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MagyarSamsung Galaxy Book 12 Convertible Review (First Impressions)
After the Galaxy Tab Pro S from 2016, there is now new hardware for ultra-mobile users from Samsung. The Galaxy Book will be available as 10 and 12-inch model and is supposed to a productive companion thanks to Windows 10. Samsung confirms this orientation as a productive device, because the Galaxy Book is always bundled with the Keyboard Cover and the new S Pen. There is no definitive information about the price or the launch date, but we heard a release date in the end of the second quarter 2017 (June, July) and a price range of ~1,500 Euros behind closed doors.
Samsung's Galaxy Book 12 is therefore competing with the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, which currently retails for around 1,250 Euros in the smallest spec with Intel Core i5 CPU (4 GB, 128 GB SSD) including input pen and keyboard cover. However, Microsoft's device is still equipped with Intel Skylake CPUs, while Samsung already uses the latest 7th Gen chips (Kaby Lake).
Following another concept, but similarly priced, you can also see convertibles like Dell's latest XPS 13 2-in-1 or the Lenovo Yoga 910 as potential rivals.
Case
The Galaxy Book 12 is basically a Windows tablet shipping with an attachable keyboard cover as well as an input pen, and the result is a very portable 2-in-1 device. The tablet is made of aluminum and does not reveal any weaknesses in terms of build quality or stability in the first hands-on. At just 7.4 millimeters, the tablet is conveniently slim. However, the usual scenario will most likely include the keyboard cover, so you can rarely enjoy the excellent haptics of the tablet.
The keyboard dock has a rubberized surface with a velvety feel, which also prevents accidental slipping of the device. The cover can be folded behind the display and fixed in two stand positions with different angles via magnet. Due to the system design, you should use it on a solid surface if possible.
The size of the chassis is almost identical to the Galaxy Tab Pro S from 2016, but the new Galaxy Book is about one millimeter thicker. This is a result of the upgraded CPU since the new Samsung Galaxy Book is equipped with an Intel Core i5 CPU and active cooling solution, while the Tab Pro S used a passively cooled Core-M CPU.
Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 does not really differ in terms of size, either, but the passively cooled Huawei MateBook is more compact. Notebooks with 360-degree hinges like the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 or the Lenovo Yoga 910 on the other hand are noticeably larger and thicker.
Input Devices & Display
Samsung uses a 12-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels and HDR support. We noticed the AMOLED typical rich colors right away, just like the wide viewing angles.
The keyboard was inconspicuous in our first test, and it should even be suited for longer typing sessions. We were eager to try the new S Pen in combination with the Galaxy Book 12. The passive stylus feels good in the hand and enables satisfying handwritten inputs thank to the support for 1024 pressure levels. Notes and sketches worked well based on our initial experiences, but the precision might not be quite sufficient for professional graphics scenarios. Samsung also offers an optional stylus with the classic Staedtler design.
Performance
Samsung will only offer the Galaxy Book 12 with the Intel Core i5-7200U based on the information we have so far. This means you can only influence the amount of memory (4 or 8 GB) as well as the storage capacity (128 or 256 GB). The pre-production unit on display was therefore the top-tier spec.
Processor
The Samsung Galaxy Book 12 manages a score of 326 points in the first Cinebench R15 Multi run. The system is therefore on par with similarly equipped notebooks and convertibles. We also ran a loop of the test and noticed a performance decrease of roughly 10 % after three runs. It seems that Samsung cannot utilize the full potential of the Core i5 processor over longer periods, at least in the case of the pre-production sample.
The pre-production unit with the i5-7200U is roughly on par with i7-6500U equipped rivals in the comparison of Cinebench scores (one run). The previous Galaxy Tab Pro S with the Core M3 is easily beaten and we can see impressive advantages between 40-60%.
Storage Devices
The storage solution (Samsung MZNTY256HDHP) of our pre-production sample has a capacity of 256 GB and manages good results in CrystalDiskMark, but cannot compete with PCIe-NVMe based solutions on the XPS 13 or the Lenovo Yoga 910, for instance.
| Samsung Galaxy Book 12 | Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro S W700N Lite-On CV1-8B128 | Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Core i7 Samsung MZFLV256 NVMe | Dell XPS 13-9365 2-in-1 Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK | Lenovo Yoga 910-13IKB-80VF004CGE Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 3.0 | -35% | 16% | 54% | 86% | |
| Read Seq | 488.3 | 419.8 -14% | 834 71% | 1206 147% | 1412 189% |
| Write Seq | 494.6 | 162.9 -67% | 304 -39% | 629 27% | 578 17% |
| Read 512 | 411.4 | 298.7 -27% | 396.7 -4% | 966 135% | 701 70% |
| Write 512 | 296.8 | 160.9 -46% | 304.3 3% | 410.7 38% | 580 95% |
| Read 4k | 35.04 | 27.49 -22% | 40.75 16% | 32.93 -6% | 43.5 24% |
| Write 4k | 94.7 | 48.44 -49% | 106.3 12% | 121.2 28% | 159.7 69% |
| Read 4k QD32 | 258.1 | 236.2 -8% | 393.1 52% | 411 59% | 570 121% |
| Write 4k QD32 | 244.8 | 135 -45% | 292.3 19% | 250.2 2% | 488.7 100% |
GPU Performance
The graphics performance of the Samsung Galaxy Book 12 takes a big leap over the predecessor. Compared to the Tab Pro S from 2016, we can see an advantage of 60% in 3DMark 11. This is still not sufficient for demanding games, and we also have to check the performance under sustained workloads, but casual games are still possible.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 1710 points | |
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System Noise
The system fan stayed in the background, even when we really stressed the system. It was basically not audible while idling.
Verdict
We like the fact that Samsung will only sell a bundle of the Galaxy Book 12 with the Keyboard Case and the S Pen stylus. You can only use all the advantages of the system with these accessories. The display leaves a good initial impression, just like inputs via keyboard and the S Pen. We will have to see how Samsung will optimize the performance of the final product in relation to the emissions. The battery runtime will be another important factor for potential buyers. The overall package needs to be very convincing at a rumored retail price of around 1,500 Euros.
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