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Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N (i5-7200U, FHD) Laptop Review

Lightest and brightest 13-inch Ultrabook. The Notebook 9 series continues to impress with yet another super lightweight offering for $1000 USD. The 13-inch notebook omits a few key features compared to more popular alternatives, but some can be easily overlooked for the everyday user.

After walking away impressed by the unsung 15.0-inch Notebook 9 NP900X5N, we wanted to check out the smaller 13.3-inch NP900X3N variant to see how the design fares in the subnotebook category. The Samsung NP900X3N has heavy competition from more well-known 13-inch flagships including the super-thin HP Spectre 13, versatile Lenovo Yoga 910 convertible, super-sleek Asus Zenbook 3, popular Dell XPS 13, and affordable Acer Aspire S 13.

Only two SKUs exist for the 13-inch Samsung that include either the i5-7200U CPU with 8 GB of RAM for $1000 USD or the i7-7500U with 16 GB of RAM for $1200 USD. The 256 GB SSD, FHD IPS display, and integrated HD Graphics 620 are otherwise identical between the two options. We recommend checking out our existing review page on the 15-inch NP900X5N since the NP900X3N utilizes the same materials and visual design.

Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US (Notebook 9 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-7200U 2 x 2.5 - 3.1 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 620, Core: 300 MHz, Memory: 1067 MHz, DDR4, 21.20.16.4541
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4, 1066.7 MHz, 10-10-10-28, Dual-Channel
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, ID: BOE06E1, Name: NV133FHB-N31, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U Premium PCH
Storage
Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP, 256 GB 
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo, Card Reader: MicroSD reader, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 14 x 309 x 208 ( = 0.55 x 12.17 x 8.19 in)
Battery
30 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Additional features
Speakers: 1.5 W stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Quick Start guide, Samsung Software Suite, Samsung PC Cleaner, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
817 g ( = 28.82 oz / 1.8 pounds), Power Supply: 114 g ( = 4.02 oz / 0.25 pounds)
Price
1000 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

It can't be understated how incredibly lightweight the NP900X3N is. At just around 820 g, the notebook is several hundred grams lighter than other popular 13-inch Ultrabooks including the XPS 13 and Yoga 910 as shown by our comparison chart below. Perhaps the closest competitor is the 13-inch LG Gram or Zenbook 3, but even the LG alternative is about 100 grams heavier than our Samsung. This weight advantage alone is a vital highlight of the NP900X3N for anyone needing a very lightweight notebook when traveling.

With weight out of the way, the visual design of the NP900X3N is arguably more subdued and less embellished than the flagships from Dell, Lenovo, or HP. The chassis is a dull matte gray from top to bottom with rounded off edges and corners compared to the sharper chrome-cut looks of the Zenbook 3, Spectre 13, or Huawei Matebook X. Even the older NP900X3C series had a unique dark Blue color scheme with chrome-cut edges and corners for added flare. This is completely subjective, of course, but we believe that Samsung is capable of designing something more visually enticing if the attractive Galaxy smartphones are anything to go by. To the notebook's credit, its roughened metal surfaces deter fingerprints quite well compared to other notebooks.

Chassis quality is thankfully above average despite the light weight. Twisting the front corners of the base results in minimal audible creaking and warping that shouldn't be any cause for concern. Less impressive are the palm rests and keyboard center where the surfaces will warp when applying moderate pressure. These same areas on the XPS 13 or Spectre 13 are firmer and don't feel as hollow as on the Samsung for a stabler impression.

We criticized the larger 15-inch NP900X5N for its flexible lid and this still holds true on the 13-inch variant to a smaller extent. The smaller display size lends itself to improved rigidity over the NP900X5N to be similar to the lid of the Yoga 910 convertible. The lids of the XPS 13 and MacBook Pro 13 are less prone to flexing and so the Samsung can feel a little weak to those who are accustomed to the sturdier Dell or Apple notebooks.

As for size, the Samsung is slightly thinner than the Yoga 910, XPS 13, and MacBook Pro 13 while being thicker than the "world's thinnest" Spectre 13. The very narrow bezels also give the notebook similar dimensions to the Dell albeit at a significantly lighter and less dense chassis. The Samsung doesn't feel as substantial as a result, though this isn't necessarily a knock to its quality or construction. Like the Spectre x360 13 series, Samsung has preserved the front-facing camera placement on the top edge of the display instead of the less favorable bottom edge.

Lid can open up to 180 degrees. Note the ventilation grilles along the edge
Lid can open up to 180 degrees. Note the ventilation grilles along the edge
Display suffers from no teetering when typing. However, the hinge becomes weak at wider angles
Display suffers from no teetering when typing. However, the hinge becomes weak at wider angles
327 mm / 12.9 inch 228 mm / 8.98 inch 14.6 mm / 0.575 inch 1.3 kg2.8 lbs323 mm / 12.7 inch 224.5 mm / 8.84 inch 14.3 mm / 0.563 inch 1.4 kg3.04 lbs325 mm / 12.8 inch 229 mm / 9.02 inch 10.4 mm / 0.4094 inch 1.1 kg2.45 lbs309 mm / 12.2 inch 208 mm / 8.19 inch 14 mm / 0.551 inch 817 g1.801 lbs304 mm / 12 inch 201 mm / 7.91 inch 15 mm / 0.591 inch 1.2 kg2.71 lbs304.1 mm / 12 inch 212.4 mm / 8.36 inch 14.9 mm / 0.587 inch 1.4 kg3.02 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The NP900X3N features the same ports as the NP900X5N but with one less USB 3.0 Type-A port along the right edge. The most notable difference is that the USB Type-C port has been reduced to Gen. 1 speeds (5 Gbps) compared to having full Thunderbolt 3 support on the NP900X5N. This puts the 13-inch Samsung in the same disadvantageous position as the Aspire S 13, Yoga 910, and Zenbook 3 when compared to the Thunderbolt-enabled XPS 13, Matebook X, and Spectre 13. Nonetheless, the presence of the increasingly uncommon full-size USB and HDMI ports is definitely appreciated.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Right: MicroSD reader, USB 3.0, HDMI
Right: MicroSD reader, USB 3.0, HDMI
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Left: AC adapter, USB 3.0, USB Type-C Gen. 1, 3.5 mm combo audio
Left: AC adapter, USB 3.0, USB Type-C Gen. 1, 3.5 mm combo audio

SD Card Reader

The spring-loaded MicroSD reader on the NP900X3N performs essentially the same as the MicroSD reader on the larger NP900X5N when using our Toshiba THN-M401S0640E2 test card. Full-size SDXC readers like the one on the XPS 13 can have faster transfer rates.

A fully inserted MicroSD card will actually sit deeper than the edge of the notebook for safe carrying. Unfortunately, this also means that users with larger fingers may have a harder time inserting and removing the card.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
 
107.8 MB/s +60%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
 
68.7 MB/s +2%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
 
67.4 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
 
250.6 MB/s +184%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
 
88.1 MB/s
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
 
86.5 MB/s -2%

Communication

WLAN is provided by a soldered Intel 8265 M.2 2216 module for 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity. We were able to record a real-world transfer rate of 668 Mbps when standing one meter away from our Linksys EA8500 test router compared to its advertised theoretical of 867 Mbps. Our unit exhibited no notable connectivity issues during testing.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
663 MBit/s +28%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
575 MBit/s +11%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
517 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
668 MBit/s
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
525 MBit/s -21%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
485 MBit/s -27%

Accessories

There are no accessories outside of a generic Windows 10 Quick Start guide. We would have appreciated a USB Type-C to mDP adapter or even a small cleaning cloth in the box.

Maintenance

The bottom panel comes off easily with just a Philips screwdriver and sharp edge to reveal all the core components of the notebook. It becomes apparent why the system is so incredibly light judging by the very small motherboard, short copper heat pipe, and the ample hollow space surrounding the battery.

Easy serviceability
Easy serviceability

Warranty

The standard one-year limited manufacturer warranty applies.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Samsung has transcribed the feel of the spill-resistant keyboard from the 15-inch NP900X5N perfectly onto the 13-inch NP900X3N. Keys have the same crisp tactile feedback for a satisfying typing experience that bests the Yoga 910 and especially the Zenbook 3 in key depth. Clatter, however, is still louder than on the XPS 13 or Lenovo AccuType keyboards and the diminutive Arrow keys are far too cramped.

The keyboard backlight includes three levels of brightness intensity in the same subdued teal-green color as on the NP900X5N and older NP900X3C. The ambient light sensor automatically toggles the backlight by default. Unlike on the whiter and more reflective Spectre x360, the grayer matte color scheme of the Samsung contrasts a bit better with the lettering on each key.

Touchpad

The multi-touch clickpad (10.0 x 6.0 cm) is about the same size as the ones on the Zenbook 3 (10.5 x 6.1 cm) and XPS 13 (10.5 x 6.0 cm) but smaller than the one on the Spectre 13 (12.0 x 6.0 cm). Its surface is completely smooth in contrast to the slightly roughened palm rests for a better glide. Cursor control is responsive with no jitters for excellent reliability.

The integrated mouse keys are shallow in travel but with firm feedback when pressed. It's not spongy unlike on many other clickpads at the cost of a louder and more audible "click".

No dedicated column of PgUp or PgDn keys
No dedicated column of PgUp or PgDn keys
Keys feel almost exactly the same as on the 900X5N
Keys feel almost exactly the same as on the 900X5N

Display

Our glossy 1080p IPS display is the sole option for the NP900X3N whereas other Ultrabooks may have QHD or 4K UHD SKUs. Touchscreen capabilities have also been completely omitted since such panels would have likely required glass overlays. In this case, the manufacturer is choosing to sacrifice touchscreens and higher resolutions in order to keep both weight and costs in check even though a pane of Gorilla Glass would have probably improved the rigidity of the lid. This particular NV133FHB panel from BOE can be found on no other notebooks currently in our database.

Display quality is still excellent and incredibly crisp due to the thin and glossy outer layer. Response times are adequate and contrast is respectable at a measured 774:1, though many competing Ultrabooks offer higher contrast ratios for potentially deeper black levels.

The defining feature of the screen is the "Outdoor mode" toggle not unlike on the larger NP900X5N. With just a push of a button, the screen can be as bright as a claimed 550 nits for better outdoor visibility. Our own independent measurements show a real-world maximum of about 510 nits, but most other Ultrabooks top out at around 350 nits and are still significantly dimmer than the Samsung at its brightest. The maximum backlight brightness drops to about 368 nits if "Outdoor mode" is toggled off, but this is still more than sufficient for indoor ambient conditions.

The screen suffers from no graininess issues that are commonly present on cheaper matte displays. Very slight uneven backlight bleeding is present around the edges and corners of our test unit that is only barely noticeable during movie playback.

Unfortunately, we can detect the exact same PWM behavior on the NP900X3N as on the larger NP900X5N. As explained in our NP900X5N review, there is obvious PWM on all brightness levels except when at 100 percent brightness and when "Outdoor mode" is toggled on. Most users may not notice with the naked eye, but users who are sensitive to onscreen flickering may want to avoid both the 13-inch and 15-inch Samsung notebooks.

Very slight uneven backlight bleeding
Very slight uneven backlight bleeding
Subpixel array (166 PPI)
Subpixel array (166 PPI)
472
cd/m²
507.9
cd/m²
488.3
cd/m²
469.7
cd/m²
510.7
cd/m²
463.4
cd/m²
457.3
cd/m²
498.4
cd/m²
458.5
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
ID: BOE06E1, Name: NV133FHB-N31 tested with X-Rite i1Basic Pro 2
Maximum: 510.7 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 480.7 cd/m² Minimum: 7.17 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 510.7 cd/m²
Contrast: 774:1 (Black: 0.66 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.4 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
88.1% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
57% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
64% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
88.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
63.4% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.23
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
ID: BOE06E1, Name: NV133FHB-N31, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
CMN1374, IPS UWVA, 13.30, 1920x1080
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Sharp SHP1449 LQ133M1, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017
APPA033, IPS, 13.30, 2560x1600
Lenovo Yoga 910-13IKB-80VF004CGE
AU Optronics AUO323D / B139HAN03.2, IPS, 13.90, 3840x2160
Display
1%
-20%
35%
-0%
Display P3 Coverage
63.4
64.6
2%
48.94
-23%
99.2
56%
62.2
-2%
sRGB Coverage
88.6
88.8
0%
73.3
-17%
99.9
13%
90.1
2%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
64
64.8
1%
50.5
-21%
87.1
36%
63.5
-1%
Response Times
-4%
12%
6%
9%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
41.6 ?(22.8, 18.8)
46 ?(26, 20)
-11%
32.8 ?(16, 16.8)
21%
42.8 ?(22.4, 20.4)
-3%
46 ?(14, 32)
-11%
Response Time Black / White *
34 ?(20, 14)
33 ?(21, 12)
3%
33.2 ?(10.8, 22.4)
2%
28.8 ?(14.8, 14)
15%
24 ?(6, 18)
29%
PWM Frequency
210.1 ?(99)
Screen
-26%
-30%
29%
-49%
Brightness middle
510.7
404
-21%
351.2
-31%
588
15%
348
-32%
Brightness
481
382
-21%
325
-32%
561
17%
310
-36%
Brightness Distribution
90
91
1%
89
-1%
92
2%
80
-11%
Black Level *
0.66
0.35
47%
0.195
70%
0.45
32%
0.25
62%
Contrast
774
1154
49%
1801
133%
1307
69%
1392
80%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.4
5.37
-124%
7.4
-208%
1.7
29%
7.86
-228%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
7.3
9.46
-30%
9.08
-24%
3.5
52%
13.43
-84%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.4
6.44
-168%
6.71
-180%
1.9
21%
8.25
-244%
Gamma
2.23 99%
2.52 87%
2.74 80%
2.33 94%
2.05 107%
CCT
6747 96%
6738 96%
7222 90%
6738 96%
6834 95%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
57
58
2%
50.48
-11%
77.92
37%
58
2%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
88.1
89
1%
73.31
-17%
99.94
13%
90
2%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-10% / -18%
-13% / -23%
23% / 27%
-13% / -31%

* ... smaller is better

Color space is approximately 57 percent and 88 percent of the AdobeRGB and sRGB standards, respectively, to be similar to the Chi Mei panel on the Spectre 13 and AU Optronics panel on the Yoga 910. The gamut should be more than sufficient for everyday browsing and office loads, but users who demand full sRGB coverage may want to consider the IGZO panels on certain XPS and Razer notebooks or the MacBook Pro 13 instead.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. XPS 13 FHD
vs. XPS 13 FHD

Further measurements with an X-Rite spectrophotometer reveal accurate colors and grayscale out of the box with an average DeltaE of 2.4 each. Our calibration efforts improved the display even more with measurably better grays and colors against the sRGB standard. Colors will still become increasingly inaccurate at higher saturation levels due to the panel's imperfect sRGB coverage. Interestingly, the panel has more difficulty reproducing the color Red than all the other tested primary and secondary colors.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
34 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 20 ms rise
↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 89 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
41.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22.8 ms rise
↘ 18.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 62 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 210.1 Hz ≤ 99 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 210.1 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 210.1 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoor visibility is noticeably better than other Ultrabooks because of Samsung's "Outdoor mode" feature. The brighter backlight aids immensely in browsing and word processing, but larger font settings are still recommended since the screen is quite small. It's unfortunate that there is no matte panel option to eliminate the distracting glare as it definitely feels at odds with the "Outdoor mode" feature. A full sun will still overwhelm and wash out the screen and should be avoided if possible.

Viewing angles are excellent with only very small hints of yellowing from extreme angles.

Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors on overcast day
Outdoors on overcast day
Outdoors on overcast day
Outdoors on overcast day
Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles

Performance

The i5-7200U CPU with 8 GB of RAM is a common configuration for most entry-level Ultrabooks of 2017. Note that RAM is soldered and subsequently not upgradeable unless if users opt for the pricier i7-7500U SKU with 16 GB of RAM. Based on our performance analyses below, however, fan noise would have to be louder for faster performance on the i7-7500U since we can already observe some performance throttling on our i5-7200U SKU. If not, then upgrading to the i7-7500U would offer very little performance benefits.

SKUs with integrated Iris graphics are not likely to become available on this particular series.

 

Processor

CPU performance is in line with what we expect from an i5-7200U. Single- and multi-threaded performances are only marginally slower than the i5-7300U and i7-7500U to the point where users would be unlikely to feel the difference if the main purpose of the notebook is for simple word processing, video streaming, and browsing. Users upgrading from the much older Haswell i5-4200U or Broadwell i5-5200U will have a more significant 25 to 40 percent boost in raw CPU performance.

Running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop results in a drop from 328 points to about 300 points to represent a CPU performance deficit of 10 percent over time. Maximum Turbo Boost is thus unsustainable over long periods as is unfortunately common on many Ultrabooks. The processor in the Samsung will run at its fastest until it reaches a core temperature of 95 C before performance cycling occurs as detailed in our Stress Test section. 

CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R15
CineBench R15
0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-7267U
141 Points +15%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
Intel Core i7-7500U
139 Points +13%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
133 Points +8%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Intel Core i5-6267U
131 Points +7%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U
130 Points +6%
HP Envy 13-ad065nr
Intel Core i5-7200U
125 Points +2%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel Core i5-7200U
123 Points
HP Pavilion 15-bk001ng x360
Intel Core i5-6200U
113 Points -8%
Lenovo IdeaPad G50-70
Intel Core i5-4200U
98 Points -20%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel Core i5-5200U
91 Points -26%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
503 Points +53%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-7267U
383 (377min - 385max) Points +17%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
Intel Core i7-7500U
343 Points +5%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2016 (2.9 GHz)
Intel Core i5-6267U
339 Points +3%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel Core i5-7200U
328 Points
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U
327 Points 0%
HP Envy 13-ad065nr
Intel Core i5-7200U
314 Points -4%
HP Pavilion 15-bk001ng x360
Intel Core i5-6200U
284 Points -13%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel Core i5-5200U
257 Points -22%
Lenovo IdeaPad G50-70
Intel Core i5-4200U
230 Points -30%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
Intel Core i7-7500U
1.64 Points +13%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-7267U
1.54 Points +6%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
1.51 Points +4%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U
1.48 Points +2%
HP Envy 13-ad065nr
Intel Core i5-7200U
1.45 Points 0%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel Core i5-7200U
1.45 Points
HP Pavilion 15-bk001ng x360
Intel Core i5-6200U
1.28 Points -12%
Lenovo IdeaPad G50-70
Intel Core i5-4200U
1.12 Points -23%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel Core i5-5200U
1.03 Points -29%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5.81 Points +58%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-7267U
4.09 Points +11%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
Intel Core i7-7500U
3.83 Points +4%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel Core i5-7200U
3.67 Points
HP Envy 13-ad065nr
Intel Core i5-7200U
3.63 Points -1%
HP Pavilion 15-bk001ng x360
Intel Core i5-6200U
3.16 Points -14%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U
3.15 Points -14%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel Core i5-5200U
2.83 Points -23%
Lenovo IdeaPad G50-70
Intel Core i5-4200U
2.5 Points -32%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
17618 Points +55%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
Intel Core i7-7500U
11676 Points +3%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-7267U
11403 Points 0%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel Core i5-7200U
11373 Points
HP Envy 13-ad065nr
Intel Core i5-7200U
10906 Points -4%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U
10897 Points -4%
HP Pavilion 15-bk001ng x360
Intel Core i5-6200U
9723 Points -15%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel Core i5-5200U
6550 Points -42%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
Intel Core i7-7500U
5630 Points +13%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-7267U
5010 Points +1%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel Core i5-7200U
4975 Points
HP Envy 13-ad065nr
Intel Core i5-7200U
4943 Points -1%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
4920 Points -1%
Asus Zenbook UX310UQ-GL011T
Intel Core i7-6500U
4904 Points -1%
HP Pavilion 15-bk001ng x360
Intel Core i5-6200U
4368 Points -12%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel Core i5-5200U
4168 Points -16%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel Core i5-5200U
568 s * -16%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017 Touchbar i5
Intel Core i5-7267U
492 s * -1%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel Core i5-7200U
489.4 s *
HP Envy 13-ad065nr
Intel Core i5-7200U
477.5 s * +2%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
Intel Core i7-7500U
456.8 s * +7%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
8772
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
11373
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4975
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.67 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
36.64 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.45 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
123 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.7 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
46.26 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
328 Points
Help

System Performance

PCMark benchmarks rank our Samsung very similarly to competing 13-inch Ultrabooks and even the larger 15-inch Notebook 9. Subjectively, we experienced no software hitches during our time with the unit.

PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3852 Points +3%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3789 Points +2%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP
3728 Points
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
3535 Points -5%
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
5053 Points +6%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4928 Points +3%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP
4786 Points
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
4568 Points -5%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4769 Points +4%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4655 Points +2%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP
4577 Points
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
4211 Points -8%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3728 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4577 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4786 points
PCMark 10 Score
3449 points
Help

Storage Devices

Easily accessible M.2 2280 slot
Easily accessible M.2 2280 slot

Internal storage includes just a single M.2 2280 slot with no NVMe support. This is a bit disappointing considering that flagship Ultrabooks from HP, Dell, and Lenovo all have NVMe SSDs as standard. Nonetheless, transfer rates from the 256 GB Samsung CM871a SSD are excellent for a SATA III drive. There does not appear to be any SKU options for higher storage capacity, but accessing the M.2 slot should be easy enough for the end user.

See our table of SSDs and HDDs for more benchmark comparisons.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM5
CDM5
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
Lenovo Yoga 910-13IKB-80VF004CGE
Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512
Asus Zenbook 3 UX390UA-GS041T
SK Hynix Canvas SC300 512GB M.2 (HFS512G39MND)
AS SSD
155%
33%
71%
-12%
Copy Game MB/s
186.8
397.9
113%
390
109%
189.4
1%
Copy Program MB/s
213
426
100%
188
-12%
204.3
-4%
Copy ISO MB/s
335.9
720
114%
283.3
-16%
293.5
-13%
Score Total
1057
3617
242%
1607
52%
1865
76%
1056
0%
Score Write
350
1115
219%
327
-7%
611
75%
374
7%
Score Read
463
1654
257%
870
88%
850
84%
448
-3%
Access Time Write *
0.053
0.026
51%
0.035
34%
0.028
47%
0.11
-108%
Access Time Read *
0.066
0.042
36%
0.055
17%
0.034
48%
0.076
-15%
4K-64 Write
223.8
862
285%
197.7
-12%
422.2
89%
271.4
21%
4K-64 Read
379.4
1465
286%
723
91%
671
77%
370.3
-2%
4K Write
79.2
134.4
70%
92
16%
132.9
68%
56.8
-28%
4K Read
31.24
56.4
81%
29.52
-6%
39.92
28%
25.89
-17%
Seq Write
466
1190
155%
372.8
-20%
560
20%
463.4
-1%
Seq Read
520
1325
155%
1179
127%
1389
167%
514
-1%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 551 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 512 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 273.5 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 99.2 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 489.4 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 458.4 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 34.45 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 105.4 MB/s

GPU Performance

Needless to say, the Samsung notebook is definitely not for 1080p gaming. Gaming performance is otherwise nearly identical to the XPS 13 equipped with the same i5-7200U CPU according to 3DMark benchmarks. It's a massive jump from the HD Graphics 4400 and HD 5500 days, though not by enough to make most newer games playable.

See our dedicated page on the HD Graphics 620 GPU for for technical information and benchmark comparisons.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Ice Storm
Ice Storm
Ice Storm Extreme
Ice Storm Extreme
Ice Storm Unlimited
Ice Storm Unlimited
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, i5-7360U
2379 (2355min - 2425max) Points +55%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U
2230 Points +45%
Lenovo Yoga 910-13IKB-80VF004CGE
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U
1623 Points +6%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U
1562 Points +2%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U
1545 Points +1%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U
1536 Points
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6200U
1343 Points -13%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel HD Graphics 5500, 5200U
1082 Points -30%
Toshiba Tecra Z40 A-147
Intel HD Graphics 4400, 4200U
703 Points -54%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, i5-7360U
2193 (2057min - 2200max) Points +48%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U
1770 Points +20%
Lenovo Yoga 910-13IKB-80VF004CGE
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U
1609 Points +9%
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U
1483 Points 0%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U
1478 Points
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U
1413 Points -4%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6200U
1401 Points -5%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel HD Graphics 5500, 5200U
979 Points -34%
Toshiba Tecra Z40 A-147
Intel HD Graphics 4400, 4200U
616 Points -58%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, i5-7360U
11495 (10969min - 11750max) Points +38%
Lenovo Yoga 910-13IKB-80VF004CGE
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U
9060 Points +9%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U
8385 Points +1%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U
8301 Points
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U
8177 Points -1%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U
8104 Points -2%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6200U
6924 Points -17%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel HD Graphics 5500, 5200U
5415 Points -35%
Toshiba Tecra Z40 A-147
Intel HD Graphics 4400, 4200U
4620 Points -44%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U
1593 Points +65%
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, i5-7360U
1541 (1484min - 1547max) Points +59%
Lenovo Yoga 910-13IKB-80VF004CGE
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U
1045 Points +8%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U
967 Points
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U
963 Points 0%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U
948 Points -2%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6200U
786 Points -19%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel HD Graphics 5500, 5200U
657 Points -32%
Toshiba Tecra Z40 A-147
Intel HD Graphics 4400, 4200U
544 Points -44%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
Intel HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U
49119 Points +5%
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U
47546 Points +2%
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
Intel HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U
46817 Points
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X5N-X01US
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, i7-7500U
42314 Points -10%
Acer TravelMate P249-M-5452
Intel HD Graphics 520, 6200U
37343 Points -20%
Toshiba Tecra A50-C1510W10
Intel HD Graphics 5500, 5200U
31550 Points -33%
3DMark 11 Performance
1695 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
64405 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
6418 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
892 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
411 points
Help
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 42.6 26 24.7 7.6
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 20

Stress Test

We stress the notebook with synthetic benchmarks to identify for any potential throttling or stability issues. Unlike the majority of notebooks, this 13-inch Samsung exhibits heavy cycling of both temperature and clock rates. Core temperatures here are noticeably warmer than on a handful of other Ultrabooks equipped with ULV U-class processors as we were able to record up to 95 C when running Prime95. The Yoga 910 and Spectre 13, for example, top out at 70 C compared to an average of 86 C on our Samsung. Core clock rate will steadily decrease once it hits the 95 C ceiling before slowly speeding up again once it hits the 78 C floor. While the processor will indeed throttle below its base 2.5 GHz clock rate when at its slowest, its average clock rate over time is still somewhat respectable in the 2.6 to 2.7 GHz range.

Results are similar when running FurMark as GPU clock rates will also cycle within a wide range. Running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously results in very heavy CPU throttling and lower core temperatures possibly due to reaching preset power delivery limitations.

Running on battery power will throttle both CPU and GPU performance even if on the High Performance profile. A 3DMark 11 run on batteries returns Physics and Graphics scores of 3885 and 760 points, respectively, compared to 4418 and 1536 points when on mains.

Idling
Idling
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
FurMark stress
FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 2.3 - 3.0 -- 78 - 95
FurMark Stress -- 500 - 900 72 - 85
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 0.9 - 1.4 500 - 900 71 - 84

Emissions

System Noise

Single ~40 mm fan
Single ~40 mm fan

The cooling solution consists of a single fan and a heat pipe that's shorter than on most other Ultrabooks. Fortunately, the fan remains idle during low processing loads for silent word processing or emailing. Low-medium loads like browsing or streaming will bump the fan to about 30.3 dB(A), but this is still quiet enough to be easily overlooked in a typical home or office environment.

Medium loads with 3DMark06 or higher will bump fan noise to the 33 to 35 dB(A) range to be noticeably quieter than many competing Ultrabooks. The drawback is a warmer CPU temperature as shown in the above Stress Test section not unlike on the XPS 13. Still, we much prefer a quieter Ultrabook experience especially when compared to the noisier Spectre 13 or Zenbook 3.

Our unit exhibited no electronic noise or coil whine during testing.

Samsung NP900X3N (White: Background, Red: System idle, Blue: 3DMark06, Green: Prime95+FurMark)
Samsung NP900X3N (White: Background, Red: System idle, Blue: 3DMark06, Green: Prime95+FurMark)
HP Spectre x360 13
HP Spectre x360 13
MSI GS43VR
MSI GS43VR

Noise Level

Idle
28.4 / 28.4 / 28.4 dB(A)
Load
33.2 / 35.2 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   BK Precision 732A (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28.4 dB(A)
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK
Lenovo Yoga 910-13IKB-80VF004CGE
HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017
Iris Plus Graphics 640, i5-7360U, Apple SSD AP0128
Asus Zenbook 3 UX390UA-GS041T
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, SK Hynix Canvas SC300 512GB M.2 (HFS512G39MND)
Noise
-10%
1%
-11%
-6%
-10%
off / environment *
28.4
30.4
-7%
31.7
-12%
30.2
-6%
30.7
-8%
Idle Minimum *
28.4
30.4
-7%
28.9
-2%
31.7
-12%
30.2
-6%
30.7
-8%
Idle Average *
28.4
30.4
-7%
28.9
-2%
31.7
-12%
30.2
-6%
30.7
-8%
Idle Maximum *
28.4
30.4
-7%
28.9
-2%
31.7
-12%
30.2
-6%
30.9
-9%
Load Average *
33.2
40
-20%
30.9
7%
38.4
-16%
32.9
1%
38.7
-17%
Load Maximum *
35.2
40
-14%
33.5
5%
34.7
1%
39.3
-12%
38.9
-11%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Surface temperatures are flat on both sides when idling. If running very high loads, the left side of the notebook will become warmer than the right due to the positioning of the CPU and design of the cooling solution. The palm rests are always cool and the keyboard keys never become uncomfortable despite the temperature differences between the two sides. In comparison, other thin notebooks like the XPS 13 or ThinkPad X1 Carbon may have surfaces as warm as 45 C or warmer when under similar extreme processing loads.

Maximum load (top)
Maximum load (top)
Maximum load (bottom)
Maximum load (bottom)
Max. Load
 36.8 °C
98 F
39.8 °C
104 F
28.6 °C
83 F
 
 33.8 °C
93 F
36.2 °C
97 F
25.8 °C
78 F
 
 25 °C
77 F
25.2 °C
77 F
24.4 °C
76 F
 
Maximum: 39.8 °C = 104 F
Average: 30.6 °C = 87 F
32.6 °C
91 F
38.8 °C
102 F
36.2 °C
97 F
29.4 °C
85 F
33.8 °C
93 F
33 °C
91 F
28.2 °C
83 F
29.8 °C
86 F
30.2 °C
86 F
Maximum: 38.8 °C = 102 F
Average: 32.4 °C = 90 F
Power Supply (max.)  35.4 °C = 96 F | Room Temperature 21 °C = 70 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.6 °C / 87 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39.8 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 38.8 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.2 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 25.2 °C / 77.4 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (+3.1 °C / 5.5 F).

Speakers

The internal 1.5 W stereo speakers are unsurprisingly lacking in bass. Maximum volume is quieter than on competing Ultrabooks and is not loud enough for anything larger than a small conference room. The speakers will get the job done with no static or chassis reverberations, but quality is underwhelming even for a subnotebook. Headphones or external solutions are recommended if watching videos.

Samsung 900X3N (Red: System idle, Pink: Pink noise)
Samsung 900X3N (Red: System idle, Pink: Pink noise)
Spectre x360 13
Spectre x360 13
MSI GS43VR
MSI GS43VR
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2039.3412532.8363133.934.64032.134.45032.832.96330.133.38031.932.510030.229.912529.12916028.228.820027.332.225026.54231525.648.740025.450.35002551.763024.5478002455.2100023.959.4125023.456.7160023.256200023.550.4250023.254.9315022.956.240002356.9500023.157.1630023.161.980002358.41000023.153.91250023.258.71600023.354.5SPL35.768.8N2.524median 23.5median 54.5Delta16.935.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseSamsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01USApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (61.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.5% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (11.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.7% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (27.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 86% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 10% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 81% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 15% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency Comparison (Checkbox selectable!)
Graph 1: Pink Noise 100% Vol.; Graph 2: Audio off

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The system draws just under 4 W when idling on the lowest brightness setting and on the Power Saver profile. Enabling "Outdoor mode" will bump consumption up to 11 W, so there is a rather significant hit to power efficiency when utilizing this mode. Medium loads with 3DMark06 or higher will draw about 35 W to be slightly higher than many other similar 13-inch Ultrabooks with i5-7200U or i7-7500U processors. The MacBook Pro 13 is notably more demanding due largely to its faster Iris Plus Graphics 640 GPU. The included AC adapter (~6 x 6 x 3 cm) is more than sufficient considering its 45 W output rating.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.21 / 0.55 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.8 / 11 / 11.3 Watt
Load midlight 35.6 / 37.2 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung CM871a MZNTY256HDHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP, IPS UWVA, 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPUK, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo Yoga 910-13IKB-80VF004CGE
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512, IPS, 3840x2160, 13.90
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017
i5-7360U, Iris Plus Graphics 640, Apple SSD AP0128, IPS, 2560x1600, 13.30
Asus Zenbook 3 UX390UA-GS041T
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, SK Hynix Canvas SC300 512GB M.2 (HFS512G39MND), IPS, 1920x1080, 12.50
Power Consumption
16%
34%
16%
7%
23%
Idle Minimum *
3.8
3.6
5%
4.1
-8%
4.3
-13%
3.7
3%
3.3
13%
Idle Average *
11
6.4
42%
4.2
62%
6.3
43%
5.2
53%
6.2
44%
Idle Maximum *
11.3
9.2
19%
5.1
55%
9
20%
7.6
33%
10.4
8%
Load Average *
35.6
34
4%
22.1
38%
32.7
8%
41.6
-17%
28
21%
Load Maximum *
37.2
34.4
8%
29.4
21%
28.8
23%
50.5
-36%
25.7
31%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Runtimes are below average because of the very small 30 Wh battery. The batteries in the XPS 13 and Yoga 910 are at least twice the capacity each for significantly longer runtimes by several hours. Our looping WLAN test at the 150 nit brightness setting will only last for about 4.5 hours compared to over 11 hours on the Dell.

Charging from near empty to full capacity with the included AC adapter will take about 2 hours. The system can also be charged via its USB Type-C port like a smartphone, but this merely extends battery life due to the limited power delivery.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
11h 35min
WiFi Websurfing
4h 39min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 00min
Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 30 Wh
HP Spectre 13-v131ng
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 38 Wh
Dell XPS 13 9360 FHD i5
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Lenovo Yoga 910-13IKB-80VF004CGE
i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 78 Wh
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2017
i5-7360U, Iris Plus Graphics 640, 54.5 Wh
Asus Zenbook 3 UX390UA-GS041T
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 40 Wh
Battery Runtime
24%
130%
125%
87%
46%
Reader / Idle
695
718
3%
1295
86%
1069
54%
844
21%
WiFi v1.3
279
394
41%
677
143%
644
131%
681
144%
397
42%
Load
60
77
28%
157
162%
174
190%
78
30%
105
75%

Pros

+ relatively cool surface temperatures under load
+ brightest Ultrabook display for its size class
+ accessible internals; upgradeable SSD
+ crisp keyboard and trackpad feedback
+ lightest Ultrabook for its size class
+ full-size USB and HDMI ports
+ can charge via USB Type-C
+ fingerprint reader
+ quiet fan noise

Cons

- no QHD, 4K UHD, touchscreen, NVMe, or SIM options
- small battery capacity; below average battery life
- cycling CPU and GPU clock rates when under load
- PWM on nearly all brightness level settings
- high core temperatures when under load
- base and lid could have been more rigid
- no full-size SD reader or Thunderbolt 3
- weak integrated speakers
- lackluster chassis design
- no matte panel option

Verdict

In review: Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US
In review: Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US

The 13-inch Notebook 9 was created with one goal in mind - To be the lightest and brightest Ultrabook in its size class. Samsung has knocked it out of the park in this regard as the NP900X3N is not just marginally lighter and brighter than the next best, but it's significantly so. Combine this with the quiet fan, full-size USB ports, and respectable keyboard and this is easily the best 13-inch Ultrabook for travel and outdoor use.

Samsung's fierce approach to creating the lightest Ultrabook available has led to some sacrifices along the way. In order to keep weight as low as possible, the system lacks touchscreen and Gorilla Glass options and both its cooling solution and battery capacity are quite small. This latter revelation in particular has resulted in below average battery life for a notebook that is otherwise excellent for use outside of the home. Chassis rigidity, while not bad, isn't quite on the same level as the XPS 13 or MacBook Pro 13, either.

We're hoping that future revisions will add Thunderbolt 3, SIM compatibility, and a matte panel option to make the Notebook 9 an even better travel companion. Until then, those who want something lighter and brighter than an XPS 13 without sacrificing full-size USB or HDMI ports like on the Zenbook 3, Matebook X, Yoga 910, or Spectre 13 will not be disappointed with the Samsung.

The extra-bright display and super-light weight make this 13-inch Notebook 9 a very compelling buy for any user constantly on the go. If all-day battery life and Thunderbolt 3 docking capabilities are more important, however, then there are plenty of better options.

Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N-K01US - 08/29/2017 v6(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
78 /  98 → 79%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
86%
Connectivity
46 / 80 → 58%
Weight
78 / 35-78 → 100%
Battery
79%
Display
86%
Games Performance
57 / 68 → 83%
Application Performance
87 / 87 → 99%
Temperature
94 / 91 → 100%
Noise
97%
Audio
40 / 91 → 44%
Camera
40 / 85 → 46%
Average
73%
86%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Samsung Notebook 9 NP900X3N (i5-7200U, FHD) Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2017-08-29 (Update: 2017-08-29)