The Samsung Galaxy E-book S is not any abnormal laptop computer because it comprises one in all Intel’s model new “hybrid” processors designed to present PCs smartphone-like battery life whereas operating common Home windows 10.
The E-book S follows the E-book Flex in Samsung’s return to the UK PC market, however is confusingly out there in two variations each costing £999: the Galaxy E-book S Intel (as reviewed right here) and the Galaxy E-book S Qualcomm, which is barely older and has a very totally different kind of chip.
The E-book S Intel appears like a reasonably normal Home windows 10 laptop computer, besides it’s tremendous skinny and lightweight at simply 11.8mm thick and 950g in weight. For comparability, the E-book Flex is 1.16kg and 12.9mm thick, whereas the Apple MacBook Air is 1.29kg and 16.1mm thick.
The backlit keyboard is nice, with well-spaced, responsive keys with sufficient journey – how far down it pushes – for many. The trackpad is large and exact, however makes fairly a loud click on when depressed.
There’s a small fingerprint sensor embedded within the energy button within the prime proper of the keyboard, which is a way more smart place than taking over half the shift key, as was the case with its sibling.
The 13.3in full HD touchscreen is nice, however not fairly as vibrant and vibrant because the E-book Flex, protecting solely 80% of the DCI-P3 color palette. It could get tremendous brilliant with a devoted outside mode that reinforces the brightness from 350nit to 600nit, making it simpler to see in daylight. The mannequin examined lacked automated brightness management, however simply setting it to 70% brightness labored effectively in most situations.
The display screen is noticeably much less crisp than higher-resolution rivals, and being within the 16:9 ratio (matching your TV) means there’s much less vertical house to work with. I discovered myself scrolling up and down much more than I might on taller screens with 16:10 or 3:2 ratios.
Specs
-
Display screen: 13.3in FHD (1080p) LCD touchscreen (166PPI)
-
Processor: Intel Core i5-L16G7
-
RAM: 8GB
-
Storage: 512GB
-
Graphics: Intel UHD
-
Working system: Home windows 10 Dwelling
-
Digital camera: 1MP
-
Connectivity: Wifi 6, Bluetooth 5, 2x USB-C, microSD, headphones
-
Dimensions: 203.2 x 305.2 x 11.8mm
-
Weight: 950g
Hybrid Intel chip
For a while ARM chips, comparable to these operating in all smartphones, have promised to ship higher battery life and comparable efficiency than the Intel processors utilized in nearly all laptops. They haven’t but delivered on that promise in Home windows computer systems, however it hasn’t stopped Intel designing chips in an analogous option to ARM fashions in an try to move off the competitors.
The Intel Core i5-L16G7 operating within the E-book S is likely one of the agency’s first to attempt a so-called massive.Little design. What meaning in English for this specific mannequin is that you’ve got one, high-power processing unit paired with 4 smaller, lower-power and decrease efficiency items on one chip.
The concept is that the decrease energy cores deal with the easy issues, and the high-power core handles the essential issues. The explanation you’ve gotten this form of design is that for easy issues the chip consumes much less energy than the equal normal twin or quad-core chip, however it nonetheless has the poke to do heavy lifting when required. It additionally means this machine is fanless, relying totally on passive cooling, and making operation completely silent.
In actuality the E-book S has very combined efficiency. Whenever you’re doing an excessive amount of the laptop computer actually bogs down, feeling gradual and ponderous. It was notably noticeable when first organising the machine, performing updates and downloading apps – an analogous factor occurred with the Core i3 processor within the newest MacBook Air.
As soon as setup was full, if I wasn’t operating any updates, efficiency was fairly good. On a par with most common laptops, dealing with Chrome, Home windows Mail, Evernote, Nextgen Reader and a bunch of chat apps simply advantageous.
It began to return unstuck after I opened a few pretty giant photographs in Affinity Photograph. It managed the photograph manipulation duties OK, however was pretty gradual doing it. It additionally struggled just a little right here and there after I linked it to an exterior 4K monitor and went into whole meltdown after I tried to open a spreadsheet whereas holding a Google Meet.
However that isn’t the purpose of this laptop computer. It’s designed for use as a light-work laptop computer that lasts a very long time between expenses. When used this fashion with all of the apps open as above it lasts comfortably over 10 hours between expenses, which is lengthy by most laptop computer requirements, though overwhelmed by an hour by the E-book Flex.
Charging the laptop computer with the included tiny 25W USB-C charger takes 2.5 hours from lifeless, reaching 50% cost in an hour, which is fairly gradual so it is perhaps price shopping for a extra highly effective energy adapter. The E-book S has two USB-C ports, one both sides, and a headphone socket on the left. There’s a microSD card slot hiding in a small pull out tray on the left too.
Sustainability
The E-book S can typically be repaired by authorised service centres. Samsung charges the battery for not less than 1,000 full cost cycles whereas nonetheless sustaining not less than 80% capability. Samsung additionally has battery lifespan-extending choices on the laptop computer, comparable to people who restrict the utmost cost to 85% to extend its helpful life.
The battery could be changed out of guarantee by authorised service suppliers. The laptop computer isn’t constituted of any recycled supplies and whereas Samsung does provide trade-in and recycling schemes for different units, it doesn’t achieve this but for laptops.
Home windows 10 Dwelling
The benefit the E-book S Intel has over ARM-based laptops, such because the Floor Professional X, is that it ships and runs common Home windows 10 Dwelling and due to this fact any normal Home windows app.
On the time of writing, the E-book S has nonetheless not obtained the Could 2020 Home windows 10 function replace, as there are some incompatibility points for Microsoft to unravel.
There was some unwelcome pre-installed software program, together with McAfee LiveSafe, Clonix RansomDefender and the same old Sweet Crush Associates and Farm Heroes Saga, which I uninstalled on first use.
Worth
The Samsung Galaxy E-book S Intel prices £999 with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage in both gray or gold.
The Galaxy E-book S can be out there in a Qualcomm model with an ARM chip for £999.
For comparability, the Samsung Galaxy E-book Flex prices £1,349, the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer 3 prices from £999, the Dell XPS 13 prices from £1,399 and the Apple MacBook Air prices from £999.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy E-book S is a glossy laptop computer with a brand new kind of processor that’s neither a house run nor an abysmal failure.
It was disappointing to see a £999 laptop computer battle with updates and video conferencing, however outdoors of these higher-demand duties, efficiency was pleasingly snappy. Battery life was additionally excellent for a laptop computer this skinny and lightweight with a comparatively small capability battery, and with out the compromise in app compatibility that an ARM chip imposes. Due to this fact it’s not a nasty begin for the Core i5-L16G7, the primary of Intel’s hybrid chips.
The keyboard is nice, the trackpad too. The fingerprint scanner is in the best place. Two USB-C ports are welcome, as is microSD card assist. The display screen is nice and the outside brightness mode actually does make a distinction.
The E-book S is due to this fact higher regarded as an excellent road-warrior’s laptop computer. One that may simply be packed, lasts a very long time and will get the fundamentals accomplished with the minimal of fuss, simply don’t count on it to be a premium energy laptop computer. Whether or not anybody really needs a road-warrior laptop computer within the present pandemic stays to be seen.
Execs: tremendous skinny and lightweight, lengthy battery life, regular Home windows 10, two USB-C, headphones socket, tiny charger, microSD card slot, fingerprint scanner, good keyboard and trackpad, brilliant display screen.
Cons: processor struggles when doing a bit an excessive amount of, pretty gradual to cost with included 25W energy adapter, 16:9 display screen ratio, decrease decision display screen.
