Samsung unveils ‘mobile-first’ Galaxy Pro laptops
Samsung is bringing some of the strengths of its flagship Galaxy smartphones over to its notebook line.
The company announced on Wednesday three mobile-first PCs that combine the power of a laptop with the responsiveness of its smartphones: the Galaxy Book, Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360, all of which run on Windows 10 and an Intel processor.
The new laptops are super thin and light: The Pro is 11.2 millimeters thick and the Pro 360 is 11.9 millimeters. Both are available in 13- or 15-inch AMOLED displays with 1920 x 1080 resolution. The screens feature an “intelligent color engine,” adjusting the colors on screen based on the task the user is doing.
True to its name, the Galaxy Book 360’s hinge can be moved and transported into a tablet. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Book, available in blue and silver, is 15.6-inch laptop that can be flattened 180 degrees.
Samsung said the laptops feature a long-lasting battery, an updated S Pen, AMOLED displays and noise-cancelling microphones.
Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 are now available for pre-order and start shipping on May 14. Galaxy Book Pro will start at $999.99, and Galaxy Book Pro 360 starts at $1,199.99.
It makes sense that Samsung would leverage its Galaxy smartphones to help boast its laptop line. The company has long been known for its displays, design, battery life and camera quality, so it’s a natural step to bring some of that over to its notebooks.
Samsung’s two annual “Unpacked” press events are usually reserved for its smartphones. Holding an event specifically to showcase laptops underscores how the company is betting on sustained interest in PCs even as offices prepare for workers to return. It also signals that Samsung is dedicated to the PC space and has its sights set on becoming a larger competitor.
In the fourth quarter of 2020, Samsung made up only 2% share in the global notebook market. Samsung is playing catch up, especially when it comes to business users — where Dell, HP, and Lenovo currently dominate — and the consumer side.
The pressure is also for Samsung to say it’s products can keep up with Apple’s new blazing-fast M1 chip featured inside its latest line of Apple iMacs and iPhones.
In January, Research firm Gartner reported US consumer demand for PCs in 2020 was the highest it’s been in two decades; worldwide, PC sales jumped 5% from the year before — the biggest growth in 10 years.
Earlier this year, Samsung unveiled its high-end Samsung Galaxy S21 flagship smartphones and, more recently, its budget-friendly Galaxy Series A devices. The company is expected to show off its Galaxy Note smartphone line in August, alongside a rumored foldable tablet.
