Samsung announces ultra-light and thin Galaxy Book Pro and Book Pro 360 Windows laptops

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 Lead
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 Lead (Image credit: Samsung)

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

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360

Source: Samsung (Image credit: Source: Samsung)

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).

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0 Galaxy Book Pro 360 13Galaxy Book Pro 360 15
OSWindows 10 HomeWindows 10 ProWindows 10 HomeWindows 10 Pro
Processor11th Gen Intel Core i511th Gen Intel Core i711th Gen Intel Core i511th Gen Intel Core i7
RAMUp to 16GB LPDDR4xUp to 16GB LPDDR4x
GraphicsIntel Iris XeIntel Irs Xe
StorageUp to 512GB NVMe SSDUp to 1TB NVMe SSD
Display13.3 inchesSuper AMOLED1920x1080 (FHD)S Pen for inking15.6 inchesSuper AMOLED1920x1080 (FHD)S Pen for inking
PortsThunderbolt 4Two USB-C3.5mm audiomicroSD card reader5G SIM (optional)Thunderbolt 4Two USB-C3.5mm audiomicroSD card reader
AudioAKG speakersDolby AtmosAKG speakersDolby Atmos
Connectivity5G (optional)Wi-Fi 6E ReadyBluetooth 5.1Wi-Fi 6E ReadyBluetooth 5.1
CameraFront-facing 720pFront-facing 720p
SecurityFingerprint readerFingerprint reader
Battery63Wh65W AC adapter68Wh65W AC adapter
Dimensions11.9 x 7.95 x 0.45 inches(302.5mm x 202mm x 11.5mm)13.97 x 8.98 x 0.47 inches(354.85mm x 227.97mm x 11.9mm)
Weight2.29 pounds (1.04kg)3.06 pounds (1.39kg)
ColorMystic NavyMystic BronzeMystic NavyMystic Bronze

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.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0 Galaxy Book Pro 13Galaxy Book Pro 15
OSWindows 10 HomeWindows 10 ProWindows 10 HomeWindows 10 Pro
Processor11th Gen Intel Core i511th Gen Intel Core i711th Gen Intel Core i511th Gen Intel Core i7
RAM8GB LPDDR4xUp to 16GB LPDDR4x
GraphicsIntel Iris XeIntel Iris Xe
StorageUp to 512GB NVMe SSDUp to 512GB NVMe SSD
Display13.3 inchesSuper AMOLED1920x1080 (FHD15.6 inchesSuper AMOLED1920x1080 (FHD)
PortsThunderbolt 4USB-CUSB-A 3.23.5mm audiomicroSD card readerThunderbolt 4USB-CUSB-A 3.2HDMI3.5mm audiomicroSD card reader
AudioAKG speakersDolby AtmosAKG speakersDolby Atmos
ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E ReadyBluetooth 5.1Wi-Fi 6E ReadyBluetooth 5.1
CameraFront-facing 720pFront-facing 720p
SecurityFingerprint readerFingerprint reader
Battery63Wh65W AC adapter68Wh65W AC adapter
Dimensions11.98 x 7.87 x 0.44 inches(304.4mm x 199.8mm x 11.2mm)13.99 x 8.89 x 0.46 inches(355.4mm x 225.8mm x 11.7mm)
Weight1.92 pounds (0.87kg)2.31 pounds (1.05kg)
ColorMystic BlueMystic SilverMystic BlueMystic Silver

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

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 Lead

Source: Samsung (Image credit: Source: Samsung)

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

Source: Samsung (Image credit: Source: Samsung)

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.

Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and watches. He has been reviewing laptops since 2015 and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, ARM processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.