated LTE modem, letting users leverage Microsoft's Maps app for turn-by-turn directions and other location-aware apps.

Few flaws

Samsung Galaxy Book2 is the best of many worlds

While some may criticize Samsung for borrowing from Microsoft here, I won't. The design works, and they did an excellent job all around at making this device. The processor never felt sluggish, the display is excellent, typing is accurate, and the audio is well done.

The trackpad could be taller, the pen magnets stronger, and the keyboard could look better. But these are minor quibbles. The Galaxy Book2 fills a big void right now for those who want a Surface Pro-like device and want all the benefits of using ARM – long battery life, instant-on, 4G LTE, and no fans.

The most significant compromise is how this device goes back on the idea of freedom from carriers. While the Galaxy Book2 is not exactly SIM-locked, it has made some concessions regarding eSIM and 4G LTE. Of course, if you plan on buying this to use on your carrier of choice through your carrier, that's probably no big deal. But you won't be able to purchase temporary data through eSIM if you travel.

It's also currently not clear what Samsung plans to do outside of the U.S. Right now, the Galaxy Book2 is slated only for U.S. release on AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint, with direct sales through Samsung and Microsoft.

Pricing starts at $999 which includes the Galaxy Book2, keyboard, S-Pen, and rapid charger. That price seems fair for the quality of hardware and native 4G LTE. (Surface Pro with LTE costs nearly $1,700 when you add the keyboard and pen).

Perhaps the bigger news is just how the Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 works compared to similar Intel chips. The performance gap is narrowing. Even if this version is not for you, it is just a matter of time before Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips rival Intel's Core i3 and i5 processors. That's genuinely exciting.