It may be the biggest year for 2-in-1 devices as there are have been a couple of buzz-worthy product releases. Because of this wealth of excellent choices, it has become difficult to pick out the best. The success starts with Microsoft's Surface hybrids and continues with other manufacturers. There's no stopping the growth of these versatile productivity machines, it seems. Brands like HP and Google have both released excellent choices for October alone.
While the Surface Pro form-factor with an in-built kickstand introduced us to hybrid computers, other companies innovated. Some used folio while others opted for detachable watchband hinges. But, the basic formula among them remains the same - a main tablet device and a detachable keyboard. There's often an optional pen as well.
With the Galaxy Book 2, Samsung throws its hat in this year's competitive ring. It shares its DNA with the Surface Pro with the externals looking like they've been cut from the same cloth. It's what's inside that makes all the difference, though.
In this article, we take a quick look at the finer details of Samsung's new hybrid.
Build
Last year's Galaxy Book was a bit more experimental by opting with a folio type keyboard. With this year's revamp, Samsung chose to stick close to the market leader in the form of the Surface line-up.
It features a Surface-like kickstand that holds the device up when in use. It's a feature that the last generation didn't have. In today's market, this proven form-factor may become a great deal maker for the device. It also has, by 2018 standards, huge bezels on all sides of the screen.
Talking about the screen, it's a 12-inch 1440p display that isn't as dense as the others in the same category. But, what it lacks in pixel count, it more than makes up for with Samsung's AMOLED technology. It gives it a lot more color accuracy. The deep blacks are a thing of beauty on the screen so movie watching should be excellent. It's also outstandingly vibrant.
One of the chief difference between the Surface and the Galaxy Book 2 is that the keyboard and pen come out of the box. With the Surface Pro and Go devices, you still have to buy these peripherals separately.
The materials used in the devices are also quite different. The magnesium on the Surface products feels a lot sturdier than the Galaxy Book 2's aluminum. This is especially felt in the thin kickstands.
The port selection is something that the Galaxy Book 2 has over the Surface Pro. It's got 2 USB Type C ports which Surface Pro enthusiasts have always wanted for the device. These ports are capable of transferring data and power at the same time. This means that you can use just one cable connected to an external display if you want to use it as a desktop. It also has a micro SD slot tucked away underneath the kickstand if you want to add to the mediocre 128GB SSD.
Internals
The Galaxy Book and the Surface cannot be any more different when it comes to specs. It's perhaps most efficient to begin this comparison with the biggest difference - the processors.
The Galaxy Book comes with a Snapdragon 850 chipset, one of the first devices to have it. This allows the computer to have more battery life and much better LTE connectivity.
These are huge advantages compared to the Intel-powered devices. Surface devices have terrible battery life by Ultrabook standards and even lousier LTE connectivity. The only caveat for the Galaxy Book 2 is that the Snapdragon processor might be a little underpowered. More intense tasks that one might use these devices in may prove to be a weakness. Although, for regular word-processing and number-crunching, it should be stellar.
The 4GB of RAM is a little bit suspect on Samsung’s device. On paper, it an obvious Achilles heel. The pairing with the new Snapdragon chip might improve RAM management. Judgment over the RAM is best reserved when more hands-on time is available for the device. It has 128GB SSD which is nice but not exactly a head turner. It's enough for regular use but not something to write home about.
User Experience
The hardware experience makes it feel like you're using a Surface device. But when you sit down and begin your work, you'll soon understand that this isn't the powerful Surface Pro. Those things can, to some degree, replace your laptop. The Galaxy Book 2, aims to become more of an excellent secondary computer for when you're on the move.
As such, the Galaxy Book 2 has a 20-hour battery life that beats the Surface Pro and other Intel-based hybrids. It's a benefit of the Snapdragon chipset. This could potentially mean that a single charge can last users multiple workdays.
The chipset also allows for a fan-less design. You don't have to worry about fan-noise destroying your concentration when working on intensive tasks. It should also make the device a tad lighter than other devices with a built-in fan.
The LTE connectivity is also a nice thing to have especially if you're on the go. The limited 128GB of storage is complemented by the cloud services. You can rest assured that Onedrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox files are accessible with LTE.
The device ships with Windows 10 S which is a lightweight Windows OS. It's limited to Microsoft Store apps but if you need more apps, you can upgrade to regular Windows 10 for free.
Verdict
It's a great alternative to the current market leader in the Surface. Its similar hardware design is a benefit for Samsung's 2-in-1 device. The internals, on the other hand, is a great way to differentiate itself from the rest of the players in the market.
We're pretty sure that this setup with will have its own niche following. There are people who prefer being untethered rather than have the best performance. Sure, the Galaxy Book 2 isn't the most powerful device out there. But for some select work tasks and light gaming, the most capable Snapdragon is enough.
While the Surface Pro form-factor with an in-built kickstand introduced us to hybrid computers, other companies innovated. Some used folio while others opted for detachable watchband hinges. But, the basic formula among them remains the same - a main tablet device and a detachable keyboard. There's often an optional pen as well.
With the Galaxy Book 2, Samsung throws its hat in this year's competitive ring. It shares its DNA with the Surface Pro with the externals looking like they've been cut from the same cloth. It's what's inside that makes all the difference, though.
In this article, we take a quick look at the finer details of Samsung's new hybrid.
Build
Last year's Galaxy Book was a bit more experimental by opting with a folio type keyboard. With this year's revamp, Samsung chose to stick close to the market leader in the form of the Surface line-up.
It features a Surface-like kickstand that holds the device up when in use. It's a feature that the last generation didn't have. In today's market, this proven form-factor may become a great deal maker for the device. It also has, by 2018 standards, huge bezels on all sides of the screen.
Talking about the screen, it's a 12-inch 1440p display that isn't as dense as the others in the same category. But, what it lacks in pixel count, it more than makes up for with Samsung's AMOLED technology. It gives it a lot more color accuracy. The deep blacks are a thing of beauty on the screen so movie watching should be excellent. It's also outstandingly vibrant.
One of the chief difference between the Surface and the Galaxy Book 2 is that the keyboard and pen come out of the box. With the Surface Pro and Go devices, you still have to buy these peripherals separately.
The materials used in the devices are also quite different. The magnesium on the Surface products feels a lot sturdier than the Galaxy Book 2's aluminum. This is especially felt in the thin kickstands.
The port selection is something that the Galaxy Book 2 has over the Surface Pro. It's got 2 USB Type C ports which Surface Pro enthusiasts have always wanted for the device. These ports are capable of transferring data and power at the same time. This means that you can use just one cable connected to an external display if you want to use it as a desktop. It also has a micro SD slot tucked away underneath the kickstand if you want to add to the mediocre 128GB SSD.
Internals
The Galaxy Book and the Surface cannot be any more different when it comes to specs. It's perhaps most efficient to begin this comparison with the biggest difference - the processors.
The Galaxy Book comes with a Snapdragon 850 chipset, one of the first devices to have it. This allows the computer to have more battery life and much better LTE connectivity.
These are huge advantages compared to the Intel-powered devices. Surface devices have terrible battery life by Ultrabook standards and even lousier LTE connectivity. The only caveat for the Galaxy Book 2 is that the Snapdragon processor might be a little underpowered. More intense tasks that one might use these devices in may prove to be a weakness. Although, for regular word-processing and number-crunching, it should be stellar.
The 4GB of RAM is a little bit suspect on Samsung’s device. On paper, it an obvious Achilles heel. The pairing with the new Snapdragon chip might improve RAM management. Judgment over the RAM is best reserved when more hands-on time is available for the device. It has 128GB SSD which is nice but not exactly a head turner. It's enough for regular use but not something to write home about.
User Experience
The hardware experience makes it feel like you're using a Surface device. But when you sit down and begin your work, you'll soon understand that this isn't the powerful Surface Pro. Those things can, to some degree, replace your laptop. The Galaxy Book 2, aims to become more of an excellent secondary computer for when you're on the move.
As such, the Galaxy Book 2 has a 20-hour battery life that beats the Surface Pro and other Intel-based hybrids. It's a benefit of the Snapdragon chipset. This could potentially mean that a single charge can last users multiple workdays.
The chipset also allows for a fan-less design. You don't have to worry about fan-noise destroying your concentration when working on intensive tasks. It should also make the device a tad lighter than other devices with a built-in fan.
The LTE connectivity is also a nice thing to have especially if you're on the go. The limited 128GB of storage is complemented by the cloud services. You can rest assured that Onedrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox files are accessible with LTE.
The device ships with Windows 10 S which is a lightweight Windows OS. It's limited to Microsoft Store apps but if you need more apps, you can upgrade to regular Windows 10 for free.
Verdict
It's a great alternative to the current market leader in the Surface. Its similar hardware design is a benefit for Samsung's 2-in-1 device. The internals, on the other hand, is a great way to differentiate itself from the rest of the players in the market.
We're pretty sure that this setup with will have its own niche following. There are people who prefer being untethered rather than have the best performance. Sure, the Galaxy Book 2 isn't the most powerful device out there. But for some select work tasks and light gaming, the most capable Snapdragon is enough.