Tested Samsung Galaxy Book 10.6in
Could Samsung’s affordable new 2-in-1 laptop/tablet be your perfect one-box solution for work and play?
A bargain Windows flipper for work and play
£649 / stuff.tv/galaxybook Q You can see what Samsung’s doing here: the Galaxy Book is a 2-in-1 Windows 10 machine that improves on the old Tabpro S and, unlike that flawed predecessor, is cheap enough to undercut the Microsoft Surface Pro.
Q The new Book comes in two flavours: this bite-size 10.6in tab, and a full-fat 12in version that costs a whopping £450 more. Both are metal-bodied, glass-fronted slates with keyboard covers that turn them into work-ready laptops.
Q It’s hard not to feel a little sorry when you stick the 10.6in Galaxy Book side by side with the more premium 12in version. That model has a 2160x1440 AMOLED display, which even plays nicely with HDR video, but here you’re stuck with a 1920x1280 TFT panel.
Q This entry-level hybrid makes do with Intel’s entry-level silicon: a low-power Core m3 that ticks along at up to 2.6GHZ. Paired with 4GB of RAM, it’s fine for most desktop jobs, like web browsing and Word documents, but for more heavy lifting, such as Photoshop editing, it soon runs out of puff.
Q Intel’s Kaby Lake processors are fairly frugal when it comes to battery life. Best case scenario, you’ll eke nine hours out of a single charge, but six seems more likely when you add media-heavy web browsing into the mix. It’s average stamina at best.
Tech specs
Screen 10.6in 1920x1280 TFT Processor 2.6GHZ dual-core Intel Core m3 RAM 4GB OS Windows 10 Camera 5MP Battery 4000mah Storage 64GB, expandable via microsd Dimensions 261x179x8.9mm, 640g
No-glow area The keys have plenty of travel, and there are no superfluous function buttons. The 10.6in version doesn’t have backlit keys for night-time working, though. That luxury is reserved for the 12in model. Stylish stylus The new S Pen makes all the difference with the Galaxy Book. The larger barrel makes it much easier and more natural to grip than the old version, and the redesigned rubber nib brings a huge improvement in feel.