Last year, I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, a 2-in-1 laptop that comes with a stylus and features an AI-boosted Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor.

Since doing the review, I've really liked using this laptop for both work and personal use. So, when I was at CES 2025 and saw that Samsung was releasing the Galaxy Book5 Pro, I knew I had to be the one to review it.

As denoted by the lack of "360" in the title, the Galaxy Book5 Pro is not a 2-in-1, and it does not come with a stylus. However, it's still very slim and comes with an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor. After spending several days using it for work, I can say it is a great AI PC laptop. Here's why I recommend it.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Samsung. Samsung had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Pricing and specifications

• This laptop qualifies as not only an AI PC laptop but also as a Copilot+ PC.
• It reached store shelves in February 2025 and has a starting MSRP of $1,649.99.
• Value rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

The specific Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro configuration I received features a 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen that can reach up to a 2880 x 1800 resolution and houses an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU (central processing unit), Intel Arc integrated GPU (graphics processing unit), 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD. This is a very thin AI laptop despite its 16-inch touchscreen. Samsung also offers this laptop with a 14-inch AMOLED touchscreen and your choice of 16GB RAM + 512GB SSD, 16GB + 1TB SSD, or 32GB RAM + 1TB SSD.

It is both a Copilot+ PC as well as an AI PC laptop due to the fact that it has a Copilot button as well as an AI CPU complete with an NPU (neural processing unit) that can reach more than 40 TOPS (trillion operations per second).

You can purchase this AI PC laptop from Samsung, Best Buy, or other major retailers. More than likely, these laptops will eventually also get listed on Amazon sometime down the road. It has an MSRP of $1,649.99 at Best Buy. If you want to save some money, the 14-inch AMOLED with Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD sells for $1,349.99 at Best Buy. This is a bit pricier than some similarly configured competitors by about $200 to $300.

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: What's in the box?

In addition to the laptop itself, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro comes with a couple of manuals, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and an outlet adapter.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Design and build quality

• This laptop has an elegant and durable design that looks good in any location.
• There is a healthy range of ports for connecting displays and accessories, but it's a little harder to insert and eject a microSD card.
• Design rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Almost everything that I've previously said about the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 applies to the Galaxy Book5 Pro. They both feature an elegant metal casing that's imbued with sophistication and class. I also love how the display bezel is rounded at the corners, providing a subtle stylishness to the panel. Whether you're in a formal or casual setting, this laptop will look good and fit in.

Port-wise, there is a good selection at your disposal for connecting accessories and displays. On the right side, you'll find an HDMI port and two USB-C ports. These latter two can be used for charging or display purposes. Meanwhile, the left side of the laptop has a microSD card reader, a USB-A port, and a headphone jack.

During my previous Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 review, I noted that it was a little harder than usual to insert and eject microSD cards. Unfortunately, the same is true of this model. Rather than just pushing it in and out with my fingertip, I need to use my nail or something with a thin end, like a stylus. It's not the worst thing, but something to be aware of.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Display quality

• This 16-inch, OLED display does very well in all metrics.
• It offers a great color gamut, high resolution, decent brightness, and good contrast.
• Display rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

While working on projects in Adobe Photoshop, streaming movies, and just going about my day-to-day usage, it was easy to see that the 16-inch OLED touchscreen offers an amazing viewing experience. It's very responsive to fingertips, too.

Not just wanting to leave this display analysis to anecdotal observations, I also pulled out a colorimeter and ran a few tests on the screen. In a color gamut test, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro display produced 100% of sRGB, 96% of AdobeRGB, and 100% of P3 — a fantastic result and one that's expected for an OLED panel.

After the color gamut test, I ran a brightness and contrast test, which is how I know that the screen gets very dim (around 4 nits) on 0% and decently bright with max brightness going higher than 400 nits. Some OLEDs don't get very bright, so this is a good range with respectable brightness increases between percentage settings.

Since this is an OLED display, it produces true black, which turns black pixels off entirely. This allows colors near black pixels to really pop in comparison and helps provide better detail and contrast in imagery. It looks really impressive in person.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Performance and thermals

• This laptop runs well, with no throttling or overheating issues.
• While not the most powerful laptop out there, it can easily handle day-to-day office work, creative programs, and even some gaming.
• Performance rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The latest batches of Intel-powered AI PC have the newer Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors, which tend to have much higher NPU performance over Series 1 processors. Regardless of what tests I ran, the Galaxy Book5 Pro's Ultra 7 256V scored better than the 360's Ultra 7 228V that I previously tested.

To start things off, I ran the Geekbench 6 CPU test, in which the Book5 Pro earned a single-core score of 2,682 and a multi-core score of 10,886. Then, I ran Cinebench R24 to check the CPU's rendering abilities to which it got a single-core score of 121 and a multi-core score of 597. These scores are very similar to other Ultra 7 256V devices we've tested, which is what we want to see.

Since this is an NPU-toting CPU, I also ran a couple of Procyon tests. In the Intel OpenVINO NPU test, the laptop got a score of 985, which was the second-highest score we've seen so far, and only trailed ASUS Zenbook S 14 by one point, so that's very good. After that, I also ran the Windows ML benchmark in Procyon. Interestingly enough, this is the highest Ultra Series 2 score we've seen so far, but several Series 1 devices outscore it.

Moving onto the Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics, I ran 3DMark Time Spy to see how it performs. Now, this is not an overly powerful gaming processor, but the GPU got a very respectable 4,411 score, which is the highest Arc 140V score we've seen so far. In other words, while not an intensive laptop, it does offer a solid GPU for work, school, or home use. It's more than capable of handling creative programs like Photoshop.

Because the laptop handled graphics tests so well, I decided to download Cyberpunk 2077 on it and run the in-game benchmark. To my surprise, the Galaxy Book5 Pro managed to produce an average of 33 FPS (frames per second) at the low preset graphics settings. This isn't amazing, but it meets the 30 FPS standard for console gaming, which is respectable.

From here, I used CrystalDiskMark to analyze the Book5 Pro's SSD transfer speeds. It got a read speed of 5,053 MB/s and a write speed of 3,586 MB/s. This isn't a horrible result, but it is slower than the Galaxy Book4 Ultra and Galaxy Book3 Pro. I also had the laptop transcode a 4K version of Tears of Steel in Handbrake. The process took 3,092 seconds, which is a little on the longer side. Still, it was nowhere near the slowest device we've tested.

To wrap up my analysis, I ran CrossMark to check overall system performance. In this test, the laptop got a score of 1,700, which is basically the same score that the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 received but otherwise higher than any other Samsung Galaxy Book laptop we've ever tested.

In the end, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro isn't the most powerful AI PC out there, but it is very respectable and can easily handle day-to-day workloads and creative programs with ease.

Thermals and fan noise

Even when running more CPU-stressing programs, the Galaxy Book5 Pro manages to keep rather quiet. While sitting in front of the laptop with my decibel meter, the loudest I ever heard it get was 41.2 dB, not very loud at all.

As for its cooling abilities, the Book5 Pro keeps itself at a good temperature without throttling the system. When I took pictures using my thermal camera, I found that the hottest areas were the usual suspects — the back vents, which peaked at 113 degrees F (45 degrees C), and the area above the keyboard, which peaked at 110 degrees F (~43 degrees C). Again, this isn't very warm, and it never felt overly hot to the touch.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Battery experience

• This AI PC laptop has excellent battery life that lasts longer than a workday.
• You can expect around 15-18 hours of real-world usage.
• Battery rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Samsung states that the Galaxy Book5 Pro's battery life can last up to 25 hours. To test this, I used the laptop on battery power for a few workdays in a row and then ran a Windows 11 battery report.

When the screen is set to around 200 nits, the laptop typically lasts up to 17 hours and 44 minutes while performing basic tasks like surfing the web, typing up documents, and streaming shows.

I also ran the gaming PCMark 10 battery life test, which stresses the GPU as if I'm playing a video game. In this test, the laptop only lasted about three hours and minutes, which is typical when running more demanding programs. In the end, if you're using this laptop for basic programs and workloads, it will easily last longer than a workday before needing to be charged back up.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Keyboard and touchpad

• The touchpad is large and makes it easy to navigate around the screen.
• The keyboard has short travel distance, and so it might not feel good to everyone.
• Keyboard & touchpad rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐

While the touchpad is large and makes display navigation easy on this laptop, the keyboard is a bit more divisive. Let's talk about the good first.

There are plenty of helpful function keys along the top row as well as a Copilot button near the arrow keys, which quickly brings up Microsoft's AI assistant. These controls and functions are all very responsive and don't make me wait long. I also love that there's a full number pad at my disposal, making it easier for me to enter numerical data into spreadsheets or documents, helping it rank as the best laptops with a number pad right now.

Additionally, the power button in the upper right corner doubles as a fingerprint reader. I set up this biometric login method when I first booted up the laptop, and it has always worked without issue. I definitely prefer its faster method compared to a PIN login.

The one way that this keyboard might fall short for you, quite literally, is with travel distance. This was also an issue that I brought up in my Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 review. Basically, the keys don't move very far when pressed down. I'm a rather quick and confident typist, but in my own experience, this keyboard makes it harder for me to type the right letters and know that my fingers are in the right places. But this might not be the case for everyone. That said, the longer I spend using it, the more I adapt to the keyboard.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Everything else

• This laptop's camera, mic, and speakers are all decent.
• It features the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity to keep up with your connection needs.
• Other hardware rating (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐

While they don't offer the very best experience ever, you'll easily be able to participate in video calls and enjoy listening to music with this laptop's speakers, webcam, and microphone. Unlike the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, the Pro's webcam didn't capture overly saturated images, and they are decently crisp, too.

You'll want to note that there is no physical camera shutter, only a digital button for enabling or disabling the webcam. What's more, this laptop does not support Windows Hello face recognition. So, you'll only be able to use PIN and fingerprint login methods.

The speakers point down beneath the laptop allowing sounds to bounce off of any surface that the Galaxy Book5 Pro is placed on. They can get relatively loud and have decent audio quality. As usual, if you want a more full listening experience, you might want to use one of the best PC headsets.

Connectivity-wise, the Galaxy Book5 Pro offers the latest Wi-fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, which makes for a good wireless accessory experience.

AI Select and other Samsung programs

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro comes loaded up with various Samsung programs. You can access this suite from the blue and white Galaxy Book Experience icon on the taskbar. Many of these programs have been available for a while now, but I was eager to check out the new AI Select tool.

The AI Select icon is also on the taskbar, and clicking on it takes a screenshot. Then, I can use the touchpad or a connected mouse to draw a circle around anything on the screen. For instance, when loading up Cyberpunk 2077, I used AI Select to draw a circle around the game loading icon, and the laptop then proceeded to identify the image and run a browser image search. It's pretty handy if you ever need to use it. Of course, I won't be surprised if Windows releases its own Copilot image select tool down the line.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Also consider

If you like the idea of the Galaxy Book5 Pro but want to weigh alternative options then these are the ones I recommend most.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Score card

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: Final thoughts

You should buy this if ...

✅You want a durable, 16-inch AI PC laptop

Samsung's laptop chassis is durable and elegant, allowing it to look good in any setting without feeling fragile. Plus, it offers really good performance.

✅You're looking for a laptop with a battery that can last through a full workday

As with the Samsung Galalxy Book5 Pro 360, this model has a very long-lasting battery that can easily operate through a whole workday and then some.

You should not buy this if ...

❌You'd prefer a 2-in-1 AI laptop

As previously mentioned, the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is very similar to the Galaxy Book5 Pro, but differs in that it can be used as both a laptop and a tablet. Plus, the 360 comes with a stylus for easier screen drawing and navigation.

❌You're not interested in an AI PC laptop

More and more AI PCs and AI laptops are coming onto the market every day. It's expected that these devices will make up the majority of the market by the end of the year. That said, there are still some non-AI computers out there if that's what you'd prefer.

There are a lot of great AI laptops currently on the market, and the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro is one of the most appealing choices you can get right now. Not only does it have a refined style, but it offers excellent performance to keep up with your daily workloads. The AI Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor offers better NPU performance than the previous Series 1 processor, and the Intel Arc graphics card is more than capable of handling creative programs and even some gaming. Plus, the gorgeous AMOLED touchscreen really shows off movies and art projects to great effect.

Just note that the keys have a relatively short travel distance that might not feel good for everyone. However, I do think it's possible to get used to the feeling. Additionally, while you can log in with a fingerprint reader, the laptop does not offer face recognition. But if those aren't issues for you, then the Galaxy Book5 Pro is a top-notch AI laptop that outshines many others.

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Samsung has a new wave of laptops to show off. The company unveiled Galaxy Book5 Pro and Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 PCs at CES 2025. The devices run on Intel's "Lunar Lake" Core Ultra processors. With 47 TOPS on board, the PCs are built with AI in mind. They support a range of AI features such as AI Select and Photo Remaster. The NPUs on the laptops can also be leveraged by third-party applications to perform AI tasks.

Pricing for the new laptops has not been shared at this time, but the devices are expected to start shipping in February.

The Galaxy Book5 Pro and Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 share a lot with their predecessors. Iterative updates can be frustrating, but the Galaxy Book4 Pro and Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 earned high marks from our colleagues. A chip refresh and making sure the internals are the latest available add up to create laptops that look promising.

Interestingly, neither of the Galaxy Book5 Pro laptops are Copilot+ PCs. Both devices are quality AI laptops and have several AI features, but Samsung's press release makes no mention of Copilot or Copilot+.

“We are thrilled to make Galaxy AI and cutting-edge innovation accessible to more people than ever before, addressing their unique productivity needs on PC and other Galaxy devices,” said Samsung's Changtae Kim. “Alongside our trusted industry partners, we are delivering an AI experience on Galaxy Book that empowers users to work, create and connect in more intelligent ways through our growing ecosystem.”

Samsung states that the Galaxy Book5 Pro (16-inch) can get up to 25 hours of video playback and charge up to 35% in only 30 minutes. Real-world battery figures will depend greatly on usage, but the raw figures are intriguing. The Dynamic AMOLED 2x display of the new Galaxy Book5 Pro laptops has a 3K resolution and up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The screen supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which can help with battery life and making motion appear smooth on the display.

The screens of the new Galaxy Book5 Pro laptops support Vision Booster as well, which tone maps and adjusts the contrast and colors of a display based on lighting conditions.

While the new laptops are not Copilot+ PCs, Samsung focused on their AI capabilities heavily. The laptops support AI Select to get more information about anything that appears on your screen and Photo Remaster, which uses AI to retouch and clean up images.

Samsung and Microsoft have worked together for years to bring together Samsung phones and PCs, and that continues here. The new laptops support Microsoft Phone Link, nearby device sharing, storage sharing, and quick share. They also work with multi control and second screen, the latter of which allows you to use your Galaxy Tab device into a second screen for your PC.

To many Samsung is best known for its smartphones, but the company also makes some of the best laptops on the market. When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Book4 Edge, the company showed off a stunning laptop that could make a MacBook Pro blush. The new Galaxy Book4 Edge is also one of the first Copilot+ PCs and runs on a Snapdragon X processor, both of which are exciting developments in the land of Windows PCs. Right now, you can grab a Galaxy Book4 Edge with a Snapdragon X Plus processor for $200 off. If you need a more powerful laptop, the Snapdragon X Elite version of the Galaxy Book4 Edge is also on sale for Black Friday.

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Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: A MacBook Pro killer?

Samsung's Galaxy Book4 Edge was among the first Copilot+ PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips. The Snapdragon X Plus inside this model is the most affordable of the Snapdragon X lineup, promising efficiency while still delivering performance for everyday use.

The Snapdragon X Plus also features an NPU, which is a special processor optimized for AI tasks. That chip powers features such as Windows Studio Effects and Live Captions. The Galaxy Book4 Edge will also support Windows Recall in the future, though that feature is only in testing at the moment.

Since the Galaxy Book4 Edge runs on an Arm processor, you should make sure that all your apps will work well on the PC before buying the device. Many apps now run on Windows 11 on Arm natively and there is also Prism emulation to cover apps that aren't native to Arm. But there are some apps that do not work well on Arm PCs. A third-party site called WindowsOnArm keeps track of apps that are native to Arm, able to run through emulation, or not supported.

The Galaxy Book4 Edge that's currently on sale for $699.99 features a 14-inch FHD display, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. Those are modest specs compared to a maxed-out Galaxy Book4 Edge but they're perfect for everyday use. Many people overpay for laptops by grabbing high-end devices with chips and specs they don't need. The Galaxy Book4 Edge highlighted here is a great PC for people who browse the web and do everyday tasks. If you want to game or are a creator, you'll want a more powerful PC. Luckily, there are plenty of options this time of year when it comes to deals on the best Windows laptops.

The Galaxy Book4 Edge and some of Samsung's other laptops connect seamlessly with Samsung smartphones. Microsoft and Samsung have worked together for years to bring together the two popular categories of devices. You can sync messages, photos, notifications, and even mirror your phone screen on your PC. It's the closest thing to Apple's iOS / macOS connectivity on the Windows and Android side of things.

In terms of design and seamless connectivity with a smartphone, the Galaxy Book4 Edge competes with the MacBook Pro, but we're talking about the Snapdragon X Plus model, that's about where the comparison ends. When comparing the Galaxy Book4 Edge vs. MacBook Pro, you need to look at the Samsung laptop with a Snapdragon X Elite and an AMOLED display (which is on sale right now through Best Buy). The more powerful Galaxy Book4 Edge goes toe-to-toe with a MacBook Pro.

If you've been keeping up with the market, then you know that AI PCs only launched earlier this year.

However, due to the somewhat recent release of Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors (a.k.a. Lunar Lake), we're already on a new wave of far more powerful AI PCs and Copilot+ PCs.

Among the earliest of these new AI-boosted devices to enter the market is the brand-new Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 2-in-1.

Over the course of the last two weeks, I've been using this 2-in-1 AI PC regularly to check out its abilities and features. Here's what I've learned about it.

This review was made possible thanks to a review unit provided by Samsung. The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Price and specs

Pricing & specifications highlights

• At the time of writing, the specific Core Ultra 5 228V Evo Edition configuration I tested wasn't available online for purchase, but it should be coming soon.
• The Core Ultra 7 configuration of the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 that is currently available at retailers comes with the S Pen and has a $1,699.99 MSRP.
• Since the 200S versions of Intel Core Ultra processors are relatively new, there aren't a ton of other laptops that this directly compares against.
• While it is pricey, it is within a range that is expected considering its specs and included S Pen Pro.
• Price rating: 4/5

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 Evo Edition configuration I received features an Intel Core Ultra 5 228V processor, Intel Arc 130V graphics, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. However, at the time of writing, I couldn't find this exact configuration selling anywhere online, which means I don't know its MSRP. This is to be expected since this is a relatively new model. The version I reviewed should be released soon.

That said, another configuration featuring a heftier Intel Core Ultra 7 256V central processing unit (CPU), Intel Arc 140V graphics processing unit (GPU), 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD is currently available for $1,699.99 at Best Buy, the Samsung website, and other major online retailers. From this, we can deduce that the configuration I reviewed will cost less than $1,699.99 MSRP.

Since the 200S series of Intel Core Ultra processors is relatively new, there aren't currently a ton of other Copilot+ PC and AI PC laptops to directly compare this one against yet. We know that the 200S Core Ultras are much more powerful than the 100S ones. Although pricey, based on the components used, this 2-in-1 laptop is in an expected price range. Remember that the included S Pen Pro sells for $99.99 at Samsung on its own, and this adds to the laptop's overall price.

Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 — What's in the box?

When I opened the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360's box, I found a USB-C to USB-C cable, an outlet adapter, and the S Pen included in the package.

Recommended configuration

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Design and build

Build quality and design highlights

• This laptop looks absolutely elegant, and it feels very sturdy, too.
• There is a healthy range of ports available to meet your various needs.
• Despite having a large 16-inch display, the laptop is very thin.
• Regardless of if you're in a business or casual setting, this laptop will look good.
• The included S Pen Pro is very comfortable to use and provides a fantastic drawing experience.
• It's hard to stick a microSD card into the slot (and remove it), but the reader functions well.
• Design rating: 5/5

The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is a pure example of sophistication and class. Everything from the metal case to the thin display bezel builds upon a standard of elegance that looks good in any setting.

While the screen bezel isn't the slimmest I've seen, it is very thin and has rounded corners that subtly add to the laptop's overall vibe. Meanwhile, this 2-in-1 laptop isn't just good-looking; it feels sturdy too. The casing is made of a metal material that feels nice to the touch and is very durable. Whenever I fold the screen back into tablet mode, the hinges work smoothly and hold the display at whatever angle I want it to, without any sense of straining.

Then, of course, there are the ports. Some thin laptops don't feature as many connection areas as thicker laptops, but this isn't a problem with the Book5 Pro 360. In total, there is an HDMI 2.1 port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A 3.2 port, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack to meet my various connecting needs. I never felt limited when connecting devices and PC accessories to this laptop.

That said, I happened to be testing a Samsung Evo Select 1TB microSD card while reviewing the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360. So, I decided to insert it and do the sequential transfer speed tests on this laptop. However, I soon found that it was difficult to push the microSD card in far enough that it would stay in place and the laptop would recognize it. Since I'm not Edward Scissorhands, it got to the point where I had to use the S Pen to push the memory card in all the way. I also had to use the S Pen to pop it back out because my nail couldn't reach in far enough to eject the card. The microSD card reader functions well, but this all seemed way harder to do than I've ever experienced on any other laptop.

The wonderful S Pen of awesome

As with previous Samsung Galaxy Book models, the Book5 Pro 360 comes with an S Pen stylus. I spend many hours each year digitally drawing in programs like Photoshop or Adobe Fresco, so I was very keen to check out this S Pen Pro and its drawing capabilities.

I love that — unlike some other PC styluses on the market — this one is the shape, thickness, and weight of an average pencil. When I hover over the screen, the S Pen cursor follows along so I know exactly where the tip will make contact. What's more, the sensation the S Pen Pro makes when the pen tip touches the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 touchscreen is very smooth and velvetlike rather than the harsh plastic-on-glass feeling I often encounter. I'll even go so far as to say that this is the best PC stylus drawing sensation I've ever experienced (outside of felt-tip nibs for dedicated drawing tablets). I get a lot of minute control because the pen tip and touchscreen work so smoothly together.

I obviously advise against snapping it in half, but the S Pen Pro feels sturdy, as though it will last a long time if you treat it well. While cylindrical in shape, one side of the S Pen Pro is flat and attaches magnetically to various parts of the Book5 Pro 360 — the top center when the laptop is closed or the left and right areas under the touchpad when the laptop is open.

However, I tend to draw with the laptop in tablet mode, and so I was surprised to find that there isn't a magnetic area to hold the S Pen to the side of the screen like you can with some of the best 2-in-1s and their styluses. It's not the worst omission, but I definitely do find myself wishing I could magnetically place the S Pen on the side of the Book5 Pro 360 when using it in tent, laptop, or tablet modes.

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Software and apps

Software and apps

• Several Samsung programs come preinstalled on the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, including a video editor, notepad, and more.
• While these programs can be useful, you might be better served using different apps for the same jobs.
• You might want to spend time uninstalling certain programs to improve this laptop's performance.
• Software rating: 4/5

If you already have a Samsung device, then you likely know that this company has a good range of programs in its ecosystem that can prove very helpful. On the laptop side of things, the Book5 Pro 360 comes loaded with over 20 Samsung apps for video editing, note-taking, image organizing, smart transferring, and much more. There's even a Samsung Settings app, which is like a more minimalistic Windows 11 Settings window, for controlling various aspects of the laptop. That said, these Samsung apps aren't always as good as more common programs out there. For instance, you might be better served using Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve for video editing over Samsung Studio.

Since this laptop comes with Dolby Atmos speakers, it also comes with Dolby Access installed from the get-go. I'll talk more about the laptop's audio system later, but suffice it to say that Dolby Access allows me to choose between default presets or create my own customized ones for a better listening experience.

As with many laptops, this one comes with a short McAfee virus protection trial. But you don't need to stick with it if you aren't interested.

In fact, you should probably take some time to get rid of some of the programs that come installed on this laptop in order to make it run more smoothly. But that's usually the case with any laptop that you purchase.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Display

Display highlights

• In a color gamut test, the Book5 Galaxy Pro 360 display produced a fantastic 100% of sRGB, 98% of AdobeRGB, and 100% of P3.
• HDR+ further enhances the vibrant image quality of HDR videos and pictures.
• Since this is a 16-inch OLED, it's not surprising to see that it offers great contrast with the ability to produce true black.
• While not the brightest laptop screen, the monitor can reach 400 nits, which is better than some other OLEDs.
• The touchscreen always reacts well whether I'm tapping it with my fingers or the S Pen Pro.
• Display rating: 5/5

I've never seen an OLED display I didn't like, and the same holds true for the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360's AMOLED panel. In case you're wondering, AMOLEDs mainly differ from OLEDs in that they can typically produce higher refresh rates than OLEDs, but otherwise, the viewing experience can be very similar.

• RELATED: OLED vs. QD-OLED vs. QLED vs. AMOLED vs. Mini LED display comparison.

Right from the get-go, I could tell that imagery wasn't only crisp with its max 2880 x 1800 resolution but that it came through with a really good color range as well. To verify my eyeballed assessment, I used a colorimeter to run various tests on the display, starting with a color gamut test. The display produced a very good 100% of sRGB, 98% of AdobeRGB, and 100% of P3, which are great results. I further improved the visual experience by going into the Samsung Settings app to turn on HDR+ and adjust settings.

Following that, I ran a brightness and contrast test, in which I learned that the screen maxes out at a peak brightness of 400 nits. This is a pretty typical max brightness for a good OLED or AMOLED, but it might not get bright enough to be helpful in some very brightly lit rooms or outdoor settings.

Meanwhile, the contrast test verified that the screen was producing 0.00 black even at max brightness. What this means is that the pixels completely turn off if they are supposed to be displaying black. So, unlike other display types, you get a true black color rather than a light grey coming through. As you can imagine, being able to display true black allows the colorful areas of an image to really stand out on OLED panels like this one.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Performance and thermals

Performance & thermals highlights

• Overall, the Book5 Pro 360 offers solid AI PC performance.
• This laptop's Series 2 Intel Core Ultra NPU offers far better performance than Series 1 versions, but CPU performance wasn't much different.
• It does a great job of keeping itself cool and is never hot to the touch.
• Even when stressing the CPU, the fans never got very loud.
• Performance rating: 4/5

In my own experience, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 works very smoothly, and it didn't have any problems keeping up with the programs I used. It didn't even buckle when I was working with several layers in an Adobe Fresco file, which often can make other laptops struggle. Of course, I was also eager to run this laptop through various tests after hearing Intel say that the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 AI processors are far more efficient than Series 1 versions.

To start things off, I analyzed the laptop's Core Ultra 5 228V CPU by running Geekbench 6, followed by Cinebench R24. In Geekbench 6, the Book5 Pro 360 processor earned a multi-core score of 10,328, which isn't a bad result, but it turned out to be a lower score than many Core Ultra 7 Series 1 laptops we've tested (by 2,000 points or more in some cases). I had expected this Series 2 Core Ultra 5 to do better.

Meanwhile, in the Cinebench CPU rendering test, the 2-in-1 earned a 114 single-core score and a 594 multi-core score. This is where I expected the Book5 Pro 360 to score since it doesn't have a super powerful GPU to assist the CPU. For instance, as you can see in our Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra review, this laptop and its Series 1 Intel Core Ultra 9 185H scored a much higher Cinebench score of 958, but it also has a much more powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 L GPU.

After looking at the CPU, I used Procyon to test the CPU's NPU with the Intel OpenVINO Float 16 test. Here, the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 blew previous Series 1 Core Ultra's out of the water with an extremely high score of 905. Below that, the highest Series 1 score was just 351; that's roughly a 33% difference. What this means is the Book5 Pro 360's NPU helps the laptop undertake certain AI tasks far better than previous AI PC models.

Next, I tested the Intel Arc L 130V GPU by running a few different graphics tests in 3DMark. With Time Spy, the Book5 Pro 360 earned a score of 3,654, which is decently good and what I expected the result to be. In case you don't know, the Intel Arc L 130V is a more powerful integrated graphics card than the Intel Iris Xe, but it cannot stand up against dedicated (or discrete) graphics cards from AMD or NVIDIA for gaming or creative workflows.

After that, I tested SSD transfer speeds by running CrystalDiskMark. The laptop earned a read speed of 3,781 MB/s and a write speed of 2,600 MB/s, which isn't the best results I've seen (Galaxy Book4 Ultra and Book3 Pro both scored significantly higher) but very respectable overall. What this means is the device can open and load programs at a decent clip.

Finally, I ran Crossmark to check the laptop's overall system performance. Here, the Book5 Pro 360 earned a score of 1,701, which is basically the same score that the 2023 Galaxy Book3 Pro received (learn more in our Galaxy Book3 Pro review) and a bit lower than the 1,839 score of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra. So, it isn't the very best result, but it is a good place to be compared with similar laptops we've tested.

What all of these benchmarks tell us is that the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is more powerful and efficient than Core Ultra Series 1 AI PCs in some ways, but not necessarily with the CPU itself. Either way, it's a solid device performance-wise and a step up from previous Galaxy Book Pro laptops.

Thermals and fan noises

Overall, the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 does a superb job of keeping itself at a good temperature. To test its cooling abilities, I ran a CPU stress test for 20 minutes and then whipped out my thermal camera and took pictures. Unsurprisingly, the hottest parts of the laptop are the back vents, which peaked at 108 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (~42 degrees Celsius (C)). The second hottest area was the strip above the keyboard, which reached 107 degrees F (~41 degrees C).

None of the areas that I regularly handled ever felt hot to the touch. The center of the keyboard only reaches 99 degrees F (~37 degrees C). Even after using the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 for hours on end, it was never too hot to place on my lap. What's more, the fans never got super loud, even when running the stress test. When holding my decibel meter near my ear while sitting in front of this laptop, the device registered at 42.1 dB, which isn't loud at all.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Battery life

Battery highlights

• This laptop can last more than 12 hours on average, which means it has excellent battery life.
• The included charging cable is a USB-C, and it can be plugged into either of the USB-C ports.
• The long battery life makes this a great option for students and businesspeople.
• Battery rating: 5/5

I've been using the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 every workday for two weeks, and it has always had more than enough battery life to meet my needs. As such, it is a great laptop for anyone who regularly travels or needs to rely heavily on unplugged usage.

After using it regularly, I ran a Windows 11 battery report and found that the laptop typically tended to last an average of 12 hours and 57 minutes. That's more than enough juice to keep up with an average eight-hour workday and then some. I typically had the screen at around 200 nits of brightness, so the battery could run out faster if the display is at 100% brightness. Regardless, this longer-than-average battery life makes this a great device for business people, students, or anyone else frequently on the go.

On a slightly different topic, many of the laptops I've tested recently use a barrel plug for charging, so it is nice to see that this laptop utilizes a far more standard USB-C charging cable. I can plug this cable into either of the laptop's right-side USB-C ports to juice up the battery. It would have been nice if there was a USB-C on either side of the laptop to make it easier to plug into the nearest outlet, but that's just a minor thing.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Keyboard and touchpad

Keyboard and touchpad highlights

• The keyboard is incredibly shallow and can be hard to get used to.
• Having a full number pad makes it far more convenient to enter numeric data.
• A fingerprint reader allows me to quickly log in by resting my finger on the power button.
• Meanwhile, the touchpad is rather large and makes navigating the 16-inch display a breeze.
• Keyboard and touchpad rating: 3/5

The keyboard is going to be the most divisive part of the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360. On the one hand, it features a full number pad, which has made it a lot easier for me to enter numeric data into spreadsheets or documents. However, the keys don't travel much before they send a signal. It feels rather abrupt when typing on such shallow keys.

The first day I started typing on this laptop, it felt awkward; the satisfaction and confidence of knowing a key had been pressed was rather elusive, and I found myself making far more typing mistakes than usual. It wasn't until I'd been using the keyboard for a couple of hours that I grew more accustomed to it. That said, I could also see some people not being able to get used to this typing experience.

This is not only an AI PC but a Copilot+ PC, so it's no surprise that it features a dedicated Copilot button between the space bar and the arrow keys. Tapping this brings up Microsoft's AI Assistant or makes it go away again. Similarly, the function keys along the top of the keyboard provide useful quick controls like accessing Samsung Settings, adjusting screen brightness, opening the Display Settings window, toggling the touchpad on and off, adjusting volume, muting, changing backlighting brightness, disabling the camera, or locking the function keys.

On the top right of the keyboard, there is a blank button, which serves as both the power button and the fingerprint reader. I set up biometric sign-in when I first turned the Book5 Pro 360 on, and it never had any issues quickly sensing my finger and logging me in.

As for the touchpad, it's a relatively massive area that is roughly six inches wide and 4.25 inches tall. With this much space to work with, I find it very easy to navigate more minutely around the 16-inch display.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Camera, mic, and audio

Camera, mic, and speaker highlights

• The 2MP camera is crisp, but the images look a bit too saturated.
• While it is possible to disable the camera, there is no physical shutter cover for the webcam.
• Windows Hello facial recognition is not available on this laptop.
• During meetings, the microphone carries my voice clearly to my colleagues.
• Quad speakers can get rather loud but don't provide the fullest soundscape.
• Camera, mic, and speaker rating: 4/5

I attended a couple of virtual meetings while using the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 to test out the mic and camera quality. During these sessions, I was told my voice was clear, and there weren't any issues understanding what I said.

Additionally, I also found that the imagery that the camera produced was rather crisp and bright but a bit too saturated. As an example, my skin tone has some natural pink to it, but the camera pulled these colors out and made me look slightly sunburned. As another example, my computer chair is a soft pastel blue, but it comes through as a stronger color with this camera.

While there is a key for disabling the camera, it's important to note that there is no physical built-in camera shutter on this laptop. I personally prefer the assurance of knowing I can block the camera from picking me up entirely, so if you're like me, then you'll want to use one of those adhesive camera shutter covers from Amazon. Additionally, this camera does not support Windows Hello, so you cannot log in using facial recognition.

The quad speakers (two 5W woofers and two 3.3W tweeters) are more than good enough for video calls, but as usual, they are no match for a dedicated set of computer speakers or one of the best PC headsets when it comes to music listening. These speakers are located under the laptop and visible as a mesh line near the sides. This placement allows sounds to bounce off of any surface that I place the laptop on and can amplify the effect pretty well.

While listening to playlists and podcasts, I found that these speakers could get exceptionally loud and could easily produce mid to high-range tones, but they didn't have the fullest bass quality. Of course, this is to be expected with any laptop. That all said, I don't immediately feel the need to plug in my best computer speakers or reach for my headset when using the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Competition

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is one of the first laptops on the market to feature the brand new Lunar Lake Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors, and as such, there aren't many devices that can directly compare against this 2-in-1 yet. That will certainly change in the coming months, though.

You only need to look at the previous model, the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360, to find a very similar, albeit not as powerful AI PC 2-in-1 that comes with an S Pen. You can find it toting the Intel Core Ultra Series 1 AI processors. As for graphics, it also has Intel Arc. So, if you want a more affordable AI PC but don't need the most powerful option, then this could be a good fit. It sells for $1,449.99 at Best Buy, but it will likely go on sale since the newer version is now available.

At this moment, the closest competitor to the Book5 Pro 360 spec-wise is the ASUS Vivobook S 14 OLED. While not a 2-in-1, it is an AI PC and Copilot+ PC that features the same Intel Core Ultra 5 Series 2 processor and also utilizes Intel Arc for graphics. However, instead of having a 16-inch AMOLED display, it has a 14-inch OLED. Additionally, it does not come with an ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus (but you can purchase one for $149.99 at Amazon). This laptop sells for $949.99 at Best Buy with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD.

There's also the ASUS ExpertBook P5, which is currently one of the only other laptops available right now that features the new Intel Core Ultra 5 Series 2 processor and Intel Arc graphics. It's another 14-inch laptop, but instead of an OLED display, it has an LED screen. While the screen can be pushed back 180 degrees, it is not a 2-in-1. This laptop sells for $999.99 at Best Buy.

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Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Scorecard

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if...

✅ You want a 2-in-1 that comes with a good stylus: The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 has a fantastic touchscreen that works beautifully with the included S Pen. I find it's great for drawing in addition to screen navigation. Best of all, you can use it in laptop, tent, or tablet mode.

✅ You need a laptop with excellent battery life: If you need a laptop that can keep up with you through a full day of work or school, then this is an excellent choice to go with.

✅ You'd like one of the latest, most powerful AI PCs: AI PCs are projected to be 100% of the market by the end of 2025 (as mentioned in my Lenovo AI interview), but the newest wave of Lunar Lake processors like the one in the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 have far better performance than the initial Series 1.

✅ You're looking for a laptop with a great display: This laptop's AMOLED screen produces a fantastic color gamut, excellent contrast, and true black to really bring out details in videos or imagery.

You should not buy this if...

❌ You don't want a shallow keyboard: I've been able to get used to the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360's short travel distance, but that doesn't mean it's going to feel good for everyone.

❌ You need a laptop that has an Ethernet port: To be fair, most non-gaming laptops these days don't have an RJ45 port, but if you really need one, you could always purchase one of the best Thunderbolt hubs.

As far as Copilot+ PCs and AI PCs go, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is a solid contender that can easily handle various tasks. Its 2-in-1 build offers a lot of versatility, especially since it comes with an S Pen Pro for drawing, note-taking, or otherwise navigating on the 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen. It also has a very elegantly slim design and a strong build, which, when paired with its long battery life, makes for a fantastic on-the-go laptop.

It is very convenient to have a full number pad at your disposal. However, the shallow keyboard is arguably this laptop's weakest feature, and it might take some time before people adjust to typing on these keys. In the end, if you want the latest and greatest AI laptop on the market, then the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 should definitely be something you consider.

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Copilot+ PCs powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips have been on the market for a few months now, and prices have been sporadically dropping with some notable discounts at major retailers.

We now know that certain Intel and AMD laptops with the latest hardware will receive Copilot+ access in November, so competition is only about to get stronger for the Qualcomm-equipped PCs. That's driving prices down even further, resulting in what we have here — the cheapest price I've ever seen on the only Copilot+ PC I've seriously considered buying.

If you're interested in checking out Qualcomm's strong ARM64 performance and efficiency in a sleek 14-inch notebook with tons of high-end features, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is an easy recommendation. Samsung's laptops are often underrated despite their aesthetic appeal, build quality, AMOLED screens, and comfy keyboards, and that's before even touching the Galaxy AI tools that only get better if you also use a Galaxy phone.

The 14-inch Galaxy Book4 Edge with a Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-80) chip, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and 2.8K AMOLED touch display usually costs about $1,350, but this deal at Best Buy has it down to $950. That's 400 off the regular price, and I've never seen it cheaper.

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Why I love the Galaxy Book4 Edge

Samsung's laptops are often overlooked, but every time I've used one I've been impressed. And when the first wave of Copilot+ PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Systems-on-Chip (SoC) was announced in May, it was the Galaxy Book4 Edge that most caught my attention.

In the usual Samsung fashion, there are two sizes available for the Book4 Edge. The one I'm highlighting here that's discounted is the smaller 14-inch version, perfect for anyone who prefers to travel light and who doesn't need the extra screen real estate. This really is an ideal laptop for those on the move, as it combines the efficiency of a Snapdragon X Elite SoC and a chassis that weighs just 2.6 pounds (1.18kg). 

The aluminum body, finished in a Sapphire Blue color, boasts two USB4, HDMI 2.1, and 3.5mm audio ports, and the laptop has Wi-Fi 7 for reliable and fast wireless connectivity.

Samsung didn't cut any corners with the speakers, display, or keyboard, and the sub-$1,000 price doesn't stress how good the hardware is. There are four speakers — two 4W woofers and two 2.7W tweeters — with Dolby Atmos for outstanding sound. The keyboard is comfortable and the touchpad is huge. But the real gem is the 14-inch display with a 2.8K resolution and AMOLED panel. It has a 120Hz variable refresh rate to be easy on the eyes, it covers the DCI-P3 color spectrum, and it reaches up to 500 nits brightness with HDR enabled.

The X Elite (X1E-80) SoC has proven itself to be super powerful and efficient, and you'll be able to get true all-day battery life without worrying about slow performance on DC power. The inclusion of a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for local AI acceleration brings it into the Copilot+ fold, allowing you to tap tools like Windows Recall, advanced Windows Studio Effects, Live Captions, Cocreator, and more without requiring a connection to Microsoft's servers.

The Galaxy AI difference

Microsoft's Copilot+ tools aren't the only AI features available on the Galaxy Book4 Edge. Samsung has its own suite of tools known as Galaxy AI, and while it's designed primarily for use with Galaxy phones, some features are bleeding across form factors now that the Book4 Edge is on the market.

You can connect your phone to the Book4 Edge with Link to Windows, allowing you to control just about everything from the laptop. Copilot (the standard assistant) on the laptop will handle common tasks like sending messages, reminders and alarms, and contact searches with voice commands. But you can also access Galaxy AI tools like Circle to Search, Chat Assist, and more right from your laptop's larger display.

It's expected that Galaxy AI will continue to improve on the cross-platform functionality, especially if Samsung plans on charging for the service. It has stated that Galaxy AI will be free until 2025, but it hasn't specified what will happen beyond then.

Even if you aren't interested in the AI tools available with the Galaxy Book4 Edge, it's a sleek laptop with a beautiful AMOLED display, powerful and efficient Snapdragon X Elite SoC, and tons of high-end features. Getting it for less than $1,000 right now at Best Buy might be too good to pass up.

What you need to know

• Samsung announced the new Snapdragon X-powered Galaxy Book4 Edge in 14- and 16-inch sizes.
• They're Copilot+ PCs with a Qualcomm Hexagon NPU running at 45 TOPS.
• The laptops feature 2.8K AMOLED touch displays, quad-speaker audio with Dolby Atmos, and the Galaxy AI suite of tools.
• The 14- and 16-inch Galaxy Book4 Edge are now available to preorder through Samsung. Prices start at $1,350 and $1,450, respectively, and Samsung is throwing in a 50-inch Crystal 4K TV for free.

The world of Windows PCs has had a busy day, with seemingly all major manufacturers jumping in to show off new AI laptops powered by Qualcomm's ARM-based Snapdragon X series Systems-on-Chip (SoC).

Samsung joined the fray to unveil its own new Windows on ARM laptops. The Galaxy Book4 Edge is available in 14- and 16-inch sizes and has been "designed from the ground up for AI," according to the company.

The new Galaxy Book4 Edge is already available to pre-order at Samsung's website starting at $1,350 for the 14-inch model. The 16-inch model starts at $1,450. When pre-ordering through Samsung.com or the Samsung Shop App, you'll also receive a free 50-inch Crystal UHD 4K TV. The devices are expected to ship June 18, 2024.

With 14- and 16-inch sizes, Samsung aims to cater to users who want mobility and those who can't live without enough screen space for heavier multitasking. Both sizes are built to a high standard with a premium feel, which isn't unusual for Samsung laptops.

These new models incorporate recycled plastic, glass, and aluminum and come in a Sapphire Blue finish. The 14-inch model weighs in at 2.6 pounds (1.18kg) and measures 0.43 inches (10.9mm) thin, while the 16-inch model only climbs to 3.4 pounds (1.54kg) while measuring 0.48 inches (12.19mm) thin.

They're both very light and sleek laptops, yet Samsung has four speakers with Dolby Atmos tuning and a decent selection of ports. The smaller model has two USB4, HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio jack, while the larger PC adds USB-A and a microSD card reader.

The touch AMOLED displays offer the same specs and features, albeit in different sizes. Both have a crisp 2880x1800 resolution, a 120Hz variable refresh rate, 120% DCI-P3 color reproduction, and up to 500 nits brightness with HDR enabled. They otherwise hit 400 nits. Samsung's displays are always impressive, and these look to be no different.

Digging into the performance hardware, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips are the centerpiece. The Galaxy Book4 Edge 14 has the X1E-80-100 version with 12 Oryon CPU cores, 3.4GHz frequency, and 4.0GHz dual-core boost, plus an Adreno GPU with 3.8 TFLOPs. The larger 16-inch model offers the same chip and the more powerful X1E-84-100 with a 3.8GHz frequency, 4.2GHz dual-core boost, and GPU with 4.6 TFLOPs.

All SoCs have a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with 45 TOPS of power for local AI acceleration, which will be used for the new Windows 11 Copilot+ features and Samsung's own Galaxy AI (more on these below). All Galaxy Book4 Edge laptops are listed as having 16GB of RAM and either a 512GB or 1TB SSD. Samsung claims the 14-inch model can run for up to 18 hours on a charge, while the 16-inch model tops out at 22 hours.

It's worth pointing out that the 16-inch Galaxy Book4 Edge has a full number pad, which many users can't live without. Rounding out the specs is a 1080p webcam above the display and a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello.

The Samsung Galaxy AI difference

The new Galaxy Book4 Edge makes the cut as a Copilot+ PC thanks to its Qualcomm Hexagon NPU with 45 TOPS of power, but Samsung wasn't satisfied with stopping there. Its own Galaxy AI is also included as a suite of tools best used between Galaxy devices. Although I recently switched from a Galaxy phone, this new cross-platform AI compatibility makes me reconsider my decision.

Samsung says that you'll now be able to connect your Galaxy phone to a Book4 Edge with Link to Windows to get all the AI features on a bigger screen. For example, using the Mirror Circle to Search with Google feature will have the results pop up on your PC for easy copy-pasting. Chat Assist and Live Translate, two of the most popular Galaxy AI tools, will also be available on the Book4 Edge.

According to Samsung, Copilot voice can also be used to send messages, set reminders and alarms, and more on your mobile device when it's connected to your Book4 Edge. That's going to make this one great laptop for those invested in the Galaxy ecosystem.

A quick look at AI PCs and Copilot+

We'll be talking a lot more about AI PCs and Copilot+ in the foreseeable future, and it's worth explaining what these terms actually mean.

An AI PC has an NPU inside to handle local AI tasks, freeing up the CPU and GPU for other work. While some great AI laptops are on the market sporting Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen chips, Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X series chips have taken things to another level. That's where the Copilot+ term comes into play.

Microsoft has created a new umbrella term to identify certain next-gen AI features coming to Windows. Only PCs with an NPU capable of at least 40 TOPS will be named Copilot+ PCs, and for now, that means only laptops with the Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus.

Copilot+ features have me rather excited about the future of Windows 11, something I can't say is always the case. Most notable is a Recall feature that runs in the background, allowing you to search for anything you've seen or done on the PC in any app. Microsoft says this data is stored locally without sending info to the cloud, which eases some privacy concerns.

Live Captions can translate more than 40 languages to English when viewing or listening to pre-recorded and live video or audio, and Windows Studio Effects is also getting some new lighting and styling features. Auto Super Resolution will be particularly useful for gamers who want to upscale in real time. Not all features will be available immediately, but they are expected this year.

Dell has dominated the premium, large-screened Ultrabook market for years with its Dell XPS line, which has consistently delivered quality and performance. So, what does a company need to truly compete with Dell in this space? A premium design, big and beautiful screen, and a ton of power are all great places to start, and Samsung has delivered on all of these with its flagship Windows laptop.

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is on the same playing field as the Dell XPS 16, but boasts a more traditional design, greater graphical prowess, and a lower price tag for equivalent configurations. It's an all-around excellent high-powered Windows laptop built for work and play, and it's especially amazing if you can pair it with other Samsung products. There's a ton of extra Samsung software and battery life isn't always as amazing as other 16-inch Windows laptops, but the Book4 Ultra may be my new favorite in the category.

This review was made possible with a review sample provided by Samsung. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

Samsung's Galaxy Book4 laptops are enjoying some fresh time in the spotlight right now, and it's not because of the astounding power of the Book4 Ultra I reviewed. Instead, Samsung has joined the Windows on ARM revival, revealing two brand-new laptops powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series of Systems-on-Chip (SOCs). Thes premium devices are incredibly thin and light, with the Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus capable of delivering a ton of power and a ton of efficiency.

On top of that, a powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) enables brand-new AI experiences, and it's all part of a new rebuild of Windows 11. PCs that can handle these incredibly advanced Windows AI features are being labeled as Copilot+ PCs, and it's all very impressive stuff. The laptops are the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge (14-inch) and Book4 Edge (16-inch), and you may be understandably wondering how they compare to the considerably more expensive Book4 Ultra.

Honestly, most people will be better off with the new Edge devices — even if you desire a larger screen, there's a 16-inch version for you. Thanks to the new ARM SoCs, the Book4 Edge laptops will be more than powerful enough for regular PC usage, have phenomenal battery life, and have useful new AI features. However, that doesn't mean the Book4 Ultra is suddenly obsolete. If you need a powerful GPU for graphic intensive tasks like creative work or gaming, the Book4 Ultra is still massively more capable than the new ARM-powered Edge devices.

If you're interested in the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge (before Windows Central tests it ourselves), you can buy it from $1,349.99 at Samsung, with exclusive trade-in offers and promotions.

Book4 Ultra review: Pricing and specifications

Pricing highlights

• The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra starts at $2,399.99 with an Intel Core Ultra 7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage.
• For $600 more, you can upgrade to an Intel Core Ultra 9, RTX 4070, and 32GB of RAM, but keep everything else the same.
• It's a high starting price with few configurations, but it's still less than the equivalent Dell XPS 16 or MacBook Pro 16, but much more than something like the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024).
• Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra sits at the pinnacle of Samsung's Windows PC lineup, and as such is a large and expensive machine. It starts at $2,399.99 at Samsung, which gives you that gorgeous 16-inch OLED display, slim aluminum chassis, an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of fast RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. For $2,999.99 at Samsung, you can upgrade to a Core Ultra 9, RTX 4070, and 32GB of RAM with the same design and display.

It's undoubtedly a premium purchase, but it compares favorably to the Dell XPS 16 and its futuristic design. You can pick up that laptop for the same $2,399.99 at Best Buy, but you'll get a lower resolution and non-touch IPS LCD display. For $3,299 at Best Buy you can get a 4K OLED display and the same CPU, RAM, and storage... But you'll only have an RTX 4060 instead of the more powerful RTX 4070. The real value champion here is going to be the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024), which can go toe-to-toe with the top-end Book4 Ultra for just $1,999.99 at Best Buy, making it a steal.

In the box, you get the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra and a white 140W USB Type-C to Type-C fast charger. It's a slim package that wastes no material and avoids the use of plastic, which I always like to see, and the Type-C cable isn't permanently attached to the charging adapter, so you can always replace it if needed.

Recommended configuration

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Book4 Ultra review: Design and build quality

Design highlights

• Where the Dell XPS 16 throws convention to the wind with an outlandish minimalist design, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra sticks with tradition.
• It's a slim and light 16-inch clamshell with a standard keyboard and tenkey numbad, a large glass trackpad, and a glass touchscreen with rounded corners.
• Build quality is excellent, and the design is both attractive and practical, but it's unlikely to turn many heads like the XPS 16.
• Design rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

The Dell XPS 16 is a gorgeous laptop with its razor-thin bezels, borderless touchpad, hidden function row, and edge-to-edge keyboard. It's one of the most futuristic Ultrabooks on the market, and the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra stands in stark contrast to it. It looks an awful lot like many other aluminum Windows laptops we've seen in the past, with sleek sloping lines and gentle curves, a large glass touchpad, and a black keyboard with an actual function row.

It's a clean and practical design, but more importantly it's put together extremely well. There are no unsightly seams or worrying creaks, and the only flexing you'll find is right below the display. The 16-inch OLED display dominates the front and looks quite sleek with rounded corners, too. The off-center keyboard and touchpad thanks to the tenkey number pad will be divisive, but those that want one of the best laptops with a number pad will be very happy here. I personally really like the understated look of this laptop.

When it comes to ports, you get two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, and either can be used for 140W fast charging. There's also an HDMI port for external displays, a USB Type-C port, a microSD slot, and the expected 3.5mm audio jack. It's not the most diverse selection of ports, but it certainly bests the Dell XPS 16 and MacBook Pro. All the ports are aligned along the sides with enough space between them that you never have to worry about crowding.

One oddity, though, is the rubber feet on the bottom. I don't think I've ever used a laptop I could so easily slide around with just one finger; these feet aren't very grippy.

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Book4 Ultra review: Display quality

Display highlights

• In typical Samsung fashion, the Book4 Ultra uses a high-quality OLED panel that's excellent across the board.
• It's not the brightest or most color accurate screen, but it boasts a dynamic refresh rate, anti-reflective coating, and touch support.
• With a ton of display options, this is a great screen for creative work, media consumption, and even gaming.
• Display rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Samsung is unfortunately a little reserved when it comes to revealing the in-depth specs of its Windows laptops, but you don't need a piece of paper to tell you this display is magnificent. It's Samsung's Dynamic OLED 2X panel, which basically means you should expect top-notch vibrancy, contrast, and features.

It's 16-inches with a crispy 2.8K resolution (not quite as high as the Dell XPS 16 with its 4K OLED display, but still good), a dynamic 60-120Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and Samsung's Vision Booster tech that aims to adjust brightness, color, and contrast depending on your surroundings.

Solid color accuracy and a very consistent white balance are great for content creation, vibrant colors and perfect contrast are great for media consumption, and a high refresh rate and fast response time are great for gaming. There's a lot of good stuff here, but it's not all amazing. For one, a max brightness of 400nits isn't particularly amazing, even if it is pretty standard for a large OLED panel. That brightness also limits the effectiveness of the HDR support.

Also, Samsung's alternate color profiles for sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 didn't seem to do a very good job at actually making the display more accurate for those color gamuts, with the most accurate profile by far being the standard. White balance is a little on the cool side across the board, too, if that matters to you. Just to end on a positive note, though, I love the anti-reflective coating (which reduces glare a decent amount without destroying vibrancy) and having touch support.

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Book4 Ultra review: Performance and thermals

Performance highlights

• Despite being thinner and lighter, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra consistently outperformed the Dell XPS 16 with great thermal management, especially with graphics-heavy tasks.
• This laptop is a very reliable performer, with fans that can get loud but keep the laptop pretty cool.
• While a proper gaming laptop will still best it with gaming, the Book4 Ultra is more than powerful enough for all modern PC games.
• Performance rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Equipped with Intel's latest Core Ultra CPUs, which focus on efficient performance and AI, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra flies through Windows and general tasks. NVIDIA GeForce GPUs make short work of any intensive graphics job, including gaming. This laptop feels slick no matter what you throw at it, with plenty of multitasking muscle and an Intel Evo certification to give you that guarantee of speedy boot-ups and waking.

You have limited configurations from which to choose, but either route you go will earn you some dependable and versatile performance. I tested the highest-end configuration with a Core Ultra 9 and RTX 4070, and the Book4 Ultra smashed every test I threw at it and outperformed the Dell XPS 16 with the same GPU. During it all, the Book4 Ultra also remained cool and stable... If a bit loud at times.

It's unfortunately difficult to directly compare the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra and Dell XPS 16, since the former we tested with the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and the latter we tested with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, but we can conclude a few things. For one, the Book4 Ultra seems capable of extracting respectable performance out of its CPU, while the XPS 16 often had middling performance compared to other Core Ultra 7-equipped PCs.

Two, when it comes to GPU performance, the XPS 16 simply can't compete. While the Galaxy Book4 Ultra is still outperformed by dedicated gaming laptops, it's nonetheless a very strong graphical performer that handles creative work like video encoding with ease. Yes, you can also play all the best PC games with it.

Thermal management is awesome here, too; the Book4 Ultra is completely silent the majority of the time, and when the fans do spin up, they do an excellent job preventing thermal throttling. Those fans can get loud, but it's a low and consistent hum. The laptop never gets too hot to comfortably touch, either.

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Book4 Ultra review: Battery experience

Battery highlights

• Battery life is one area where the Book4 Ultra doesn't excel, thanks to a slimmer chassis leading to a smaller battery cell.
• I could reliably expect 5-6 hours of actual usage with the Book4 Ultra, which was good enough to trust away from the charger but not good enough to totally leave the charger at home.
• 140W fast charging through USB Type-C is great, though, and the charging cable is fully detachable and user replaceable.
• Battery rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Large laptops are often expected to have above-average endurance, but that's sadly not the case with the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra. Battery life should be good enough to take the Book4 Ultra to work or school each day, but you'll likely always have some battery anxiety when you're away from the charger, especially if you have need of that power hungry GPU. At least charging is easy through either of the USB Type-C ports; it's a 140W charging brick (it's basically an overblown phone charger) with a detachable USB Type-C to Type-C cable that you could replace if necessary.

In PCMark 10's battery rundown test, which simulates regular usage, the Dell XPS 16 finally scored a decisive victory with nearly double the runtime of the Book4 Ultra. The XPS 16 has a significantly larger battery (99.9WHr vs. 76WHr) and the configuration we tested had a Core Ultra 7 instead of a Core Ultra 9, so the Galaxy Book4 Ultra never really stood a chance here.

I ran a Windows Battery Report and saw similar estimates — I could rely on the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra to last 5-6 hours of actual usage on default settings (approximately 200nits brightness, Balanced power profile, keyboard backlighting enabled, dynamic display refresh rate), with a little less if I used the GPU and a little more if I dialed back some settings. It's not atrocious battery life if only because it's consistent, but I would've liked better endurance here.

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Book4 Ultra review: Software experience

Software highlights

• Windows 11 runs great on the Galaxy Book4 Ultra, and feels right at home on the large display.
• Samsung has also baked in a ton of apps and features to integrate the Book4 Ultra into its ecosystem, to great effect.
• However, if you don't use other Samsung devices or aren't interested in that integration, then what you'll really see are a lot of bloatware apps.
• Software rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra predictably runs Windows 11, and it's as great as it should be. This is a full-blown AI PC, meaning it boasts a neural processing unit (NPU) with Intel Core Ultra and has a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard. The Book4 Ultra performs well with AI tasks, but where it really shines is its integration into the rest of Samsung's ecosystem.

I counted 33 preinstalled apps and programs on the Galaxy Book4 Ultra, an absurdly high number that includes Intel, NVIDIA, Dolby, and (mostly) Samsung. There are a ton of Samsung apps here, and they're all meant to make your Book4 Ultra the natural hub for your Samsung devices. You can easily control your phone or tablet with the Book4 Ultra, move files and photos back and forth, sync settings and notes, and even use your Samsung tablet as an external monitor (complete with touch input support).

Combined with Samsung's Phone Link integrations in its phones, and the Book4 Ultra is a powerful tool. It's not perfect, though, as some apps like Multi Control can introduce some odd touchpad behaviors or performance stutters. On top of that, these integrations obviously aren't going to be nearly as useful if you don't have other Samsung devices — and if you don't, all those Samsung apps just end up being bloatware that you'll likely want to uninstall.

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Book4 Ultra review: Keyboard and touchpad

Keyboard highlights

• The Book4 Ultra has a roomy, traditional membrane keyboard with a compact tenkey number pad.
• It's not the most amazing keyboard I've used, but it's comfortable with a great layout, and many will love the inclusion of a number pad.
• The touchpad is large, smooth, and responsive, although it's not a haptic touchpad.

Samsung stuck to tradition more with the keyboard and touchpad of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra. It's your standard membrane keyboard with relatively shallow travel. The layout is good, the keys are large and spaced out, and the backlighting is even and highlights every letter, number, and symbol. It'll be a con for some, but many will also be happy about the inclusion of a tenkey number pad off to the right, even if it is compact and shifts the keyboard and touchpad to the left.

This isn't my favorite laptop keyboard, but it's comfortable and consistent. The touchpad is also very large, with a smooth and even glass surface, quality button action, and responsive performance with Microsoft Precision drivers. I wish it was a haptic touchpad, but I otherwise can't complain about this touchpad at all. Finally, the function row shortcuts are well-thought-out, although I do miss having dedicated media keys.

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Book4 Ultra review: Everything else

Other highlights

• The Galaxy Book4 Ultra doesn't fail in any department, even if it's never the absolute best at any one thing.
• Its front-facing camera is good enough for video conferencing, and an ambient light sensor allows for automatic brightness, color, and contrast adjustment.
• Wireless connectivity is good, the speakers are loud and decently detailed, and there's a fingerprint sensor for Windows Hello login.
• Other hardware rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

To finish off, let's go over the rest of the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra's hardware. To summarize... It's all good. There's no one area where this laptop sits at the very top of the heap, but it also doesn't trip in any category. This laptop is the definition of a "jack-of-all-trades." The FHD webcam suffers a little in lowlight thanks to its small sensor size, but overall is detailed and color accurate enough to suffice for video conferencing, and the dual-array microphones do their job well.

An ambient light sensor enables Samsung's Vision Booster feature to automatically adjust brightness, color, and contrast for the display, which is subtle but does seem to work well. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth performance are both good, as long as you're not encountering Windows-related VPN issues like I was during my review period. There's also Windows Hello biometric authentication through the fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button — and this may be the fastest and most reliable fingerprint sensor I've used in a Windows laptop (it still would've been nice to have facial recognition as an option).

Finally, audio performance is solid. The quad speaker setup looks amazing on paper, and in usage it's decently clear and detailed, with respectable low-end. These speakers at least get loud, although they quickly begin to lose clarity at those higher volumes, so it's not the most pleasant for music listening. There are better laptops for audio, like the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024), but the Book4 Ultra is good enough for media consumption, video conferencing, and casual music listening and gaming.

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Book4 Ultra review: Competition

The closest competitor for the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is going to be the Dell XPS 16 (9640), which replaces the legendary Dell XPS 15 with an all-new, divisive and modern design language. The XPS 16 certainly looks better than the Galaxy Book4 Ultra and will turn heads wherever you are (and it'll last longer on a charge), but the Book4 Ultra is more affordable and decimates the XPS 16 when it comes to performance and cooling. You can get the Dell XPS 16 (9640) for $3,299.99 at Best Buy.

• Recommended mouse: Logitech MX Master 3s for $99.99 at Best Buy
• Recommended tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ (256GB) for $999.99 at Best Buy

You can also consider the Razer Blade 16 (2024), an ultra-premium gaming laptop that will best the Book4 Ultra in power and (arguably) aesthetics, but loses in some smaller categories like the keyboard and is heavier, thicker, and worse in endurance. You can pick up the Razer Blade 16 (2024) for $2,999.99 at Best Buy. For the best value, though, I'd recommend the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024), a very capable and refined gaming laptop that you can for $2,699.99 at Best Buy with a more powerful GPU inside.

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Book4 Ultra review: Score card

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Book4 Ultra review: Final thoughts

You should buy this if ...

✅You want a powerful Ultrabook with a traditional slim and light design

The Galaxy Book4 Ultra isn't as big or heavy as a gaming laptop, but it's nearly as powerful. Its traditional, understated design belies its excellent performance and thermal management, and it's all-around an excellent premium Windows laptop perfect for creative work, media consumption, AI tasks, and even gaming.

You should not buy this if ...

❌You're looking for a bargain Windows laptop

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is many things, but affordable it is not. Compared to the Dell XPS 16 it may seem like a bargain, but there are plenty of alternatives with just as much power that'll save you a ton of cash. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) is a prime example of one such laptop.

When other companies are seeking wild and unique ways to differentiate their hardware, Samsung is quietly refining its Windows laptops with the latest internals and AI features. The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra may be indiscernible at a glance from the faceless hordes of Windows laptops, but underneath its unassuming aluminum chassis is a top-notch, powerful 16-inch Windows laptop.

A wonderful OLED display, excellent performance across the board, and not a single hardware miss makes the Book4 Ultra an excellent option for anyone that needs a do-it-all workstation. It's also lighter, thinner, and a little cheaper than the iconic Dell XPS 16, but don't get it wrong — this is still an incredibly expensive laptop, and it's held back partially by its average battery life.

If you're already using other Samsung products, though, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra (or any other Book4 Windows laptop, really) is a no-brainer. Samsung's software integrations may be numerous, but they do a fantastic job tying this laptop to your other Samsung gear. It's a valuable set of features that can make data transfers seamless, give you a second monitor in time of need, and bring all your information with you. On top of everything else, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra does well, that's the finishing touch.

You can grab the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra from $2,399.99 at Samsung, and you may be able to trade in one of your existing devices to score a substantial discount.

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Samsung is no stranger to Windows laptops, although it does have a tough time sticking with one product line or naming scheme. I first fell for its unusually light designs back in 2017, when I bought and reviewed the Samsung Notebook 9 15 Ext, and since then, the company has consistently created fun and unique ultra-mobile PCs.

Announced in March, Samsung has now refreshed its 2021 lineup of super-thin Galaxy Book Pro laptops, which are now called Galaxy Book2 Pro. 

The big advances for 2022 come from the hardware's multi-media and video conferencing improvements, much of which is required or recommended for the 3rd Gen of Intel's Evo specification. For instance, the webcams go from 720P to 1080P full HD with a wider 87° wide-angle lens. Those cameras can do auto-framing, blur your background, and more "smart" features necessary for today's video-conferencing-focused work environment. There is also now bi-directional AI noise-canceling for the microphones and speakers.

This review focuses on the $1350 Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 15, which is now available to purchase. That price is slightly lower by $150 compared to the 2021 model. 

With its gorgeous AMOLED display, excellent S Pen, and a surprisingly robust software suite, Samsung is playing for keeps. But the company also has some oversights that place it just out of reach of greatness. Luckily, its great pricing helps redeem it in the end.

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: Price, availability, and specs

The Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 (and the non-360 model) is now available from Samsung.com and Best Buy.

You can choose between 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch models in either the "360" chassis (convertible) or a traditional laptop design. This year, they're only doing a Core i7 for the CPU. There is also a 5G option, but it is limited to the Galaxy Book2 Pro (15.6) non-360 model and is not expected to ship until later this summer.

Pricing starts at $849 for the 13.3-inch Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 and $1,049 for the Galaxy Book Pro 360. The 15.6-inch model reviewed here in graphite ships with a Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, Windows 11 Home, and 1TB SSD for $1,550 ($50 more than last year's model). 

Samsung also says a version with Intel's new Arc GPU should be offered soon, although we have not seen it listed just yet as an option. Arc should offer 2x the graphics performance of Iris Xe, although we have yet to test it ourselves. 

Samsung allows trade-ins of phones, PCs, or tablets, which can offset a Galaxy Book2 Pro/Pro 360 purchase up to $550 (although only the Samsung Tab S7+ qualifies for that price point, with most devices falling well below that).

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: Design and features

The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 15 is an Intel-based convertible Ultrabook that includes a Samsung S Pen for inking and drawing. It features the more powerful Intel Core i7-1260P processor (instead of a less powerful U-series) and packs 12 cores, and 16 threads, with a base power of 28 watts. 

This laptop is Intel Evo certified, which means it has been specially tuned for instant-on, fast resume, Wi-Fi 6E, and longer than average battery life.

While the smaller 13.3-inch version has a lot of competition, the larger 15.6-inch model reviewed here is a rarity, as most laptops this size add in a discrete NVIDIA GPU, which this laptop does not have. Instead, this is a slim, lightweight Ultrabook that can also be used with a pen. That difference means the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 15 is excellent for productivity but not ideal for serious gaming or video editing (though it can, of course, handle lighter loads in those categories).

Design-wise, this is a very Samsung laptop. The color options – silver, graphite (instead of mystic blue), and now burgundy – match its Galaxy phones and borrow a lot from its mobile phone division, which is a good thing. 

While graphite looks nice, it is very prone to hand oils, and fingerprints require frequent wipe-downs to keep it looking as good as it does in these photos. If this is a concern, the lighter silver is a better choice. (Personally, I find the Galaxy Book Flex's color and design more satisfying, and I wish Samsung would just update that model.)

At just 3.1 pounds (1.41kg) and an incredible 11.9mm thin, the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is extraordinarily light and portable, considering the 15.6-inch touch display.

Ports are limited to just three USB Type-C with one (on the left) reserved for the higher-performing Thunderbolt 4. There is, however, a MicroSD slot for multi-media and a combo microphone/headphone jack. While a Type-A port would have been nice, the laptop is too thin to house one.

Two AKG speakers with Dolby Atomos software are on the bottom edge of the laptop. They are good speakers, but their placement does not sound as good as top-firing designs and lacks resonance and bass. Companies like HP rightly put four speakers into their "360" laptops and pre-amp them, so the sound is as good in tablet mode as in a standard laptop. However, likely due to space concerns, Samsung faced severe limits in making this laptop so thin.

The keyboard is on the shallower side with only 1mm of travel (1.3mm is ideal). But thanks to the scissor mechanism and rubber dome design, it feels pretty good once you use it for a little while. Samsung includes three-stage backlighting, which is done exceptionally well with slight light bleed (it also has a nice fade effect). It is worth noting that number pad lovers will be happy with the keyboard design in the 15-inch too.

The trackpad is huge compared to other laptops in this class. It uses Microsoft Precision drivers and has a satisfying click with exceptional smoothness.

The front-facing 1080P camera is a big step up from last year's poor 720P version. It's sharper and the color looks good. It's not the best webcam on the market, but it's on the better side. 

There is also no face recognition to log into Windows 11, but Samsung offers a fingerprint reader on the top deck instead. It's a decent reader, found in the power button for convenience, but accuracy is only mediocre requiring multiple reads on occasion. 

The all-metal chassis does have some flex to it, but it is nothing outrageous. Considering the thin design and goals of this laptop, it is acceptable. The bottom has a relatively large intake to cool the processor, and the exhaust is expelled via the rear hinge area, giving a clean design. Indeed, the entire laptop can be described as elegant and professional looking with minimal and almost hidden Samsung branding.

Samsung includes an insane 28 of its own apps, services, and software tweaks in the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360. The instinct is to call this "bloatware," but that would be a disservice. Samsung's software, which is often a 1:1 clone of what is found on its popular Galaxy phones, is a selling point for this laptop, not a negative. The apps include:

• Air Command
• Clip Studio
• Connect
• Galaxy Book Experience
• Galaxy Book Smart Switch
• Link Sharing
• Live Message
• Live Wallpaper
• Online Support (S Service)
• PENUP
• Quick Search
• Quick Share
• Samsung Bluetooth Sync
• Samsung Care+
• Samsung DeX
• Samsung Flow
• Samsung Gallery
• Samsung Notes
• Samsung PC Cleaner
• Samsung Recovery
• Samsung Security
• Samsung Settings
• Samsung Studio Plus
• Samsung TV Plus
• Samsung Update
• Samsung Voice Note
• Samsung Screen Recorder
• SmartThings

It's … a lot. But things like Samsung Security let you digitally lock the microphone and camera so the software cannot be used to spy on you. It can even email you a pic of someone trying to hack your laptop (for real). PENUP is a coloring app for adults, which lets you use the included S Pen in a fun and relaxing way. Apps like Gallery, Notes, TV Plus, Live Message, and Air Command are mirror images of Samsung's Galaxy phone apps and often sync to them via your Samsung account. Live Wallpaper lets you choose premade wallpapers that slightly change based on current weather and whether it is day or night. It is all clever stuff that enhances the laptop experience. Of course, it can all be uninstalled, too, should you find it offensive.

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: Display and inking

If there is one big selling point of the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360, it is Samsung's famed AMOLED display technology. While AMOLED is common in TVs and now smartphones, it is unusual in laptops. Samsung has experimented in the past with Super AMOLED (sAMOLED) in its 2018 Galaxy Book2, and QLED in Galaxy Book Flex, but used standard TFT in its recent Galaxy Book S.

AMOLED lives up to the hype. In our tests, the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 delivers exceptional color representation with 100% sRGB, 85% AdobeRGB, and 96% DCI-P3 – all of which are way above average for this laptop class. 

Samsung also brings some clever tricks, too. For instance, like high-end HP laptops, the display can auto-switch color profiles based on the application ("Intelligent Color Engine"). So, Adobe RGB is used for photo editing, whereas when watching a movie, it'll go to DCI-P3 and use vivid for everything else. Also, like HP, there is a "focus mode" that auto-dims the background to help extend battery life.

VESA DisplayHDR 500 is also supported, which makes movie watching a blast with a higher contrast range. The screen also supports wide-color gamut (WCG) natively in Windows, including apps that support it. With "adaptive color," the laptop auto-adjusts the color based on lighting (this is different from auto-brightness, which is also an option).

Last year's model wasn't very bright coming in under 300 nits of brightness (although it still looked OK due to being AMOLED). Thankfully, Samsung improved things with the Galaxy Book Pro2 360 as it is now closer to 500 nits, which is 33% brighter than the model from 2021. 

Another area of concern is the full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. While such a resolution is OK on a 13.3-inch screen, it pushes the limits on a 15.6-inch one where the AMOLED pixels become visible and text is more jagged than preferred. It is not bad, but a "2K" resolution at 1440p would have been an excellent middle ground. As a plus, the full HD does help increase graphics performance and extend battery life.

Like Samsung's TVs, the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 has a glossy screen, but due to the design, it reflects much darker than an LCD, giving pleasing results and much lower reflectivity than similar laptops.

The included S Pen is outstanding. Although Samsung's pen technology in laptops is not as widely used as Wacom AES or N-trig (Surface), I'd argue that it's the best feeling for latency and accuracy as a casual user. The S Pen doesn't even need batteries or charging. The downside is because the S Pen is now 2.5x thicker, which is excellent for ergonomics, there is no place to silo it like with the Galaxy Book Flex. Instead, it can stick to the lid with some magnets, but it being black makes it extremely easy to lose in a bag.

Samsung's S Pen technology is also interchangeable with its smartphones and tablets, which is nice if you buy into Samsung's entire ecosystem. 

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: Performance and battery

Intel 12th Gen P-series processors are a massive improvement over 11th Gen due to the big.LITTLE architecture, which jumps to 12 cores from 4 and increases CPU speed. 

Interestingly, Samsung could have opted for the more battery-efficient U-series of chips and still beat last year's model. But by going with P-series, the performance of the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is closer to that of a 45-watt 11th Gen H-series chip, which is incredible. 

Samsung worked closely with Intel to maximize the Core i7-1260P, and it can achieve some great results. With a key combo (FN + F11), you can toggle between No Fan, Silent, Optimized, and High Performance modes. These modes are independent of the Windows 11 battery slider found on regular laptops.

No Fan mode is exactly that and is the first time I have seen it in a Core i7 laptop. The laptop gets warmer than usual (though never hot), and performance is throttled (multi-core performance is halved), but it is a fantastic option for Microsoft Word or when you want to focus on a task and do not want any noise. 

Silent mode lets the fan come on, but only slightly. Optimized is the default and enables the system to find a balance between work and comfort. The high-performance mode takes the gloves off and lets the fans roar to the max.

In regular couch surfing usage (web, email, Twitter, Telegram, Slack, watching videos) and in Optimized mode, the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360's fans were occasionally used, but never obnoxious. The laptop also kept temperatures in check, and there were no hot spots.

SSD performance is average (2,295 MB/s and 1,234 MB/s sequential read and write), but nothing groundbreaking either, which is odd considering Samsung makes some of the best (and fastest) SSDs available. The 1TB Samsung PM991a also falls well below that of Galaxy Book Flex with a PM981 SSD. While PCIe 4.0 would have been nice, it tends to run extremely hot making it a bad fit for this chassis.

Battery life is quite good thanks to the relatively sizeable 68WHr battery (Surface Laptop 4 only has a 46WHr one). When set to Samsung's 'optimal' performance mode and using the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 for light to medium work, it averaged around 10 hours 30 minutes on a full charge. 

Real-world usage pegs it closer to a solid 8 hours of regular productivity usage (web, email, video) so long as you don't push the display brightness to 100 percent. 

Samsung includes a tiny but mighty, Super Fast Charging-enabled 65W AC adapter in the box. It can deliver "8 hours" of battery life in just 30 minutes of charging, which is excellent when in a pinch.

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: The competition

There is not a lot that directly competes with the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 15-inch as most laptops with that display size feature a 35+ watt CPU and usually a discrete NVIDIA GPU. Fewer are convertibles that support inking, and even fewer of those have a full number pad on the keyboard.

The LG gram series runs in all different sizes, including 13, 14, 15, 16, and the Gram 17-inch. They are all in the same class as the Galaxy Book Pro 360, albeit non-convertible and without inking. The exception is the older (and mostly out of stock) LG gram 14, which is a convertible and weighs only 2.53lbs. The newer (though hard to find) 2021 LG gram 16 16T90P is also a convertible with an i7-1165G7 processor and features a preferable 16:10 display for around $1,600.

Lenovo has the excellent Yoga 91 14, which has a higher resolution (but smaller) 14-inch 2.8K OLED (16:10) screen, but it is also a nice convertible with similar specs as Samsung including that P-series processor. 

The HP Spectre x360 16 is also a worthy alternative, but it's of a different class with an outstanding 16-inch 3.8K OLED (16:10) display, Intel H-series CPU, and GeForce RTX 3050 GPU. It also weighs 4.45 pounds (2.02kg). Newer models with Intel 12th Gen should be arriving in summer 2022. 

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 does support inking but is a non-convertible laptop with similar specs. It has better audio and a higher resolution display, and the 15-inch is a similar class as the Galaxy Book Pro2 360 15 but with an AMD Ryzen CPU.

Finally, Samsung has the Galaxy Book Flex with an excellent QLED screen, Qi charger in the trackpad, siloed pen, and a gorgeous design. Samsung also has the Galaxy Book Flex Alpha, Galaxy Book Flex2 Alpha, but only in 13.3-inch models.

See our recommendations for best 15-inch laptops for more ideas.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360?

Who it's for

• Those who want an exceptionally light and thin 15-inch Windows laptop
• Owners of a Samsung Galaxy smartphone who need a laptop
• People who love number pads
• Those who need a productivity PC for school, work, or leisure
• People who want a 15-inch convertible laptop that supports inking

Who it isn't for

• People who need a discrete NVIDIA GPU (video editors, gaming)
• People who prefer 16:10 displays
• You want great-sounding audio

Samsung has brought another unique laptop to the increasingly crowded PC space, which is no easy task. The 15-inch Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 has few competitors and fills an exciting gap in the laptop market; namely, super light/thin convertible laptops that also get good battery life and performance.

Samsung leans heavily on its AMOLED screen technology, as it should. It's a very color-accurate display that matches LG's LCD screens for color accuracy to no one's surprise. The S Pen is fun to use, and while Samsung has a lot of pre-installed apps, they enhance the experience of this laptop, especially if you already have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Indeed, if you already own a Galaxy smartphone, grabbing this laptop is the closest you can get to Apple's own tightly tied ecosystem. Between the shared photos, ability to sync, Notes, SmartThings, S Pen experience, and usage of a Samsung Account, there is a lot of device interaction. Even Samsung's Buds works better with an auto-connect feature tied to the enhanced Bluetooth pairing ability.

But the Galaxy Book2 Pro 3600 also has some missed opportunities, most notably the display aspect ratio. In 2018, I wrote how the industry needs to shift to 3:2 and since then, Dell, HP, and Lenovo have all slowly pushed towards it and 16:10. The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 doesn't make sense at 16:9 and 15.6-inches. When used as a tablet for inking, it is very tall and narrow, whereas 3:2 devices match a paper-based notepad experience perfectly.

Additional complaints fall to audio, where bottom-firing speakers are never ideal. And while full HD helps with that battery life, a 1440p "2K" option for 15.6-inches would be a much better experience, especially since many laptops are pushing 4K UHD at this size.

Overall, though, Samsung has created not only a great-looking laptop with some notable features like fanless mode, but it does so at a highly competitive price, making it an easy laptop to recommend. Plus, if you don't need the convertible form factor, you can save $100 and get the standard non-360 design.

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.

If you're looking for anything powered by Intel these days, you might just be able to find it on sale. We're seeing big discounts from a lot of different retailers. One of the best deals around comes from Best Buy and features the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 touchscreen laptop on sale for $1,299.99. That's a $200 discount and one of the best prices we've seen. It's even $50 better than the last deal we shared on a similar model. The sale is a temporary one, though, that will only last through the weekend.

We reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 and gave it 4.5 stars out of 5 with a Recommended badge. Daniel Rubino said, "Samsung has created not only a great-looking laptop with some notable features like fanless mode, but it does so at a highly competitive price, making it an easy laptop to recommend."

The specifications for this model in particular include an 11th-generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB solid state drive. Because this laptop is part of the Intel Evo platform, you know it's going to be super fast with a great battery life that can last for up to 20 hours and recharges quickly, too.

Samsung's AMOLED tech on its laptop is something that, as Rubino said in our review, "lives up to the hype." You don't see it a lot in laptops, so it's quite a unique feature that really delivers with outstanding color and some cool features to go with it. Switch easily between PC and tablet, too, thanks to the convertible design. So whether you're playing games or watching movies, you can fully immerse yourself in your media.

What you need to know

• Samsung has unveiled details regarding its new Galaxy Book, Galaxy Book Odyssey, and Galaxy Book Pro 360 5G.
• All the devices will ship with Windows 11 "just in time for the holiday gift giving season."
• The Galaxy Book will start at $749 while the Odyssey and Pro 360 5G will start at $1,399.

Samsung is back with new products for the holiday 2021 shopping season. You can expect three new major items from the company: The new Galaxy Book, Galaxy Book Odyssey, and Galaxy Book Pro 360 5G. All will ship with Windows 11 and are expected to arrive this year, though specific release dates vary.

The Galaxy Book hits shelves today if you're fine with ordering from Samsung's or Best Buy's websites. You'll have to wait until November 15, 2021, if you want to pick up the device at a physical Best Buy location.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Book Odyssey arrives at online retailers on November 11, 2021. Expect to see it at Best Buy, Microsoft, Amazon, Newegg, Micro Center, and of course, Samsung's very own site.

Silver will be the color option for the new Galaxy Book, which is set to start at $749 when it releases. It will feature an Intel processor and maintain an emphasis on device portability.

The Galaxy Book Odyssey will have more horsepower if that's what you need. Between 11th Gen Intel Core H-Series processors, an RTX 3050 Ti, and 83W battery, there's not a lot the Odyssey won't be able to do. It'll start at $1,399 and come in the color Mystic Black.

The 5G model of the Galaxy Book Pro 360 will also start at $1,399, including an S-Pen right out of the box. It will be in Mystic Silver. Plan to see it on November 11, 2021, at Samsung and Best Buy.

You can see additional details about all these products via Samsung's press release.

So Samsung has discounted the Galaxy Book Pro 360 laptop by $150 on its website. You can get it for that price if you're just Average Joe looking for a great machine. However, if you're a student and you have an .edu email address you can get it for an even better price. The final total of the laptop with the price drop and the student discount is $977.49 compared to its regular price of $1,300. Plus as a student you'll get a free pair of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro true wireless earbuds. Those normally go for $200. That's a total savings of $522.51. You can pay for an extra class with that sort of savings.

The Pro 360 isn't the only laptop on sale right now, and the student deal applies to the whole lineup. For example, the Galaxy Book Pro is also on sale for $200 off its regular price. Apply your student discount of 15% off and still get the Buds Pro free with that option as well. It's a very similar machine just without the "convert it into a tablet" flexibility.

We reviewed the Galaxy Book Pro 360 back in May and gave it 4.5 stars out of 5 with a Recommended badge. Daniel Rubino said, "Samsung has created not only a great-looking laptop with some notable features like fanless mode, but it does so at a highly competitive price, making it an easy laptop to recommend."

You can save money by choosing the 13.3-inch screen versus the 15.6-inch screen. Or you can pay a little extra and upgrade the RAM from 8GB to 16GB. Plenty of options here to change the final total, but the discounts will all still apply. The Book Pro 360 comes with the 8GB RAM by default, and it also has an Intel Core i7 processor, a 512GB solid state drive, and a long-lasting battery life that can go for up to 20 hours on a single charge.

Another student benefit is that you can get Samsung Care+ for 30% off on a two or three year plan. This add-on is totally optional but gives you 24/7 dedicated support, cracked screen repair, coverage for accidental damage like dropping it, and more.

What you need to know

• Samsung announced the new Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book today.
• The Galaxy Book Pro is built for business use and hybrid work environments.
• Both laptops are available now in the United States with a starting price of $899.

Samsung announced two new laptops today, the Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book. Both of the new laptops are built with business users in mind and come with Windows 10 Pro and can come with Samsung Care+ for Business. The Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book are available today in the U.S. with a starting price of $899.

The Galaxy Book Pro is available in 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch models, each of which is less than half an inch thick. The laptop features a Super AMOLED display and an aluminum exterior. On the inside, the Galaxy Book Pro runs on an Intel Evo-certified 11th Gen Core processor. Samsung highlights that this processor helps deliver good battery life, faster connectivity, and better graphics. Samsung's new business laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6.

Samsung hasn't shared many of the details of the Galaxy Book (non-pro) but explains that both it and the Galaxy Book Pro are built for business use. The company summarizes the Galaxy Book by saying that it includes many of the same productivity features as the Galaxy Book Pro but that it comes at a lower price point.

Each new Samsung laptop works with the Samsung ecosystem, including Quick Share, SmartThings, Second Screen, and Your Phone.

Both laptops run Windows 10 Pro and are upgradable to Windows 11 Pro when the new OS launches later this year.

The news follows our earlier coverage (and review) of the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 convertible PC.

What you need to know

• We gave the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 a very solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.
• MrMobile himself, Michael Fisher, also gave the machine a positive review.
• It appears the laptop's pros and cons are easy to agree upon.

Our very own executive editor Daniel Rubino recently reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 and gave it a knockout-grade 4.5 out of 5 stars, citing items like its gorgeous AMOLED display and lightweight, thin frame as reasons for the high score. It seems he's not alone in that verdict: Michael Fisher, otherwise known as MrMobile, shares similar views on the convertible. In his review, he cited its portability, AMOLED screen, and useful Samsung software as big gains.

Much like how Rubino felt in his review, Fisher mentioned that the dim display, subpar webcam, underwhelming speakers, and lack of a dedicated S Pen silo were noteworthy shortcomings. However, both men agreed that the Galaxy Book Pro 360 does a lot right and, given that it's in a somewhat isolated category without much competition, is worthy of your consideration.

If you're interested in the Galaxy Book Pro 360, be sure to check out both reviews for all the details and nitty-gritty specifics regarding what makes the laptop great for mobility-minded consumers.

What you need to know

• Samsung will reportedly make an Exynos processor designed for laptops.
• A laptop with the chip inside is said to be on the way for the second half of 2021.
• The laptop will use a GPU based on AMD's RDNA architecture, according to sources.

Samsung already has some solid Windows 10 on ARM laptops, such as the Galaxy Book S. It appears that the company is doubling down on its efforts and will make its own Exynos processor built for laptops. A laptop with the processor inside is on the way for the second half of this year, according to sources that spoke with the Korea Economic Daily (KED).

Reports of a Samsung-made Exynos chip inside a laptop first emerged in February this year. The details leaked back then line up with the information told to the KED.

"The new Exynos will offer improved functions, including extraordinary computing power and battery efficiency, by utilizing a 5-nanometer processing technology. It's good for both laptops and smartphones," a source told the KED. The new Exynos chip will reportedly work with a GPU jointly developed by AMD.

Samsung unveiled the Exynos 2100 processor ahead of Samsung Unpacked 2021. That chip is also built on a 5nm EUV processor. The KED did not mention a name for Samsung's upcoming Exynos chip for laptops, but it could be the successor to the Exynos 2100.

Generally, Exynos problems run hot. Having an Exynos processor inside a laptop could be a perfect pairing, as laptops usually dissipate heat better than compact smartphones. Pairing an Exynos processor with an AMD GPU would also help overcome the gap seen on the GPU side of things for Samsung's processors.

Samsung's previous Windows 10 on ARM devices, the Galaxy Book S and Galaxy Book2 both run on Qualcomm processors.

What you need to know

• Galaxy Book Pro and Book Pro 360 are new laptops from Samsung.
• Either model comes in 13 and 15-inch varieties in two color options
• The laptops are insanely thin and light but pack Intel 11th Gen CPUs and AMOLED displays.
• Pricing starts at $999 with preorders today and shipping on May 14.

The last year has seen a significant resurgence in laptops, specifically, those running Windows 10 (now at 1.3 billion active users). Samsung, which has long dabbled in making some excellent laptops, is now putting both feet in the water.

Announced today, part of its Galaxy Unpacked event dedicated to PCs is the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 - laptops built for "next-generation connectivity" and feature an "ultra-portable design." Each model comes in 13 and 15-inch variations and two color options. Moreover, Microsoft gives Samsung a push, too, noting the deep integration with Galaxy phones and ecosystem and Windows 10.

The laptops go on sale today, and we expect a more global release this time instead of select markets. Here is what you need to know.

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro / Book Pro 360: Specs and features

The big story behind these laptops is twofold. The first is the displays. They feature 16:9 full HD screens powered by Samsung's famed AMOLED technology. That translates to blue light protection (less emission), 120% DCI-P3, a 1,000,000 to 1 contrast ratio, 0.2ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR 500. Samsung also optimizes the screens with different viewing modes, including natural (sRGB), movie (DCI-P3), and vivid (AMOLED native) for gaming and Adobe.

But Samsung didn't stop there. Being no stranger to thin laptops (see our Galaxy Book S review), the company is doubling down as these laptops are under 12mm thin and weigh 3lbs or less (the non-360 models peak at 2.3lbs for the 15-inch, which is crazy).

Typically, this is where we note the small battery, but Samsung managed to squeeze a 63WHr battery into the 13-inch models while the 15-inch ones get slightly more at 68WHr. Surface Laptop 4, by comparison, only has a 46WHr battery. That's a huge difference, and when combined with the full HD AMOLED, these laptops should last a long time.

Even if you do run low on battery, these laptops sport 65-watt Fast Charging. Samsung claims "8 hours" of battery life is gained in a 30-minute charge, which should set some records.

Ports are also taken care of with a few Type-C, including Thunderbolt 4, microSD card reader, Type-A on the non-convertible models, and even HDMI on the 15-inch.

Processors are typical Intel 11th Gen Core series going up to i7-1165G7, which is found in all recent Ultrabooks. That also means Intel Evo certification and Iris Xe graphics, all likely enhanced by what we presume are some zippy Samsung SSDs up to 1TB.

For those who want an always-connected experience, the 13-inch Samsung Book Pro 360 model is the one to get as it can be configured with a 5G modem (coming later).

Those Book Pro 360 models also come with a new "upgraded" S Pen in the box. The pen is 2.5x thicker than before, and knowing Samsung's pen tech, it should have excellent latency.

Even the keyboard has been maximized for results with a new scissor switch with rubber domes and 1mm of travel, which is quite good considering the thin chassis.

There is no Windows Hello facial recognition via the 720P webcam (which has been optimally tuned along with noise-canceling mics). However, users can still use the fingerprint reader built into the power button for quick logins to Windows.

Finally, Samsung seems to be bringing the full force of its ecosystem to these laptops. SmartThings is built-in with an app to let you control your smart home appliances. The Easy Bluetooth connection auto-connects to Galaxy Buds. Galaxy Book Smart Switch transfers photos, movies, files, and more between your existing Windows PC. Samsung Notes and Quick Share let you keep your notes and files synced between your Galaxy smartphone and laptop.

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro / Book Pro 360: Quick thoughts

Let's get some disappointments out of the way: I'm a bit bummed Samsung went with 16:9 for the display aspect instead of 16:10 (or even 3:2), especially on the 360-convertible model. That said, getting a full AMOLED display with HDR and wide-color-gamut may be worth the tradeoff. Also, speakers on the bottom in 2021? Not my favorite choice.

The 13-inch Galaxy Book Pro 360 is the real treat here. It is rare to find a convertible laptop that is essentially as thin as its non-convertible sibling. At just 11.5 mm thin and 2.29 pounds (1.04kg), Samsung has made one of the thinnest and lightest convertible PCs around. Add in 5G and that S-Pen, and you have a killer combo.

For those skeptical of ARM processors, the inclusion of full Intel 11th Gen CPUs should be a relief. Samsung also added performance modes, including a no-fan option for complete silence, which should be interesting to test (there's also max performance for gaming and creating).

The 65-watt Fast Charging and extended 63WHr battery combined with a full HD display should result in extraordinary battery life, too – we'll see.

Finally, there is a good chance we'll see these laptops outside of the US and Germany for once. Historically, Samsung has been too conservative for its laptop releases, but this time we expect many more markets. Let us see if they can deliver this time.

Will the Galaxy Book Pro / Pro 360 make our best Ultrabooks list? There's an excellent chance.

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro / Book Pro 360: Price and availability

Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 are available for preorder today, April 28, and available for purchase beginning May 14.

Galaxy Book Pro 13" will start at $999.99, and the 15" inch starts at $1,099.99. Galaxy Book Pro 360 13" starts at $1,199.99, and the Galaxy Book Pro 360 15" will begin at $1,299.99.

Consumers who preorder Galaxy Book Pro or Galaxy Book Pro 360 between April 28 and May 13 are eligible for the following deals: $150 in future credit if ordered through Amazon; $150 gift certificate through Best Buy; and either up to $150 eCertificate or free Galaxy Buds Pro through Samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores.

Consumers who purchase Galaxy Book Pro at launch, between May 14 and May 30, are eligible for $100 in future credit through Amazon, Best Buy, or Samsung.com, from wherever the purchase was made.

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.

The tale of Windows 10 on ARM is an ever-evolving one with small, but significant advancements. The Samsung Galaxy Book S is the second PC to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx ARM processor (the other being Microsoft's Surface Pro X).

Following a more traditional clamshell design, this always-connected 4G LTE computer brings back one of Qualcomm's main advantages over rival Intel: battery longevity in a super-slender design.

I've spent the last few weeks with the Galaxy Book S, and Samsung has done an excellent job on hardware execution. But who should buy the Galaxy Book S, and what are the downsides to this $1,000 ultra-slim Ultrabook? Let's find out.

The Galaxy Book S has remained firmly at its $1,000 RRP since launch, and with Amazon Prime Day fast approaching, any discount on this device may tempt those considering a purchase. While Amazon doesn't currently stock this 8cx-powered Ultrabook, keep an eye out for price cuts to come.

Know before you buy

Samsung Galaxy Book S who this is for

Like the Surface Pro X, the Galaxy Book S has a specific demographic in mind: modern, mobile workers who need a premium, always-connected Windows 10 PC with better-than-average battery life.

Samsung built the Galaxy Book S, much like its previous Galaxy Book2, for executives and enterprise users who jump between meetings, ride trains, and who want to be in their work in an instant. That's not to say, students, journalists, writers, and anyone who focuses on office productivity tasks can't benefit either.

While Windows 10 on ARM has limitations (such as not being able to run any specialty 64-bit "classic" Windows applications, heavy lifting CAD programs, or be adept at gaming or video editing), but it still can do many of the core tasks for modern PC users. Running Microsoft Office, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Skype, web browser, email, maps, and collaborative software is all some people need (see the rise of Chromebooks).

But it comes down to instant-on, ubiquitous 4G LTE connectivity, and all-day battery life that makes this laptop stand out from the rest.

So thin, so premium

Samsung Galaxy Book S design and features

The Galaxy Book S is a combination of exquisite, slim, handsome, and a touch of boring. In an age of 2-in-1 convertible laptops, or tablets that have pens that hide in the keyboard, the Galaxy Book S falls into the ho-hum "it's just a laptop" category.

The Galaxy Book S's trick is an old one: it's one of the thinnest and lightest laptops around (rivaled, perhaps, by the Acer Swift 7). That's not to be dismissed. There is an audience for those who want skinny, but also long battery life in a laptop. Up until now, that's been hard to ascertain, especially with an LTE modem.

With an all-metal, anodized aluminum design, tapered edges, and a rounded back, Samsung can undoubtedly design a pleasing laptop. Weighing just 2.1lbs (or 0.96 kg), the Galaxy Book S is exceptionally light. Still, due to that metal chassis, it doesn't feel cheap or hollow compared to similar designs that rely on polycarbonate for materials.

Two colors are available, including Mercury Gray (used for this review) and a pinkish "Earthy Gold."

Two Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports flank the sides of the Galaxy Book S, which is all you get for input/output. Samsung does toss in a Type-C to Type-A converter for those who require the usage of a traditional thumb drive or wired mouse. Unlike the Surface Pro X, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack too.

Underneath the chassis is a simple pullout drawer for the physical SIM (no eSIM, unfortunately) and microSD expansion.

The power button also houses an excellent fingerprint reader. While it doesn't read at the BIOS level (requiring to presses: one to power on, one to log in), it is very accurate and fast with no failures.

Either of those Type-C ports can be used for charging with the minuscule wall charger. A small LED light up on the right-hand side to let you know the device's charging status, which is a nice touch.

Excellent viewing

Samsung Galaxy Book S display and camera

Samsung uses a full HD (1920 x 1080) 13.3-inch TFT 10-point touch display with an aspect of 16x9. Pen and inking are not supported, unfortunately, though it makes little sense on a clamshell anyway.

It's a sharp display with excellent contrast, but there is a visible banding that can be seen in photos (not in real life). Even though it is "only" full HD, this is one of those screens that could pass for a higher resolution as it looks better than it should.

The display can get quite bright, falling just below 380 nits of brightness. It is glossy, but not the worst I've seen.

There are three thin bezels (top and sides) with a larger ~0.75-inch bezel on the bottom, which also has the Samsung logo. Such a design is a consequence of using the 16x9 aspect where a taller 16x10 would have looked better and more modern.

Samsung managed to squeeze in a very tiny 720P web camera on the top bezel too. It's surprisingly good, considering how small it is compared to others, though it leans on reds for colors a bit much. A little blue LED lets you know the camera is active.

There is no physical privacy shutter, nor is Windows Hello facial recognition supported.

Typing is a challenge

Samsung Galaxy Book S keyboard and trackpad

If there is one area that gives me pause on the Galaxy Book S, it is the keyboard. Key travel is exceptionally shallow, hovering near the 1mm mark.

I hesitate to call the keyboard bad because if you spend enough time with it, you do get used to it, but that adjustment curve is longer than any other laptop I have used recently (even the XPS 13 2-in-1). There is an uptick to shallow keyboards so long as you can get used to them: you can type very fast due to less movement.

The keyboard backlight is also tricky. It technically has three stages, and Samsung uses this cool light green color scheme, which contrasts nicely with the grey keys. But to call it dim is an understatement. You'll only see the key illumination in the darkest of scenarios. While it's not clear why Samsung opts for such dim keys, my hunch is it plays into their focus on extended battery life, which is a big part of this laptop's story.

The trackpad is large, smooth, and has a satisfying (albeit shallow) click. Samsung uses Microsoft Precision drivers, and it is overall excellent.

top-tier sounds

Samsung Galaxy Book S surprisingly excellent audio

Usually, when one talks about super-thin Ultrabooks, the speakers get the ax in terms of quality. That's not the case here.

Samsung uses two speakers on the bottom edges (side) that, due to the slight curve, will clear your lap or desk. The audio profile is tweaked by Samsung's go-to subsidiary AKG.

I'll be blunt and just say that Samsung did a remarkable job with the audio. It's loud, clear, and has perfect stereo separation and space. There's even some bass and resonance from the chassis, which is something larger laptops often omit but is found here. It's some of the best aural performance I have heard in the 13-inch class, and Samsung deserves commendation.

For conference calls, two microphones on the top deck also work very well.

OK CPU, excellent battery

Samsung Galaxy Book S benchmarks and battery

Windows 10 on ARM PCs are a bit tricky to describe, and therein lies the problem. A laptop like the Galaxy Book S is perfect for using apps from the Microsoft Store, or using the new Edge browser's ability to install web-apps like Disney+, Kindle Cloud Reader, Twitter, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and more.

Other apps like Microsoft Office, Skype, and other productivity-based programs that are Win32 (x86) based also work quite well. The caveat is 64-bit x86 applications like from Adobe don't run at all on the Galaxy Book S, though I'd argue this is not the kind of laptop for that task.

Read more: How to get the most out of your Windows 10 on ARM device

The Galaxy Book S won't win awards for being the fastest laptop due to the eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx processor (2.84GHz), but it's a solid step up from previous Snapdragon PC chips. Microsoft uses the "SQ1", which is just a fancy name for a ramped-up Snapdragon 8cx (3.0GHz), but it does reveal itself as the more powerful of the two PCs.

Geekbench 5

Geekbench 5.0 (CPU) (Higher is better)

Geekbench 4

Geekbench 4.0 (CPU) (Higher is better)

PCMark 10

Applications (Higher is better)

SSD

CrystalDiskMark (Higher is better)

.

Samsung looked to reduce system costs by using its own UFS 256GB storage solution (KLUEG8UHDB-C2D1). Read speeds are respectable near 1,900 MB/s, but writes are just below 500 MB/s. While this isn't terrible, the Microsoft Surface Pro X uses a PCIe NMe SSD with slightly better read and write results.

RAM is fixed at 8GB LPDDR4x on either the 256GB or 512GB models.

For overall performance, the Galaxy Book S felt solid when sticking to productivity-based tasks. Gaming is a no-go if venturing beyond simple platformers or 2D titles. The 8cx can beat the Intel 8th Gen i7-8500Y, which is a dual-core low-power chip and speaks in favor of Qualcomm (which also costs less).

Example of the apps that I ran on the Galaxy Book S for my normal workload during this review period:

• Microsoft Office (Word, OneNote, Excel)
• Microsoft Edge (ARM64)
• Hulu
• Netflix
• Spotify
• VUDU
• Disney+
• Twitter
• Microsoft Teams
• Slack
• Mail (Outlook.com)
• Flow Mail (Gmail)
• Polarr Photo Editor Pro
• Microsoft News
• GroupMe
• OneDrive
• Skype
• Microsoft To Do
• myTube! (YouTube)
• MobileDiscord PTB (Discord)
• Unigram (Telegram)
• ExpressVPN using manual configuration

Because ARM PCs run so efficiently, there are no fans or even vents for cooling, ergo no noise (and no coil whine, either). Like other ARM-based PCs, this one never also gets warm.

Where the Galaxy Book S shines is battery life. Though it has a slightly larger 42WHr battery compared to the Surface Pro X's 38Whr, the real power savings come from that marginally slower processor and lower resolution display, both of which add hours of longevity to the Galaxy Book S.

Using Microsoft's battery report feature, the Galaxy Book S ranged between 8 and 16 hours, averaging just over 11 hours for usage during testing.

Turning to synthetic tests, specifically PCMark 10, which loops between Microsoft Office Win32 apps, the Galaxy Book S pulls in just over 11 hours. That test was run with the display brightness set to 35 percent, which was more than adequate for working under overhead lights. The Surface Pro X yielded just 8.5 hours on the same test in the same scenario. Both results are with 20 percent battery remaining, which means both laptops could get another hour or two on top of that.

Note: The biggest battery draw on these devices is display brightness. Running them higher and brighter will result in reduced battery life, so your results may vary.

PCMark 10 Battery (Applications)

Finally, turning to the 4G LTE, Samsung is using the Qualcomm X24 modem, which supports CAT20 LTE and up to 2 gigabits download speeds. Samsung sells the Galaxy Book S in partnership with Sprint and Verizon in the United States. Data performance and reception were excellent, with 60 Mbps achieved easily even without full-bar status, though individual results will vary. The modem never failed to connect and was extremely reliable.

Although the Galaxy Book S is sold through US carriers, the laptop is not SIM-locked. Dropping in a SIM from T-Mobile, for instance, worked just fine. Unfortunately, there is no eSIM support.

Filling a specific role

Conclusion: Samsung Galaxy Book S does some firsts, has one major oddity

The Galaxy Book S is one of the nicest looking Ultrabooks around that pushes various extremes. It is very light, super thin, all-metal, and solidly built with premium parts.

Its strengths are easily very long battery life that has particularly good standby time lasting days (or even weeks) and is always connected to the internet through Wi-Fi or LTE. Although the display is just full HD, it's a very evenly lit panel and matches Samsung's exceptional reputation for screen technology. Audio is also way better than expected, making this a fun laptop for watching Netflix in between work sessions.

Compared to the Surface Pro X, it has slightly worse performance, but it's not substantial. You could argue that the extra 2.5+ hours of battery life favoring the Galaxy Book S makes up for that slight performance hit. There's also the shorter 16x9 display (versus the 3x2) of the Galaxy Book S, and no pen support. Price-wise the Galaxy Book S costs less ($1,000) versus Surface Pro X at $1,250 with the keyboard.

My only main gripe is the keyboard. Typing can be frustrating due to the low-key travel, and it takes a while to adjust to the design. The keyboard backlight is also much too dim.

There aren't many laptops in this class that directly compete with the Galaxy Book S. There is a similar 2019 Acer Swift 7, which is nearly the same size and even slightly lighter. Build quality and audio is nowhere near as good, and the performance is worse due to dual-core Y-series Core processor. That Acer laptop is also $700 more expensive, lacks a touchscreen, a 4G LTE modem, and it has around half the battery life of the Galaxy Book S.

Another option is the best-value HP Spectre x360 13t. That laptop also gets very good battery life, has a more powerful 10th Gen i7 processor, double the storage, and it supports inking all for the same $1,000 price. HP, in theory, offers optional 4G LTE, but its availability is hit-and-miss, and that laptop is more than a half-pound heavier.

The question then comes down to how much you value one of the lightest, thinnest laptops on the market with quite remarkable battery life and 4G LTE? For most consumers, they will be better served with something like the HP Spectre x360. But for individual mobile workers who need an always-connected PC that effectively never hibernates and has instant-on that weighs just 2.1lbs, well, there are no other options I can recommend. That makes the Galaxy Book S a tool for a specific user, but a pretty great one for a friendly $1,000 price. That is if Samsung can just fix that keyboard.

What you need to know

• The Intel version of the Galaxy Book S is now available in the United States.
• The laptop is the first PC to feature Intel Hybrid Technology.
• The Galaxy Book S starts at $800 on Samsung's website.

The Intel version of the Samsung Galaxy Book S is now available in the United States. The laptop features a slim design and is built for long battery life. The Intel version is the first PC in the world to use Intel Hybrid Technology, according to Samsung. The Galaxy Book S starts at $800 on Samsung's website.

The Galaxy Book S with an Intel chip is like the Qualcomm-powered Galaxy Book S we reviewed earlier this year in terms of design. It's thin, light, and features an all-metal chassis. It has an excellent display and good audio.

The Intel version of the Galaxy Book S runs on an Intel Core i5-L16G7 processor. It has a base frequency of 1.4GHz and goes up to 3.0Ghz boost. The laptop also features integrated Intel UHD Graphics.

You can read more about Intel's Lakefield processors in our post breaking down the chips. They're in many ways a direct competitor to the Qualcomm 8cx chip that comes in the ARM version of the Galaxy Book S.

Intel Hybrid Technology is designed to deliver better battery life without sacrificing performance. Since it's an Intel chip, it can also run 32-bit and 64-bit applications, all without emulation.

Intel's Lakefield chips have a 56 percent smaller package area and up to a 47 percent smaller board size than previous chips, according to Intel. The Core i5-L16G& that's inside the Galaxy Book S requires standby power as low as 2.5W, which is up to 91 percent lower than the Intel Y-Series i7-8500Y.

While the Intel-powered Galaxy Book S lists up to 17 hours of video playback on its store listing, that's less than the ARM version, which gets up to 23 hours of video playback, according to Samsung. Additionally, the Intel version does not have an LTE option. It does, however, have full compatibility with Windows apps regardless of if they're 32-bit or 64-bit, so you'll have to decide which Galaxy Book S is right for you.

Note that when you go to Samsung's website the price states "From $499.99." That price is if you get a maximum trade-in value from another device. The price of the Galaxy Book S without a trade-in starts at $800.

What you need to know

• Samsung announced the Galaxy Book S with an Intel processor.
• The Galaxy Book S with an ARM processor came out earlier this year.
• Samsung hasn't shared pricing details or a release date for the Intel version of the Galaxy Book S.

Samsung's Galaxy Book S came out earlier this year with an ARM processor and all-day battery life. Now, people who prefer Intel chips have a Galaxy Book S to look forward to. Samsung announced the Galaxy Book S with a new Lakefield hybrid chip inside that will stand alongside the ARM version of the Galaxy Book S (via PCWorld). Samsung didn't reveal any pricing details or a release date for the Intel version of the Galaxy Book S.

We reviewed the ARM version of the Galaxy Book S earlier this year. It earned a solid score of 4/5 from our executive editor Daniel Rubino for its excellent battery life, beautiful design, and outstanding display. The Intel version of the Galaxy Book S should have at least some of those same good qualities. The main difference between the two version is, of course, the processor.

ARM laptops are known for their long battery life and LTE connectivity. While the Intel version of the Galaxy Book S might not have the same battery performance, it does use big/little architecture to help balance battery life and performance. The battery of the Intel version is also slightly larger at 42Wh compared to the ARM version that has a 39.8WH battery.

The Intel version of the Galaxy Book S includes LTE, though Samsung did not specify which LTE (Cat 16) modem it uses. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 for speedy wireless connectivity.

Samsung's Galaxy Book S took a while to hit store shelves, but as one of the first Snapdragon 8cx laptops on the market, it was arguably worth the wait. In his review of the thin-and-light always-connected PC, MrMobile calls it the "best combination of battery life, performance, and portability" that he's seen. Check out the review above for more.

MrMobile's thoughts largely reflect those of our own review, penned by Windows Central executive editor Daniel Rubino. The Samsung Galaxy Book S manages to pack solid battery life, great audio, a bright display, and LTE connectivity into a chassis that is impressively slim. The only downsides are the keyboard, which can feel mushy, and the potential for app compatibility issues on the ARM processor.

For anyone who works with graphics or wants to game, you'll want to look elsewhere. However, if you're looking for a PC designed to be tossed in a bag to get work done on the go, then the Samsung Galaxy Book S is worth a look.

What you need to know

• Samsung's Galaxy Book S is now available for preorder in Germany.
• The Galaxy Book S is a thin and light laptop powered by an ARM processor.
• Germany is the first country that the device will ship to outside the United States.
• You can preorder it for €1,099, which is roughly $1,224.

The Samsung Galaxy Books S is now avaialble for preorder in Germany. Germany is the first country outside the U.S. to have the Galaxy Book S available. The Galaxy Book S is powered by the Snapdragon 8cx processor and runs Windows 10 on ARM. Because it runs on a Snapdragon processor, it's thin, light, and should get good battery life. You can preorder the device through Samsung's website for €1,099, which is roughly $1,224.

Samsung first announced the Galaxy Book S last year and said that it would come out in September. The device was delayed, but we recently got one to try out.

Here's a full look at the specs for the Galaxy Book S:

When you preorder the device, it should ship by March 17, 2020. When you preorder the device, it comes with a pouch that Samsung says is worth €80.

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.

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).

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.

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

PC laptops tend to embrace the 2-in-1 design features idealized by Microsoft, but there is still a significant market for "traditional" styles. Lenovo has the X1 Carbon, HP has the Spectre 13t, and Dell's XPS 13 (9370)is still quite basic.

Last year, I reviewed the Samsung Notebook 9 15 Ext and loved its simplicity and excellent fundamentals. For 2018, the company has kept the same formula but bumped the specs. It works, but the competition is creeping up on Samsung. Here is what I like and don't about this year's Samsung 9 15 (NP900X5L-K02US).

A powerful, but traditional laptop

From the exterior, nothing is shocking about the Samsung Notebook 9 15. It is still a combo of metal and plastic, which results in an exceptionally light 2.76lbs (1.25kg) frame. That is slightly lighter than last year's model at 2.9 pounds.

Samsung doesn't cut any corners though when it comes to internal hardware. Make no mistake this is a powerful notebook, especially with that dedicated NVIDIA graphics processor.

The 8th gen Intel processor is of the quad-core variety, though still 15W. Thermals and clocking are very good for it with Samsung not holding it back.

For those who need some graphics punch the MX150 from NVIDIA replaces last year's 940MX. It does quite well too and is the full 25W version (1D10) giving it 48,536 on Geekbench for CUDA compared the Huawei MateBook X Pro's 10W MX150, which yielded 41.593 on the same test. That puts the MX150 close to the NVIDIA 960M, which was considered a mid-range gaming GPU in 2015.

The SSD is also no slouch, with near 3k for reading and 2k for write thanks to the Samsung PM961 hardware. Users can upgrade to the even faster PM981 but make no mistake this is already a quality storage solution.

Even the RAM is now DDR4, which is uncommon. Most laptops we've tested still come with the slower DDR3-type.

The display is the one area where Samsung holds back – likely for battery life – with a 1920 x 1080 full HD semi-gloss/anti-reflective panel. It's a very good LED display with 97 percent sRGB for color accuracy and brightness at 350 nits, but the ability to "boost" to 500 nits for the outdoor mode.

That brightness lets this be a semi-HDR compliant display, but it's no match for the official Dolby Vision HDR found in the X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga. Still, the contrast and deep blacks are far above the average. But being non-touch and lower resolution at a true 15-inch size is a bit of a downer.

While Samsung does not use an infrared (IR) camera for Windows Hello it still has its dedicated fingerprint reader on the keyboard deck. That sensor, thankfully, is a good one with very fast read times (especially compared to Lenovo's fingerprint readers).

Power, performance, and all the right ports

So long as you approach the Samsung Notebook 9 with your expectations set correctly, nothing will truly disappoint.

The keyboard is slightly mushy for some but is still excellent for typing with good travel and response – it's one of my favorites. The trackpad is massive and full Precision, rivaling the quality of the Surface Book 2.

Battery life is off the charts thanks to the huge 75WHr battery. Real-world usage is past the 10-hour mark, which is something not seen that often. Even the GPU, while not a full gaming one, is just the right boost for web browsing, light gaming, image editing, and more.

The ports also strike the right balance. You have a few USB Type-A's for your peripherals, but a dedicated USB Type-C with full Thunderbolt 3 (4x PCIe) for external GPUs, powering multiple 4K displays and more. While Samsung does toss in a small barrel-type AC charger, that means you can use the Type-C port for something else (though it can charge the laptop too). The microSD slot is a little disappointing, but common for a business-focused laptop.

Even Samsung's proprietary software is, well, helpful. You get a batch of security-related apps like the security camera that snaps a user's photo if they enter a wrong password or try an unregistered fingerprint on the Windows login screen. There is also an app that adds silly "beautifying" filters to Windows Camera, which we haven't seen done before. All this software is optional and easily removed (they are apps from the Microsoft Store).

Overall, I liked the Samsung Notebook 9 15 for 2018. My only gripe is the full HD display, which is still very good but feels blocky at 15-inches. Then again, the target audience for the Notebook 9 15-inch is business folks, students, writers, and anyone who needs to write a lot (or run Excel). For them, this is an excellent choice.

Some customers will want a touch screen and pen, which is understandable. That is why Samsung also makes the Notebook 9 Pen (13.3") that supports those features. But for consumers who prefer a straight-up, clamshell laptop with exceptional performance, all-day battery life, the right ports, a large 15-inch display, and for it all to weigh under three pounds, well this is your device. I bought last year's model for my daily use, and I'm tempted again with this year's refresh.

See at Samsung

Pros:

• Precision touchpad, excellent keyboard, quality display.
• Ultra-light 15-inch laptop.
• Full Thunderbolt 3 USB C port.
• Very long battery life with strong performance.

Cons:

• Full HD display resolution is low for 2018.
• Keyboard is somewhat mushy.

While I still prefer the Surface Book 2 (13-inch), the Core i7 model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is literally $1,000 more than the Samsung Notebook 9 15-inch — or even more if you don't need the more powerful Nvidia GPU. The asking price for the Notebook 9 15-inch is more than fair.

The Surface Book 2 will smoke the Notebook 9 for performance and features (save for Thunderbolt 3), but a lot people, including myself, simply don't need that power for our jobs. That's an important decision to make and Samsung is clearly balancing battery life, performance, and a lightweight design — and they achieve that with this laptop.

Announced in January at CES 2018, the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin is a flexible PC designed for professionals, students, and those looking for entertainment. It's not the most exciting laptop we've covered at Windows Central, but it's a solid device for someone who isn't looking for the latest and greatest device.

The Notebook 7 Spin has a 13.3-inch Full HD rotating display so you can use it as a traditional laptop or a tablet. It supports sketching or jotting down notes on the fly, but the Active Pen is sold separately. If you're used to seeing tiny bezels on Samsung Galaxy phones, you'll be disappointed with the Notebook 7 Spin. There's plenty of black space surrounding the display, especially at the bottom.

On a positive note, the hinge feels very solid. The display doesn't move very much from the angle you set it on. There's a 480p front camera above the screen, but don't expect to use it for selfies. Even the quality of video calls isn't that great.

Samsung Notebook 7 Spin's specifications are basic

The port selection should make most users happy. The left side of the laptop has HDMI slot, USB type A, USB Type C, and headphone jack. The right side has a USB Type-A and power button with built-in fingerprint scanner for Windows Hello. Turning on the laptop and logging in isn't instant. You'll need to press the power button and leave the finger slightly touching the button for a few seconds to log in with Windows Hello.

The backlit keyboard feels very comfortable to type on with 1.5mm key travel. There are a few function keys that stood out. There's a shortcut for Samsung Settings, which gives you a few more options not usually included in Windows Settings. There's also a toggle for consulting mode which quickly flips the display, so it's more convenient for the person sitting in front of you to view what's on the screen. There's also a function button for HDR mode. It doesn't magically turn the display into HDR, but it adjusts the shadows and highlights of the image for a similar effect.

Placed below the keyboard is the touchpad which works as expected. It has precision drivers, so it supports built-in Windows gestures. The surface of the touchpad is smooth and comfortable to touch. It's also responsive, like all other laptops we've tested with precision drivers.

The speakers are placed at the bottom of the Notebook 7 Spin, and they sound great. I'd say they even sound better than the speakers on the more expensive Surface Book 2. For a richer audio experience, I recommend watching a movie or listening to music while the laptop is in tent mode.

Samsung Notebook 7 Spin adds enhancements to Windows 10 for Samsung Galaxy users

The Notebook 7 Spin comes with Windows 10 and handles everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, checking emails, and watching movies as well as expected. With just 8GB of RAM, don't plan to do much heavy lifting. I notice some lag when multitasking with more demanding apps like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, but the target market for this laptop won't find themselves doing that frequently.

I wish Samsung gave the option for more storage. The 256GB internal drive will get filled up quicker than you expect, so expect to buy an external drive sooner than later.

Samsung included a few extra apps. There's Samsung Messages which lets you send or receive messages on your computer or your phone. There's also Samsung Studio Plus which allows you to produce personalized movies from your photos and videos. The Samsung Link Sharing app also makes it easier for Samsung Galaxy phone users to send and receive files across devices. There's also a Security folder which lets users keep files private. These are all great features that are not usually found by default on Windows 10.

Battery life is impressive on the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin; in my use it easily lasted through a whole day. One thing to note is that while the Notebook 7 Spin has a USB Type-C port, you can't charge the laptop through that port. You'll need to use the included barrel plug charger.

Final thoughts

Overall, the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin isn't a very exciting laptop, but it's a good choice if you're looking for a basic 2-in-1 device. The battery life and speakers are excellent, and if you're a Samsung Galaxy phone user, you can take advantage of the pre-installed apps such as Samsung messages and Link Sharing. The Samsung Note 7 Spin is available in select countries starting in the first quarter of 2018 in the U.S. You'll find it at Samsung.com and Best Buy for $899.

Pros:

• Excellent backlit keyboard
• Superb battery life.
• Good speakers.
• Great touch display.

Cons:

• Very little internal storage.
• Can't charge device though USB-C

Samsung has announced a refresh of its premium Notebook 9 lineup, updating both versions of its standard Notebook 9. However, that's not all: Samsung has also introduced a new option, the Notebook 9 Pen, to the mix.

In terms of updates, both versions of the new Samsung Notebook 9 (2018) feature enhanced graphics and a bump to Intel's latest eighth-generation Core processors. Screen sizes remain at 13.3-inches and 15-inches, and both can be equipped with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. An included fingerprint sensor is Windows Hello-compatible, and the larger model can be fitted with NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics. In terms of finishes, Samsung says that the Notebook 9 will be available in "Titan Silver" or "Crush White." The company is also touting the material the notebooks are made of, dubbed Metal12, which it says offers a lighter and more durable frame.

As its name suggests, the new Samsung Notebook 9 Pen is a 2-in-1 variant of the Notebook 9 with a focus on inking. Like the previously released Notebook 9 Pro, the Notebook 9 Pen includes a built-in S Pen stylus, which can recognize 4,096 levels of pressure and runs without the need for a battery. The S Pen can also be used to quickly access notes and shortcuts with Samsung's Air Command software.

In terms of build, the Notebook 9 Pen's 13.3-inch screen can also be rotated behind the keyboard, and the whole thing is made of the same Metal12 material Samsung is touting for the standard Notebook 9. Specs are also remarkably similar to the standard Notebook 9, with eighth-generation Intel Core chips and up to 16GB of RAM. A fingerprint sensor is also included for Windows Hello.

Here's a look at how the specs compare for each model:

When we reviewed the Samsung Notebook 9 15 Ext earlier in 2017, we came away pretty impressed with the notebook's feature set and build quality, positing that it could've been the best 15-inch Ultrabook available at the time. With a similar design, we'd expect the story to be similar with these refreshed models, but we'll have to wait and see. The Samsung Notebook 9 (2018) and Notebook 9 Pen will be available this month in Korea and the first quarter of 2018 in the U.S. Pricing is still an unknown. For now, the current Samsung Notebook 9 is available at retailers at a list price of $1,399 for the 15-inch model, or around $1,000 for the 13-inch model.

Samsung Notebook 9 15 Ext review: Quite possibly the best 15-inch Ultrabook

See Samsung Notebook 9 at Amazon

Samsung only just took the wraps off of its Notebook 9 Pro at Computex, but it now has a release date. Preorders for the new notebook are set to kick off exclusively at Best Buy on June 11 ahead of its full launch on June 26.

The big highlight of the Notebook 9 Pro is the inclusion of Samsung's S Pen. Powered by 4,000 levels of pressure, the S Pen works with Windows Ink on any device. Further, Samsung's own Air Command software is included on the Notebook 9 for taking notes and drawing. And when you're done, you can tuck the S Pen into a dedicated slot underneath the keyboard.

Otherwise, the Notebook 9 Pro is available in two sizes: 13.3 inches or 15 inches. Inside, there's support for up to Intel's Core i7 processors and 256GB of SSD storage. RAM options come in at 8GB on the 13.3-inch model and 16GB on 15-inch model. Lastly, the larger model also gets a little extra graphical power thanks to an AMD Radeon card.

If the Notebook 9 Pro is up your alley, you'll be able to get a preorder in on Best Buy's website starting June 11. Prices come in at $1,099 for the 13.3-inch model and $1,299 for the 15-inch model.

Samsung has updated their Notebook 9 Ultrabook, continuing with their ridiculously thin and light ways. The new Notebook 9, available in 13-inch and 15-inch variants, have been completely restyled from last year, opting for a more traditional block design versus the blade-like design of the first-generation of Notebook 9. But they stick to the ethos of thin and light — the 13-inch is well under 2.5 lbs and the 15-inch weighs in a 2.73 lbs.

The new look also comes with a smaller footprint, thanks to the serious reduction of bezels on the sides and top of the display. Even with the reduced size and 0.61-inch thickness, Samsung still is giving the Notebook 9 a decent compliment of USB ports: one Thunderbolt 3/USB-C, two full-size USB 3.0, and one USB 2.0. There's no HDMI-out here, as Samsung's banking on Thunderbolt 3 and adapters to support the various display connectors users will need.

While the Notebook 9 has been updated to the latest chips, including 7th-generation Intel Core i7 Kaby Lake processors, it's no powerhouse. The most powerful version is the 15-incher, which in the United States will have an optional dedicated graphics card (an NVIDIA 940MX) alongside 16GB of RAM and a 512GB PCIe SSD.

The biggest tradeoff with a super-thin laptop like this is battery life, and though Samsung advertises a 15-hour battery life for the 15-inch Notebook 9, we have a hard time believing that. Even so, the Adaptive Fast Charge tech that Samsung's built into this laptop means that a 20-minute charge will net 3 hours of use, and less than 2 hours of charge will fill up the battery completely.

While Samsung's not giving a release date for the updated Notebook 9, we can at least tell you the expected pricing:

• 13-inch Intel Core i5: $999
• 13-inch Intel Core i7: $1,199
• 15-inch Intel Core i7 with integrated graphics: $1,199
• 15-inch Intel Core i7 with discrete graphics: $1,399 (US-only)

Samsung's new Notebook 9 Windows 10 laptops are now up for pre-order at B&H and Samsung, sporting new Intel Core i5 and i7 Kaby Lake CPUs and an updated design. The new Notebook 9's also feature a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for Windows Hello, both new additions over the previous generation.

The new Samsung Notebook 9's are rocking the following specifications:

• Intel Core i5/7
• 8GB/16GB of DDR4 RAM | 256GB SSD
• 13"/15" 1920 x 1080 LED-Backlit Display
• Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620
• MicroSD Card Slot
• HDMI | USB Type-C | USB Type-A
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 4.1
• Backlit Keyboard | Fingerprint Reader
• 180° Hinge | 450 Nits Outdoor Mode
• Windows 10 Home

The 15" version also now has an optional Nvidia GTX 940MX GPU, but is only available in the US through B&H.

Pricing starts at $999.99 for the lowest-end model, which isn't bad at all considering. B&H says pre-orders should begin shipping on January 12th, so get your pre-orders in now if you're interested!

Just ahead of CES 2017, Samsung has unveiled a slightly updated version of its Notebook 9 line. Rather than a vast overhaul, the updated Notebook 9's 13-inch and 15-inch variants pack a similar design to their predecessors, albeit with new Intel 7th-generation Kaby Lake processors and a few other minor tweaks here and there.

Outside of the processor bump, the updated notebooks now feature a single USB-C port. The displays have also received a bit of a bump, adding support for HDR. Otherwise, things look very similar to previous models. Here's a detailed look at the specs of both new models, from Samsung:

Pricing and availability are an unknown at the moment, but we'll bring you more when Samsung has more to announce (likely at CES). In the meantime, are you in the market for a new laptop? Does the refreshed Notebook 9 line strike your fancy? Let us know in the comments!

Samsung has launched the Notebook 7 spin in the U.S. The 2-in-1 notebooks are available in screen sizes of 13.3 inches and 15.6 inches, and are sold in both enterprise and consumer editions.

The notebooks offer Windows 10 Pro out of the box (consumer version comes with Windows 10 Home), with the 13.3-inch model powered by a 2.30GHz Core i5 6200U CPU, whereas the 15.6-inch version runs the 2.50GHz Core i7 6500U CPU. The 13.3-inch variant has a Full HD display, Intel HD Graphics 520, 8GB of RAM at 2133MHz, and a 500GB mechanical HDD.

The 15.6-inch model also has a Full HD display and 8GB of RAM at 2133MHz, along with a 1TB HDD and a 128GB SSD and an NVIDIA GeForce 940MX video card with 2GB DDR3L memory.

Both variants offer stereo speakers, backlit keyboards, one HDMI out, two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port, and a USB-C port. The 13.3-inch Notebook 7 spin is now available for $899 and the 15.6-inch for $1,299 from Samsung's business site. Consumer variants of both notebooks are up for pre-order on Samsung's website, with deliveries going out from end of July.

See at Samsung