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The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro has experienced a significant price drop, falling from $1,499 to $1,149. This $350 discount makes the Galaxy Book4 Pro a more attractive option for consumers in the market for a premium Windows laptop. But is it worth the investment? Let’s delve into the features and performance of this device to see how it stacks up against its competitors.
The Galaxy Book4 Pro: A First Look
After nearly five years of reviewing laptops, our channel finally features a dedicated review of a Samsung laptop—the Galaxy Book4 Pro 14. Initially intended to be part of a broader review of new Samsung laptops, this was the only model that arrived on time. So, let’s see how it performs.
Design and Build:
The Galaxy Book4 Pro aims to emulate the MacBook Air in design, offering a sleek, minimalistic look. It’s fairly lightweight, around the same as the MacBook Air, though not as light as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon or MSI Prestige 13. The Moonstone Gray color is fingerprint-resistant, adding to its premium feel. The build quality is solid, with no screen or keyboard deck flex, and the hinge is tight enough to support touchscreen use without falling back.
Display:
The 14-inch, 2880 x 1800 AMOLED display is one of the standout features. AMOLED technology, a more advanced version of OLED, ensures vibrant colors and deep contrasts. The display supports a variable refresh rate of 60Hz or 120Hz, gets bright at over 400 nits, and has a wide color gamut. However, PWM flickering is present at all brightness levels, a common issue with OLED panels.
Keyboard and Trackpad:
The keyboard feels precise and high-quality, similar to the MacBook Air, but with slightly low travel. The backlight illuminates all keys clearly. The mechanical trackpad is smooth and accurate but produces a loud click sound.
Port Selection:
Port options are comprehensive, with two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, a MicroSD card reader, a USB-A port, and a headphone/mic combo jack. This variety ensures compatibility with numerous peripherals and external displays.
Performance and Battery Life
Light Use:
For light tasks like browsing the web and writing documents, the Galaxy Book4 Pro performs adequately. It feels snappy enough, but it tends to run warm, and the fans are almost always on. This might be bothersome in silent environments.
High Performance Use:
The Galaxy Book4 Pro struggles with high-performance tasks. In Geekbench and Cinebench tests, it underperforms compared to competitors like the MSI Prestige 13 and MacBook Air with the M3 processor. This is surprising given its higher power draw, which usually correlates with better performance. The laptop’s thermal constraints severely impact its performance, making it unsuitable for intensive tasks.
Graphics Performance:
In graphics performance tests like Time Spy, the Galaxy Book4 Pro falls behind its competitors, even those with the same integrated GPU. Gaming experiences are subpar, with noticeable lag and fan noise during gameplay.
Battery Life:
Battery life is a mixed bag. In a battery-intensive Cinebench loop test, it performed well, but not as well as the MacBook Air, which has a smaller battery. In a more realistic test, playing a Netflix movie on repeat, it indicated around 12 hours of runtime, again beaten by the MacBook Air.
Software and Ecosystem
Samsung’s ecosystem of apps, intended to rival Apple’s, falls short. Despite promising seamless connectivity with other Samsung devices, features like Quick Share (Samsung’s equivalent of AirDrop) were unreliable. The inclusion of duplicative apps is more of a hindrance than a benefit, and Samsung could save costs by eliminating these unnecessary additions.
Conclusion: Is It Worth the New Price?
Despite the substantial price drop to $1,149, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro remains a hard sell, especially when compared to the MacBook Air with the M3 processor. The MacBook Air outperforms the Galaxy Book4 Pro in almost every aspect: performance, battery life, speaker quality, trackpad, and ecosystem integration.
However, if you are determined to purchase a Windows laptop for light use, the Galaxy Book4 Pro is a viable option. It offers a stunning display, a solid build, and a comprehensive port selection. But for those looking for the best performance and overall experience, alternatives like the MSI Prestige 13 or HP Spectre 14 might be better choices.
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro
In summary, the Galaxy Book4 Pro feels more like a product designed to impress on the store shelf rather than in everyday use. Its design and display are commendable, but performance and functionality fall short. For the same price, the MacBook Air with M3 is a superior choice, providing a far better user experience. If you’re set on a Windows machine, consider other options in the same price range before making a decision.
