On the outside, the Galaxy Book 2 looks very much like a clone of Microsoft’s detachable, thanks to its new kickstand. But Samsung chose to equip the Book 2 with a Snapdragon 850 processor, turning this 2-in-1 into a Windows on ARM device that promises constant connectivity and a long-lasting battery. Add a brilliant display and an included S Pen and you’ve got a strong Surface Pro alternative.
Good
Essential accessories included
New, sensible design
Gorgeous display
Lengthy battery life
Bad
Poor multitasking
Poor pure performance
Tiny touchpad
The OLED screen is great; I like that the pen and keyboard are included, and the built-in LTE makes it a cinch to stay connected. But the Book 2 falls flat on performance compared to Intel-powered 2-in-1s. It’s just not fast enough for serious multitasking. It’s also annoying having to guess which Windows Store apps are compatible with the Book 2’s ARM processor. The processor isn’t powerful enough to support a power user’s the very people that would spend a thousand on a hybrid tablet workload, much less with the paltry memory and storage on offer. Worse off is that users are bound to run into situations wherein the app they wish to use isn’t supported or must be emulated to do so.
Samsung also needs to strengthen the magnet for holding the S Pen in place when you’re not using it, and the kickstand design could also be better both in terms of how easy it is to open and how it feels in your lap. And while the more than 10.5 hours of battery life is well above average for a 2-in-1, it’s not as epic as we were hoping.
The Galaxy Book 2 is worth a look, especially if you want built-in LTE, but Samsung needs to refine this product before we can call it a winner. While pricier, the Surface Pro 6 the better of them.
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Spec
CPU: 2.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 SoC (octa-core; four 1.7GHz cores, four 2.9GHz cores)
Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno 630
RAM: 4GB RAM
Screen: 12-inch FHD+ (2,160 x 1,440) Super AMOLED touchscreen
Storage: 128GB SSD
Ports: 2 x USB-C; 1 x microSD slot; 3.5mm audio jack
Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
Camera: 5 megapixel (MP) webcam; 8MP rear camera
Weight: 1.75 pounds (793g)
Size: 11.32 x 7.89 x 0.30 inches (287.5 x 200.4 x 7.63cm; W x D x H)
