Samsung Galaxy Book S recensione
Samsung Galaxy Book S recensione - Samsung Galaxy Book S isn't a notebook for everyone, but this really shouldn't surprise us. The market is dotted with products suitable for specific niches, defined audiences and completely different needs. The PC for everyone does not exist. Hardware manufacturers therefore find themselves having to adopt a single strategy: offer different products that can meet the needs of any type of user.
So what is the target of Galaxy Book S? Who thought Samsung when it decided to bring a processor-based notebook to Italy Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx? Let's try to answer in this review.
Samsung Galaxy Book S review: the video
Light as a feather
The first thing you will notice about the Samsung Galaxy Book S is the coloring. In fact, this laptop arrived on the Italian market in a single variant: Earthy Gold. A mix between gold and pink that is truly captivating and certainly unique, enough to distinguish the notebook from the rest of the competition. We liked it very much but it is evident that it is not for everyone. It would probably have been wiser to offer a traditional alternative, namely the Mercury Gray that we find instead in American stores. If in some way it can console lovers of classic colors, know that most of the time the laptop will look practically gray.
However, the fascinating Earthy Gold is not the only element that has caught our attention. In fact, Samsung Galaxy Book S is striking for its low weight: only 961 grams. Less than 1 kg.
The notebook is also very thin, with a thickness ranging from 6 to 11 mm.
Carrying this laptop is really a breeze. You will feel like you don't even have it in your backpack.
Finally, the build quality is also excellent. The anodized aluminum body is very solid, there are no unpleasant creaks and you won't struggle to open it with just one finger.
What about connectivity? We have available two USB-C connectors - both of which can be used to charge the device -, a 3,5mm jack and the slot for the SIM and the microSD. In addition, inside the box, you will find a small USB-C to USB-A adapter, ideal for those who need to connect additional peripherals or any external hard drives.
Let's open Galaxy Book S: display and keyboard
Samsung Galaxy Book S shows a 13,3-inch TFT display, touch and Full HD resolution. The yield is really excellent: the contrast is excellent, the color rendering more than satisfactory and the brightness is more than good, with a maximum value of 380 nit. It tends to reflect light a little, but nothing really troubling.
Too bad there is not included an S-Pen to interact with the screen. It would have been an interesting plus but the choice is understandable: using a stylus with a product that does not rotate 360 ° probably would have been more inconvenient than useful.
Instead, I would like to point out the presence of a small camera which captures images a 720p. Nothing surprising but it guarantees really good quality during video calls.
Accompanied by a blue LED that indicates when it is active. Instead, a shutter that allows you to obscure it is missing as well as support for Windows Hello. This means that you will not be able to unlock the PC with face recognition but on the other hand the power key includes a fingerprint reader. Definitely safer.
This brings us to the keyboard with which we have developed a complex relationship of love and hate. On the one hand the lower surface, rough to the touch, offers an excellent grip, which allows you to use it with ease in any situation. On the other we find keys with a very short stroke, about 1 mm. It is not uncomfortable but you will have to make a little effort to get used to it.
Not particularly exciting is the backlight. You will only notice it in the darkest environments because it is really very faint. Sure, this means it will be there for you when you really need it, but don't count on it too much when you're in a dimly lit environment.
Finally we come to the trackpad that is large, fast and responsive. Attention only to the right button: to obtain this result you will have to press in the bottom corner.
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Samsung Galaxy Book S Review: What Can I Do About It?
Samsung Galaxy Book S it is an unusual notebook. In fact, under the body we find the processor Snapdragon 8cx, a SoC (System-on-Chip) developed by Qualcomm and dedicated to notebooks.
The basic idea is quite simple: to bring the main qualities of smartphones to laptops.
This means that Galaxy Book S was born to be always soon all'uso. It will only take a few moments to turn it on and use it, whether you have turned it off or hibernated the system.
Qualcomm's experience is also reflected in the autonomy of this laptop. You won't have to worry about running out of energy throughout the day. With heavy use it will cover 8 hours to get to 16 hours with mild use. To recharge it then just any USB-C cable, the same as the smartphone.
Finally, let's not forget connectivity. You just need a SIM to stay operational even away from WiFi, receiving emails and messages wherever you are. Just remember to activate a data plan that has enough GB.
All these elements, combined with the small size and weight, make it perfect for mobility. You can take it and use it anywhere: on a plane, on a train, in a bar, at home or in the office.
What is the limit? Compatibility. The choice to adopt a Snapdragon 8cx processor leads us to have a Windows 10 on ARM PC. This means that it is developed on a different architecture than what Intel and AMD have accustomed us to. On paper it can offer important performances, certainly superior to its predecessor, but not all programs are compatible with this architecture. We, for example, couldn't install the Adobe suite and use good old Photoshop.
However, we have not had any problems with many of the programs that are used to work today. We are talking about Microsoft Office, Outlook, Slack, Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex.
Then nothing prevents you from using it for multimedia. Netflix, Disney +, Kindle and Prime Video work perfectly. By the way Samsung Galaxy Book S can rely on an excellent audio sector. On the lower part we find 2 speakers, optimized by AKG and positioned on the curved part of the body, a solution that leaves them free and uncovered even when you lean on a table, a desk or on your legs. The sound is powerful, clear and delivers convincing bass.
The technical data sheet of Samsung Galaxy Book S
Before drawing the necessary conclusions, let's see the main technical characteristics of this laptop.
Operating system: Windows 10 Home
Display: 13,3 pollici – TFT – FUll HD – Touch
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
RAM: 8 GB LPDDR4X
Memory: 256 GB (expandable with microSD)
Camera: 720p
Connectivity: LTE, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: 2x USB-C, jack da 3,5 mm
Battery: 42 Wh
Dimensions: 305.2 x 203.2 x 6.2-11.8 mm
Weight: 961 grams
Samsung Galaxy Book S review: who is it for?
We've been mistreating Galaxy Book S for several days, trying to figure out who it was suitable for. This notebook, available at the recommended price of 1.099 €, offers great portability, excellent autonomy and the ability to connect anywhere. All elements that, in our opinion, make it especially suitable to those who work and travel a lot. However, you don't have to have a job that revolves around very heavy applications. No Adobe suite, no 3D rendering, no design. But if you spend your hours between emails, documents and meetings, Samsung Galaxy Book S will really satisfy you.
The notebook can also adapt to the students looking for a product that does not weigh in their backpack or bag, that allows them to review their notes and search for information even while alone in the park and that can hold up 8 hours of lessons without batting an eye. Sure, you can't play it, but if you're not a PC gamer, that's not going to make a difference.
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Pro 
- Light and thin
- Good display
- Always connected
- Autonomy above average
Cons 
- Not all programs are compatible
