Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 review: A unique take on a 15-inch convertible with little competition

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Samsung is no stranger to Windows laptops, although it does accept a tough time sticking with one product line or naming scheme. I start brutal for its unusually light designs back in 2022, when I bought and reviewed the Samsung Notebook 9 fifteen Ext, and since then, the company has consistently created fun and unique ultra-mobile PCs.

For 2022, Samsung finally finds focus with its new Galaxy Book Pro line, which comes in a traditional laptop blueprint or a convertible "360" i in two dissimilar sizes.

This review focuses on the $1,500 Galaxy Book Pro 360 xv, which is now available to buy. With its gorgeous AMOLED brandish, fantabulous S Pen, and a surprisingly robust software suite, Samsung is playing for keeps. But the company also has some oversights that place it only out of attain of greatness. Luckily, its great pricing helps redeem it in the stop.

Lite, thin, and a pen

Samsung Milky way Book Pro 360 (15-inch)

Bottom line: The Galaxy Book Pro 360 is one of the simply sparse-and-light 15-inch convertible PCs on the market that as well has an excellent AMOLED display and inking experience. It's sharp-looking, fun to employ, and has operation when needed. Samsung is within reach of a perfect laptop design, but falls simply short.

Pros

• Outstanding AMOLED display
• First-class inking and convertible experience
• Sparse and lite with excellent functioning
• Decent bombardment life
• Useful Samsung software

Cons

• Awful webcam, mediocre speakers
• xvi:10 would have been a better brandish aspect
• Dim display
• Lots of fingerprints with 'Mystic Navy'
• Merely full Hd screen resolution

Jump to:

• Cost, availability, specs
• Design and features
• Brandish & Inking
• Performance and battery
• The Contest
• Should you buy?

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360: Price, availability, and specs

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 (and the non-360 model) is at present available from Samsung.com and Best Buy, with aircraft expected in late May and early June, depending on the configuration.

You tin can choose betwixt 13.three-inch and 15.6-inch models in either the "360" chassis (convertible) or traditional laptop design, which is $100 cheaper. There are options for Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processors. There is also a 5G pick, merely information technology is limited to the 13.three-inch Galaxy Volume Pro 360 model and is not expected to ship until later this summer.

Pricing starts at $999 for the thirteen.3-inch Galaxy Book Pro and $1,199 for the Galaxy Volume Pro 360. The xv.vi-inch model reviewed here ships with a Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD for $1,499.99.

Samsung allows trade-ins of phones, PCs, or tablets, which tin can offset a Galaxy Volume Pro/Pro 360 purchase up to $550 (although only the Samsung Tab S7+ qualifies for that cost point, with most devices falling well below that).

	Galaxy Volume Pro 360 13	Milky way Book Pro 360 15
Bone	Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro	Windows x Dwelling house Windows x Pro
Processor	11th Gen Intel Core i5 11th Gen Intel Cadre i7	11th Gen Intel Cadre i5 11th Gen Intel Core i7
RAM	Up to 16GB LPDDR4x	Up to 16GB LPDDR4x
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe	Intel Irs Xe
Storage	Up to 512GB NVMe SSD	Up to 1TB NVMe SSD
Display	13.three inches Super AMOLED 1920x1080 (FHD) Due south Pen for inking	15.half dozen inches Super AMOLED 1920x1080 (FHD) Due south Pen for inking
Ports	Thunderbolt iv Two USB-C 3.5mm audio microSD card reader 5G SIM (optional)	Thunderbolt 4 Two USB-C iii.5mm audio microSD card reader
Audio	AKG speakers Dolby Atmos	AKG speakers Dolby Atmos
Connectivity	5G (optional) Wi-Fi 6E Ready Bluetooth five.one	Wi-Fi 6E Set up Bluetooth five.ane
Photographic camera	Forepart-facing 720p	Front-facing 720p
Security	Fingerprint reader	Fingerprint reader
Battery	63Wh 65W Air-conditioning adapter	68Wh 65W AC adapter
Dimensions	11.9 10 vii.95 x 0.45 inches (302.5mm x 202mm x 11.5mm)	xiii.97 10 8.98 x 0.47 inches (354.85mm x 227.97mm x 11.9mm)
Weight	2.29 pounds (1.04kg)	3.06 pounds (1.39kg)
Color	Mystic Navy Mystic Bronze	Mystic Navy Mystic Statuary

An unusual combo

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360: Design and features

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 fifteen is an Intel-based convertible Ultrabook that includes a Samsung S Pen for inking and drawing. It features the standard Core i7-1165G7 U-serial processor, which is familiar to all 13-inch Ultrabooks and a few 15-inch models.

This laptop is Intel Evo certified, which means information technology has been especially tuned for instant-on, fast resume, Wi-Fi 6E, and longer than average bombardment life.

While the smaller 13.3-inch version has a lot of competition, the larger 15.6-inch model reviewed here is a rarity, as most laptops this size add in a detached NVIDIA GPU, which this laptop does non take. Instead, this is a slim, lightweight Ultrabook that can also be used with a pen. That difference ways the Galaxy Book Pro 360 fifteen is excellent for productivity but non ideal for serious gaming or video editing (though it can, of course, handle lighter loads in those categories).

Blueprint-wise, this is a very Samsung laptop. The color options – mystic bronze and blue – friction match its Galaxy phones and borrow a lot from its mobile phone division, which is a good thing. While mystic bluish looks dainty, it is very prone to paw oils, and fingerprints require frequent wipe downs to keep it looking as good as it does in these photos. If this is a concern, the lighter mystic bronze is a better choice. (Personally, I find the Galaxy Volume Flex's color and design more satisfying, and I wish Samsung would just update that model.)

At simply 3.06 pounds (1.39kg) and an incredible 11.9mm thin, the Galaxy Volume Pro 360 is extraordinarily light and portable, considering the 15.vi-inch touch on display.

Ports are limited to just three USB Type-C with one (on the left) reserved for the higher-performing Thunderbolt four. There is, even so, a MicroSD slot for multi-media and a philharmonic microphone/headphone jack. While a Blazon-A port would have been dainty, the laptop is too sparse to house one.

Two AKG speakers with Dolby Atomos software are on the lesser edge of the laptop. They are good speakers, simply their placement does not sound as good as pinnacle-firing designs and lacks resonance and bass. Companies like HP rightly put four speakers into their "360" laptops and pre-amp them, and then the audio is equally good in tablet way as in a standard laptop. Nevertheless, probable due to space concerns, Samsung faced severe limits in making this laptop so thin.

The keyboard is on the shallower side with only 1mm of travel (one.3mm is ideal). But thank you to the scissor mechanism and rubber dome design, it feels pretty skilful once you use it for a fiddling while. Samsung includes three-phase backlighting, which is done exceptionally well with slight light bleed (it too has a overnice fade effect). Information technology is worth noting that number pad lovers will be happy with the keyboard blueprint in the 15-inch too.

FYI: the mystic blue picks upwards fingerprints very easily. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

The trackpad is huge compared to other laptops in this class. It uses Microsoft Precision drivers and has a satisfying click with exceptional smoothness.

The 720P cam is pretty weak. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

The front end-facing 720P camera is arguably one of the worst I have used in a recent laptop, which is disappointing considering Samsung's full-blooded in camera optics. Images are blotchy and never sharp, making conference calls a depressing feel. There is likewise no face recognition to log into Windows ten, but Samsung offers a good fingerprint reader on the peak deck instead.

The all-metal chassis does have some flex to it, but it is zero outrageous. Because the thin design and goals of this laptop, it is acceptable. The bottom has a relatively large intake to cool the processor, and exhaust is expelled via the rear hinge area, giving a clean design. Indeed, the entire laptop can be described as elegant and professional looking with minimal and almost hidden Samsung branding.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Fundamental

Samsung includes an insane 28 of its own apps, services, and software tweaks in the Galaxy Volume Pro 360. The instinct is to phone call this "bloatware," but that would be a disservice. Samsung'southward software, which is frequently a 1:ane clone of what is institute on its popular Milky way phones, is a selling point for this laptop, not a negative. The apps include:

• Air Command
• Clip Studio
• Connect
• Milky way Book Feel
• Milky way Book Smart Switch
• Link Sharing
• Alive Message
• Alive Wallpaper
• Online Support (South Service)
• PENUP
• Quick Search
• Quick Share
• Samsung Bluetooth Sync
• Samsung Intendance+
• Samsung DeX
• Samsung Flow
• Samsung Gallery
• Samsung Notes
• Samsung PC Cleaner
• Samsung Recovery
• Samsung Security
• Samsung Settings
• Samsung Studio Plus
• Samsung TV Plus
• Samsung Update
• Samsung Vocalization Note
• Samsung Screen Recorder
• SmartThings

Information technology's … a lot. Just things like Samsung Security let you digitally lock the microphone and photographic camera and then the software cannot be used to spy on you. It can even email yous a movie of someone trying to hack your laptop (for existent). PENUP is a coloring app for adults, which lets you use the included S Pen in a fun and relaxing way. Apps like Gallery, Notes, TV Plus, Live Message, and Air Control are mirror images of Samsung's Milky way telephone apps and oft sync to them via your Samsung account. Live Wallpaper lets you choose premade wallpapers that slightly modify based on current atmospheric condition and whether it is twenty-four hour period or nighttime. It is all clever stuff that enhances the laptop experience. Of course, it tin all be uninstalled, too, should y'all notice information technology offensive.

It'south pretty great

Samsung Galaxy Volume Pro 360: Display and inking

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

If there is one big selling point of the Galaxy Volume Pro 360, it is Samsung's famed AMOLED brandish engineering. While AMOLED is common to TVs and now smartphones, it is unusual in laptops. Samsung has experimented in the past with Super AMOLED (sAMOLED) in its 2022 Milky way Book2, and QLED in Galaxy Book Flex, just used standard TFT in its recent Galaxy Book S.

AMOLED lives up to the hype. In our tests, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 delivers exceptional color representation with 100% sRGB, 85% AdobeRGB, and 96% DCI-P3 – all of which are way higher up average for this laptop grade. Samsung as well brings some clever tricks, likewise. For instance, like high-end HP laptops, the brandish tin automobile switch color profiles based on the awarding ("Intelligent Colour Engine"). So, Adobe RGB is used for photo editing, whereas when watching a picture, information technology'll go to DCI-P3 and use brilliant for everything else. Too, like HP, at that place is a "focus mode" that auto-dims the background to help extend battery life.

The Milky way Book Pro 360's display is striking and slightly disappointing at full HD and 16:9.

VESA DisplayHDR 500 is also supported, which makes movie watching a blast with a college contrast range. The screen also supports wide-color gamut (WCG) natively in Windows, including apps that support information technology. With "adaptive color," the laptop motorcar-adjusts the color based on lighting (this is unlike from motorcar-brightness, which is also an selection).

Simply there are trade-offs, too. This display only peaks at an unusually low 286-nits of maximum brightness (when set to 0%, the screen is an exceptionally dim 3.9 nits). Nigh laptops these days striking 400 nits, and Samsung's ain Milky way Book Flex with QLED peaks at 623 nits. Even so, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 is not too dim and, thanks to how AMOLED works with individually lit pixels, looks brighter than most laptops and is much more than consistent.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Another area of concern is the full Hd 1920 10 1080 resolution. While such a resolution is OK on a 13.3-inch screen, it pushes the limits on a xv.half-dozen-inch 1 where the AMOLED pixels become visible and text is more jagged than preferred. It is not bad, but a "2K" resolution at 1440p would have been an excellent heart footing. As a plus, the full HD does help increase graphics performance and extend battery life.

Like Samsung's TVs, the Galaxy Volume Pro 360 has a glossy screen, only due to the design, it reflects much darker than an LCD, giving pleasing results and much lower reflectivity than similar laptops.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Cardinal

The included S Pen is outstanding. Although Samsung'south pen technology in laptops is non as widely used every bit Wacom AES or Northward-trig (Surface), I'd argue that it'south the best feeling for latency and accuracy as a casual user. The S Pen doesn't even need batteries or charging. The downside is considering the S Pen is now ii.5x thicker, which is excellent for ergonomics, there is no place to silo it like with the Milky way Book Flex. Instead, it tin stick to the lid with some magnets, but it being black makes it extremely easy to lose in a bag.

For those who also have a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 (or Note 20 Ultra 5G), the Due south Pens are interchangeable and piece of work beyond devices, which is a nice bonus.

Meliorate than boilerplate

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360: Performance and battery

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Operation is incredibly good with the Galaxy Volume Pro 360, only it also depends on how you use it.

Samsung worked closely with Intel to maximize the Core i7-1165G7, and it can accomplish some great results. With a key combo (FN + F11), you can toggle between No Fan, Silent, Optimized, and Loftier Operation modes. These modes are independent of the Windows 10 battery slider found on regular laptops.

No Fan mode is exactly that and is the start time I have seen information technology in a Core i7 laptop. The laptop gets warmer than usual (though never hot), and functioning is throttled (multi-core performance is halved), but it is a fantastic pick for Microsoft Word or when you desire to focus on a task and do non want any noise. Silent way lets the fan come on, only only slightly. Optimized is the default and enables the system to find a residue betwixt work and comfort. The high-performance mode takes the gloves off and lets the fans roar to the max. Information technology works, too, as this Core i7 edges out other laptops with the aforementioned CPU.

In regular burrow surfing usage (web, email, Twitter, Telegram, Slack, watching videos) and in Optimized mode, the Galaxy Book Pro 360's fans were occasionally used, merely never obnoxious. The laptop also kept temperatures in check, and there were no hot spots.

SSD operation is average (2,295 MB/s and 1,234 MB/s sequential read and write), only nothing groundbreaking either, which is odd considering Samsung makes some of the all-time (and fastest) SSDs available. The 1TB Samsung PM991a also falls well below that of Galaxy Book Flex with a PM981 SSD. While PCIe 4.0 would have been overnice, information technology tends to run extremely hot making it a bad fit for this chassis.

Battery life is quite skilful cheers to the rather big 68WHr bombardment (Surface Laptop 4 just has a 46WHr ane). When fix to Samsung'south 'optimal' performance mode and using the Galaxy Book Pro 360 for light to medium work, information technology averaged around x hours xxx minutes on a full charge. Samsung includes a tiny but mighty, Super Fast Charging-enabled 65W AC adapter in the box. It can deliver "8 hours" of battery life in just 30 minutes of charging, which is excellent when in a pinch.

What else is out in that location?

Samaung Milky way Book Pro 360: The competition

LG gram 17 (2021). Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Cardinal

There is not a lot that directly competes with the Galaxy Book Pro 360 xv-inch equally most laptops with that display size feature a 35+ watt CPU and usually a discrete NVIDIA GPU. Fewer are convertibles that support inking, and even fewer of those have a full number pad on the keyboard.

The LG gram series runs in all unlike sizes, including thirteen, 14, fifteen, 16, and the Gram 17-inch. They are all in the same class as the Galaxy Book Pro 360, albeit non-convertible and without inking. The exception is the older (and more often than not out of stock) LG gram fourteen, which is a convertible and weighs but 2.53lbs. The newer (though hard to find) 2022 LG gram 16 16T90P is as well a convertible with an i7-1165G7 processor and features a preferable 16:x display for around $1,600.

Few laptops directly compete with the Galaxy Book Pro 360 15-inch, which is noteworthy.

Lenovo has the Yoga 91 14, which has a 14-inch full Hard disk drive screen as the name implies, but it is besides a overnice convertible with like specs every bit Samsung.

The HP Spectre x360 15 is also a worthy alternative, simply it's of a different grade with a 16.9 4K UHD OLED brandish, Intel H-series CPU, and GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU. Information technology also weighs 4.23 lbs (1.91kg), with pricing starting around $ane,250.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop four does support inking merely is a non-convertible laptop with similar specs. It has better audio and a higher resolution display, and the 15-inch is a like class equally the Galaxy Book Pro 360 15 just with an AMD Ryzen CPU.

Finally, Samsung has the Milky way Volume Flex with an excellent QLED screen, Qi charger in the trackpad, siloed pen, and a gorgeous pattern. Samsung also has the Galaxy Book Flex Blastoff, Galaxy Volume Flex2 Alpha, but just in xiii.3-inch models.

Meet our recommendations for best xv-inch laptops for more than ideas.

Room to grow

Should yous purchase the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360?

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Who it's for

• Those who want an uncommonly low-cal and thin 15-inch Windows laptop
• Owners of a Samsung Galaxy smartphone who need a laptop
• People who dear number pads
• Those who need a productivity PC for schoolhouse, work, or leisure
• People who want a 15-inch convertible laptop that supports inking

Who it isn't for

• People who need a discrete NVIDIA GPU (video editors, gaming)
• People who prefer 16:x displays
• You lot piece of work outdoors, need a bright screen
• You want loud speakers, groovy sounding sound
• You demand long battery life

Samsung has brought some other unique laptop to the increasingly crowded PC infinite, which is no piece of cake chore. The 15-inch Galaxy Volume Pro 360 has few competitors and fills an heady gap in the laptop market; namely, super light/thin convertible laptops that also get good battery life and performance.

Samsung has done very well here, but it tin practice so much more than too.

Samsung leans heavily on its AMOLED screen technology, as information technology should. It'southward a very color-accurate display that matches LG's LCD screens for color accurateness to no 1'southward surprise. The S Pen is fun to use, and while Samsung has a lot of pre-installed apps, they enhance the experience of this laptop, particularly if yous already have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Indeed, if you lot already own a Galaxy smartphone, grabbing this laptop is the closest y'all can get to Apple'south ain tightly tied ecosystem. Betwixt the shared photos, power to sync, Notes, SmartThings, S Pen experience, and usage of a Samsung Business relationship, there is a lot of device interaction. Even Samsung'southward Buds works better with an automobile-connect feature tied to the enhanced Bluetooth pairing ability.

Samsung'due south fingerprint reader is proficient. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Just the Galaxy Volume Pro 360 also has some missed opportunities, well-nigh notably the brandish aspect ratio. In 2022, I wrote how the industry needs to shift to 3:2 and since then, Dell, HP, and Lenovo have all slowly pushed towards information technology and 16:x. The Galaxy Volume Pro 360 doesn't make sense at 16:9 and xv.6-inches. When used as a tablet for inking, information technology is very tall and narrow, whereas 3:ii devices friction match a newspaper-based notepad experience perfectly.

Additional complaints fall to audio, where lesser-firing speakers are never ideal, and the terrible webcam is below what Samsung is capable of doing. And while full HD helps with that battery life, a 1440p "2K" option for 15.six-inches would exist a much better feel, specially since many laptops are pushing 4K UHD at this size.

Overall, though, Samsung has created non only a peachy-looking laptop with some notable features like fanless style, simply it does and so at a highly competitive price, making it an easy laptop to recommend. Plus, if you don't need the convertible form factor, you can save $100 and go the standard non-360 design.

Samsung Milky way Volume Pro 360

If you lot need a super-thin laptop that is likewise a convertible, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 is for you. There is a lot to like coming in 13 or 15-inch models with optional 5G (13-inch), featuring AMOLED displays, large batteries, and weighs less than 3lbs. Samsung's Southward Pen is also included.

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro

Samsung'southward new laptops are less than 12mm sparse, pack AMOLED displays, Intel processors, and have all the latest tech on board. Choose either 13 or 15-inch models in mystic blueish or silverish. They start shipping on May 14.

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