after a pair Laptops in the form of the Galaxy Book Flex and Ion, flattered dupe, Samsung changes things up with a simpler range Galaxy Book Pro equipment. Both the Pro and Pro 360 are no-frills machines that focus on build quality in a thin chassis – and it works. Now, Samsung is back with a follow-up series, including the sequel to one of our favorite 2-in-1s, the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360. Samsung isn’t trying to reinvent itself again, though, with iterative updates accounting for a large portion of this latest model’s new features.
The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is clearly not designed to be flashy, and it has a fairly standard clamshell look—especially the simple silver model I tested. Instead, it’s the device’s feel of quality that’s appreciated, along with its thickness (11.9mm) and manageable weight (3.11lbs (1.4kg)). The Burgundy and Graphite options do try half-heartedly to liven things up a bit, though.
Unfortunately, the quality of the device is betrayed by one critical doubt and one lesser nitpick. During my testing, the machine spotted some small markings below the display. The marks aren’t all that noticeable, but it’s disappointing to see them show up so easily after only being transferred to and from a bag in just over a week. you will want extra, additional Be careful with this Samsung laptop to make sure it remains pristine. You should also choose your color options wisely. The blue version available on last year’s model is a bit like a fingerprint magnet, so silver might be a safe bet for a neater look.
The thinness and lightness of the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is a key reason why it works so well as a 2-in-1 machine. When flipped into tablet mode, it’s a no-brainer to hold and operate, as did the 15.6-inch model I tested in this review, so I’d expect the smaller 13.3-inch version to offer more in that regard feel comforted. The Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 series includes the consistently great S Pen, which works quickly and accurately in tablet mode. You can use it in tent or clamshell mode, but that’s not where the stylus performs best.
Evolution is not resolution
Photo: Samsung
As with previous models, the quality of the display is a big selling point for this laptop. The screen is extremely bright, with extremely rich colors and impressive contrast. Some may be frustrated that Samsung is sticking with a Full HD panel again here, but the lack of pixels doesn’t tell the whole story. This AMOLED screen is amazing. And, combined with the 360-degree hinge, it makes it a great device for watching movies and TV, as well as viewing your own photos and videos.
Speakers add to the experience, with some of the best laptop sound around. The audio thrives in the right places, maintaining its detail and accuracy at high volume even for devices such as thin devices. They’re not MacBook-level, but they complement the excellent Dell XPS speakers.
The 16:9 display also helps enhance the viewing experience, with fewer black bars framing your favorite movies. Still, this aspect ratio does look outdated along with some fairly large bezels, and most of Samsung’s competitors have moved to aspect ratios like 16:10 and 3:2. So you don’t get a very productivity-friendly display, which is provided by a taller screen that squeezes more text.
The availability of the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 laptop as a tablet is a saving. It’s not a replacement for a square display, but placing this device in portrait, tablet mode gives you a very tall screen for browsing articles and scrolling through social media.
