Although not as popular as the company’s high-end smartphones, Samsung’s laptop offerings feature highly refined hardware, including powerful processors, demanding touchscreen capabilities and display quality. blameless. BestReviews tech expert Jaime Vazquez shared his thoughts on Samsung’s new additions to the Galaxy Book2 family.
Four new Galaxy Book2 versions announced
New additions to the Galaxy Book2 lineup are the 360, Pro, Pro 360 and Business models. Samsung’s recent announcement, however, excluded most details on the Business variant, opting to focus on consumer-level options. The Galaxy Book2 360 is this year’s most budget-friendly model, and the Book2 Pro and Pro 360 are aimed at more discerning consumers.
They all offer a 2-in-1 type of design. Both the 360 and the Pro 360 have a 360 degree hinge (hence the name) which makes them perfect for use on a desk or in your lap. The Galaxy Book2 Pro, however, sports a detachable 2-in-1 setup, similar to the Microsoft Surface Pro.
What’s so great about the new Galaxy Book2 family?
Excellent and efficient screens
As Vazquez notes, “Samsung’s strength in the past has been Chromebooks. Although Samsung has been releasing Windows laptops for a while, it seems they still miss the mark and haven’t really been contenders. But , he continues, now I am interested.
Galaxy Book2 Pro
Galaxy Book2 Pro 360
Galaxy Book2 360
Display resolution is one thing Jaime cares about the most. The new Galaxy Book2 Windows laptops all have 1080p resolutions. The Galaxy Book2 Pro and Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 offer your choice of 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch versions, while the base Galaxy Book2 360 is 13.3-inches.
Before comparing this to the 4K screens that seem to be gaining popularity, keep in mind that the human eye can barely tell Ultra HD from Full HD at these sizes. More pixels often means higher power consumption and therefore shorter battery life. In the case of Samsung’s laptop screens, you also get a high-quality AMOLED panel, which takes the worry out of mid-range resolutions.
Refined design and aesthetics
Vazquez points out that laptops are meant to be portable, and size and weight are part of that. The Book2 Pro 360 weighs just a hair over 2 pounds, which is about as light as Windows laptops. “The way they presented this design in terms of form factor,” Jaime explains, “they did a great job of keeping laptops thin and light.”
What’s not surprising about the recently announced laptops is that they look fantastic. They are a far cry from the plastic-coated low-cost specials of other manufacturers. Vazquez says, “Samsung laptops have been hit or miss in the design department in the past, but they look great.”
Improved performance
Efficient Intel Core i5 and i7 chipsets give the new Galaxy Book2 models enough firepower to perform a wide range of everyday and professional tasks. Granted, Vazquez offers, “I’d be hesitant to call one of those gaming laptops,” but no one really expects to play advanced 3D games on an ultralight 2-in-1 laptop.
But there’s more evidence that Samsung now has a keen eye on performance. “It’s worth noting that more and more models are coming with 16GB of RAM, and frankly, that’s overdue,” Vazquez says, “but I’ll take it. On paper, that doesn’t make your computer But if your computer can handle a ton of different tasks at once, it seems a lot faster.
Does the Samsung Galaxy Book2 have a USB port?
Every laptop in recent memory has had a USB port, and Samsung’s newer models are no exception. In fact, they all have at least two USB-C ports, one of which supports the high-speed Thunderbolt 4 protocol. If you have a bunch of devices that use the older USB-A format, consider a USB-C hub to provide the connectivity you need.
Why buy a Samsung laptop?
According to technology expert Vazquez: “Samsung is building its own ecosystem. So, with the S-Pen and other accessories, they mimic Apple’s ecosystem well. And it works.
Jaime also explains, “To be clear, most accessories are generally independent of the laptops and operating systems they work with.” But, the overall connectivity of a specific ecosystem ensures that you get the most out of every component. For example, Windows devices support the Qualcomm aptX Bluetooth audio codec, while Apple devices do not. This adds to the aesthetic of matching design elements and color combinations.
The best way to buy a new Galaxy Book2
Times being what they are, even savvy tech enthusiasts are doing something they’ve almost never done: recommending pre-orders and warranties. Due to shortages of raw materials and personnel, as well as major logistical issues, the global microchip shortage is expected to last considerably longer. Pre-ordering greatly increases your chances of getting a new laptop. Likewise, getting an extended manufacturer’s warranty or even something from a third party means that if your new machine malfunctions, you won’t have to wait a year to get it replaced.
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Chris Thomaswritten for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their buying decisions, saving them time and money.
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