Samsung Galaxy Book 2 360 review

For a corporation that stopped promoting laptops in Europe as just lately as 2014, Samsung’s current rise has been spectacular. 

The Galaxy Ebook vary has quickly expanded over the previous couple of years and now gives a tool at almost each worth level. Beginning at $899.99/£949, the Galaxy Ebook 2 360 is likely one of the extra inexpensive choices, notably amongst these operating Home windows 11. 

However competitors at this worth level is fierce. Is that this light-weight convertible price shopping for, or is your cash higher spent elsewhere? Right here’s my full evaluate. 

Design and construct

• Light-weight, premium design
• Impressively sturdy 360° hinge
• Poor webcam
• Respectable port choice

The design of the Ebook 2 360 is typical of most trendy Samsung laptops. It’s an impressively skinny (12.9mm) and light-weight (1.16kg) machine, however retains all of the hallmarks of the premium Galaxy Ebook vary.  

An aluminium end provides to the high-end feel and appear, however Silver is your solely color choice within the UK – there’s a Graphite model out there to US prospects. However Samsung is clearly going for an understated, minimalist aesthetic, which is simply interrupted by a discrete emblem on the again.

This design actually gained’t be turning many heads, and it seems to be similar to many different trendy laptops. However it’s clearly efficient, and there’s no want for Samsung to take massive designs dangers on a tool like this.

A 360° hinge is something however revolutionary, however a sturdy construct means you get convertible performance with out it feeling flimsy. The choice for a ‘tent’ mode or pill is beneficial in some eventualities, however the pure pill expertise nonetheless isn’t nice. The Ebook 2 360 is way heavier than even the Floor Professional 8, making it uncomfortable to carry for various minutes.  

One of the best expertise remains to be as a standard laptop computer, the place I used to be impressed by the shortage of display screen motion whereas typing. That is one thing that always impacts convertibles, together with some made by Samsung. 

You continue to get an honest sized 13.3in show, however the chunky bezels above and under it are a disappointment. Samsung has managed to maintain them razor-thin on the perimeters, and there’s no apparent profit to creating them so massive right here. 

Certainly, the one factor you’ll discover above the display screen is a 720p webcam, however Samsung hasn’t proven it a lot love. Stills and video are low high quality and grainy, making for an underwhelming video calling expertise. Twin mics imply you sound fairly good, however I’d extremely suggest shopping for a separate webcam for something greater than informal calls with family and friends. 

With no separate IR sensor, you may’t use Home windows Good day face unlock on the Ebook 2 360. The fingerprint sensor constructed into the ability button is your solely different, but it surely performs very nicely. Following a quick and straightforward setup course of, it proved to be a quick, dependable methodology for unlocking the machine. 

Regardless of being comparatively skinny, Samsung has nonetheless made room for an honest port choice. Both of the USB-C ports can be utilized for charging, though just one helps Thunderbolt 4 for ultra-fast knowledge switch.  

It’s joined by one USB-A, full-size HDMI, microSD card reader and three.5mm headphone jack. Including one other USB-A port would make this gorgeous a lot excellent, but it surely’s nonetheless above common for a skinny and light-weight laptop computer.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Show and audio

• Excellent 13.3in OLED show
• Full HD decision effective for most individuals
• Sound from audio system lacks depth

The Galaxy Ebook 2 360’s design isn’t something to get enthusiastic about, however the show is a distinct story. It’s a 13.3in AMOLED panel at a decision of 1920×1080, giving it the more and more uncommon 16:9 facet ratio. Nevertheless, adjusting from a boxier 16:10 or 3:2 display screen ought to solely take a couple of minutes. 

This isn’t the best possible show you’ll discover on a laptop computer, but it surely’s nonetheless mightily spectacular. It delivers wealthy, vibrant colors and a very good stage of element – most individuals gained’t miss not having a better decision. A excessive refresh price would’ve been good, but it surely’s often reserved for high-end units or gaming machines.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Inside testing displays the standard of the display screen. In line with SpyderX Professional, the Ebook 2 360 covers the total sRGB and P3 color gamuts and 96% of Adobe RGB. A peak brightness of 369 is much less spectacular, that means you’ll wrestle to make use of the machine in most out of doors environments. 

Contact assist is an actual plus, particularly when the keyboard is folded out of the way in which. Home windows 11 is a lot better than Home windows 10 for contact enter, so it was good to make use of this alongside different navigation strategies. There’s no S Pen constructed into the machine or included within the field, but it surely’s nonetheless suitable with Samsung’s stylus when you’d like to purchase it individually. 

Audio is delivered by way of twin 2W audio system. The sound they produce is crystal-clear, but it surely lacks the depth you’ll discover on different laptops. Voice-based content material nonetheless sounds nice, however music tends to be a bit washed out. It’s effective for informal use, however doesn’t match the immersive expertise supplied by the show.  

Keyboard and trackpad

• Full-size keyboard
• Acquainted expertise, however not a lot journey
• Underwhelming, awkward trackpad

The Galaxy Ebook 2 360 has pretty customary dimensions, so it’s no shock to see a full-size keyboard. I’m glad Samsung determined to not squeeze in a separate quantity pad right here, because it makes for a way more snug typing expertise. Every key gives three ranges of backlighting, that means you may nonetheless work in close to whole darkness. 

However you’ll have to get used to a relative lack of key journey, that means you miss out on that satisfying clicky response while you kind. Nevertheless, typing is considerably quieter in consequence.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Samsung has put the row of operate keys to good use, with the common brightness and quantity controls joined by fast entry to Settings, exterior show choices and a display screen lock. Nevertheless, you do have to carry down the Fn key to start out utilizing them. 

There’s nonetheless room for a big trackpad, which could be very responsive and helps the total vary of Home windows 11 gestures. However from the place your palms naturally relaxation, it’s fiddly and awkward to make use of. That result in fairly a number of unintentional presses throughout testing, whereas at different occasions it wouldn’t register on the first time of asking. For something longer than a couple of minutes, I’d suggest connecting an exterior mouse. 

Specs and efficiency

• Twelfth-gen Intel CPUs
• Spectacular efficiency for on a regular basis use
• No discrete GPU

Like many 2022 laptops, the Galaxy Ebook 2 360 is powered by Intel’s newest Twelfth-gen CPUs. The entry-level mannequin I examined combines the Core i5-1235U with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, however you may step as much as a Core i7-1165G7 and 16GB of RAM when you’d desire.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Even on the most cost effective configuration, efficiency is spectacular. My each day workflow usually includes looking the net, sending emails, typing paperwork and the occasional video name. The Ebook 2 360 handles all this with relative ease, even when finishing a number of duties directly. A built-in fan does ultimately kick in, but it surely stays quiet and successfully prevents the machine getting heat. 

There was no noticeable slowdown in any respect, making it an ideal on a regular basis laptop computer. Choosing the i7 mannequin will enhance efficiency even additional, however I’d be reluctant to suggest it for extra demanding duties. 

That’s as a result of it makes use of Intel’s Iris Xe built-in graphics, quite than a discrete GPU. It’s an ideal choice for a light-weight convertible, however don’t anticipate to have the ability to edit 4K video or correctly recreation with out some vital slowdown. Certainly, 3DMark predicts Battlefield V – a AAA title – can solely run at beneath 20fps when set to 1440p. If you happen to’re severe about gaming, there are many nice options. 

Nonetheless, loads of similarly-priced units ship higher efficiency in accordance with benchmarks:

On the subject of inside storage, you may select between SSDs of 256GB or 512GB. It’s unlikely anybody shopping for this laptop computer wants 1TB, and you may at all times join a microSD or exterior onerous drive if you’re operating out of area. 

Battery and charging

• 61.1Wh or 63Wh battery
• Delivers all-day battery life
• Respectable 65W quick charging

The dimensions of the Galaxy Ebook 2 360’s battery varies barely relying on the mannequin you select. On the Core i5 mannequin you get a 61.1Wh cell, however the Core i7 model has a fractionally greater 63Wh capability. Which will offset the slight improve in energy consumption of an i7 chip, however you in all probability gained’t discover a distinction. 

Basically, battery life is superb. You’re taking a look at a full day on a single cost, offered you don’t play plenty of hi-res movies or hold the brightness near max – greater than could be mentioned for a lot of laptops lately.  

What’s extra, our testing proves you may eke much more out of the battery. Looping a 720p video at 120 nits isn’t typical of real-world utilization, however the Ebook 2 360 lasted 14 hours and 58 minutes – probably the greatest scores we’ve seen. That was with battery saver mode turned off, too. 

Once you do run out of cost, the 65W adapter included within the field will quickly get you up and operating once more. I recorded 24% in quarter-hour from off, then 46% by the half-hour mark. In beneath 75 minutes, it was totally charged. Both of the 2 USB-C ports can be utilized to get these spectacular speeds.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

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Software program

• Home windows 11 Dwelling
• Plenty of pre-installed Samsung software program

As anticipated, the Galaxy Ebook 2 360 runs Home windows 11 Dwelling out of the field. In contrast to with telephones, the software program expertise right here is per virtually each different Home windows 11 laptop computer. It’s well-optimised for a 13in show, and there are many customisation choices out there.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped Samsung from pre-installing plenty of its personal apps. The corporate has its personal variations of settings, gallery, notes, updates, alongside separate search and sharing instruments. These genuinely add one thing to the expertise when you have a Samsung cellphone or pill, whereas they’re simple to disregard for everybody else. 

Because it’s operating the most recent {hardware}, the Ebook 2 360 will likely be among the many first to get any new software program updates. It’ll be supported by Microsoft and Samsung for a few years to return. 

Value and availability

The Galaxy Ebook 2 360 remains to be a premium machine, but it surely’s a a lot better deal within the US than the UK. For the Core i5 mannequin I examined you’ll pay $899.99/£949.99, whereas stepping as much as i7 prices you £$1,099.99/£1,249. 

That places it in flagship laptop computer territory, the place there are already a number of nice choices. Regardless of having a lower cost tag than another Samsung laptops, the Ebook 2 360 can’t be thought of an inexpensive machine by any means.  

A extra life like space of success is amongst 2-in-1 units, the place the Professional mannequin from 2021 ranks extremely. Its successor has the S Pen included and the choice for a 15.6in display screen, however when you don’t care about both of these items the common Ebook 2 360 remains to be an honest choose. 

Verdict

If you would like your subsequent laptop computer to be a convertible, the Galaxy Ebook 2 360 is certainly price contemplating. 

Regardless of not having top-of-the-line specs, it performs nicely throughout three key pillars of an ideal laptop computer: show, efficiency and battery life. Charging speeds are first rate too, whereas there are extra ports than you’d anticipate from such a skinny and light-weight machine. 

Nevertheless, it’s not all excellent news. The Ebook 2 360’s webcam is an actual disappointment, whereas the keyboard and trackpad might each do with some work. 

These gained’t be dealbreakers except you depend on the interior digicam for video calls, though the energy of the competitors makes it harder to suggest. If you happen to’re set on a Samsung laptop computer this can serve you nicely, however higher worth for cash could be discovered elsewhere.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy Ebook 2 360 specs: 

• 304.4 x 202.0 x 12.9 mm 
• 1.16kg 
• 13.3in Full HD AMOLED show (16:9 facet ratio, 1920×1080) 
• Full-size keyboard with backlighting 
• 720p webcam 
• Twin 5W audio system
• Fingerprint energy button 
• Intel Core i5-1235U or i7-1165G7
• Intel Iris Xe graphics 
• 8/16GB LPDDR4 RAM 
• 256/512GB SSD 
• 1x USB 3.2 
• 1x USB-C 
• 1x Thunderbolt 4 
• 1x HDMI
• 1x 3.5mm jack 
• 61.1Wh (i5) or 63Wh (i7) battery
• 65W charger
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• Bluetooth 5.1
• Home windows 11 Dwelling