Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 review: A light and powerful beauty

Price When Reviewed

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: $1549.99

Best Prices Today: Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360

Samsung’s Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 continues to ship on the producer’s strengths: skinny, mild laptops with beautiful OLED shows for streaming video or simply basic productiveness. The Book2 Pro 360 is among the many first laptops to make use of Intel’s 12th-gen “Alder Lake” CPUs, which provide substantial efficiency enhancements over 11th-gen {hardware}.

While your eyes will definitely thanks for the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360’s show, your fingers could also be rather less happy. The keyboard merely isn’t as snug as you would possibly like. But, for individuals who favor content material consumption or creation, there’s a Samsung S Pen proper within the field — you’ll definitely discover so much to love. The all-day battery life continues to be excellent as properly and that’s saying one thing for such a skinny PC.

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: fundamental options

Samsung divides up its laptops into two classifications: the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro and the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360. The latter, which is the topic of this assessment, is the 360-degree convertible. The former is a standard clamshell and normally presents a bit extra efficiency.

In February, Samsung announced the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 and the $899.99 Galaxy Book2 360. The distinction between these two convertibles is that the Book2 360 has a 13.3-inch display and a barely slower processor. It’s out there in both a $1,249.99 13.3-inch or a 15.6-inch type issue, which we assessment right here. The $1,249.99 Galaxy Book2 Pro is the producer’s strongest laptop computer possibility, nevertheless it contains the identical Core i7-1260P processor because the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360.

Put merely, the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 ought to supply each energy and adaptability — no less than on paper. We don’t have the opposite two fashions for a direct comparability, nevertheless. The Book2 Pro is also the one mannequin of the corporate’s present technology to incorporate the S Pen contained in the field, which helps justify the extra value premium.

Samsung seems to be the one supply of the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 proper now. The Galaxy Book2 Pro is way simpler to seek out in a wide range of configurations. (Note: The original configurations for the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 have a Core 5 and Core i7. Memory choices embody 8, 16, and 32GB. The firm is delivery the Core i7 with 8GB or 16GB of reminiscence).

We not too long ago reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 5G, a really good prior-generation mannequin with a 5G WWAN possibility. It’s at present a bit of cheaper with better connectivity. However, the Book2 contains Intel’s 12th-gen “Alder Lake” processor, with ought to supply benefits in efficiency and battery life. We’ll put that assumption to the take a look at afterward on this assessment.

Mark Hachman / IDG

• Processor: Intel Core i7-1260P
• Display: 13.3-inch (1920×1080) or 15.6-inch (1920×1080) AMOLED (15.6-inch as examined)
• Memory: 8GB/16GB LPDDR5x (16GB as examined)
• Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD (1TB as examined)
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
• Ports: 1 USB-C (Thunderbolt 4); 2 USB-C, microSD, 3.5mm jack
• Security: Fingerprint reader
• Camera: 1080p (user-facing)
• Battery: 67.0 Wh (design), 67.9Wh (reported)
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) (802.11 ax 2×2), Bluetooth 5.1
• Operating system: Windows 10 Home (21H2)
• Dimensions:  13.97 x 8.98 x 0.47in. (11.9mm)
• Weight: 3.11lb (rated)
• Colors: Graphite, Silver, Burgundy (Graphite as examined)
• Prices:  $1,549.99 as tested (Samsung.com)

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 development and show

Over the years, Samsung has quietly established itself as a purveyor of really skinny and light-weight pocket book PCs. The Galaxy Book2 Book Pro 360 appears to be like so delicate because it emerges from the field. Don’t be fooled, although. The aluminum chassis development feels sturdy, although there’s some give within the keyboard tray for those who depress it arduous sufficient. The show hinge holds fairly firmly, even for those who intentionally (however gently) whip the show forwards and backwards holding the keyboard. The solely actual knock on the laptop computer’s development is that our Graphite configuration attracts smudges like loopy, so that you’ll in all probability need to put money into a microfiber material if that form of factor bothers you.

Cool air is pulled into the pocket book by means of a grille of small holes mounted beneath then chassis and vented up and out by means of the rear hinge. I hardly ever heard even the whisper of a fan whereas within the default “Optimized” mode, which is accessible through the Settings app. There are three different modes equivalent to High Performance, Quiet, and Silent. There isn’t a lot of a necessity to change the default settings except you need to eke out a bit extra efficiency.

Mark Hachman / IDG

As with most Samsung laptops, a promoting level continues to be the AMOLED show, which replaces a standard LED backlight with pixels that may be lit individually. This dramatically improves the distinction ratio, deepening the blacks and the distinction from black to mild. As with the latest Galaxy Book Pro 360 5G, remodeling the laptop computer into pill mode by flipping the AMOLED display backwards actually makes for a superior video viewing expertise.

Creators, shoppers, and productiveness staff alike ought to benefit from the show. It lined 100 % of the sRGB shade gamut, 94 % of AdobeRGB, and 100 % of the S3 shade gamut at default settings. We measured the show pushing out 374 nits of luminance, which must be completely superb for a well-lit room. The shiny show, although, does mirror fairly a little bit of ambient mild.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Samsung has totally embraced the USB-C type issue. One of the ports on the left-hand facet is a full Thunderbolt 4 port, designated by a faint black-on-charcoal thunderbolt emblem. The others are the extra conventional 5Gbps USB-C ports. The distinction? The Thunderbolt port can use a strong Thunderbolt dock whereas the extra generic USB-C ports can solely reap the benefits of a USB-C hub or dongle. The laptop computer ships with a 65W USB-C charger that may provide energy into any one of many USB-C ports.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 keyboard, audio and webcam

Samsung keyboards really feel considerably distinctive. They’re shallower than I’d choose, a bit rubbery, although pleasantly springy. There’s not a variety of key journey within the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 — solely 1mm, the place 1.25mm and even 1.5mm is extra frequent. The distinction might seem slight on paper, however your fingers will certainly discover. Typing on the Book2 keyboard isn’t notably uncomfortable, nevertheless. If you like a keyboard with a deeper key journey, think about a Lenovo laptop computer or a Microsoft Surface. Keyboards may be considerably subjective.

Each key’s massive and comfortably spaced, which you’d anticipate on a 15-inch laptop computer. However, they don’t at all times embody a (barely squished) right-hand quantity pad, and that’s a welcome addition to anybody working with Excel or lefty avid gamers who use it as a substitute for the WASD controls right-handers use. The keyboard’s backlight modes embody 30%, 60%, and 100% settings.

As laptop computer makers like Huawei do, Samsung makes use of the ability button within the higher right-hand nook as a Windows Hello substitute, with a fingerprint reader embedded into the floor. Windows Hello units, each depth cameras and fingerprint readers, have a tendency to say no in effectiveness over time, so a restricted assessment interval isn’t at all times an efficient metric. Still, in testing it over a interval of about two weeks the Book2 Pro 360’s sensor didn’t carry out all that properly, leaving me to enter a PIN or a password most of the time.

Mark Hachman / IDG

The Book2 Pro 360’s trackpad is mammoth, nearly definitely wider than your smartphone when positioned in panorama mode, 5.25 inches extensive and 3.5 inches excessive. The trackpad is simply clickable throughout the underside half, although gestures labored as you’d anticipate throughout the breadth of the machine. The trackpad wasn’t totally responsive, nevertheless, often failing to register a click on or a faucet.

Audio is one other sturdy go well with of the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360, however inside the constraints of the standard 2-in-1 type issue. In different phrases, there’s not an excessive amount of there within the low finish…however. For no matter purpose, Samsung doesn’t activate the Dolby Atmos enhancement by default and that makes a considerable distinction. Without Dolby Atmos, the Book2’s twin audio system ship sufficient quantity and a good audio vary. With Dolby Atmos turned on, the amount soars to some extent the place I needed to dial it down. Turning on Dolby removes the tinniness from the AKG-tuned audio system.

The Book2 Pro 360’s webcam is first rate, assuming that you just minimize it some slack. In my gloomy workplace, primarily lit by a show, the picture the webcam captured was actually fairly good with wonderful shade steadiness and lighting. In brighter mild (see under), it was extra splotchy. The 1080p sensor (versus the 720p sensors extra generally discovered on laptops) definitely helps.

Here, we’re additionally seeing capabilities Samsung hasn’t proven earlier than. The webcam can implement its personal background blurring, carried out by the corporate’s algorithms. When turned on, the webcam’s body fee noticeably slowed. You even have the choice of merely turning on a single static background shade, a quasi “green screen” impact which is subsequent to ineffective. The producer already provides a “live background” app for its desktop background and I’d anticipate some convergence between that and the digicam app ultimately.

The Book2 Pro 360 now applies auto framing, which tries to middle your face within the body. There’s a noticeable pan and zoom because the webcam adjusts to your face, and the “zoom” that happens to compensate for you stepping again from the digicam can pixelate your face barely. The webcam seems to be fixed-focus, too. The digicam doesn’t at all times observe your face precisely backward and forward, both. I’m undecided that auto framing is one thing that customers will at all times activate. Sometimes you merely have to lean out of body whereas sneezing, for instance, nevertheless it’s effort.

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 software program

Samsung bundles quite a lot of apps with the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 equivalent to Adobe Creative Cloud Express, Amazon’s Alexa, Clip Studio Paint, Disney+, Dolby Access, Google Duo, and plenty of extra. You’ll discover basic controls in Settings, together with the flexibility to alter efficiency modes. Security contains particular enhancements like the flexibility to obscure your display with “Secret Screen” or to see who has tried to log in together with your PC. Some of those are apparent crapware (Samsung TV Plus contains films you’ve by no means heard of and it ought to keep that manner), however some are value trying out.

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 inking expertise

As famous above, the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 contains an S Pen contained in the field, although with none holster to safe it. The inking expertise was surprisingly disappointing. The ink didn’t fairly “flow” from the nib, because it was off barely. The stress sensitivity appeared a bit arbitrary as properly. On one event, my vertical inked line jumped and joined one other, because the screenshot under signifies. On the opposite hand, the “jitter” or wiggle as I slowly inked was minimal. The one-button pen, nevertheless, doesn’t want batteries nor pairing for use.

The laptop computer additionally appeared to have some points being folded again. I used to be unable to call the Whiteboard file I used to check inking because the laptop computer apparently sensed a click on or enter some place else. That prevented keyboard to remain enabled for any size of time till I eliminated my fingers totally, then tried re-engaging it.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 efficiency

Our real-world checks point out the Samsung Galaxy Book2 performs admirably for a efficiency/content-creation laptop computer. We by no means seen any hiccups in workplace work. When we performed again a 4K streamed video at 120Hz, the laptop computer didn’t drop a single body in 10,000, indicating that even ultra-high-definition media ought to stream with out concern.

Our latest checks point out that basically every mainstream laptop is now a competent gaming machine for those who dial down the decision and high quality a bit and our informal gameplay checks present that’s true, too. We examined the identical video games — Forza Horizon 4 and Troy: A Total War Saga on the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 as we did on the 11th-gen Galaxy Book Pro 360.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Thin-and-light PCs do are inclined to undergo from thermal throttling, nevertheless, and the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is not any exception. We ran two separate checks. The first, Cinebench R23, contains an choice to run a single CPU take a look at in addition to the extended benchmark again and again. An identical stress take a look at for 3DMark’s Time spy benchmark measures whether or not or not the laptop computer can keep the identical body fee when a take a look at is run repeatedly. The questions these checks ask of the laptop computer: will efficiency degrade over the times and hours by which you utilize it? These checks point out that sure, for those who’re utilizing an intensive and extended workload, efficiency will deteriorate. Specifically, CPU efficiency dropped 12 % over time and our GPU efficiency benchmark maintained solely 87 % of the utmost body fee.

Fortunately, most individuals simply push a laptop computer to its most comparatively briefly. We use 4 predominant checks to measure efficiency: PCMark 10, Cinebench (R15), Handbrake, and 3DMark’s Time Spy take a look at. Given that it’s been a couple of quick months after we examined the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360, we had been in a position to take our assortment of thin-and-light PCs and tablets and evaluate them towards the newest providing, which is now powered by Intel’s 12th-gen “Alder Lake” processor. As you’ll see, that 12th-gen Core chip makes a big distinction!

We in contrast towards the 15-inch Samsung Galaxy Pro 360 5G, the 15-inch Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360, the 13-inch Surface Pro 8, and the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable, the HP Elite DragonFly Max, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano, and the Razer Book 13. We added the unreviewed Huawei Matebook X Pro, which isn’t being bought within the United States. We additionally included the $1,449 Lenovo Yoga 9i 14-inch, a second member of the brand new crop of Intel 12th-gen Core laptops, and the $1,099 Asus Vivobook Pro 15 OLED, a particularly engaging laptop computer on paper, however with some design decisions that threw us off.

We’re not together with the odd however intriguing Asus ROG Flow Z13 GZ301 right here.

One flaw of the Galaxy Book Pro 360 5G was its anemic SSD, which might maintain again the laptop computer’s general capabilities. Storage efficiency is now considerably quicker on this new technology.

PCMark 10 places a laptop computer by means of a battery of checks: phrase processing, Web looking, some CAD work, videoconferencing, and extra. It’s indicator of general efficiency throughout a wide range of duties.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Cinebench R15 is an older take a look at, pushing the entire cores and threads within the laptop computer’s CPU to their most. Later revisions of this benchmark use extra complicated scenes, however this take a look at is an effective illustration of how a laptop computer handles fast duties.

Mark Hachman / IDG

We use the Handbrake software to transcode a Hollywood film right into a format applicable for storing on a pill. The actual take a look at, nevertheless, is how properly the laptop computer performs over time, because the conversion course of pushes the entire cores to the restrict for a protracted interval — wherever from half an hour to 90 minutes. Again, it is a measurement of how properly the laptop computer can carry out underneath thermal load.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Our ultimate efficiency benchmark is the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark, which might be much less vital on condition that the laptop computer isn’t designed for gaming. Still, as our recent tests showed, even built-in GPUs can ship low-end “gaming-class” efficiency.

Mark Hachman / IDG

We got here in anticipating the a lot of the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 when it comes to battery life and we weren’t disenchanted. Battery life above 14 hours must be completely enough for a day of labor or perhaps a weekend away, watching films within the afternoon and night. However, battery life will likely be impacted by the show brightness, so we set the laptop computer at a stage enough for indoor use, then looped a 4K video till the machine died.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 conclusion

It’s nonetheless the early days for Intel’s 12th-gen Core laptops, although the positive factors over the 11th-gen {hardware} may be vital. Samsung continues to supply vibrant, extraordinarily mild laptops. However, the shows are an actual promoting level — battery life, too.

At this level, nevertheless, Lenovo’s Yoga 9i delivers on Samsung’s promise after which some, with a strong 12th-gen Core chip, a high-resolution (3,840 x 2,160) show possibility, and a superior keyboard. It additionally presents a 360-degree convertible chassis in addition to a comparatively comparable value level. To be truthful, although, Samsung’s 15.6-inch show is considerably bigger and it emphasizes inking with the included S Pen.

Samsung’s Galaxy Book Pro 360 5G convertible laptop computer included a 5G chip, which helped carve it out a viable area of interest as a tool for engaged on the go. The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 definitely improves upon that laptop computer’s efficiency, however I are inclined to grade laptops on usability, efficiency, battery life, and the show. The latter three stand out to some extent, however the keyboard is considerably lackluster. To me, that helps focus my conclusion. The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is an excellent laptop computer, however falls a bit wanting being an excellent one. Still, it clears the bar for a laptop computer we’d suggest to our readers and wins our Editors’ Choice award.