28 Jan
Blog

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G review: The sequel is never as good

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is Samsung's latest budget flagship.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

RRP $699.00

"The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the able successor to the S20 FE, but comes at a bad time with the S22 around the corner, making it harder to justify its value."

benefits

  • Powerful Specs

  • Solid cameras

  • Stunning 120Hz display

  • Well priced for a flagship

disadvantage

  • Touch screen issues

  • Battery just ok

  • Too much competition at its price

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has a lot to offer. Last year, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE was among the best Android smartphones of the year. The combination of specs and value made it an easy recommendation for people who might want to play in the Samsung space, and even the Samsung flagship space, but don't want to spend a four-digit number on it. Fast forward to today, and Samsung is trying to do the same, but something doesn't seem right. Actually, many things seem to be wrong. Let's start with the time measurement.

A long-awaited phone

The camera hump on the back of the Galaxy S21 FE (right) is less pronounced than the S21.Adam Doud/Digital Trends

The Galaxy S20 FE debuted in September 2020, approximately seven months after the Galaxy S20 series and four months before the Galaxy S21 series. Yes, there was a Note release, which is noteworthy (no pun intended) but not significant. This time, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes out almost a year after the launch of the S21 series and just a few weeks before the launch of the S22 series. Not ideal, but consider the competition.

In the past, in the budget flagship space you typically had the OnePlus line of phones, an LG version or two, maybe a Moto "flagship" and the Pixel. OnePlus has achieved full flagship status, LG is out of the game, and Motorola, to put it politely, is targeting a different kind of demographic. But the Google Pixel 6 changed the game in late 2021 and remains one of our favorite phones of 2021. It's also $100 less than the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G.

Suffice it to say that there are many question marks surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G.

In 2020, the Galaxy S20 series was launched for $999 and up. The Galaxy S20 FE launched for $699, a whopping $300 cheaper than its closest flagship sibling. In 2021, the Galaxy S21 series launched at $799, making the S21 FE just $100 less and, as mentioned, $100 more than the Google Pixel 6.

Suffice it to say that there are many question marks surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G. I've spent the last 10 days on T-Mobile's 5G network, putting it through its paces. In short, I wanted to find out if, despite the imminent launch of the S22, the phone cuts the right rough edges to bring it up to the same value as its predecessor.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is Samsung's latest budget flagship.Adam Doud/Digital Trends

design and hardware

In terms of design, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G doesn't really break the mold compared to its siblings. The camera bump on the back feels less intrusive, but that might be because my comparison device is the Galaxy S21 Ultra. As with the other flagships, the camera hump blends naturally into the back and side of the phone, but it lacks the S21's dual-tone approach and instead opts for a single body. It's prettier because there are no seams, but more boring when it's just a single color.

On the sides are a power button and volume rocker on the right, a single speaker port, a USB-C port, and a SIM tray. On the front, you get a gorgeous 120Hz AMOLED panel, which I'll detail below. There's a single punch at the top for the 32-megapixel selfie camera, and at the bottom is the same reliable under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

Inside the phone is a Snapdragon 888 processor. My review unit has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but you can opt for 8GB/256GB if you prefer. There's a 4,500mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging or 15W wireless charging. All in all, these are all respectable specs for a 2021 flagship. The only (barely) outdated hardware is the processor now that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip is available. I don't blame Samsung for sticking with the Snapdragon 888, but I give it less of a pass since the S20 FE came out with the top-of-the-line processor back then.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is Samsung's latest budget flagship.Adam Doud/Digital Trends

display

One area Samsung hasn't skimped on is the display. This is a 6.4-inch 2400 x 1800 Dynamic AMOLED panel that's just a touch smaller than the previous generation but retains the same 20:9 aspect ratio. The phone is comfortable to hold and use with one hand, but I wouldn't mind if Samsung shaved off another third of an inch or so.

The display itself is beautiful, with amazing viewing angles and color reproduction. It's a 1080p panel, so not the highest resolution out there. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as a lower resolution will significantly increase battery life, especially when the phone is running at a 120Hz refresh rate. Personally, I can rarely tell the difference between a 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rate; it just doesn't impress me when it's there, nor does its absence bother me. You can (and probably will) have a different preference and more power for yourself.

I usually turn up the brightness so I can capture the rich detail of the games I'm playing or the movies I'm watching, but with the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G that just wasn't necessary.

In a surprising twist, I hadn't noticed how bright the display was until I was on day five or six of my review and realized I hadn't turned the brightness up at all, for nothing. This is unusual for me. While I typically use around 70% brightness on a phone, it's not uncommon to crank it up to 100% when watching videos or gaming. I usually turn up the brightness so I can take full advantage of HDR10+ and capture the rich detail of the games I play or the movies I watch, but with the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G that just wasn't necessary.

One aspect that Samsung continues to struggle mightily with is touch rejection around the edges of the screen. This is a flat screen, but accidental touches on the edges are annoying and render games like Call of Duty Mobile virtually unplayable. Only after adding a case does the situation improve, but it doesn't go away completely. Granted, my chubby sausage fingers are probably to blame, so your mileage may vary, but I'm sure I'm not the only one having the issue.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is Samsung's latest budget flagship.Adam Doud/Digital Trends

While I complain about the over-sensitivity of touch on the phone, allow me to also complain about the lack of touch sensitivity on this phone. This mainly occurred in gaming, but I found small touch targets extremely difficult to press, like buttons in Call of Duty Mobile or even small squares in games like Sudoku. Again, I know I have big fingers, but the Sudoku game in particular surprised me because I don't have this problem with any other phone.

Performance, battery life and connectivity

Overall battery life was below average considering the size. This is a 4,500mAh power cell, and I'd regularly go to sleep when the phone was hovering in the teens or single digits as a percentage. That's after a day of bouncing between four email addresses, Twitter, Discord, Reddit, Kindle, and the entire suite of Microsoft apps (Teams, Outlook, and more). This usually includes a lot of games on Call of Duty Mobile, Sudoku and other games here or there. This phone will get you through a full day's activities, but it can struggle in those final hours.

  • PC Mark Work 3.0 Performance: 13711
  • Geekbench (single/multi-core): 873/2284
  • GFXBench Aztec Ruins OpenGL: 27fps
  • 3DMark: 5062

In terms of performance, the phone packs a Snapdragon 888 with 6GB of RAM, which is enough to handle just about anything. I do notice very occasional stuttering during gaming sessions when I'm really picky, but overall I have no complaints. Connectivity seems really solid, or at least as solid as my phones in the T-Mobile signal dead zone where I live. I had no issues with dropped calls or spotty internet, neither of which manifested itself on my iPhone 13 Pro.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is Samsung's latest budget flagship.Adam Doud/Digital Trends

cameras and video

On the camera side, there's little difference between the S21 FE and the S20 FE. Both phones have three camera sensors for ultra wide, wide and telephoto lenses. The main and ultrawide cameras both have 12MP sensors, while the telephoto sits at 8MP. There are some subtle differences in what the newer cameras can capture, e.g. 1080p at 240 frames per second (fps), but overall you'll see little difference between the S20 FE and S21 FE on the rear.

Portrait mode is one of the best I've seen as it easily selects the edges of your subject while blurring the background.

In broad daylight, all cameras work quite well. One subtle difference I noticed was how the main camera seems to pick up brighter colors than the other two sensors at a warmer temperature. This is especially true for red wines, which tend to get oversaturated.

Portrait mode is one of the best I've seen as it easily selects the edges of your subject while blurring the background. If you look at pixels up close, you'll see that it's not perfect, but it's very good. This applies to both the 32-megapixel front camera and the back.

As for the video, it's pretty decent. There is no stabilization both during the day and at night. Especially at night you will see a little jerking when walking. The disappointing thing is that this feature is also present in the front camera. Previous Samsung phones I've reviewed two generations ago have always had rock-solid front-camera stabilization, making them ideal for vloggers who like to walk and talk to their camera. That's just not the case here and it's really disappointing.

You can definitely get some great snaps at night as long as there is ambient light. Both the ultrawide sensor and the telephoto sensor lose detail when you're looking at something that doesn't have sharp edges. This means that text is fine, but the texture of a statue is lost. That's not surprising given that low-light performance pushes most cameras to the limit, not just this phone. Video recording at night isn't great, but it's not terrible either. Useful footage will be the exception, not the rule, but you'll get lucky from time to time.

The zoom isn't great behind the 3x telephoto lens. The Galaxy S21 FE can zoom up to 30x hybrid, but you shouldn't use it unless you're looking for photos to use as models to practice your watercolor painting. The only exception to this rule is the moon. While the resolution isn't great for moon shots, Samsung's A.I. Scene detection can still give you a great handheld shot of the moon. It's a party trick, sure, but it's really impressive.

Overall, the Galaxy S21 FE's camera performance is slightly less capable than current competitors. Don't get me wrong, the cameras are still very good, but they fall short of the size found on the iPhone 13 or the Pixel 6.

software and features

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes with Samsung's One UI 4.0, which is based on Google's Android 12. For the most part, though, this is Samsung's show; Little here is recognizable as inherently Google. Yes, the software can make changes to the system UI based on your wallpaper, but most of the options available were muted blues and grays rather than the bright orange of the sunset in a photo I included in my wallpaper. It was a little unsettling.

It also lacks the animations that Google gives you when you turn your device on and off. In Android 12, when you press the power button to put the phone to sleep, the black swipe across the screen into the power button. When you wake up the phone, the opposite happens. It's just decorative, but I miss it when using phones other than my Pixel 6.

Much of the One UI is done right, however, with large labels for menus at the top of the screen and buttons accessible near the bottom; that's the default plan for One UI. One area that still needs improvement is the app drawer. It's a side-scrolling affair, which isn't bad in and of itself, but you can't scroll from the start of the menu to the end. Simply put, if you're on-screen with the ace and need to open Zillow, you've got a lot of side swipes in your future.

Of course, if you're like me and have all your apps organized in folders on the home screen, that's not a huge problem. One delightful feature Samsung is adding is the ability to add apps to folders in bulk, and everyone needs to copy that feature now! Some manufacturers do this; those who don't need to queue because it's a feature so incredibly useful it hurts to use phones that don't have it, including the Pixel 6.

Overall, I like One UI, but I prefer Google's approach over Android. From the animations to the theming to the app drawer, it just suits my style a bit more.

Our opinion

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is in such a strange place that I'm having a hard time grasping it. Above all. The question I ask myself is why? Why does this phone exist? The next generation of Galaxy smartphones will be unveiled in just over two weeks at the time of this writing. There are worse ways to spend $700 on a smartphone right now. But that's not really a confirmation. Depending on where the S22 series lands in terms of price and specs, this can be a good deal, or it can be a questionable buy where a little extra cash can get you a lot more phone.

To be honest, while this is a really good smartphone for its price, Samsung would probably have been better off not releasing it at all, or launching it right next to the S22 as a 'budget' alternative.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. Both Android and iOS have better alternatives to this phone depending on your tastes. Neither the Google Pixel 6 nor the iPhone 13 Cameras have the optical zoom feature, so that's a point for Samsung. But both phones outperform the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G in many ways, including software, camera processing and design. This phone is just too little, too late.

How long it will take?

Samsung covers its phones with a typical one-year warranty. The Snapdragon 888 processor and plastic construction help it last through a normal 24-month phone cycle. While the plastic back doesn't feel as premium, it handles drops and bumps better. The processor and main memory should also be future-proof for at least that long.

should you buy it

No. Simply put, the Google Pixel 6 is a better phone in almost every way, and it's $100 less. If you prefer the iPhone, the iPhone 13 is no problem either. Don't get me wrong, this is a very good phone, but it comes at an odd time. The only reason you should buy this phone is if you absolutely want a Samsung flagship but don't want to buy a nearly a year old phone in the Samsung Galaxy S21, yet another more expensive brand new phone in the S22. That's an oddly specific set of criteria, but that's also Samsung's bread and butter – a phone for all budgets.

Editor's Recommendations



31 Dec
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey Review: Yet Another Poor Display

Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey Review

Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey

RRP $ 1,400.00

"The Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey is fast for the productive user and can meet some entry-level gaming needs, but its poor display is a real disappointment."

benefits

  • Solid productivity performance

  • Good keyboard and touchpad

  • Attractive design

  • Great battery life

disadvantage

  • Build quality is a little below average

  • Display is a real disappointment

  • The gaming performance is a little overwhelming

Samsung has expanded its line of laptops with a new entry-level Galaxy Book and an updated version of the Galaxy Book Pro 360. One of the more interesting introductions is the Galaxy Book Odyssey, which Samsung positions as both a productivity and gaming machine with a nod to its creators. That's a fine line to walk both aesthetically, where the laptop has some frills, and in terms of performance.

Our review unit is priced at $ 1,400 but is currently on sale for $ 1,210, a more attractive price point for the Intel Core i7-11600H 11. You can spend another $ 100 and upgrade from 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM, but the 512GB PCIe solid state drive (SSD) is the only option, as is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. The Galaxy Book Odyssey wants to play on either side of the fence, and in the end it doesn't shine as a productivity laptop or gaming device – and developers will be disappointed with the display.

draft

An oblique view of the cover of the Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Galaxy Book Odyssey is made entirely of aluminum, which usually results in a rigid laptop. In this case, the lid was a bit flexible and the keyboard deck and the bottom of the case yielded a bit. I've noticed this tendency on a few other Samsung laptops like the Galaxy Book that show the same lack of rigidity. It's not bad, but laptops like the Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 feel significantly more durable. I've forgiven the Galaxy Book, which costs $ 900, more than the Galaxy Book Odyssey, which sold for $ 1,400. Even with a retail price of $ 1,210, I would expect a more solid feel.

Aesthetically, the Galaxy Book Odyssey is mostly a minimalist design, especially around the edges where the angles are simple and streamlined. Its “Mystic Black” is an attractive color that differs from the more common silver, and there are some decorative strips with a striking chrome logo on the lid, which add a little flair. It's not as harmoniously designed as the XPS 15, nor as colorful as some mid-range options from Asus and Lenovo, but it's a laptop you won't be embarrassed to carry around. As a gaming laptop, it's muffled.

Speaking of carrying around, the Galaxy Book Odyssey is pretty average size for a laptop with a 16: 9 15.6-inch display. The bezels are smaller, not as narrow as those of the XPS 15, only the lower chin is larger than it could be. Even so, there's not a lot of fat, and it's roughly the same width and depth as the Galaxy Book. It's 0.70 inches thick and weighs 4.08 pounds, which makes it just as thick but considerably heavier than the Acer Aspire 5, which weighs 3.64 pounds. The Galaxy Book Odyssey is pretty much in the Goldilocks zone, neither too small nor too big.

On the left is a full-size HDMI port, a USB-A 3.2 port, and two USB-C 3.2 ports.

On the right side there are two USB-A 3.2 ports, an Ethernet socket, a 3.5 mm audio socket and a microSD card reader.

Connectivity is generous with only one disappointment. There's a full-size HDMI port, a USB-A 3.2 port, and two USB-C 3.2 ports on the left with two USB-A 3.2 ports, an Ethernet jack, a 3.5mm Audio jack and a microSD card reader on the right. The disappointment isn't Thunderbolt 4 support that is to be expected on a laptop in this price range. The fastest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5 provide wireless tasks.

Power is supplied via USB-C via a large 135-watt power supply that exceeds the usual 100-watt USB-C limit.

power

The Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey shows the desktop.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Galaxy Book Odyssey is based on an 11th generation Intel Core i7-11600H, a 45 watt CPU with six cores and 12 threads. That lies between Intel's 4-core / 8-thread 28-watt U-series CPUs and the 8-core / 16-thread 45-watt H-series processors. So I expected a solid productivity performance and maybe even some creativity performance with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti.

As it turns out, the Galaxy Book Odyssey performed as expected in our non-gaming benchmarks. It didn't impress in Geekbench 5, lagging behind the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 71 Pro with a 35-watt 4-core / 8-thread Core i7-11370H, but ahead of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio with the same CPU. As expected, it couldn't keep up with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U or the Core i7-11800H. In our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265, the Galaxy Book Odyssey did well, beating all but the Ryzen 7 and the Core i7-11800H. Samsung took second place in Cinebench R23 and surprisingly beat the Ryzen 7, which typically does well in this benchmark. Finally, the Galaxy Book Odyssey took second place again in the PCMark 10 Complete benchmark, which is the best indicator of productivity performance, with a strong performance in the test's essentials, productivity and content creation.

I also ran the laptop through the Pugetbench benchmark running in Adobe Premiere Pro where it got 318 points. That is less than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, which also equips the RTX 3050 Ti, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 with its Core i7-11800H and RTX 3060. It is faster than a laptop like the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 with a U-series Core i7-1165G7 that scored 241 points but wasn't as high as I'd hoped. Creators can use the Galaxy Book Pro Odyssey for their work, but it will be delayed.

Overall, the Galaxy Book Odyssey is a strong productivity performer and good enough for creative lower-end tasks. Some other 15-inch laptops like the Dell XPS 15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 are much faster, but also more expensive.

Geekbench (single / multiple) Handbrake
(Seconds)		 Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) PCMark 10 Pugetbank
Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey (Core i7-11600H) 1478/5366 151 1601/8571 5989 318
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro (Core i7-11370H) 1578/5957 202 1514/5544 5149 N / A
Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (Ryzen7 5700U) 1184/6281 120 1287/8013 5411 N / A
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (Core i7-1165G7) 1327/5201 N / A 1469/4945 5147 N / A
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (Core i7-11370H) 1321/5131 179 1304/5450 5091 417
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 (Core i7-11800H) 1520/7353 106 1519/10497 6251 432
MSI Sumit E13 Flip Evo (Core i7-1185G7) 1352/4891 207 1360/4392 4872 N / A

Gaming performance

Since Samsung has positioned the Galaxy Book Odyssey as a part-time gaming machine, it's fair to compare it to its competition. Having an RTX 3050 Ti installed means low-end gaming laptops and non-gaming laptops that happen to have separate graphics cards.

I usually start to discuss benchmarks with 3DMark Time Spy, but for some reason the Galaxy Book Odyssey wouldn't install 3DMark. It did 60% of the way through the installation routine and then just hung around there until I restarted. So take this test.

With current games, the Galaxy Book Odyssey was not the fastest gaming laptop in our comparison group. It didn't rank first in any of our benchmarks, and in fact, it was last or second to last in most of them. His Assassin's Creed Valhalla score was particularly low at 15 frames per second (fps) at 1080p and ultra-high graphics and only lost to the equally strangely low Asus ROG Flow X13 gaming computer. In Battlefield V and Civilization VI, the Galaxy Book Odyssey was more competitive but still lagged behind the competition and was able to hold its own in Fortnite. Outside of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the laptop was a decent entry-level 1080p game machine that lets you turn up the graphics in some games and still get playable frame rates.

That's a decent result since Samsung wanted this laptop to be both a productivity workhorse – where it performed well – and a part-time slot machine. For the most part, I would say Samsung succeeded.

Laptop Assassin & # 39; s Creed Valhalla
(1080p ultra high)		 Battlefield V
(1080p Ultra)		 Fourteen days
(1080p epic)		 Civilization VI
(1080p Ultra)
Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey
(RTX 3050Ti)		 15 fps 40 fps 54 fps 61 fps
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (RTX 3050TI) 47 fps (1200p) 51 fps 47 fps 75 fps
Asus ROG Flow X13 (RTX 3050Ti) 7 fps (1200p 52 fps 57 fps 65 fps
Acer Swift X (RTX 3050Ti) N / A N / A 43 fps 66 fps
HP Victus 16
(RTX 3060)		 59 fps 72 fps 99 fps 118 fps
Razer blade 14
(RTX 3070)		 60 fps 96 fps 96 fps 111 fps

display

The display of the Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey shows a picture of the home screen.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Oops, they did it again. For a company that sources great displays for so many other manufacturers, Samsung can pick some inferior panels for its own laptops. I noticed the poor display in the Galaxy Book which kept this device from getting a higher score. Unfortunately, the more expensive Galaxy Book Odyssey shares a similar display.

Subjectively, the display doesn't look bad. For my productivity workflow, such as writing this review, it was sufficient. The colors were fine and the contrast wasn't so bad that black text was a light gray. But the screen didn't jump on me. It's only Full HD, which means it's not sharp at the 15.6-inch size, and it's old-school 16: 9 aspect ratio.

Perhaps most importantly, Samsung is at least partially targeting developers with this laptop and they would hate this display.

My colorimeter agreed. While the display was bright enough at 350 cd / m² (300 is our threshold for a display that can handle most bright lighting conditions), its colors were incredibly narrow for a premium laptop at just 48% AdobeRGB and 65% sRGB – we expect that you'll see at least 70% of AdobeRGB and 95% of sRGB from similarly priced devices. Those colors weren't particularly accurate either, with a DeltaE of 2.37 (1.0 or less is considered excellent), with premium laptops typically under 2.0. And the contrast was 800: 1, lower than the 1,000: 1 we like to see, which guarantee deeper blacks rather than dark grays. For comparison: The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro costs a little less than the Galaxy Book Odyssey, and yet its display comes in at 369 cd / m², 80% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB, a DeltaE of 1.65 and a contrast ratio of 1,340: 1 .

A close-up of the display and keyboard on the Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

It's not that this is a terrible display for simple productivity jobs, but if you plan to use it to view photos and videos, the colors will leave you disappointed. And text didn't show up on a white background, which makes the ad less than ideal for writers and anyone who works with lots of numbers. Perhaps most importantly, Samsung is at least partially targeting developers with this laptop and they would hate this display. Overall, this was my biggest disappointment with the laptop, and frankly I don't understand why Samsung would choose an inferior panel for its own laptop.

The sound is provided by two downward-facing speakers on the front of the laptop, which ensure a clean sound with pleasant highs and mids and just a hint of bass. The only problem: The volume was incredibly low. I turned the speakers all the way up thinking I had 50% left to go. If you're in a quiet room watching Netflix, you'll be fine. But keep a pair of headphones handy.

Keyboard and touchpad

A close-up view of the Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey's keyboard and trackpadMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The keyboard offers a lot of space and even manages to squeeze a usable number pad into it. The keycaps are big enough and sculpted very lightly to make them a bit more comfortable. The switch mechanisms are good too, they're a bit flat but make up for it with a comfortable floor movement with a bit of pressure. It's a sufficiently accurate keyboard that is a step ahead of the best, like the HP Specter range and Apple's great MacBook keyboards, but it keeps high-speed typists productive.

The touchpad is large and takes up most of the space on the palm rest. It has tactile feedback that helps with swiping, and as a Microsoft Precision touchpad (pretty much the norm today) it reliably and precisely supports all of Windows 11's multi-touch gestures. Unfortunately, the display cannot be touched, which I always miss and for me personally it is actually a deal breaker at this point.

Passwordless login under Windows 10 Hello is provided by a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. It was quick and accurate.

Battery life

The Galaxy Book Odyssey has 83 watt-hours of battery capacity, a nice number for a device with a 15.6-inch Full HD display. I was hoping the laptop would live up to its productivity performance with all day battery life.

I was not disappointed. The laptop got 10.5 hours in our web browser test, which goes through a number of popular and complex websites, a solid score that is much better than the 8.3 hours of the Galaxy Book and nine hours of the Dell XPS 15 OLED. The Galaxy Book Odyssey lasted 14.25 hours in our video test repeating a local Full HD Avengers trailer. I also tested the PCMark 10 Applications battery test, the best indicator of battery life productivity, where the Galaxy Book Odyssey again scores well with 11.75 hours compared to the Galaxy Book with just under 11 hours and the XPS 15 OLED with eight hours . And finally, the Galaxy Book Odyssey got 93 minutes on the PCMark 10 gaming battery test, which shows how hard a laptop works when turned off, which is almost average and indicates that you aren't giving up much performance on battery power.

Overall, these are strong results that suggest the Galaxy Book Odyssey can handle a full day of work with some time for evening productivity or media strolling. Samsung did a respectable job of designing a laptop that would meet the demands of productivity workers.

Our opinion

I wanted to give the Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey a higher score. It offers solid productivity performance with the ability to handle some creative tasks as well, and while its gaming performance was a little overwhelming, it can still handle 1080p games with decent graphical detail. It has great battery life, a good keyboard, and an excellent touchpad, and its build quality is just a little below average.

Unfortunately, the display is a huge disappointment. You just can't offer as narrow colors and low contrast on a laptop in this price range, especially one that is at least partially aimed at creative people. With a better display, I could have easily recommended this laptop, but I have to go through it as it is.

Are there alternatives?

You can get a Dell XPS 15 for roughly the same retail price if you go down the specs a bit, and it's probably worth considering for the XPS 15's great build quality and harmonious design. Or, spend and get a little more Get equivalent performance with a much better display.

The HP Envy 15 is a solid competitor to the Galaxy Book Odyssey. It costs less and performs better with a much better display.

How long it will take?

The Samsung Galaxy Book Odyssey has some bends and bends in the lid and case, but it's not exceptional. It should last for several years with typical use, and its components are up-to-date and should also meet Windows 11 requirements for years to come. As always, the one-year warranty is disappointing.

Should you buy it?

No. The Galaxy Book Odyssey is competitive in many ways, but you can get much better displays for the same money – and that's very important.

Editor's recommendations



23 Nov
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Book Review: Too Many Compromises

Oblique view of the Samsung Galaxy Book for Business.

Samsung Galaxy Book for Business

RRP $ 900.00

"The Samsung Galaxy Book for Business has good productivity performance and battery life, but its display is below average and it lacks great features."

advantages

  • Thin and light

  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad

  • Solid productivity performance

  • Battery life for good productivity

disadvantage

  • Disappointing display quality

  • Lid and chassis yield too much

  • No useful business features

More than ever, Samsung is committed to creating a laptop that lives up to the Galaxy brand's pedigree.

However, the Galaxy Book Pro came close with its ultra-thin case and vibrant OLED screen. But can a cheaper, simpler version of this laptop have the same effect?

The Samsung Galaxy Book I tested was technically the "for business" model, although its hardware is almost identical to the consumer model. The laptop has an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, a 15-inch 1080p screen, and is priced at $ 900.

That's in the middle of the package when you factor in the price, features, and design. Unfortunately, the price isn't low enough to warrant so many compromises, especially with so many other great options

draft

Angled view of the back and the cover of the Samsung Galaxy Book for Business.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Galaxy Book is made of aluminum, which usually results in a solid build quality. However, Samsung must have used thin aluminum to save weight, because the lid bends more than I would like and there is a lot of keyboard flex. The Acer Aspire 5, a budget-conscious 15-inch device that you can buy in a similar configuration for less than $ 500, had slightly better keyboard deck and chassis rigidity, although the lid was also a bit pliable.

The HP Envy x360 15 is about the same price as the Galaxy Book and is much more solid. Of course, if you go up the price, you get much better build quality, but I think the Galaxy Book should feel more solid at its $ 900 retail price. An example of a much more expensive laptop that shares the same lack of rigidity as the Galaxy Book is the LG Gram 16, which is made of magnesium but also weighs just 2.62 pounds – in which case you're trading solidity for extremely light weight .

At 3.42 pounds, the Galaxy Book is also relatively light for a 15-inch device, while the Acer Aspire 5 comes close at 3.64 pounds. However, the Acer benefits from some plastic components. More rugged laptops like the Envy x360 15 and the Dell XPS 15 typically weigh four pounds or more. The Galaxy Book is 0.61 inches thick, slimmer than the Aspire 5 at 0.70 inches, the Envy x360 15 at 0.72 inches, and the XPS 15 at 0.71 inches.

Directly in view of the Samsung Galaxy Book for Business.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

All in all, one of the Galaxy Book's greatest strengths is its thin and light nature, which makes bending and bending the laptop a little more forgiving. However, the Galaxy Book's bezels around the old-school 16: 9 display aren't that tiny, especially the top and bottom, and it's still a full-sized 15-inch laptop.

Aesthetically, the Galaxy Book is a rather mundane silver color that is reminiscent of so many other laptops. It has simple lines and angles and black keycaps with white lettering. There's nothing wrong with minimalist designs – HP has perfected it on devices like the Envy x360 15 – but the design philosophy can go too far. I find the Galaxy Book is on the wrong side of that thin line.

A note about the software. Samsung offers a ton of additional applications in addition to the usual support utilities. This includes Samsung Flow, a pen app that cannot be used on the Galaxy Book, Samsung Gallery, Samsung Studio Plue, Samsung TV Plus, etc. Some of these apps can be useful, but for those who don't want to install additional apps on their laptops, the Galaxy Book gets annoying.

Two USB-C ports, a full-size HDMI port and a USB-A port line the left side of the Samsung Galaxy Book for Business.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Hinge on the back of the Samsung Galaxy Book for Business.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The right side of the Samsung Galaxy Book for Business is equipped with another USB-A port, a microSD card reader and a 3rd

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The connectivity is fine. Two USB-C ports, a full-size HDMI port, and a USB-A port line the left side, while the right side has another USB-A port, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm. is equipped with an audio jack. There's no Thunderbolt 4 support we've seen on laptops for the same price. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 take over wireless tasks.

power

Close the Samsung Galaxy Book for Business screen and keyboard.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

You can buy the Galaxy Book with either a Core i5-1135G7 or a Core i7-1165G7. My test device was equipped with the Core i5 and did well considering the CPU.

In all of our benchmarks, the Galaxy Book was at or near the top of a handful of other Core i5-1135G7-equipped laptops. Only the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s Gen 2 could match or exceed its values. The Galaxy Book was particularly strong in our most CPU-intensive benchmark, including our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420 MB video as H.265. Its 175 second result was much faster than any other except the ThinkBook 13s Gen 2, and it can rival many Core i7 laptops in our database. The Samsung was also strong in Cinebench and narrowly lost to the ThinkBook.

In the PCMark 10 Complete benchmark, the Galaxy Book again took the top spot with 4735. It also did well in the areas of essentials, productivity and content creation of the benchmark.

Overall, the Galaxy Book was a solid productivity performer that could keep up with heavy workflows. Its performance is another area in which the Galaxy Book earned its $ 900 price tag.

Geekbench (single / multiple) Handbrake
(Seconds)		 Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
Samsung Galaxy Book (Core i5-1135G7) 1401/5221 175 1361/5391 4735 1584
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14
(Core i5-1135G7)		 1397/4301 213 1325/4411 4550 1026
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s Gen 2
(Core i5-1135G7)		 1406/5379 178 1357/5502 4668 1511
HP Envy 14 (Core i5-1135G7) 1549/5431 204 1399/4585 n / A 1380
Acer Aspire 5 2021 (Core i3-1115G4) 1215/2544 300 1274/3128 3752 652

In the 3DMark Time Spy test, the Galaxy Book does well with 1584 points and leads our comparison group. However, that's not a good score for a gaming laptop. We usually use Fortnite to test thin and light laptops with integrated graphics, in this case Intel's Iris Xe, but the game crashed with a video memory error every time I tried to run it. Either way, you can rely on this laptop for older games, esports titles or newer games with low resolutions and graphics settings.

advertisement

Close up on the display of the Samsung Galaxy Book for business.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

At $ 900, expect a decent display. Given that Samsung is known for making great displays, the Galaxy Book is twofold. Subjectively, I found the 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display bright enough for all the places I normally work, but I wasn't impressed by the apparent contrast or colors. In particular, I found black text on a white background a bit gray.

My colorimeter confirmed my suspicions. The Galaxy Book's brightness was okay at 326 nits, exceeding our 300 nit threshold. From then on, however, things went downhill. The display's colors were surprisingly narrow with only 48% AdobeRGB and 64% sRGB and not particularly accurate with a DeltaE of 2.41 (1.0 or less is considered excellent). That's a big disappointment, especially at the price.

Worse, the contrast was only 700: 1, well below our preferred 1,000: 1. It's not uncommon to see results like this on laptops that cost hundreds of dollars less, but I expect something better at this price point. The HP Envy x360 15, for example, was not as bright with 270 cd / m², but achieved 71% of AdobeRGB and 95% of sRGB with an accuracy of 1.06. The contrast was also significantly better at 900: 1.

This is a laptop designed for the casual business user and doesn't need the wide and accurate colors that developers demand. But they are expecting something closer to the industry average for the machine class, and this display just doesn't live up to that standard. I was surprised to see Samsung put such an inferior display in a laptop at this price point.

Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard and trackpad of the Samsung Galaxy Book for Business.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The keyboard has a standard layout with a lot of space and large keycaps with continuous 3-level background lighting. There isn't a lot of travel, but the switches were crisp and snappy with a comfortable floor movement. They were calm too which is a plus. I would rate this as a very good keyboard that is only a step behind the best, such as those found in HP's Specter range and Dell's XPS.

The touchpad is larger than average and has a comfortable surface with Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers. It handled Windows 10's entire suite of multitouch gestures with consistent reliability and had a solid but quiet click. This is a great touchpad that is only surpassed by the much larger version of the Dell XPS 15 in 15-inch laptops. The display is non-touchable, which is always disappointing.

Windows 10 Hello support is provided by a fingerprint reader built into the power button. It was quick and accurate, and logged me in the instant I hit the laptop wake-up button.

Battery life

The Samsung Galaxy Book for business.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Galaxy Book offers 56 watt hours of battery life, which is not much for a 15-inch laptop. I did not go into my battery test with great expectations.

The Galaxy Book only lasted 8.25 hours in our web browser test, which ran through a number of popular websites. That is well below the 10 hours we'd like to see in this test. The HP Envy x360 15 managed 11.25 hours, the Dell XPS 15 with its power-hungry OLED display lasted almost an hour longer. The Galaxy Book ran for 11.25 hours on our video test repeating a local 1080p movie trailer, which is a stronger score but still below average. The Envy x360 15 reached 13.65 hours and the XPS 15 was just minutes away from the Galaxy Book.

I switched to the PCMark 10 application test, which is the best indicator of productivity performance, and the Galaxy Book got 11 hours. That too is a stronger score and closer to the average. The Envy x360 15 outperformed the Galaxy Book again with 12.5 hours, the XPS 15 fell behind with just eight hours.

The Galaxy Book will likely last a full working day as long as your workflow isn't too CPU intensive. These aren't the best results for a 15-inch laptop at the price, but they aren't terrible either.

Our opinion

As I said at the beginning, the Samsung Galaxy Book is a strange laptop. The model I tested is aimed at business users, but does not offer anything that many consumer laptops do not offer. Its greatest strength is solid productivity performance and a thin and light chassis, and while these are welcome for business users, they are not exactly business-specific features.

Most disappointing is the display, which should offer a better experience for the price of the Galaxy Book. The battery life was a mixed picture, with the laptop doing well in the PCMark 10 test but not as good in our other benchmarks. And in terms of look and feel, the notebook is a bit boring and lacks rigidity. There's just not much to recommend this machine over its broad competition.

Are there alternatives?

The HP Envy x360 15 is a strong alternative to the Galaxy Book. It's less expensive, but offers better performance and battery life, and a great display. It's also a convertible 2-in-1 that adds flexibility.

We haven't reviewed many 15-inch laptops in this price range lately, but if you're ready to drop on a 14-inch unit, there are several good options. The HP Envy 14 is a good example with the same performance, superior battery life, and a better display for a similar price.

How long it will take?

The Samsung Galaxy Book isn't the toughest notebook we've tested in this price range, but it's still solid enough to last for several years. The components are also up to date, so it should keep up with Windows 10 and 11. The one-year warranty can be extended to Samsung's Care + for Business warranty extension.

Should you buy it?

No. There are just too many other good 15-inch laptops out there for about the same price, and the Galaxy Book doesn't offer much to entice its intended business destination. If you really like the design and performance of the laptop, then consider the consumer version of the Galaxy Book.

Editor's recommendations



02 Oct
Blog

Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Review: Home Security on Wheels is Here

Samsung Jet Bot AI + on hardwood floor.

Samsung Jet Bot AI +

RRP $ 1,300.00

"If you can afford its high price, the Samsung Jet Bot AI + is the best Samsung robotic vacuum cleaner yet."

advantages

  • Home security patrol function works well

  • More efficient cleaning performance

  • Good at avoiding obstacles

  • Minimal disposal through self-draining system

I've never been satisfied with Samsung's range of robotic vacuum cleaners. They were average at best, but never outstanding enough to put the company in the same sphere as iRobot or even Roborock. However, that may change with the introduction of the latest robotic vacuum cleaner for the home, the Samsung Jet Bot AI +.

A cursory glance at the bot is enough to raise your eyebrows, including mine, just for its stimulating design. Seriously, it looks like a mini tank on wheels instead of your traditional robotic vacuum cleaner design. What makes the Jet Bot AI + remarkable over other models is that it is a self-draining model and performs a dual role as a patrolling bot for home security. Some models do this, but none have yet assured me that they can do it effectively.

Finally a superior cleaning performance

One of the biggest reservations I had with the last generation of the company, the PowerBot series, was that they didn't do a good job of picking up debris from corners and edges. Even after a few cleanings, cat litter was still scattered everywhere. Fortunately, that changes with the Samsung Jet Bot AI +.

Samsung Jet Bot AI + on hardwood floorJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

With the help of its integrated lidar sensors, it maps rooms quickly and easily and then cleans them efficiently with the typical S-shaped cleaning pattern. It works pretty well with hardwood floors, vacuuming up any tiny dirt, grime, and cat litter. Given my previous experience, I was pretty impressed with this particular Samsung bot.

Instead of being equipped with an ordinary underside brush with bristles, the Jet Bot AI + has a soft roller brush, which is more effective on hard floors than on carpets. Don't get me wrong, the anti-static fibers aren't curled from overuse, but it lacks the inclusion of an ordinary bristle brush when it comes to carpets. It automatically adjusts its suction to the surface, with a noticeable increase when moved onto carpets and rugs – but I've still noticed some glued pet hairs clinging to the carpet.

Bottom of the Samsung Jet Bot AI +.John Velasco / Digital Trends

When everything is done, it will automatically find its way back to its combined charging and self-emptying base. The entire contents of the bin are disposed of directly in the bag inside the self-emptying base. This is less of a mess for me having to clean up every time the bot cleans, but just know that replacement bags for a pack of 5 are $ 40.

Smarter avoidance detection

It was noticeable from the start that this Samsung vacuum robot was light years smarter than the previous models. Thanks to its combination of lidar sensors and camera, the Jet Bot AI + exceeded my expectations in terms of avoiding obstacles and clutter – including some pesky cables that are known to be difficult to avoid. Although it was still stuck on one end of a ceiling, I couldn't find it getting stuck in tight spaces. It actually did a good job of navigating tight spaces, which is surprising since it's quite a giant.

Close up of the camera on Samsung Jet Bot AI +.John Velasco / Digital Trends

The Samsung SmartThings app displays the map of your home when the Jet Bot AI + first cleans and then automatically categorizes the rooms. He even managed to note down large pieces of furniture on the map, something I haven't seen with other robotic vacuum cleaners. The card can then be edited to include no-go zones, which is useful for making cleaning more efficient.

Patrol routes when you are not home

Without question, the most beautiful feature of the Samsung Jet Bot AI + is its ability to act as a patrol when you are away from home. Think of it as your personal security guard, moving from room to room, watching out for your every move. While the live feed of the video can be easily accessed through the Samsung SmartThings app, you will need to install the SmartThings video add-on to view footage recorded later.

This is the best home patrolling robot that I have tested so far.

Well, I'll argue that this is the best home patrolling robot I've tested so far, but it still takes some work to be even more useful. The only complaint I have is that it can't go into patrol mode automatically. I really would have liked to have a geofencing feature that automatically activates the robot for patrols when I'm not home and then turns off when I'm there. Instead, you can only set one schedule for now.

Still, it's really amusing to see the Samsung Jet Bot AI + leave the base to patrol different rooms in my apartment. It also doesn't clean while it's moving, so it's a bit quieter and saves battery. When it enters a room, it ends up staying in one place, but turning every now and then. When the camera detects movement, it records the event and sends a notification in the app. This is exactly the type of home security that is needed most as it doesn't sit in one spot like a typical security camera. There is still room for improvement here, however, due to its narrow field of view and fairly easy motion detection.

Our opinion

The Samsung Jet Bot AI + is the company's best robotic vacuum cleaner to date – there's no doubt about that. It's also one of the most advanced robotic vacuums on the market, offering top-notch features like a self-draining system, intelligent obstacle avoidance and home security.

The latter feature is especially noteworthy as few bots really do a good job, but the Jet Bot AI + is the first to offer some level of confidence when it comes to home security. It's not terrific, but the beginning of what's to come as more and more robotic vacuums become personal safety patrols on wheels. It's Samsung's best deal, but it's also an expensive one at $ 1,300.

Is there a better alternative?

The closest competitor to this is the Roborock S6 MaxV, which also has a camera for better obstacle avoidance and safety. While it doesn't offer that much of a comprehensive home security package, it doubles as a mopper – something the Jet Bot AI + doesn't offer. Plus, it's also available for $ 850.

In terms of cleaning performance, the iRobot Roomba i3 + does a great job of cleaning every corner of your home in an efficient manner. In addition, it has a self-draining base and a far more attractive price of $ 600.

How long it will take?

There are certainly many components involved in the Samsung Jet Bot AI +. Cleaning the robot, removing tangled strands of hair from its wheels, and emptying the bag in the cleaning base all help to keep it in optimal shape. There is a one year limited warranty that covers it against defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. It's a really expensive investment, but given all the features it offers, it has some advantages.

Editor's recommendations



31 Aug
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Review: The Best for Smaller Wrists

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 functional picture ..

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 review: the best Wear OS smartwatch for smaller wrists

RRP $ 249.99

"The Galaxy Watch 4 has great health and fitness tracking capabilities in a comfortable package designed for smaller wrists."

advantages

  • Comfortable fit and size

  • Excellent fitness and health tracking capabilities

  • Seamless pairing with Samsung devices

  • Two days of battery life

disadvantage

  • Tricky digital bezel

  • Automatic exercise tracking can be inconsistent

the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is the slim brother of the chunkier Watch 4 Classic. With its smaller size and multiple color options, it offers largely the same Wear OS experience as the Classic, but there are a few key differences. It has a digital bezel rather than the physically rotating bezel that the Galaxy Watch series is known for. This reduces part of the overall footprint at the expense of a certain ease of use.

When it comes to features, however, you don't miss a thing. It runs Wear OS 3 and comes with health and fitness tracking features like blood oxygen, heart rate and BMI. You also get a full set of Google Play Store apps including Spotify, YouTube Music, Google Maps, Samsung Pay, and more. All of this leaves you with one of the best Android smartwatches for smaller wrist sizes at the expense of easy control.

Watch 4 vs. Watch 4 ClassicAjay Kumar / Digital Trends

Design and comfort

The Galaxy Watch 4 is much less of a wrist giant than the Watch 4 Classic, which makes it seem more like the spiritual (and physical) successor to the fitness-focused Active range. There are two size options, 40mm and 44mm, and the screen sizes are pretty much the same as the Classic, with the smaller Watch 4 having a 1.2-inch screen and the 44mm having a 1.4-inch screen. There are several color options including black, silver, green, and rose gold. My test device was black.

I got the larger 44mm Watch 4 for testing, even though my wrist is on the narrower side to take advantage of the slightly larger screen size – and possibly battery life. At 30.3 grams, it is a good deal lighter than the 52-gram Watch 4 Classic and fits comfortably thanks to the silicone strap supplied. Carrying, exercising, and sleeping with it all day was perfectly comfortable. Since it's IP68 there is no need to worry about water or dust, so I never felt the need to take it off and often even forgot it was on my wrist.

The most notable change is that the Watch 4 has a digital bezel instead of a physically rotating one. The screen sits flush with the aluminum case, but there is a black bezel that surrounds it along with two shank buttons that you can use to return to the home screen or reopen a previously opened app.

If you want to scroll through apps or the different tiles, you can swipe your finger on the bezel and in theory it should recreate the same effect as rotating the physical bezel with haptics.

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic and Watch 4 side by side.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Unfortunately, in practice it was never very accurate. Maybe my fingers are just too inelegant, but trying to scroll with the digital bezel was awkward and picky at best. All of this gives more credibility to my personal belief that physical buttons and controls are almost always superior to “fake” capacitive ones that try to haptically recreate them. Most of the time I only used the touchscreen.

On the plus side, the screen is crisp at 450 × 450, which translates to 330 pixels per inch. The AMOLED panel looks great in all settings and is bright enough for outdoor use. I wasn't worried about durability either, as the screen is protected by Gorilla Glass DX + and has weathered a few accidental drops and hits without scratching.

software

With the merging of Samsung Tizen and Google's Wear OS platform into Wear OS 3, the Watch 4 is one of the best smartwatches I've used in terms of consistency and ease of use. In many ways, Samsung's Tizen dominates the user interface with the different tiles you can set up to show what's important to you, tons of watch face options with as many or as few complications as you want, and solid and improved app support on Google Play Store . Bixby is there if you want to use voice commands, but I've never found much use for it. The initial pairing is simple and automatically imports things like alarms and Do Not Disturb settings from your phone.

However, getting notifications when first set up was tricky. I couldn't always count on messages to come from Teams, Slack, Signal, or Discord. After a software update, the notifications became much more reliable and I haven't noticed any missing notifications lately.

The Watch 4 is one of the best smartwatches I've used in terms of consistency and ease of use.

Apps like Spotify and YouTube Music support offline listening mode, so you can leave your phone at home while jogging. You also have media controls for most apps, including Audible, Netflix, and Pocket Casts. One app I used a lot was Google Maps. You can enter directions using the keyboard or use voice commands and have the Watch 4 give you directions. It's great for saving you the hassle of looking at your phone on the go.

See 4 directions on the map.

Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

Check out 4 Spotify playlists.

Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

Take a look at 4 media controls.

Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

The only complaint I have is that not everything is in the Galaxy Wearable app. You'll need to use the app to initially set up the watch, select watch faces, control watch settings and the quick control panel, and find the watch. However, to get all the details of your fitness and health data, you need the Samsung Health app, which gives you access to sleep and stress tracking, steps, heart rate and more. Finally, for electrocardiogram (EKG) measurements, all you need to do is download the Samsung Health Monitor app and grant permissions, which you can download from the Galaxy Store.

That brings you a total of three apps to take full advantage of the Watch 4, and I wonder why Samsung doesn't put it all in Galaxy Wearable or Health. It's a lot of unnecessary app clutter. There are also some individual permissions that have to be granted in order to be able to use certain functions.

Health and Fitness Tracking

You won't be disappointed with the comprehensive suite of health and fitness tracking features included in the Watch 4. In terms of what it can measure, it is a closer competitor to smart scales than other smartwatches on the market.

The big unique measurement here is body composition. The Watch 4 can measure an impressive range of statistics including body mass index (BMI), basal metabolic rate (BMR), weight, muscle mass, fat mass and body fat. You measure by sliding the smartwatch further up on your wrist, placing your elbow on the table, and then pressing your fingers against the two shank buttons without touching your wrist. It's a cumbersome gesture and not very comfortable to hold for the time it takes to process the results.

Once you get the results there are lots of numbers, and as you can see in the screenshots below, it doesn't really offer much of a breakdown or explanation of what it all actually means. You will need to do your own research to find out if the statistics provided by Body Composition are good or bad and for actionable advice. That would have been a nice feature in the Samsung Health app, and I'm surprised at the missed opportunity as other measurements like sleep and stress tracking offer advice on how to improve it.

With sleep tracking, the Watch 4 neatly breaks down your sleep cycle in the Samsung Health app and gives you a sleep score, shows sleep stages such as REM sleep, tracks blood oxygen and records snoring and even calories burned. It was an excellent way to assess the quality of my sleep, especially on the unfortunately frequent nights I suffered from insomnia.

Stress tracking doesn't throw so many numbers at you, it simply records your stress level on a graph and color-coded bar. It's hard to say how accurate it is. It often told me that I wasn't very stressed when I was under a barrage of work and told me that I was very stressed when I sat down and watched Castlevania on Netflix. As much as I like Trevor Belmont and Alucard, I don't think either of them caused me much stress.

Other tracking features are pretty standard. You get step and workout tracking with a variety of exercises like running, walking, biking, swimming, circuit training, rowing, weight machines, treadmills, and more. There is both automatic and manual exercise tracking, but the Watch 4 is pretty decent when it comes to walking and running.

Watch 4 heart rate monitoring.

Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

Watch the training with 4 rowing machines.

Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

It had more trouble noticing when I was using my rowing machine, often being 10 minutes in my workout before noticing. The first few times I had to start it manually before it finally started getting what I was doing. However, it has a bad habit of ending my session early and I couldn't quite figure out why.

With sleep tracking, the Watch 4 neatly breaks down your sleep cycle in the Samsung Health app.

There is also a heart rate monitor and an electrocardiogram (EKG) that you can use to keep track of your vital signs. The EKG requires the separate download of the Samsung Health Monitor, which gives you up to three apps to fully use the Watch 4.

The EKG measurement takes about 30 seconds and requires you to place your finger on one of the button noses. The measurement is not intended for diagnosing a heart attack, but it does tell you if you have atrial fibrillation. It's useful enough in that regard, but not really something I would measure every day as the heart rate monitor automatically keeps track of things.

Performance and battery

The Watch 4 is powered by an Exynos W920 processor and has 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. This results in fast and responsive apps and measurements. I never noticed any lagging or hanging like you might on certain older generation smartwatches. It's also nice to see the 5nm processor finally reaching wearables after years of hardware stagnation in the smartwatch space.

The battery life is great, at least when compared to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. With average use, I reliably got two days out of the battery, which included training on the rowing machine for 40 minutes, a walk in the park, sleep tracking, Spotify and general daily monitoring. It took just under two hours to fully charge from 1%. Instead of filling it up overnight, I usually only plugged the Watch 4 in when showering and I never ran out of juice.

Price and availability

the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is available at the following prices depending on size and model:

  • 40mm Bluetooth / WiFi: $ 250
  • 44mm Bluetooth / Wi-Fi: $ 280
  • 40mm 4G LTE: $ 300
  • 44mm 4G LTE: $ 330

Most models will be delivered in mid-September.

Our opinion

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is packed with features and has plenty to please Android users. With its sleeker design and more color options, it's more fashionable than the bulky Watch 4 Classic, although it does make some compromises in terms of usability. The health and fitness tracking features are impressive, especially body composition, although there is room for improvement. Wear OS 3 is smooth and responsive, and the issues it encountered the first time seem to be steadily being fixed. If you're looking for a comfortable, feature-rich smartwatch, you won't go wrong with the Galaxy Watch 4.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're an iPhone user, the obvious choices are the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE. They incorporate the best of the iOS ecosystem, are high quality, and come with most or all of the same features as the Watch 4. While it is possible to use Android smartwatches on iOS, the setup and integration are not perfect and you will be missing out on a lot of features.

For Android users, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is our top pick, with the Watch 4 right next to it for people with smaller wrists willing to forego the convenience of the physical bezel. However, there are other Android smartwatch options like the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 and the TicWatch E3, both of which will get Wear OS 3 sometime next year. But the Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are both newer. So if you want the latest and greatest, you are better off with them.

How long it will take?

The Galaxy Watch 4 comes with a standard one year warranty. It's dust and waterproof to IP68 and rated up to 5ATM, which means it can survive 10 minutes at a depth of 50 meters. It's also MIL-STD-810G certified, which means it has passed a series of laboratory tests for shock and vibration resistance. The included sports armband also seems to be made of good, high-quality silicone that does not stick after training. After all, Wear OS 3 is the latest software for smartwatches, and you're sure to get more updates, so I expect it to last at least two years, if not longer.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The Galaxy Watch 4 is the best Wear OS smartwatch for people with narrow wrists. It has the same great health and fitness tracking features as the Watch 4 Classic, but with a lower starting price and two days of battery life. While the digital bezel isn't nearly as precise as the physical dial, the slimmer and more comfortable design makes it a worthwhile compromise.

Editor's recommendations



26 Aug
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Review: The Foldable for Everyone

Galaxy Z Flip 3 will close.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 in the test: The foldable future is now ready for everyone

RRP $ 1,000.00

“The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the first foldable smartphone that most people should buy. It's compact, powerful, and durable, and costs about the same as its competitors. It's also really fun to use. "

advantages

  • Really compact

  • Water resistance increases durability

  • Nice screen

  • Innovative, eye-catching design

disadvantage

  • One day battery life

  • Features are missing from the cover screen

Foldable smartphones have a reputation of fragility, compromise, and cost that many people dismiss as expensive toys for the most avid early adopters. the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 banishes this reputation thanks to a more robust case, a smaller design and above all a lower price.

Samsung considers both the Z Flip 3 and its bigger sister phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 3, to be mainstream devices. But is that really true? Yes it really is.

Living with the foldable Z Flip 3

Take your regular mainstream smartphone, like the Galaxy S21 + or OnePlus 9 Pro, and imagine folding it in half when you're done. This is the Galaxy Z Flip 3. It is not the first phone of its kind, but it is the first to win and deserve mainstream attention due to various improvements over the previous models. It is therefore important to understand the benefits it brings to everyday life and the difference between using it and the Z Fold 3.

Galaxy Z Flip 3 with the Z Fold range.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

They may both fold up, but Samsung's two new foldable smartphones are very different from each other. The Z Fold 3 is about having a bigger screen in a full-size phone, while the Z Flip 3 is about having a full-size screen in a smaller than ordinary phone. Unlike the Z Fold 3, it is not designed to be used when closed and is based more on portability and comfort than on increased productivity.

Living with the Z Flip 3 isn't really that different from life with any other smartphone with a 6.7-inch screen until you finish it and put it in your pocket. Folding the phone up, somewhat reminiscent of a flip phone from the 1990s or a makeup compact, is satisfying, different, and actually fun. The action is not old. You do it without thinking about it, such as clicking the tip of a pen, and sometimes you just pick up the phone and open it when you don't really need it. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a tactile, friendly, and interactive piece of mobile technology.

Galaxy Z Flip 3 open on a table.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

When closed, the 4.2-inch Z Flip 3 is a little more than half as long as it is open, but at 17.1 mm, more than twice as thick. However, at 183 grams it is light. Due to the reduced footprint, it takes up less space in a bag or pocket, but is still noticeable due to the thick housing. When folded, it sits comfortably and naturally in your hand, especially if you have small hands. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is really all about comfort and it makes it possible to live much more comfortably than other large, modern smartphones.

However, I've often left the Z Flip 3 open at home, which feels strangely wrong. Why? You can't do anything useful with the phone when it is closed because the cover screen isn't as useful as it should be. This underscores that the Z Flip 3's folding design is about portability, not ease of use. But not closing the flip is a bit like telling Placido Domingo not to sing.

The hinge of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 seen from above.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Many people probably envision the larger Z Fold 3 – a regular phone that turns into a tablet when they think of folding smartphones. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is not like that at all. It's a 6.7-inch smartphone that folds into a less awkward one than other similarly sized, non-foldable models. If you've ever thought that “modern phones are just too big” but never want to miss out on the big screen experience, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the phone for you.

draft

Samsung highlights the increased durability as one of the main reasons the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is ready for the mainstream audience, and that's right, but another reason is the emphasis on fashion, style, design and fun. The Z Fold 3 introduces tech before design, but the Z Flip 3 turns this on its head with an equally fun folding movement, a choice of colors, eye-catching accessories, and a delicate and stylish minimalist design. It reminds me of electric cars like the Honda E, which carefully blends modern tech with cool retro design elements to create broad appeal.

Galaxy Z Flip 3 seen from behind.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

My test model is cream with a silver frame and it is one of a total of seven combinations. Each phone is two-tone, with the colored glass panels coordinated with a black glass camera module and a contrasting housing color. There are a number of fun silicone cases available with straps or rings to attach the phone to a bag or lanyard. This depth of personalization really suits the fun nature of the Z Flip 3.

Samsung used a tougher new aluminum called Armor Aluminum for the construction, along with stronger flexible glass over the screen, and gave it an IPX8 rating for water resistance. It makes the Z Flip 3 more durable than previous versions. It feels that way too. There's no flex where it shouldn't be, solid construction, and no obvious gaps around the hinge either. The sleek glass case makes the phone quite slippery and it slides out of loose pockets or over some surfaces. However, the chassis offers enough support so that it does not slip out of your hand.

Galaxy Z Flip 3 with Z Fold area.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Magnets keep the phone securely closed, the unfolding movement is gentle and almost noiseless, and it clicks into place when fully opened. The opening and closing of the Z Flip 3 is satisfactory and tactile, and the action feels solid and high quality. Opening the Z Flip 3 initially took more force than expected, but after about a week the hinge loosened. However, it will always be two-handed as the hinge has enough resistance to hold the phone open at any angle.

The Z Flip 3 is cuter than any smartphone can really be, it feels extremely solid and well made, and it's a phone that will make you smile when you see it lying around. It's also been expertly crafted with some wonderful little touches like the domed glass around the camera module, the logo stamped into the hinge that disappears when the phone is opened so it doesn't have branding, and the built-in fingerprint sensor, and the small, sleek power key. With the Galaxy Z Flip 3, fashion meets technology and that's just right.

Screens

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 has two screens. On the front of the closed phone is the cover screen, a small 1.9-inch Super AMOLED panel with 260 x 512 pixels. When open, you will see a 6.7-inch screen with 2640 x 1080 pixels and 120 Hz Dynamic AMOLED with an aspect ratio of 22: 9.

Galaxy Z Flip 3 screen.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Yes, there is a crease on the open screen, but it is imperceptible when the screen is active and viewing and is barely noticeable when you slide your finger up and down the screen. Having the phone and apps in dark mode helps when you can still see the crease and it bothers you. Dust and lint are more of a nuisance as it seems to collect a lot more than other screens, especially when the phone is closed and in your pocket. Particularly noteworthy is the redesigned screen protector, which has a much more glass-like texture than older versions.

The main screen is bright and detailed, the 120Hz refresh rate is wonderfully smooth and effectively reduces eye strain, and the video performance is up to usual Samsung standards. The vibrant and colorful door music video by Kwon Eun Bi shows the high contrast and bold colors but looks less natural than the iPhone 12 Pro's screen. Compare it to the Galaxy S21 + and there is almost nothing separating them other than a little more glare and reflection from the S21 + glass.

The screen of the Z Flip 3 is excellent when open. Closed, it's not that good. The cover screen is one of two downsides to the phone, and it's all because the software doesn't take full advantage of its capabilities. The title screen is interactive, and you can swipe left to see music controls, weather, voice recorder, and a selection of other customizable widgets. Swipe right and you'll get a vertical list of notifications that show a lot of details when you tap them and have the option to interact with them too.

However, the notifications are not visible like a normal always-on screen. The cover screen clock also doesn't have the option to show icons for notification. So if you miss them when they show up on the screen for a split second, you need to wake up and swipe the screen. Keep the Z Flip 3 open and you will see a normal Samsung Always-On screen with notification icons.

It gets worse because the deck screen isn't very responsive. It requires you to physically press the power button to wake it up, it doesn't always respond when you wake it up and then takes a few swipes too long to respond to a swipe, adding to the time it takes for notifications to appear . You can't activate the camera from the cover screen either, so you'll have to open the phone. It's disappointingly simple, and it also drives me to keep the phone open when I expect to do things on a regular basis.

camera

The Galaxy Z Flip isn't a camera superstar like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but its capabilities are similar to the Galaxy S21. There are two 12-megapixel cameras on the back, one of which is a wide-angle camera, and both have optical image stabilization (OIS). There is dual-pixel autofocus on the main camera, HDR10 + and video recording with up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, but no telephoto camera or 8K video recording. At the top center of the screen is a 10 MP camera for selfies.

The camera module of the Galaxy Z Flip 3.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's a good camera for everyday photos and, if the situation is right, it can get some outstanding shots. There is some evidence of overhaul, however, and the software-controlled portrait mode isn't as good as it should be. On the positive side, I took several insect photos on flowers (don't ask, it's just a coincidence that I took so many) and they turned out really very well, all without much intervention from me, which is exactly what I want . The autofocus system is smart and is exactly what really helped.

On sunny days the colors are too saturated for some, but I like the pop that Samsung has built into the camera and the white balance is good too. In most situations, the balance and dynamic range remain constant when switching between the main and wide-angle cameras. Photos are not as good when the light is poor and it is difficult to show details in shaded areas.

The autofocus system is intelligent and accurate.

Samsung's image processing can sometimes be seen at work. For example, look at the scene with a wire stretched across a pond and you can see tons of edge enhancements around it that really spoil the photo. Portrait mode, front or back, is also not very accurate and gets confused by even the simplest of shapes.

The hinge of the Z Flip 3 supports the screen at every angle between open and closed and serves as a mini tripod for the camera. Angle the hinge in the camera app and the viewfinder slides to the top half of the screen, where you can use Samsung's gesture controls to take a photo without tapping a button or setting the timer with an open hand to the camera. There's a button to switch to the lower half of the screen if that works better, or if you're using the rear camera, the cover screen can also be activated to preview.

However, due to its shape, the preview only provides part of the image so it can only be used as a basic guide. The picture stays in portrait orientation unless you turn the phone over to the side that is less stable and the cover screen shows even less. It's most useful when paired with Google Duo as the video call display automatically switches to the top half of the screen so you don't have to prop the phone against anything else. However, it doesn't work with other messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Performance, software and battery

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor (whether you are in the US or the UK as there is no Exynos powered model this time around) with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. Android 11 with One UI 3.1.1 is installed. This makes it identical to the Galaxy S21 range and one of the highest quality smartphones you can buy today.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3's screen is in use.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The performance is excellent, all apps run smoothly, and there are no compatibility or formatting issues that sometimes occur with large-format folding smartphones. The Z Flip 3 is also a great gaming phone, although it can get quite warm. When playing Asphalt 9: Legends, the wide display really comes into its own and the stereo speakers ensure a lot of volume and punch. However, the area on the back around the camera module is where heat is generated. It's never too hot to touch, but it's definitely noticeable.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is not designed to increase productivity enormously, but it has Samsung's usual multitasking mode which is easy to use. Just slide the sidebar and drag the apps you want to the main screen where they will be stacked vertically and you can use two at the same time. The title screen gets its own Z Flip 3-specific settings menu, where you can choose between different wallpapers and change the widgets that appear when you slide across the screen.

Now we come to the other major disadvantage of the Z Flip 3 – the battery. It's a 3,300 mAh cell and just doesn't have the power to compete with its peers. Even if you stay at home and the phone is connected to Wi-Fi, the battery won't last much longer than a full day, especially if you play a few games or watch videos. Go out into the world with a 4G or 5G connection, use the phone normally, take a few pictures and you may have a hard time getting to the end of the night. I used the phone connected to a Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, but even on the days I didn't, the battery was still around 25% after a normal day.

Galaxy Z Flip 3 open with charging port.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you consider yourself a heavy user, the Z Flip 3's battery will be an issue. The phone supports wired charging at 15 watts and wireless charging at 10 watts, so there is no super-fast OnePlus-like fast charging system to fall back on. After the Z Flip 3 didn't actually have to carry a battery around with it for years or suffered from battery fear on a day, the Z Flip 3 unfortunately brings some of that back and is at odds with its futuristic design.

Price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 costs $ 1,000 for the 128GB model and comes in cream, phantom black, green, or lavender colors. However, if you order directly from the Samsung online shop, there are three other exclusive colors: gray, white or pink. In the US, a 256GB Z Flip 3 costs $ 1,050. In the UK, the 128GB Galaxy Z Flip 3 costs £ 949 or £ 999 for the 256GB model.

Our opinion

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the first foldable smartphone with real mainstream appeal, largely due to a price point that keeps it competitive against other high-end non-foldable models. It has the power you need today, a good camera, and a nice minimalist design with the best party trick in mobile tech to top it off. It hits the spot in terms of durability too, and while it's not dustproof, the water resistance will really help overcome fears that it's too fragile for everyday use.

Durability is then no longer a serious compromise, but a new one has raised its head and that is battery life. Two days of moderate use are really achievable with most smartphones today, and most are equipped with 4,000 mAh plus cells. The battery life of the Z Flip 3 is almost from another time. The cover screen isn't as helpful as it could be either, but Samsung may address this in a future software update.

What are the thoughts on the Galaxy Z Flip 3? Samsung has taken a Galaxy S21 + in a practical way and designed it with a hinge, making it more portable and convenient to carry. If you are looking to buy the S21 + or a similar phone, then you should also pay attention to the Z Flip 3. To recommend a folding smartphone in this way consolidates the place of the Z Flip 3 in the mainstream.

Is there a better alternative?

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 stands on its own if you're specifically looking for a phone that folds in half to shrink. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 does something similar, but fulfills a different need. If you want a phone that is bigger than a "normal" phone when you open it, you should look in its direction.

His competition comes from the usual suspects. For $ 1,000, check out the OnePlus 9 Pro, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, or with the right deal, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. All of them offer not only exceptional performance and beautiful screens, but also better and more versatile cameras and much longer battery life. But they don't fold away when you're done with them.

How long it will take?

The Armor Aluminum increases durability by 20% over other aluminum, according to Samsung, and the IPX8 rating means the phone was tested at a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. The X means the phone is not dustproof, and since the water resistance is freshwater, not seawater, the phone may not be able to enjoy the beach very much. Time will tell how the screen and flexible glass will react to prolonged use, but Samsung has used a new material for the screen protector that is more resistant to fingerprints and scratches.

The foldable design of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 makes it as modern as phones can get.

Samsung is offering a free year of Samsung Care + with the Z Flip 3, which kicks in after the main one-year warranty and covers accidental damage from drops and offers a cracked screen repair for $ 249. After the first year, it costs $ 13 per month and can be canceled at any time. In terms of technology and software, it is now state-of-the-art, and Samsung delivers three years of Android software updates and four years of security updates.

The foldable design of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 makes it as modern as phones can get, and with the durability improvement and extended warranty, plus 5G and an eSIM option alongside the standard SIM, the phone will easily serve you for three years or more.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. It's the foldable smartphone that ordinary people can feel safe and confident about buying because they know that not only are they not compromising by opting not to buy a non-foldable phone, but they are embracing the future of phone design today.

Editor's recommendations



25 Aug
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Review: The Best Foldable There Is

Open the Galaxy Z Fold 3 as seen from the front.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

RRP $ 1,799.00

"After three generations of improvements, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 offers better durability, software support and productivity features."

advantages

  • Improved screen durability and IPX8 water resistance

  • Powerful hardware and features

  • Solid rear view cameras

  • Ideal for multitasking and productivity

disadvantage

  • Still expensive

  • Poor battery life

Foldable phones are no longer an expensive toy for first-time users, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is here to prove it. Let me make it clear that the Fold 3 is still expensive at $ 1,800, but in its third generation of steady improvements, it's finally a functional device that the average consumer can use and enjoy.

Aside from the welcome improvements in durability, the Fold 3 just generally feels more polished. The hinge is less bulky, the screen creases are less obvious, and the Under Display Camera (UDC) is easier to ignore than a punch. There used to be a pretty significant tradeoff in durability and performance in flip phones when compared to mainstream flagships. That is no longer true. After using the Fold 3 as my daily driver for almost two weeks, I don't feel like I'm missing anything important compared to the Galaxy S21, although it still doesn't match the S21 Ultra.

Design and durability

The Fold 3 does not deviate radically from the design language of the Fold 2. Instead, it focuses on refinements to make it a more polished experience both visually and in the hand. In terms of footprint, the size is not drastically different. When opened, the phone measures 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 millimeters, with a 7.6-inch main screen – slightly larger than the Kindle Paperwhite in terms of usable screen area. It weighs in at 271 grams, so it's a fair bit heavier than most phones on the market, including the hefty S21 Ultra (227 grams), but certainly a lot lighter than a tablet.

When folded, it becomes a tall and narrow “chocolate bar” phone measuring 158.2 x 78.1 x 14.4-16 millimeters. The thickness is roughly the same as two phones stacked on top of each other, which may seem bulky, but I found it relatively easy to use one-handed as the 6.2-inch cover display is so narrow. Compared to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, reaching across the entire screen with your thumb wasn't a problem – no one-handed mode required.

Z fold 3 with screen folds.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

When opened, the Fold 3 is a very two-handed device. I keep coming back to the e-reader comparison because that's how you have to hold it – either with both hands or with your pinky finger holding up the lower bezel. All buttons, including the power button / fingerprint sensor and volume rocker, are on the right. This worked fine for unlocking with my thumb as I'm right handed, but I can see left handed people having issues when they can't use the sensor with their middle or index finger.

There are some durability improvements. The biggest one is the IPX8 water resistance. The Fold 3 can now withstand complete immersion in water, and in fact my test device survived a thorough rinse in the sink. This is one of the bigger premium failures that have existed with foldable products, so it's nice to see that they have been addressed. Dust can still be an issue due to the nature of the hinge, so I don't recommend taking the Fold 3 with you for a day at the beach, but Samsung has incorporated "Sweeper" bristles into the hinge so the dust can be forced out when it comes in. There's Gorilla Glass Victus on the deck screen too, and the main screen has screen protector pre-installed, which Samsung says is 80% stronger than before.

This is all welcome news. For those who have followed foldable models for a while, you'll remember that the previous models had problems with dust penetration and screen protector peeling off, causing scratches and other more serious damage to the screen.

When you first set it up, it gives you a pretty extensive list of ways to care for your phone. This includes not pressing down too hard, using only the S Pen Fold or S Pen Pro (with retractable tips), keeping keys and coins in the same pocket with the phone, and not removing the protective film. Fortunately, despite the somewhat ominous list of warnings, I never felt like I had to make it too small.

Adding a sleeve to the Fold 3 also gives it that extra bit of much-needed support and protection. After using the first-party leather case Samsung shipped with the device, I found it a lot easier to hold for gaming, browsing, and general everyday use. Other case options also have an S Pen slot, but it wasn't included.

Displays and multimedia

None of the panels on the Fold 3 is too short. When folded, the 6.2-inch cover display has a resolution of 2268 x 832. It supports a refresh rate of 120 Hz like the main screen that was not on the Fold 2. I've mainly used the cover screen to take photos with the rear camera, navigate Google Maps, take calls, and get quick notifications on the go.

The increased refresh rates make using the deck screen smoother and more responsive, even though you're mostly using the main screen for multimedia. The only thing the deck screen doesn't support is the S Pen, which makes sense since the deck screen is narrow and quite a bit smaller than the main screen. Whenever you try to type on it or tweet on it, the keyboard is cramped and most of the time I left the main screen open to do something intense.

The main screen is where all of the action takes place. When the phone is unfolded, you get a large and bright 7.6-inch screen with a resolution of 2208 x 1768, which equates to a crisp 374 pixels per inch. It's AMOLED and supports HDR10 + so the colors are saturated and saturated, with the dense, inky black the panel is known for. The phone reaches a peak brightness of 1200 nits so I could use it in the park on a bright summer day without any problems. Both the deck screen and the main screen provide excellent visibility in direct sunlight.

Watching videos, playing games, and surfing the web are all a treat on the main screen. Games like Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9 looked incredible on the sleek and vibrant 120Hz display. They also filled the screen perfectly on startup, no adjustment required. The larger screen real estate was especially handy with Genshin Impact as it was much easier to use the various controls without blocking any part of the screen with my fingers.

Fold 3 Genshin Impact screenshot.

Fold 3 Genshin Impact 2.

The crease is there and visible, but it can easily be ignored when there is content on the screen. The only time I really noticed it was when the screen was off and the light was reflecting off the blank screen. The same applies to the Under Display Camera (UDC). While there is a noticeable pixelated grid, especially on a white background, it's easy to forget and a lot less annoying than a pinhole camera when it comes to drawing attention to it.

Under display camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 3Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Playing on this phone is an absolute pleasure that is enhanced by its sound. I rarely have strong feelings about phone speakers as they tend to be hit or miss, so I was blown away by the robust sound of the Fold 3's stereo speakers. They are located at the top and bottom of the control panel that contains the phone cover screen. So when you turn the phone over for games and videos in landscape mode, you can hold it so your hands aren't covering the speakers.

The result is a rich sound that is well balanced across lows, mids and highs. It's a lot noisy without being tinny and I never felt the need to reach for my headphones, which is more than can be said of most phone speakers. It won't compete with quad speakers on Samsung's own tablets like the S7 and S7 +, but it can still hold its own.

Not everything was perfect out of the box. I couldn't avoid letterboxing YouTube videos, and while it is possible to adjust the screen to force it to fill in, it does cut off content on the sides so this isn't a real solution. Despite these issues, I was still pleasantly surprised that most of the apps I used were either optimized for the Fold 3 by default or could be forced to fill the screen by enabling them in Labs (Netflix and Instagram were the main culprits).

A productive powerhouse

Much of the Fold 3's value comes from its extra screen space and the customized Android 11 software that supports it. You can have multiple apps open, run them side by side in split view, or run up to three in resizable windows. Fair warning: many of these features are considered experimental and you will need to dive into labs to enable them. So don't be surprised if it doesn't work right away.

As soon as you have put it into operation, the possible uses are many. In my case, it was possible to watch a video or livestream while taking notes or using Google Maps to navigate and still be able to text a friend when I arrived. It's even possible to pull up a keyboard on one half of the screen and type things in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, almost like an old-school slider.

By adding the taskbar and edge panel, you get something that is close to a desktop experience and gives you access to frequently used apps at all times. You can also pin them together with App Pair so that they both start together in split-screen view, drag and drop content, and move and resize windows as you wish. It comes as close to a laptop as you will get it with a phone, and since it supports Samsung DeX, you can get a true desktop experience by connecting wired or wirelessly to monitors, TVs, and laptops.

You can also choose the app behavior for the title screen and decide which apps can still be displayed when the main screen is closed. I turned it on for most apps, although it was most important for Google Maps as I could still get directions after closing the main screen. There's also Flex mode, which allows apps to adjust themselves when you bend the screen. A good example is YouTube, where bending the screen at an angle to keep it upright places your video at the top and the comments area at the bottom. All of this helped make the Fold 3 feel like a seamless device, with software designed and optimized for it.

The productivity potential is increased by using the S Pen Fold Edition or the S Pen Pro. It is important that you only use one of these options as they will have a retractable tip if you press too hard – other S Pen models will damage the screen. Although neither is included, I received an S Pen Fold with my test device and was able to use it for recording and sketching. I'm not a great artist, but being able to pull out the S Pen and seamlessly jot down a quick note, reminder, or shopping list was incredibly convenient. However, that brings me to the one disadvantage. While having a bigger screen to use the S Pen is fantastic, there is no space to plug it in after you use it. So you'll either need to put it in your pocket or buy a case that has a slot that can accommodate it.

The productivity potential is increased by using the S Pen Fold Edition or the S Pen Pro.

Or you can do what I did and take the Fold 3 to a press event to take notes but forget the S Pen at home. It's been happening more often than I'd like to admit, which is the main reason the Fold 3 doesn't offer the same experience as the Note, in my opinion, even if it's much better in terms of screen real estate. Maybe as soon as I get my hands on a Fold 3 S pen sleeve, I'll feel different.

Performance and hardware

Under the hood, the Fold 3 has hardware that matches the best flagship phones on the market. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor and has 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB / 512 GB of storage. There is no microSD card slot, which is a shame. So if you're a big power user like me, you'll want the bigger memory configuration.

I ran it through several benchmark tests that you can see below and it performed brilliantly. Multitasking is fluid and responsive, there were no slowdowns or app crashes and, as mentioned, it also mastered demanding games like Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9: Legends without any problems. In terms of graphics performance, it was an average of 87% better than other devices on the market.

Benchmarks:

  • PCMark performance: 14,460
  • PCMark battery life: 9 hours, 20 minutes
  • Geekbench (single / multi-core): 1,113 / 3,431
  • GFXBench Aztec: 19fps
  • 3DMark: 5,647

All of this is great, but you will notice one spec that isn't that hot, which is the 4,400 mAh battery, which is slightly smaller than the Fold 2. The PCMark battery test took 9 hours, 20 minutes to drain 20%, which corresponds to a little more than an average working day term. I usually had to fill up in the evening to keep going. A one hour session of Genshin Impact and some surfing could easily eliminate 20% of the charge.

On the flip side, the phone supports 25 watts of fast wired charging and 11 watts of fast wireless charging, so it was easy to quickly charge using one of the many Samsung Fast Wireless charging stands and adapters I scattered around my home. These aren't included though, so you'll need to buy your own if you want to take full advantage of the speed.

Connectivity is as good as you'd expect. The Fold 3 supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6e, NFC and has Bluetooth 5.2. I had no problem taking and making calls, surfing the city on 5G, and connecting to accessories like the Galaxy Watch 4 and bluetooth headphones.

A camera on each side

The camera functions are not changed compared to the Fold 2. On the back, the phone has three 12-megapixel (MP) cameras: a primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a telesensor for 2x optical zoom and OIS and an ultra-wide angle for 123-degree recordings. All three cameras take great photos. The images are sharp, have a lot of detail and minimal noise. As is typical of Samsung cameras, colors tend to be jazzed up a bit in terms of saturation, but I like this look.

The rear sensors have more challenges in low light, cloudy, and nighttime settings, but still do quite well. There is some noise with close-ups and the occasional blurring, but for the most part, things come across clearly. However, the ultrawide sensor loses some sharpness and clarity, especially in low light, and is more prone to softness and noise, likely due to the lack of OIS. This also applies to the S21 Ultra, so I won't judge the Fold 3 too harshly for that.

In comparison shots with the iPhone 12 Pro Max and even the older Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, the Fold 3 is displaced. The iPhone 12 Pro Max takes more reliable, razor-sharp and color-accurate recordings, while the S20 Ultra and its successor, the S21 Ultra, are unbeatable in terms of pure image quality, especially for telephoto and ultra-wide-angle recordings. While I would have liked a camera system comparable to the S21 Ultra or Note 20 Ultra, it's still a very good set of sensors that most people will be happy with.

The 10 MP selfie camera on the cover is also suitable for quick selfies and copes reasonably well with proper lighting. The 4MP UDC camera on the main screen, on the other hand, doesn't get as hot. Most of the pictures I took with it were muddy, pixelated, or washed out, although Samsung tried to clean up the image with post-processing.

  • 1.
    Selfie with UDC camera.
  • 2.
    10 MP selfie with cover screen camera on Fold 3.
  • 3.
    Selfie with 12MP primary sensor.

In the comparison shots above, you can see the difference between the 4MP sensor, the 10MP sensor and the 12MP rear camera for selfies. The latter is the best option if you are looking for pure quality. The 4MP UDC camera is only suitable for video chatting or when you only need it in an emergency.

Price and availability

The Fold 3 will cost you $ 1,800, which is $ 200 less than the Fold 2 originally. It's still an expensive phone, make no mistake, but the drop in price makes it easier to digest. The phone will be available on all major US carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon with a variety of installment plans and offers. There are also some nice trade-in options if you have older equipment left over.

Our opinion

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the best foldable one on the market and a significant improvement over the Fold 2 in terms of durability. After three years of refinement and advancement, I am much less reluctant to recommend the phone to the average user. It offers one of the best gaming experiences I've had on a phone and offers great value for multitasking and productivity.

It offers one of the best gaming experiences I've got on a phone.

That said, it's not perfect yet, with room for improvement in battery life and camera performance. It's also still expensive at $ 1,800, though the price becomes more palatable when you consider the Fold 3 as a possible replacement for your phone, tablet, and e-reader. With that in mind, I think the Fold 3 is worth buying if you are willing to spend the money and you know you will find some value out of the screen real estate.

Is there a better alternative?

Not really. Samsung dominates the foldable market with no other competitors in sight, especially not in the US. The Fold 3's biggest competitor is Samsung's own Galaxy Z Flip 3, but there are some big differences between the two foldable devices.

For starters, the Flip 3 is smaller in both dimensions and screen size, and has a 6.7-inch screen that folds in half. The purpose of the Flip 3 is to use its compact clamshell design to reduce the phone's footprint in your pocket, rather than improve multitasking and productivity. It serves this purpose well, but isn't a real competitor to the Fold 3.

Samsung Galaxy Flip Phones.

There are rumors of a Pixel Fold in the future, and there are also the Mi Mix Fold and the Huawei Mate X2, but neither is likely to hit markets outside of China. Neither the Moto Razr nor the Surface Duo received many awards, and we had significant concerns in our testing.

Outside of the world of foldable devices, when your primary desire is a big screen and flagship specs, both the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Note 20 Ultra have powerful hardware and S Pen support.

How long it will take?

Samsung has taken care to improve the durability of the Fold 3 by adding IPX8 water resistance, a more durable hinge with sweeping bristles, an improved screen protector for the main screen, retractable tips on the S Pen Fold and Pro, and Gorilla Glass Victus for. added the deck screen. Throw on a case and you won't need much to babysit the phone. If you're particularly concerned, you can invest in Samsung Care + for an extended warranty over the one-year limited warranty and accidental damage protection. The crease can get worse over time, but I would expect the phone to last at least two years, if not longer.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The improvements to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 are big enough that I can recommend them to average consumers who aren't early adopters. There are still a few compromises made when it comes to battery and camera performance. So if you value those two things the most, you might be better off with the S21 Ultra. However, for gaming, multimedia, multitasking, and productivity, you won't do any better than the Fold 3.

Editor's recommendations



24 Aug
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Review: First-rate Smartwatch

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic on the wrist.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic in the test: A first-class smartwatch

RRP $ 349.99

"The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a really powerful smartwatch with comprehensive health monitoring functions, elegant One Watch UI software and a sophisticated, elegant design that feels good on the wrist."

advantages

  • Closed, mature design

  • The rotating bezel is intuitive

  • The One Watch user interface is clear and logical

  • Comprehensive health tracking

  • Choice of style and size

disadvantage

  • The battery doesn't last two full days

  • Wear OS 3 software lacks gloss

  • Too big at night

Has the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Do you have what it takes to top our list of the best Android smartwatches? After all, its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 3, has done so since its release, and we have high expectations. The already tough job of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is made even harder by the fact that it has to introduce us to a new operating system and inspire us with its hardware at the same time.

A look at the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic shows that Samsung did its job with the design, but what about the new Wear OS 3 software? There's a lot to do here, but don't worry, this is a feature-rich smartwatch that deserves both your attention and your money.

draft

At first glance, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic doesn't look that different from the Galaxy Watch 3, but upon closer inspection, there are subtle refinements that give the new model a more cohesive, sophisticated, and watch-like style. The stainless steel case itself comes in either 42mm or 46mm sizes, and I wear the 46mm model on my 6.5-inch wrist. Without the strap, it weighs 52 grams.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 classic.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The ribs on the bezel are smaller and denser than on the Galaxy Watch 3, the chronograph markings are more subtle, and the tabs flow more directly out of the case itself. This, along with the strap and buttons, is the biggest design change. The buttons are elongated, flush with the case and therefore less noticeable, but still separated by a button protector for a clean look.

The bracelet changes the watch the most, as the ends match the curve of the case and the flowing lines match the lugs. It works really well, making the bracelet appear like an integral part of the watch case, and the shape prevents it from bending too far in either direction, which makes it sit better on the wrist. Technically, it's a small design change, but an inspired one that really adds to the comfort and looks of the watch. However, if you swap the bracelet for a non-Samsung version, you lose that advantage.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic on the wrist shows the buttons.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

At 52 grams, the Watch 4 Classic is quite heavy and you can almost always feel it on your wrist. This prevented me from wearing it overnight for sleep tracking – it was just too noticeable and I found it distracting as I fell asleep. The 42-mm version is not much lighter at 47 grams and both are significantly heavier than the 37-gram aluminum case 44 mm Apple Watch Series 6.

Nevertheless, I don't find the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic tiring during the day and I love the balanced, elegant and unmistakable design.

software

The hardware is great, but the big change in the Watch 4 is the software. Gone is Samsung's Tizen from the Galaxy Watch 3, and the joint Google and Samsung platform called Wear OS 3, or simply Wear, is coming. Tizen has always been the better software compared to the old Wear OS and made the Galaxy Watch 3 our top recommendation for Android smartwatches due to its ease of use, design and reliability. With the new software, the concern for me was how much of Tizen is left or has Wear completely overhauled it?

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic app page.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The good news is that Tizen's superior design and ease of use are preserved through Samsung's One Watch user interface. Wear OS 3 allows businesses to use a custom user interface, which avoids all new watches from looking basically the same. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has a rotating bezel that is very helpful when navigating. You rotate it left to show notifications and right to show tiles. Swipe up on the touchscreen to find the app menu and down for quick settings. Then use the bezel to scroll left and right through all of the options that appear. It's fluid, natural, quick, and surprisingly enjoyable. The rotating bezel has a very precise action with nice damping and a decent "notching" feel when rotating.

You should spend a moment digging through the settings to personalize how your watch works, as lift to wake up isn't turned on by default, which means you'll have to tap the screen or rotate the bezel to adjust the display to activate. This is annoying when an app is running and the screen is timing out. An always-on screen can be turned on so that the clock always shows the time. There are many watch faces to choose from, from very simple to very cute, and all of them have custom environment modes.

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic shows off a cute watch face.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It all feels very similar to Tizen on the Galaxy Watch 3 at first, but Wear uses clearer fonts that combine with the razor-sharp screen – a 1.4-inch 450 x 450-pixel Super AMOLED on the 46 -mm- or a 1.2-inch 396 x 396 pixel Super AMOLED on the 42 mm – makes everything easy to read. I never have to blink at the screen and the font choices are more sophisticated than Tizen's. The most obvious change happens when you swipe up on the screen and find a list of apps that includes the Google Play Store.

Android apps for Wear OS work on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic as opposed to the Tizen-based Galaxy Watch 3, and that includes Google apps that are missing on old Samsung watches like Google Maps, Google Fit, and Google Pay. Google Pay works normally and you can choose either it or Samsung Pay as the default contactless payment system in the NFC setting. Google Fit works with Samsung Health, but it's not immediately apparent how or if it can be set as the default.

There are times when Wear OS 3 shows it's still in the works, but during my review came a small software update that also showed that Google and Samsung are working on fixing any issues. At first, Google Maps loaded as usual, but whether you could scroll through the map on the screen was unsuccessful, and routes were only displayed in text form. Both issues were fixed after the update. However, some apps are still shaky, with Spotify often timing out, leaving me staring at a rotating progress bar.

Many apps are available through Google Play, including common examples like Spotify and Outlook, but not YouTube Music or Uber. It doesn't seem like the Google Assistant is available either as an app to install or as an onboard alternative to Bixby. Notifications are nice and interactive when they show up, but there is no guarantee of arrival, a problem with the old Wear operating system that has unfortunately carried over to the new Wear. However, notifications are grouped in tiles, properly formatted, easy to read, and when you close one on the watch, it disappears from your phone.

In everyday life, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic with Wear OS 3 has so far been excellent, although it is an unusual mix of Wear OS and Tizen. You get the good looks and reasonable navigation of the One Watch UI and rotating bezel, plus the frustration of unreliable notifications and apps that don't always work properly from Wear OS, along with lots of duplicate services. Since Wear looks different (when they arrive) on other smartwatches that run the software, much of what works well here may be due to Samsung's One Watch user interface, but we won't know for sure until a challenger arrives in the future.

Health tracking

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's health and fitness tracking is comprehensive, detailed, easy to use, and packed with features. The Samsung BioActive sensor is the outstanding new hardware addition to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. The 3-in-1 sensor contains a bioelectrical impedance sensor (BIA), an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a PPG heart rate sensor, all of which are powered by new software algorithms.

Daily activity screen on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The BIA provides a body composition measurement that shows weight, muscle, fat mass, body fat, body mass index (BMI), body water and basal metabolic rate (BMR). Data like this has only been found on a few smart scales so far and is helpful in better understanding weight loss and the effects of continued exercise on your body. It takes 15 seconds and all it takes is your weight and height, but it is not suitable for people with pacemakers as it uses a small electrical current to take a measurement.

It's typical of many of the high tech health features of a wearable in that it provides a lot of statistics but no real information about what they mean and what you can do to change them. The dates themselves are very variable and the results will depend on the time of day, the last meal, and much more. It is difficult to determine accuracy this way. It's probably only helpful if you can compare the results to another device with a body composition measurement, and even then you'll have to do your own research to know what to do with the data.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's body composition mode.Measurement of body composition on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

In order to use the EKG, a separate app must be installed on your phone, which lasts 30 seconds and only reports in the event of atrial fibrillation. The app shows an option to measure blood pressure, but this feature is not active on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic in the UK. The watch also gives you a stress measurement, an SpO2 blood oxygen monitor, a heart rate and a health tracker for women, plus tiles for manual entry of daily water and food intake.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a very strong fitness companion, with all the sensors you need.

Workouts start quickly with a tile with Samsung Health, and you can add Google Fit tiles to the watch, along with a convenient overview of your main stats. I've followed various workouts, including those with GPS. The measurements were the same as those I got from an Apple Watch Series 6 connected to an iPhone 12 Pro. The training mode's auto-pause feature stands out for its eagerness and always paused even when I just stopped taking a photo and then resumed when I restarted.

Samsung Health screen and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Training mode in Samsung Health with the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Detailed exercise statistics in Samsung Health with the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Heart rate mode on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Samsung Health app presents its data neatly, and there's enough information for the casual fitness fan, including all of the data gathered from the body composition tests plus heart rate, stress, sleep tracking, step count, and historical workouts -Tracking data. I didn't feel the need to switch from Samsung Health to Google Fit, which suggests it offers a similar level of information and usefulness. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a very powerful fitness companion, with all the sensors you need (and some you probably don't need often), accurate data logging, and a well-presented app.

Performance, battery life and charging

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic uses the new dual-core processor Samsung Exynos W920 with 1.18 GHz and 1.5 GB RAM. It didn't disappoint, with more than enough power to quickly propel the operating system forward. The WiFi range is quite short, however, and the watch doesn't always keep the connection connected or doesn't activate it automatically, for example when opening Google Play. I had to manually connect to Wi-Fi to start some apps, but this may change with another software update. Bluetooth headphones are easy to use and, provided they are already paired with your phone, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic does not require a second pairing.

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's heart rate sensor.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 46mm Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has a 361 mAh battery inside and lasts two working days with a single recorded workout and active always-on screen after a week of using the watch, assuming you turn it off overnight the end. It doesn't dare to last two full days with the always-on time showing, and certainly not if you're also using sleep tracking and tracking a workout.

There is a power saving mode that is activated when the watch reaches about 10% of the remaining battery capacity. It extends the usage time by a few hours by disabling non-essential features like the always-on screen. Charging is done with an included magnetic charging disc, and it takes about 80 minutes to reach 10% full capacity. The display usefully shows an estimate of how long a full charge will take.

Price and availability

the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic starts at $ 349 in black or silver and will be released on August 27th. The 42mm model is the cheapest, while the 46mm model costs $ 379. Add 4G LTE and the price goes up to $ 399 for the 42mm or $ 429 for the 46mm version. Buy from Samsung's online store and you can customize the watch with different straps.

Our opinion

The Galaxy Watch 3 is hard to follow, and any new operating system will always be difficult to implement perfectly the first time around, but Samsung successfully got around all of the issues and delivered an excellent sequel to the best smartwatch for Android phones from last year. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic skillfully mixes a smart design with comprehensive health monitoring and offers it not only in two different styles, but also in different sizes. It is absolutely worth your money.

Samsung's use of the One Watch UI is key to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's ease of use as the UI is smooth, logical, and fast. The rotating bezel makes the smartwatch fun to use, and the convenience and robustness of the smartwatch make it easy to wear all day. I found it too big to wear overnight and want the battery to be used for two full days, but these are not issues unique to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Wear OS 3 looks promising, but it's disappointing to still see the old problems of not getting all notifications and not all apps available or always working properly on the watch. It's better than before thanks to the One Watch UI, but still not as reliable or as app-packed as Apple's WatchOS. However, given its novelty, it should not be judged too harshly just yet. Where's the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic? Samsung has definitely made a great successor to the Watch 3.

Is there a better alternative?

If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 6 or Apple Watch SE are still the smartwatches you should buy. They can be perfectly integrated into your phone while others miss out on certain functions, and WatchOS is built up quickly and logically. Apple Health is great and the battery lasts a few days.

If you have an Android phone, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are the only two with the latest Wear OS 3 software, and this can be crucial for quick updates over the next year. Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro 3 and TicWatch E3 are slated to get Wear OS 3 around this time next year, and while both are still good choices today, Samsung's watches are a better choice as you get the new software without the long wait.

It is Samsung that has the Watch 4 Classic's biggest challenger. The Galaxy Watch 4 has the same features and performance as the Watch 4 Classic, with a different design and a touch-sensitive bezel. It's cheaper too, and your preference will likely depend on which design you like better.

How long it will take?

The case of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is waterproof to 5ATM and has an IP68 rating and meets the hardness standards MIL-STD-810G. The bracelet of my test model is made of thick rubber and feels very hard-wearing. Wear OS 3 software is now up to date and will likely be ahead of the competition for some time as there are no other smartwatches available with the software yet. There's a 4G LTE option for anyone looking to add cellular connectivity with an eSIM. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic lasts for at least two years.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The design and comfort of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are top notch, there are tons of health monitoring features, and the performance is excellent. It's a great smartwatch to buy.

Editor's recommendations



11 Aug
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review | No-brainer Buds

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and its case are on the floor.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 in the test: No-Brainer-Buds

RRP $ 150.00

"Good luck beating the Galaxy Buds 2 for the price."

advantages

  • Compact

  • Comfortable

  • Effective ANC

  • good sound

  • Solid battery

disadvantage

  • Annoying touch controls

  • Many functions only for Android

It gets really difficult to say anything clever in a wireless earbud review above. There are just so many of these things now. Five years ago? No problem. True wireless earbuds were still in their infancy, and we were all very excited that cables could be gone forever. Today? Well, let me put it this way: I have around 14 pairs of true wireless earbuds on my desk right now and this is exactly what has been popping up in the past few weeks.

My point is that wireless earbuds are now a commodity. We know this because you can pick up a pair at the local pharmacy for around $ 25. In this case, the Galaxy Buds 2 just have to … well, not shit, to be admittedly blatant.

At $ 150, the Galaxy Buds 2 are not only non-absorbent, but will make a lot of people very happy too. Whether or not the Galaxy Buds 2 should be an easy purchase or not can be debated, but there's no denying that these wireless buds are about to fly off the shelves.

Here's why.

Out of the box

Close up on open Galaxy Buds 2 case with earbuds inside.Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

The Galaxy Buds 2 are delivered in a compact box – almost all of the packaging is recyclable. In the box I found a small, white, square wireless charging case (some have called it a Squircle) with the Galaxy Buds 2 embedded in it, along with large and small silicone earbuds (the middle earbuds are already attached to the earbuds) and a USB-A to USC-C charging cable. Maybe there was some product literature buried there too, but I quickly threw the box away and moved on.

The Galaxy Buds 2 I received came in the color graphite, with the inside of the wireless charging case matching that color. The buds (and pod insides) are also available in white, olive and lavender.

Battery life, fit, features

Samsung claims the following battery performance for its headphones and case with a mix of ANC off and on and talk time.

  • ANC on: Up to 5 hours of game time and up to 3.5 hours of talk time
  • ANC on: Up to 20 hours of playtime with charging case and up to 13 hours of talk time with charging case
  • ANC off: Up to 7.5 hours of game time and up to 3.5 hours of talk time
  • ANC off: Up to 29 hours of playtime with charging case and up to 14 hours with charging case

Samsung also claims that the Buds 2 will offer around an hour of playtime on a 5-minute charge and around 2.5 hours on a 10-minute charge. I can confirm both of these claims as conservative because I had a little more time than the claimed time during both of the tests I performed.

In the four days in which I had to test the Galaxy Buds 2 so far, I never got less than 5 hours of game time with ANC, probably because I never exhausted the available game volume. The two charge cycles I went through gave me 5.3 and 5.5 hours, exceeding Samsung's claims.

I haven't been able to discharge the battery in the charging case, but I managed to fully charge it twice, and according to the case's battery indicator, I should get another one without any problems, which fully supports Samsung's claims to battery performance.

The Galaxy Buds 2 are some of the most comfortable wireless earbuds I've ever worn.

Given the size of the Buds 2 and their charging case, I think this battery performance is perfectly fine and is the same as the AirPods Pro, although it's worth noting that the AirPods Pro's performance doesn't really change with ANC on or off.

Fit

Close up of Caleb Denison with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

In terms of fit, the Galaxy Buds 2 are some of the most comfortable wireless earbuds I've ever worn. Much better than the bulkier Galaxy Buds + and infinitely better than the cumbersome, bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live.

Their compact shape might not fit all ears, but they did fit my medium-sized ears well. And when I say the Buds 2 are comfortable, I mean that too. You never bothered me; no fatigue after long listening sessions, no ear sweating … nothing to complain about.

I even wore the Buds 2 to bed and enjoyed every second of the ambient rain noises until I passed out. When I woke up, the buds were still in my ears. I think this story bodes well for safety, but I don't go as far as to say that full workouts don't find a way to remove them. Active / sports earbuds aren't, although they come with an IPX-7 rating to protect them from light moisture. But for everyday use, I don't see them fall out of most people's ears. They even passed my eating test. Ordinarily, chewing a semi-raw side of the beef causes enough mandibular movement to remove even the most secured buds, but somehow the Galaxy Buds 2 didn't budge. Imagine that.

features

How well the Buds 2 fit has a lot to do with how they sound, which I'll get into in a moment. However, this is a good time to discuss some of the features Buds 2 owners can use when paired with an Android smartphone. I'll be speaking to you iPhone owners in a moment looking for AirPods alternatives.

The external control of the Galaxy Buds 2 takes place via the Galaxy Wearable app, which is currently only available for Android. You can change the Buds 2's EQ, toggle (but not customize) various touch controls, do an earbud fit test, toggle noise cancellation on and off, and adjust the intensity of the Buds' ambient noise among other things, as below pictured.

Honestly, I could survive without the EQ knob or the variable intensity knob in ambient mode. But one feature that I, as a non-Android user, couldn't do without is control over the Buds' touch controls, since, as I'll discuss in a moment, I'd rather not have touch controls than touch controls that do I can't … control.

Samsung has set the sound for the Galaxy Buds 2 correctly.

So, the few of you out there who own iPhones and think the Galaxy Buds 2 look like a good AirPods Pro alternative? You could be. Just understand that what you get out of the box is what you get and nothing you can do about it. For the most part, that's fine. But if you're worried about accidentally triggering the touch controls – say you're a chronic earbud adjuster or just play with your ears a lot – keep your hands off it.

Sound quality and ANC

Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

Given my previous experience with the Samsung wireless headphones, I didn't go into this review with high expectations. I've found previous iterations of Samsung's wireless earbuds to sound a bit flat and unimaginative. Fortunately, Samsung set the sound for the Galaxy Buds 2 correctly. The self-proclaimed audiophile in me shudders at that statement, but the realist in me knows that most of the people who try the Galaxy Buds 2 are going to love you.

An audio reviewer will tell you that the Galaxy Buds 2 have a little too much bass; that the bass disturbs some details in the upper mid and lower treble range and hides crucial transients such as the plucking of guitar strings or the clink of a drumstick hitting a ride cymbal. This is all true and it doesn't matter.

Samsung is aiming for a mass market with the Galaxy Buds 2 and has designed their sound to appeal to the masses. Sure, the bass is a little fat at times, and that can affect perceived clarity from time to time, but I think most people will stick the Galaxy Buds 2 in their ears and be perfectly pleased with how full, punchy, and lively they can be sound. There's a bit of pressure in the upper treble which gives them a lot of sheen, and the mids, although set back a bit, still give the vocals plenty of presence.

In other words, the Galaxy Buds 2 sound more than passable. They actually sound damn good, even if they are a bit clumsy with the bass every now and then. They definitely sound good enough to justify their price.

ANC, ambient mode, call quality

Close up of Caleb Denison with the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

As far as active noise cancellation (ANC) is concerned, the Galaxy Buds 2 are a bit cautious about noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro level. If I took a long flight and relied on earphones to suppress the roar of an AirBus motor, I'd turn to the AirPods Pro, Sony WF-1000Xm4, or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. But to shut the world out, to give the buds a chance to fight, to put your music, podcast or audiobook in the spotlight, the Galaxy Buds 2 are very competent. Of course, these are the best noise-canceling buds I've heard from Samsung so far, although admittedly I slept on the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.

The ambient mode works perfectly. It's not that I'm not wearing the earbuds, but I can hear just enough of what's going on around me that I don't feel the need to pull the earbuds out. Sure, I feel like a little tool when ordering a mocha from Starbucks with the Galaxy Buds 2 in my ears in ambient mode, but I hear the barista ask if I'm sure I don't have whipped cream on top I want my name to be quite good from my oat milk and later butcher. And isn't that the ambient mode?

Call quality leaves a little to be desired, but that's the case with most of the wireless earbuds I try, no matter how many microphones and AI. Processing is stuffed into the mix. I hear everything in stunning quality, but those on the other end of phone or video calls commented that I sounded a bit thin and digitized. Perhaps one day our headphones will capture and reproduce the sound so well, but that day won't herald with the arrival of the Galaxy Buds 2.

Pet annoys

I have a beef with the Galaxy Buds 2 and that's their touch controls. I'm not a fan of surface-based touch controls as they are too easy to trigger. You can't even touch the buds to adjust or secure them in your ears without accidentally changing ANC mode or pausing a track. It's totally annoying. Fortunately, Android users can turn off touch controls if they want. Anyone who doesn't have access to the Galaxy Wearable app – including those on iOS – will be out of luck.

My recording

I think Samsung finally did it with the Galaxy Buds 2. They're comfortable, have solid battery life, high quality sound, a decent ANC, and are about the right price. Sure, you can get competing earbuds for less money, but not with Samsung's name on them and probably not right next to the phone you plan to buy from your carrier’s store. For Android users, they're a breeze. Probably less for Apple users. Especially with the AirPods 3 on the go.

Is there a better alternative?

Not really! There are plenty of other true wireless earbuds out there that match or undercut the $ 150 price of the Galaxy Buds 2, but few of them have the same combo convenience, tiny form factor, solid sound, and high quality ANC, and most of them are of brands that you have probably never heard of.

How long will they last?

Assuming the Buds aren't lost outside of their case (and beyond the realm of the Finder function), I think the Galaxy Buds 2 will last as long as their batteries, which is a good three or four years for most people. An IPX 7 rating will protect them from rain or sweat, but don't plan on going to the water park with them expecting them to survive.

Should you buy it?

If you are an Android user, yes. If you're an Apple user, probably not. The ability to control the buds with the Galaxy Wearable app is key to convenience and that isn't available in the Apple App Store, at least not at the time this review was written.

Editor's recommendations



14 May
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 Review: OLED Disappointment?

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 review 04

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360

"The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 is close to the size, but is insufficient in some key areas."

  • The OLED screen is alive

  • Good performance

  • Excellent battery life

  • Surprisingly thin and light

  • Comfortable keyboard

  • Nice S Pen integration

  • Mediocre build quality

  • Limited to 1080p

  • Large bezels, 16: 9 aspect ratio

Samsung has been preparing for this moment for years. It's finally taking its Windows laptops seriously, and the Galaxy Book Pro 360 crowns this development, ripe for a spot among the best laptops you can buy. At least that's the plan.

It has an AMOLED screen, works hand-in-hand with your Galaxy phone, and is as thin as any laptop you'll ever use.

But is it a laptop that you should buy? I tested the 15-inch model, which comes with an 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, but you don't get a discrete graphics card or 4K screen. Galaxy phone fans will find a lot to like here, but the 15-inch model still lags behind the competition in some key areas.

Video review

Jump to: Design | Display | Ports | Keyboard and touchpad | Webcam and speakers | Performance | Battery life | Our opinion

design

The Samsung Galaxy Book comes in different versions: the entry-level Galaxy Book, the Galaxy Book Pro and the Galaxy Book Pro 360. The model I tested may be the niche of them all – the 15-inch Galaxy Book Pro 360, the convertible 2-in-1 notebook in the line-up. It weighs a little over three pounds so soon you won't be using it as a real tablet anymore.

The 13-inch model is probably better suited for tablet use, but the real advantage of these convertibles is the S-Pen. It's the same thing that interests people about the Galaxy Note smartphones, and it's an important part of the Galaxy brand's DNA. Older Galaxy laptops included a smartphone-sized S-Pen that could be housed in the case. It made sure you never lost the tiny pen, but it wasn't the most enjoyable color experience.

The new S-Pen is bigger and feels a lot more like a real writing implement for this size of device. It's not as beefy as the Surface Pen or the Apple Pencil, but it felt very natural for tasks like taking notes, illustrating, and even navigating. The S-Pen is powered by an AAA battery and can magnetize on the lid.

The device itself is a pretty high quality looking laptop, made from a mix of aluminum alloy in some parts and plastic in other parts (e.g. the bottom panel). My test device was the color Mystic Bronze, a subtle mix of gold and silver. It's not obnoxious if not a little boring. The color Mystic Navy is a bolder color option.

Once you pick up the Galaxy Book Pro 360 and start maneuvering, you may find that it's not quite as well constructed as it looks. There's nothing outrageous here, but the keyboard deck is a bit flexible, especially towards the center. The lid feels nice and firm, although there is a weak point in the middle of the lower bezel between the two hinges. There are also spots along the side walls where it creaks when you press on it.

There were some build quality tradeoffs to get this light.

I also felt that the hinge was too loose for my preference. Many convertibles have screens that are too heavy, resulting in an oddly balanced device. The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 has the same problems. It opens with a finger, but closes on its own once it's 75% closed and wobbles too much. This can make the touchscreen uncomfortable to use as you could never accidentally press the screen down.

All of this is pretty common on mid-range Windows laptops, but the Galaxy Book Pro 360's price tag is a bit outside of this category. Of course, Samsung was interested in making the device as thin and light as possible, but there were some trade-offs in the build quality. You can even click the touchpad by lifting the laptop up and pressing on both sides of the palm rests. Not a great look.

display

The screen is the most important feature of the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360. It is not the first laptop to feature an OLED screen. However, there are some special features to consider when implementing.

Most importantly, it is only a 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution. Even the 15-inch model doesn't have a high-resolution screen, which is unusual for a number of reasons. The Asus ZenBook 13 OLED is the only other 1080p OLED notebook you can buy. You'd think Samsung would want to improve the image quality of its OLED screen, but I'm hard pressed to get a 15-inch 1080p display regardless of what type of display technology powers it.

There are two advantages to using 1080p: price and battery life. This will be a cheaper entry point into OLED as it avoids expensive 4K panels. The laptop also has phenomenal battery life, which shows in the results of my tests (see below).

I often found myself squinted and wished it was a sharper screen.

The loss of sharpness is the obvious downside to sticking to 1080p. I'll admit it's been a while since I've spent a long time on a 15-inch 1080p screen, but it's a thorn in my side. As someone staring at small black text on a white background every day, the difference in resolution is palpable. I don't know if the OLED is somehow making it worse, but I blinked and often wished I was working on a sharper screen. It is not for nothing that both the Surface Laptop 4 and the LG Gram 16 have a screen with a higher resolution as standard.

On a 13-inch display, I really don't think it's a problem. However, on a 15-inch device, this is a buzzkill for this laptop's most impressive feature. If you set this next to the 15-inch Surface Laptop 4 and wonder which device I would rather work on, I have no question about whether I would pick the surface, the LED screen, and everything.

Even so, you won't notice that much when looking at pictures or videos. This is where OLED really bends. I will not take up the whole argument again, but the OLED image quality is far superior to the standard LED on a technical level. The individually lit pixels create incredible contrast, and even the viewing angles are an improvement.

As announced, the color coverage is almost perfect. It's 100% across the board in both sRGB and AdobeRGB. This is rare in general, but extremely rare on a 1080p screen. The gamma was slightly off, however, which is unsuitable for watching movies – and I really noticed how oversaturated the colors appeared. According to Samsung, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 is designed for entertainment. This is why the company stayed at 16: 9, and I suspect that is a major reason why it initially chose OLED.

People certainly use their laptops for entertainment, but a greater percentage of the time is spent on work. And a 16:10 or 3: 2 display would have been the better choice for this. The increased area for vertical screens could also have helped reduce the size of the thick lower bezel. I had a similar complaint about the Galaxy Book Flex, but the effect isn't as noticeable on a 15-inch screen.

The brightness of the screen was a bit overwhelming.

When switching between work and leisure, Samsung offers other color modes in the settings, each of which improves the gamma and delivers more natural colors. The changes are minor. However, I recommend keeping the default photo editing and switching to AdobeRGB mode to watch videos.

However, these additional color modes did not solve the problem of brightness. I tested the screen at a maximum of 285 nits, which is a little overwhelming. It's a pretty glossy screen too, and when combined with the solid black created by the OLED screen, you'll struggle with reflections from time to time.

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 supports HDR500, which means you are promised at least 500 nits of brightness. But as we all know, Windows 10 still doesn't play exactly well with HDR. It looks terrible if you are not watching HDR content. This means you'll have to toggle the setting when you're ready to watch them.

Ports

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 contains a limited number of ports. On the side walls there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two standard USB-C ports, a micro SD card slot and a headphone jack.

This has become standard in the world of premium laptops, but when you see what Samsung did with the clamshell Galaxy Book Pro, you will get jealous. It includes older ports like USB-A and HDMI, though it's even thinner than the Galaxy Book Pro 360. You wonder why Samsung couldn't have incorporated these options into the convertible model.

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1. A 5G model may be available, but only in the 13-inch screen size.

Keyboard and touchpad

I really enjoyed my time with this keyboard with springy scissor switches and 1mm of travel. The 15-inch model has a number pad to the right below the power switch and an integrated fingerprint reader. I'm not someone who makes a lot of sense of having a number pad, but it's not a huge distraction and some people will surely appreciate the addition.

The keys have a bright white backlight that looks pleasant and offers three levels of brightness.

The touchpad is also of high quality. It tracks well, registers gestures with multiple fingers with no problem, although it does have some oddities that are widely used for nitpicking. First of all, it's nice and wide, which I would never complain about. That is, unless the palm rejection isn't absolutely perfect. The size of the touchpad means your thumbs will rest on the edges of the touchpad as you type. This often resulted in accidental clicks or movements of the cursor.

This touchpad is pretty loud too. When I was working with others in a quiet room, I didn't want to click. Compared to the quiet touchpad of the Surface Laptop 4 or the quiet, non-mechanical click of the MacBook Pro, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 is irritatingly loud.

Webcam and speakers

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 includes a simple 720p webcam, which is a disappointment. It's still the standard definition, but some manufacturers have finally started moving to 1080p. Given that we all rely on our webcams these days, a higher resolution camera has become a major selling point on some laptops.

One feature that is missing is an IR camera. That doesn't mean Windows Hello facial recognition, which has become the standard on high-end Windows laptops. This is a handy feature that Samsung shouldn't have given up.

The speakers included in the Galaxy Book 360 are decent. They will make you watch YouTube videos or background music. However, they are pointing downwards, which means that the sound will be muffled when the device is used as a standard laptop. It improves when you put it in tent mode. Even so, these speakers aren't loud enough to fill a room. They're not even loud or crowded enough when you sit further back, such as when you're watching a movie with someone else.

performance

The 15-inch Galaxy Book Pro 360 has only one processor option: the Intel Core i7-1165G7. It's usually reserved for 13-inch laptops, but it does appear occasionally in ultra-thin 15-inch laptops like the LG Gram or the Surface Laptop 4. The Galaxy Book Pro 360 falls into the same category, so you shouldn't expect it to compete against a fully configured Dell XPS 15 or MacBook Pro 16-inch. This is a 28 watt processor with only four cores and eight threads. And instead of a discrete graphics card, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 is based only on the integrated Xe graphics from Intel.

But I was surprised at how much juice Samsung squeezed out of its components. The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 was one of the best-rated devices in its class in PCMark 10. In the "Essentials" test category, in which basic work functions such as video conferencing, Internet surfing and word processing.

It still lagged behind the newer Ryzen 5000 laptops like the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED, but for a quad-core processor, I was impressed.

Cinebench R23 (single / multi) Geekbench 5 (single / multi) PCMark 10 3DMark Time Spy
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 1308/4062 1554/5603 5159 1800
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 1137/5881 1016/6658 4849 1177
LG gram 16 1394/4137 1573/5454 4827 1390
Asus ZenBook 13 OLED 1171/7824 19175 6034 1342

I was also surprised by the graphics performance. I've tested countless laptops with Intel Xe graphics and the Galaxy Book Pro 360 outperforms them all. They're actually quite a step ahead of the Radeon graphics I tested in the Ryzen 5000 processors. For example, the graphics here are 35% faster than the built-in Ryzen 4000 graphics in the Surface Laptop 4 that I recently reviewed.

This in no way turns the Galaxy Book Pro 360 into a gaming laptop. It struggled with Fortnite, the one game I tested on it. At medium settings, the game averaged 50 frames per second (fps), but the frame rate varied a lot and the game felt choppy. Lighter indie games should work fine, as should 3D games that don't require too much graphical power.

The improved graphics help the Galaxy Book Pro 360 perform well when it comes to video editing. I use PugetBench to test the performance of Adobe Premiere Pro – which includes playback and export of 4K video, plus more – and was surprised at how well this thin little laptop actually worked. Despite fewer processor cores, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 was 32% better than the Surface Laptop 4 in the same test. The M1 MacBook Pro even slightly exceeded the GPU score.

Don't get your hopes up now. Even the fanless M1 MacBook Air, a cheaper and smaller notebook, was an overall 25% faster video editing in this benchmark. The discrepancy between Windows laptops and the M1 MacBooks is still an issue that the Galaxy Book Pro 360 cannot really solve on its own.

Fan noise wasn't too much of a problem, and neither were the surface temperatures. Again, it is an advantage to use a low-performance processor in a large package. However, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 pushed the internal temperatures quite high and was 94 degrees Celsius in runs of 3DMark Time Spy.

Battery life

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 has great battery life. The combination of a large 64-watt-hour battery, a lower-powered processor, and a 1080p screen is a recipe for all-day battery life on a single charge.

In our light web browsing test, which used the iMacros plug-in to repeatedly go through a series of websites until the battery ran out, it took 13 hours and 14 minutes. Your daily workload is likely higher, but I had no problem getting away from a point of sale for a full day with web apps, surfing, streaming music, and office apps.

In an even lighter load, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 can get closer to its claimed 21 hours. The system lasted 17.5 hours of local video playback, repeating a 1080p movie trailer until the battery ran out.

Both the Surface Laptop 4 and LG Gram 16 took a little longer, but all three devices are masters of battery life.

Our opinion

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 doesn't seem to be quite the pinnacle of design that Samsung has been asking for. The build quality is shaky and the screen disappoints. However, I like the 13-inch clamshell Galaxy Book Pro much better than the 15-inch model. It has better port selection, is lighter, and the 1080p resolution bothers me less.

Are there alternatives?

The Surface Laptop 4 is one of the biggest competitors to this laptop. It has a higher resolution 3: 2 screen but is not a convertible. The LG Gram 16 fits into a similar class of laptops. It has a 16:10 display but is also a standard clamshell.

The HP Specter x360 15 is a 15-inch convertible with touchscreen and pen support. Both the Dell XPS 15 and Dell XPS 15 offer slim chassis, although they are not quite as small as the Galaxy Book Pro 360. However, these slightly larger laptops can be configured with more powerful components such as 45-watt processors and discrete GPUs .

How long it will take?

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 should last at least five years. It has the latest components under the hood as well as future-proof connections. However, the build quality isn't the best, which means it can be damaged and damaged over the years.

Samsung offers a standard one year warranty. You can also add an extended two- or three-year warranty through Samsung Care +, which costs up to an additional $ 350.

Should you buy it?

This is a great option for Galaxy ecosystem users, especially if you find using the S-Pen on a bigger screen attractive. However, the 13-inch model is probably the better option for most people.

Editor's recommendations




1234