Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra review

Samsung’s Galaxy Book3 Extremely challenges all comers in content material creation, a market Samsung hasn’t beforehand addressed with its Book3 collection. However this smooth 16-inch laptop computer with its gorgeous OLED display combines each a Thirteenth-gen Intel Core CPU and a brand new Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, providing you with an entry level into the newest PC {hardware}.

There’s so much to like right here. You’re getting excellent battery life, a beautiful design, trendy Thunderbolt 4 ports, and extra. No, the GPU isn’t what you’ll discover in a real gaming pocket book and the keyboard is a bit shallower than different productiveness laptops. You’ll be hard-pressed, nonetheless, to discover a higher pocket book PC for content material creation.

Samsung’s Galaxy Book3 Professional 360 is one in every of a small household of Book3 laptops that consists of the Book3 Extremely, the E book 3 Professional clamshell, and the Book3 Professional 360 and Book3 360 two-in-one convertibles. The Book3 Extremely is a brand new addition to the household, sporting an Nvidia RTX GeForce 4050 GPU inside a thicker body that makes it appropriate for content material creation and light-weight gaming. It’s a market Samsung hasn’t addressed with its earlier Galaxy Books.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Design and show

• Premium aluminium construct
• Glorious 16in OLED show
• Dynamic 120Hz refresh price

In comparison with the opposite Galaxy Book3 laptops the extra weight and thickness that the Extremely presents is a little bit of a shock. The aluminium chassis attracts fingerprints readily, which present up as smudges on the black Graphite floor. The Extremely doesn’t really feel particularly thick—simply extra like a standard laptop computer than Samsung’s ultrathin E book lineup. At 14in vast and about 1.8kg, nonetheless, the burden is noticeable.

We mentioned related issues concerning the Book3 Professional 360, with the caveat that the comparatively tiny charger offset these issues. Right here, the charger provides to them, sadly. You in all probability have older units that mix the ability transformer and the plug into the identical unit: “wall warts”. Right here, there’s a sizeable energy brick (70mm x 75mm, or about three inches on a aspect) with a plug on one aspect of it, which may make plugging into the wall or perhaps a energy strip somewhat awkward, relying on the orientation. Samsung would possibly rethink this with its subsequent era.

Mark Hachman / IDG

The Book3 Extremely’s lid opens up with simply the criminal of a finger, exposing the attractive AMOLED 2X display inside that fills nearly all the accessible house; there aren’t any chunky bezels on this gadget. The brand new AMOLED 2X OLED is a key promoting level of the Book3 lineup and it applies right here. It’s merely a stunning show, with absolute jet blacks that underscore the terrific distinction ratio.

In the true world, you received’t discover as a lot impression on day-to-day workplace work, with its multicolored photographs and light-weight backgrounds. If you happen to favor darkish mode, nonetheless, it’s a bonus. Films, although, are the place it actually shines. Darkish scenes seem really darkish, which provides a further layer of visible constancy to the expertise.

Samsung claims that the laptop computer produces 120 p.c of the DCI-P3 coloration gamut, which merely interprets into brighter, extra vivid colours, in addition to being rated for VESA ClearMR and DisplayHDR TRUE BLACK 500 licensed. The Professional 360 OLED show does characteristic devoted modes for DCI-P3, AdobeRGB and sRGB, in addition to an “Auto” mode that presumably optimises itself for the applying. Primarily based on our colorimeter, the Book3 Extremely seems to accommodate the total vary of the color gamuts we examined beneath.

Samsung additionally claims that the show reduces blue mild by 78% whereas in darkish mode versus its mild mode, which we haven’t been capable of confirm. It’s an fascinating declare, although, as a result of usually laptops cut back blue mild whereas in “mild mode,” skewing the show in the direction of yellowish tinges. The Book3 Extremely does the latter, too. Nonetheless, lowering the quantity of sunshine hitting your eyeball whereas in darkish mode and decreasing the quantity of blue mild actually ought to enchantment to migraine victims.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Samsung’s new AMOLED 2X presents extra than simply visible enhancements, although. Just like the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer Studio, the Book3 Extremely’s show is a “dynamic” 120Hz. When wanted, the show can dial right down to a extra conservative 60Hz when idling, saving energy. When mandatory the show can enhance its refresh price to 120Hz, providing smoother mousing and gameplay. Usually, this helps inking, too. Nonetheless, the Galaxy Book3 Extremely doesn’t ship with a touchscreen, or a pen. For that, there’s the Book3 Professional 360 as a substitute.

Chassis and ports

• Followers can get noisy
• Good port choice

After we first opened up the Book3 and started setting it up, we observed the distinct high-pitched tones that point out coil whine, when the followers velocity as much as cool the laptop computer down. In equity, nonetheless, we haven’t heard them since. As a substitute, the Book3 Extremely sucks in air by way of a small matrix of holes within the backside of the chassis and pushes it out the again, although the hinge. The hiss produced by the followers is noticeable, however not overwhelming. We’d anticipate extra noise, although, if you happen to go for the Core i9/RTX 4070 possibility as a substitute.

On the left aspect of the Book3 Extremely are a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, which can be utilized to hook up with a Thunderbolt dock, together with for exterior storage or a pair of 4K shows. Failing that, the Book3 Extremely additionally presents a devoted HDMI 2.0 port, which may challenge to a single exterior 4K monitor, as nicely. On the proper aspect, Samsung features a microSD slot and a legacy USB-A port for a mouse, plus a headphone jack.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Samsung is rather less pushy than Microsoft by way of encouraging you to attach your laptop computer to Samsung’s community of apps, providers, and units, however the Book3 Extremely does ask for (however doesn’t demand) a Samsung password while you arrange the system. Doing so gives some advantages if you happen to personal different Samsung units, and likewise permits some particular Samsung functions, which we’ll speak about later.

Keyboard, trackpad and audio

• First rate keyboard with separate quantity pad
• Big trackpad
• Hit-and-miss audio system

Samsung’s 1.6:1 show ratio permits for a roomy keyboard, with a slim quantity pad to the right-hand aspect—if you happen to’re a right-handed individual, that may simply be a comfort. As a lefty, although, the quantity pad is the equal of the WASD keys right-handers use, so any laptop computer with gaming potential earns a plus in that regard. Provided that Samsung presents 16-inch choices throughout most of its Book3 line, I might assume that any gadget you purchase on this household may have the identical keyboard, they usually all must be equally usable.

Nonetheless, Samsung’s chiclet keyboards at all times make me marvel in the event that they’ll truly be usable, as their key journey is usually shallower than I’d like. Whereas I’m nonetheless undecided if I’d favor them for long-term use, they’re comfy sufficient. Keyboards have turn out to be shallower over time, nonetheless, as producers favor to design thinner methods with much less room for deep key journey. That’s not a pattern I endorse, however Samsung no less than has managed a compromise. There are three ranges of backlighting.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Samsung once more chooses to make use of a fingerprint reader, mounted inside the ability button. Pushing it when the laptop computer is off or in standby permits you to energy on and log in on the identical time. Whereas depth cameras can log you in shortly, they’ll turn out to be fooled by facial hair, wrinkles, or glasses. The Book3 lineup lacks depth cameras, utilizing the fingerprint reader as a substitute.

Fingerprint readers are usually extra constant, however they’ll additionally turn out to be much less correct over time because the sensor turns into smudged. They’re additionally delicate to filth in your finger both throughout setup or authentication, because the Book3 Extremely was. Put one other method, the fingerprint sensor labored acceptably throughout our time with the Book3, however this implies little in comparison with the long run.

The entire new Book3 fashions appear to share a further quirk. The big touchpad on the backside of the keyboard, which measures a large 6in vast by about 4.25in deep. Whilst you can faucet upon its full breadth, the higher fifth or so isn’t clickable. Even with such an infinite enter gadget, there’s nonetheless sufficient room in your palms on both aspect, although the touchpad is skewed towards the left-hand aspect. Taken collectively, the trackpad and keyboard are acceptable, although not excellent.

Mark Hachman / IDG

By way of audio, the Book3 lineup excels at voice playback, whether or not by way of music or the spoken phrase, however falls a bit quick in every single place else. Out of the field, the Book3 Extremely and Professional 360 don’t sound all that nice, and require some tuning of the pre-installed Dolby Atmos app to reach at an appropriate setting. (So far as I can inform, the E book 3 Professional 360 and the Book3 Extremely produce about the identical audio high quality.) In any other case, the audio simply sounds a bit distorted, although the amount stage is superb.

The Book3 Extremely makes use of a pair of downward going through audio system with discrete 5W woofers and 2W tweeters, adequate to full the room with no matter you’re taking part in again. Not one of the Book3 lineup gives poor audio; it’s simply that another laptops I’ve heard do higher. Once more, some tweaking will resolve most points, and there’s a headphone jack, too.

Webcam and microphones

• Strong 1080p webcam
• Spectacular AI results
• Good built-in mics

Not like many laptops, the Book3 Extremely contains the AI-powered Studio Results suite, which options an on-device duplicate of the background blurring results yow will discover in Zoom, Groups, or Google Meet. HDR results don’t do a lot. You’ll be extra impressed with the webcam’s potential to mechanically pan and zoom, conserving you in body. Indulge your vainness and activate Face Results, which may subtly take away the luggage beneath your eyes from too many late nights.

In any other case, the 1080p webcam is likely one of the higher built-in sensors you’ll discover on a laptop computer, with good color stability however a barely mushy focus. Just like the Professional 360, Samsung does use AI to assist cancel noise in video calls, nonetheless, and does so very nicely by way of a pair of studio mics.

Specs and efficiency

• Thirteenth-gen Intel CPUs and Nvidia RTX 40 GPUs
• Glorious content-creation efficiency
• Works nicely for some gaming, however not all

Content material-creation notebooks signify a small and evolving area of interest of PCs, someplace halfway between a standard gaming pocket book and a productiveness machine.

Not like a pure gaming pocket book, the significance of the Nvidia 4-series GPU is put to a wide range of duties similar to gaming, 3D content material creation, picture and video modifying, and encoding. Content material creation sometimes means video encoding, and this pocket book seizes upon two rising developments.

First, new video codecs like AV1, which offer smaller file sizes (and fewer bandwidth for streaming) at the price of extra extreme {hardware} necessities. Secondly, standard encoding software program packages like OBS Studio now help AV1, a codec that requires both an Nvidia GeForce 3-series or 4-series GPU. Encoding utilizing the extra aggressive codec on cutting-edge laptop computer {hardware} ought to save each time and disk house, each arguments in favour of shopping for this laptop computer.

Remember that there’s a considerable distinction between Nvidia’s RTX 4050 cell GPU and the RTX 4070 cell GPU, although Nvidia didn’t go into an excessive amount of element when launching them. Nvidia’s RTX 4050 is the least highly effective of the RTX 4000 GPU household. Whereas the 4050 and the 4070 in any other case supply related options, Nvidia’s specs present that they differ significantly in each reminiscence width and CUDA core depend, which can have an effect on gaming efficiency however may additionally cut back battery life considerably. As a content material creation machine, although, the brand new capabilities of the GPU’s video encoders are simply as necessary.

Put one other method, the Book3 Extremely isn’t a “gaming” laptop computer, however a “gaming-capable” laptop computer. Content material creation and consumption is its main function.

By the way, the Book3 Extremely is likely one of the few that we noticed that didn’t undergo from thermal throttling, no less than by way of 3D efficiency. (Throttling can happen when the laptop computer slows down its CPU or GPU to take care of thermal limits, lowering efficiency for the sake of stability.) Efficiency dropped 11 p.c when our CPU benchmark was looped for 10 straight minutes. Nonetheless, once we looped the 3DMark benchmark for 20 straight runs, it handed the take a look at, delivering 99.6 p.c of the body price that it did at first.

Anecdotally, the Book3 Extremely felt laggy when loading functions. However after checking the switch charges, we modified our tune. Random reads and writes aren’t too shabby, however the sequential learn and write speeds are excellent.

Mark Hachman / IDG

We’ve in contrast the Book3 Extremely to its stablemate, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Professional 360, which we spotlight in orange. Different laptops within the comparability chart beneath embrace the Floor Laptop computer 5, Floor Laptop computer Studio, Lenovo Yoga 9i 14, Lenovo Slim 7 Professional X and Asus Vivobook Professional 16X OLED. Costs differ significantly, however most are extra reasonably priced than the Extremely.

Nevertheless it’s additionally price evaluating to “conventional” gaming laptops, all of which may doubtlessly substitute the Book3 Extremely. The MSI Katana GF66 12UD is less expensive, however the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and MSI Titan GT 77 HX 13V are each rather more costly.

We use 4 exams to measure efficiency: UL’s PCMark10 and 3DMark; Cinebench R15, and Handbrake.

PCMark10 is a wonderful metric of on a regular basis efficiency, utilizing precise apps that measure the whole lot from workplace work, picture and video modifying to CAD work. Usually, we anticipate a laptop computer to carry out nicely right here, however there’s nonetheless room for separation from the pack. The “H”-class processor and discrete GPU assist obtain this.

Mark Hachman / IDG

We use the Cinebench R15 benchmark as a metric for a fast burst of CPU efficiency, stressing all of its cores and threads. With six dual-threaded efficiency cores and eight single-threaded effectivity cores, the twenty threads chew by way of our take a look at in a matter of moments. (We additionally take a look at utilizing the extra subtle R20 benchmark, with the concept we’ll finally transition to that metric.)

Mark Hachman / IDG

Handbrake measures CPU efficiency as nicely, although over a protracted time frame. We use the open-source app to transcode a film right into a format that may very well be utilized by a pill. This real-world take a look at demonstrates how nicely a laptop computer can carry out beneath extended load. Because it accomplishes its job in simply minutes, it additionally demonstrates the sensible functions of the app, too.

Mark Hachman / IDG

We use the 3DMark Time Spy take a look at to measure 3D efficiency with an eye fixed towards gaming, because the video-encoding capabilities aren’t put to the take a look at. There’s a major hole between the GeForce RTX 4050 and the rest of the GeForce RTX 4-series GPUs, although even the bottom rung on this ladder is excessive up.

Mark Hachman / IDG

We additionally examined two video games, Forza Horizon 4 and Troy: A Complete Battle Saga, to measure sport efficiency. The Book3 excelled on the default decision and Extremely settings. It rendered 70 frames per second in Forza, a terrific efficiency. Within the Complete Battle battle simulator, the laptop computer rendered nearly 40 fps at Extremely settings as nicely.

Battery life

• 74.5Wh battery
• Spectacular all-day battery life
• First rate charging speeds

An actual power of the Book3 Extremely is delivering terrific battery life and unbelievable efficiency. Sure, a few of that may be felt in your again as you lug concerning the Book3’s 4 kilos or so. Nonetheless, we frequently don’t see all-day efficiency in a laptop computer.

Have in mind, although, that our video take a look at solely actually measures how lengthy the laptop computer can preserve the show lit and CPU energetic; looping a 4K video doesn’t actually push the laptop computer onerous, if in any respect. Our exams present that it lasts 786 minutes, or simply over 13 hours—that’s a full day’s work after which some.

Looping a 3D benchmark again and again is an efficient measure of how lengthy you’ll have the ability to play or do strenuous work on the laptop computer’s battery earlier than it expires; there, the laptop computer solely lasted 1 hour and 46 minutes.

That will sound like an enormous distinction, but it surely’s fairly typical for a gaming pocket book and, beneath load, the H-series CPU and RTX 4050 GPU primarily act like a gaming laptop computer. Nonetheless, it’s at this level that you simply’ll see the Book3 echo a number of the issues gaming notebooks have—they’re nice when linked to their energy twine, however their longevity can undergo when on battery and beneath load.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Through the benchmark loop, although, the laptop computer shut off the fan about 50 loops in, dropping the body price from about 30 frames per second to 10 fps or so—then down to three fps a bit later. That was wholly sudden. We requested Samsung for remark, however they hadn’t but responded after a number of days.

Nonetheless, there’s fairly a discrepancy between 13.1 hours of battery life whereas looping a video and just below two hours whereas taking part in a sport. Plan accordingly!

That sizeable 100W charger does accomplish one factor, although: it powers up the Book3 Extremely shortly. Samsung claims that the Book3 will cost to 55% in half-hour. That’s true, supplied that you simply depart the laptop computer closed and in a sleep state. When open, we recorded a cost of about 25% throughout the identical time.

Software program

• Runs Home windows 11 Dwelling
• Loads of further Samsung apps and instruments

Samsung developed a set of its personal apps to attach its Galaxy units such because the E book lineup, Tab tablets, and, in fact, its Galaxy telephones. These apps complement and in some instances substitute the functions that Microsoft itself gives in Home windows 11, like “Hyperlink to Home windows” as a substitute for Phone Link. This “set bonus” might not justify shopping for a set of Samsung units by themselves. If you happen to do, nonetheless, there are advantages, as our exams of the Book3 and the newest Samsung Galaxy telephones indicated.

In actual fact, many of the Samsung app ecosystem issues shifting and sharing information. Fast Share can ship a file to a different Galaxy gadget and Personal Share can be utilized to securely encrypt and share information to different units—a bit like sharing a file from the cloud with one other person, full with file permissions and an expiration date. One exception is Clip Studio Paint, which will get across the lack of a touchscreen and pen by permitting you to make use of a Galaxy Cellphone with an S Pen as a substitute.

Samsung additionally has an app referred to as Professional RAW Auto Share, which mechanically sends images taken with a Galaxy S23 telephone to a close-by Galaxy pill. As Samsung explains, that’s helpful for modifying RAW images with Adobe Lightroom—which Samsung gives a two-month trial of.

The additional instruments are helpful if you happen to personal different Samsung units, however simple to disregard if you happen to don’t.

Pricing and availability

Samsung’s Galaxy Book3 Extremely ships with a single 16-inch show possibility, although you’ve a alternative between two core configurations.

For the Core i7/RTX 4050 mannequin examined, you’ll pay no less than $2,399.99/£2,449, whereas Core i9/RTX 4070 model begins at $2,999.99/£3,049.

The previous possibility additionally presents 16GB of RAM, whereas the latter ships with 32GB. For both configuration, you possibly can select between 512GB and 1TB of SSD storage, although Samsung itself presently presents only a 1TB SSD possibility.

That’s dearer than all different entries in our greatest laptop computer and greatest enterprise laptop computer charts, so it’s solely price contemplating if you happen to actually desire a gadget for content material creation.

Verdict

With extra selection by way of show, processor, GPU, and options than maybe ever earlier than, it’s troublesome to check the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Extremely to anything presently available on the market. The Book3 Extremely holds its personal by way of efficiency towards the whole lot however the MSI Katana, a price range gaming laptop computer that’s comparable on paper however little else.

Samsung compares nicely in efficiency, with little or no competitors in battery life—no less than when it comes again to taking part in again video. And video seems nice, too, on the Book3 Extremely’s OLED display. The worth actually leans closely towards the premium tier, although not too far out of attain for what the Book3 Extremely presents.

Because it stands, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Extremely is the content-creation pocket book to beat.

Specs

• Processor: Intel Core i7-13700H/Core i9-13900H (Core i7 as examined)
• Show: 16-inch non-touch (2,880×1800), 120Hz AMOLED 2X, 400 nits, 120% DCI-P3 coloration quantity
• Reminiscence: 16GB/32GB LPDDR5 (16GB as examined)
• Storage: 512GB/1TB SSD plus enlargement slot (1TB as examined)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050/4070 Laptop computer GPU (RTX 4050 as examined)
• Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4, USB Sort-A, HDMI 2.0, microSD, Headphone/Mic
• Safety: Fingerprint reader
• Digicam: 1080p (user-facing)
• Battery: 73.8Wh (rated) / 74.5Wh (precise)
• Wi-fi: Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+), 802.11 ax 2×2, Bluetooth 5.1
• Audio: AKG Quad Speaker (two 5W woofers, two 2W tweeters), Sensible Amp, Dolby Atmos
• Working system: Home windows 11
• Dimensions:  13.99 x 9.86 x 0.65in. (16.5mm)
• Weight: 3.95lbs (1.79kg)
• Colors: Graphite