I’ve largely overlooked Samsung’s Galaxy Book line of laptops, but I recently learned that was a mistake. I should have paid more attention to the product line as this tech giant offers some impressive technology. the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360a convertible laptop with excellent design, opened my eyes.
Also: I tested Samsung’s flagship laptop, and it gave my MacBook Pro its value for money
It has a 16-inch 3K touchscreen display that runs at a 120Hz refresh rate and covers 120% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Colors are vibrant, shadows have deep blacks, and on-screen animations are velvety smooth. This laptop has one of the nicest displays I’ve seen in a while.
Samsung’s device even passes the one-finger test, in which you lift the screen with your index finger, indicating even weight distribution. In short, the laptop will not wobble while you work on it.
I’m also a fan of the large trackpad. It’s smooth to the touch, and its large size allows me to move the cursor on the screen without lifting my hand.
Additionally, I can use the included Galaxy S Pen. Navigating the internet with the S Pen feels like a dream. Moving from one page to another is seamless. Not long ago, I experimented HP Omnibook Ultra Flipcomes with its own stylus. I found the Omnibook’s pen difficult to use. On the other hand, the responsiveness of Samsung’s S Pen is like a breath of fresh air.
Also: This work laptop with one of the best displays isn’t a ThinkPad or a MacBook (and it’s $300 off)
I like the design of the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 but it’s not perfect. I don’t like the keyboard very much. It was mushy and didn’t feel good on my hands. I like long-travel laptop keyboards because they feel more responsive when typing.
I’m also not a fan of the stylus magnet placement. Thin, 2-in-1 laptops often have powerful magnets on the side. The Galaxy Book5 Pro’s magnets feel less strong and secure. The S Pen even dropped a few times when I took the computer out of my bag.
Galaxy Book5 Pro is equipped with Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor, Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics card and 16GB RAM. The overall performance of the laptop is solid; I had a blast using it.
Also: The 13-inch laptop I recommend for business travel is neither a Lenovo ThinkPad nor a MacBook
Benchmark tests show that the Galaxy Book5 is fast and can easily handle productivity workloads like web browsing and video conferencing. I tested opening 50 tabs with browser games, videos, and live streaming, all playing simultaneously along with several open apps. The laptop handles everything well. Performance did not suffer at all, although I noticed the device became warm to the touch.
Battery life is absurdly good. The Samsung model ran for about 16 hours before I needed to run for a charger. I started testing at 8 a.m. and ran nonstop until midnight. I attribute this longevity to the energy-efficient Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 chipset.
While my overall experience testing the Galaxy Book5 was pleasant, I did encounter a bug. I left it in tablet mode for a few hours and it got stuck that way. No amount of opening or closing the laptop fixed the problem until I restarted it.
After searching online, it seems I’m the only one experiencing this error. It’s possible this isn’t a common problem and only happened to my review unit. However, I can’t help but wonder if there are other bugs that exist in the system.
Also: I tested the MacBook Pro M4 for a week — and even the base model beat my $3,000 laptop
To use the Galaxy Book5 Pro’s full potential, you’ll need a Galaxy smartphone. Features like turning your phone into a webcam, Quick Share, and Transcription Support can only be accessed with a supporting mobile device. According to the fine print of the product listing, you must own at least one word sample Galaxy S22 series running Samsung One UI 6.1.
ZDNET Buying Tips
Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 sold for $1,700 on Samsung’s website. I recommend this laptop to professional users who want a work laptop that performs well and to those who own a Galaxy smartphone so they can access the full features of the model . Of course, those who own non-Galaxy smartphones will still get a lot of benefits from this device. The hardware, battery life and OLED touch screen are all top notch.
If you want an alternative, I recommend it Lenovo Yoga 7i Halo Edition. It’s not as big but it offers a similar experience at a cheaper price.
