Samsung Galaxy Book S review
The Samsung Samsung Galaxy Book S ranks as the #634 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 68. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #155-ranked features among 756 laptops. Consider the MSI GF63 Thin or MSI Alpha 15, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Samsung Galaxy Book S is a sleek and portable laptop with impressive battery life. While its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c X platform provides smooth performance for everyday tasks, it falls short in demanding creative tasks like video editing and gaming. The laptop's ultra-portable design makes it ideal for those prioritizing portability, but performance-wise, it lags behind other laptops at similar price points. Ultimately, the Galaxy Book S is a decent option for those who can live with working in the cloud and prioritize mobility above all else. However, users seeking more creative capabilities may want to consider other options. For casual use, the laptop's battery life and compact design make it a worthy choice, but others may find it lacking in performance.
Build
The Samsung Galaxy Book S's design is its most impressive feature. The ultra-portable laptop weighs just 960 grams and measures in at a teeny 13.3 inches. Despite its slim build, the all-metal chassis feels tough and robust, with minimal flex when applying pressure. The metal body also helps to keep temperatures in check. In terms of build quality, it's hard to fault the Galaxy Book S - the attention to detail is evident throughout, from the precision-cut edges to the subtle branding on the lid. A solid build that's sure to withstand daily wear and tear. Consider discovering the power of Samsung Galaxy Book Ion, featuring the latest advancements in build.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy Book S boasts a 13.3-inch TFT display with slim bezels, offering a touch screen experience that's perfect for media fans and creative users. The Full HD resolution keeps everything sharp, while the color reproduction is accurate enough for photo editing, covering 98% of the sRGB color space. A 720p webcam above the screen proves fine for Skype and zoom calls, capturing your mug decently even in low-light conditions. The display's central position makes it ideal for video streaming or working with files, but it's worth noting that it's a single display solution without any additional ports or connectivity options. Overall, the Galaxy Book S' display is a highlight of this ultraportable laptop. You might prefer Razer Blade 15 Advanced, designed with an upgraded display for a better experience.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Book S's performance is somewhat limited compared to other laptops in its price range. While it handles tasks such as web browsing, streaming media, and office work with ease, it struggles with more demanding activities like video editing and gaming. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c X platform, although fast for general use, can't keep up with demanding games or video editing software. Even older titles like Serious Sam 3 were a struggle to play smoothly. Overall, the Galaxy Book S's performance is adequate for everyday tasks but falls short when it comes to more resource-intensive activities. For a superior performance, Microsoft Surface Pro X could be the right choice.
Battery and Charging
The Samsung Galaxy Book S's battery life is a standout feature, lasting around 10 hours of working in Chrome while streaming music before depletion. Recharging the battery to full takes under two hours, making it an ideal choice for those who prioritize portability. The device's compact size belies its impressive power management, allowing users to work on-the-go without worrying about running out of juice. Overall, the Galaxy Book S's battery and charging capabilities are a major selling point in an increasingly mobile world.
Connectivity
The Samsung Galaxy Book S excels with its connectivity features. It boasts standard Wi-Fi 5, which worked fine for media streaming. Additionally, the laptop supports gigabit LTE, making it easy to stay connected when outside good Wi-Fi networks. The inclusion of a sim card slot is also convenient. You may find Samsung Galaxy Book Ion a better fit, thanks to its superior connectivity.
Features
The Samsung Galaxy Book S boasts a sleek, ultra-portable design weighing just 960 grams. Its metal chassis is robust, with minimal flex and a scratch-resistant finish. A 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen display provides vibrant colors, accurate color reproduction, and a respectable 400 nits of brightness. The device runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8c X platform, paired with 8GB of RAM, offering smooth performance for productivity tasks but limited capabilities for demanding games or video editing. If you’re after a better features, Samsung Notebook 9 Pro could be the ideal option.
Support and Maintenance
The Samsung Galaxy Book S offers reliable support and maintenance despite its limited performance capabilities. With a decent battery life of up to 10 hours, you can work in Chrome without worrying about running out of juice. Recharging is also relatively quick at under two hours. However, for more demanding tasks like video editing or gaming, it's recommended to consider other options.
Pros
1. The portability is definitely a priority, it's super slim and lightweight making it perfect for taking on-the-go.
2. It has an amazing battery life, getting about 10 full hours of working in Chrome while streaming music before the battery is fully depleted.
3. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c X platform is backed by a healthy 8 gigs of RAM, which is fine for working in Chrome, streaming media, and light editing.
4. It has standard Wi-Fi 5 and gigabit LTE support, making it easy to stay connected even when outside of good Wi-Fi networks.
5. The price point is competitive with other laptops around the same size, making it a great value for those who prioritize portability.
Cons
1. Performance-wise, it's rather limited compared with a lot of other laptops, especially around this sort of price points you might want to shop around if you want to do some proper video edits in game and more creative tasks.
2. It can't handle demanding games or serious video editing due to the basic integrated graphics Adreno 680 GPU.
3. The sim card needs to be kept connected to the phone at all times using a USB cable, which can be awkward especially when traveling.
4. The storage space is limited with around 200 gigs of free space, which might not be enough for those who need more storage capacity.
5. It's not ideal for those who want to do heavy multitasking or have demanding tasks due to the Geekbench 5 scores being lower than some other laptops.
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