Latest news with #GalaxyBook5Pro
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: 5 key reasons I find it ideal for work and travel
Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro introduced to the Indian market at a time when professionals and hybrid workers demand more than just raw specs. This device doesn't shout for attention, but it quietly impresses in the way it integrates performance, portability, and features into everyday use. After weeks of using the Galaxy Book 5 Pro in typical Indian work-life conditions, dusty cafes, intermittent travel, the experience has been nothing short of polished. Here are 5 things that I like about the laptop. Let's start with the display. The 3K Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen isn't just a spec-sheet highlight, it's genuinely transformative in day-to-day use. Reading, editing documents, and even watching content on OTT platforms feels immersive. Samsung's Vision Booster adjusts brightness smartly, and I could comfortably work near windows without squinting. Eye fatigue was noticeably reduced after long hours, a relief for those used to staring at standard LCDs. The Intel Core Ultra 7 chip under the hood, combined with the Intel Arc graphics, handles everything from spreadsheets and presentations to light video editing with ease. But it's the little things that elevate the experience, AI-powered background blur during video calls, real-time captions, and enhanced multitasking that feels intuitive rather than forced. You don't need to know it's AI-powered to feel the impact; it just works. At 1.23 kg, the 14-inch model is light enough to carry in a backpack all day without noticing it. It doesn't flex, creak, or heat up much, Samsung has nailed the build quality. The keyboard is tactile and well-spaced, making long typing sessions pleasant. The trackpad is large and responsive, and the fingerprint reader on the power button works instantly. Samsung claims up to 21 hours of video playback, and in real-world mixed use, Wi-Fi on, multiple tabs, video calls, I regularly got around 13–15 hours. That's impressive and frees you from plug anxiety. It charges quickly too, with USB-C fast charging delivering nearly 40% in under 30 minutes. Pair it with a Galaxy smartphone or tablet, and the experience becomes even more fluid. You can drag and drop files, use the tablet as a second screen, or control both devices with a single keyboard and mouse. It's subtle, but once you get used to it, it feels indispensable.
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Indian Express
Galaxy Book 5 Pro review: A svelte ultrabook built for productivity
Technology is all about convenience. From carrying around boxy and bulky laptops from the late 2000s, we have come a long way. In 2008, Apple brought about a design revolution with the launch of its feather-light and premium MacBook Air. Ever since, technology companies have been striving to achieve that perfect balance between portability and performance. Samsung has been consistently delivering laptops that are not only highly functional but also stylish. This year, the South Korean tech giant unveiled the all-new Galaxy Book 5 Pro at CES 2025. The Galaxy Book 5 Pro is the latest addition to the brand's lineup of premium laptops. While there is no dramatic departure from the design scheme of the predecessors, the new entrant is seemingly lighter and charming, and aces various performance benchmarks. I have been using the Galaxy Book 5 Pro, a device that is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 5 with Intel ARC graphics for some time now. The Book 5 Pro has all that is required for a modern-day laptop, and in this review, I will break down why this stands out in a market brimming with laptops of various kinds. The Galaxy Book 5 Pro comes in 14-inch and 16-inch variants, and I have got the smaller variant for this review. The packing is sleek and comes with a 65W charger and a C-to-C cable to juice up the device on the go. The first thing that one would notice upon unboxing is the brushed metal finish. And, since I am averse to any surface that attracts fingerprints, the aluminium chassis impressed me. The Book 5 Pro features a thin profile, making it ideal to carry around with ease. The device weighs around 1.5 kg and comes with exceptional sturdiness. In contrast to the 360 model, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro features the standard hinge that cannot be folded all the way back. Regardless, finding a comfortable view is no hassle, even in cramped spaces, especially owing to its compact and nimble form factor. The slim laptop features dual Thunderbolt 4 ports and HDMI 2.1 on the left edge and a single USB-A 3.2 port, microSD card slot, and a headphone jack on the right side. The Samsung laptop features an edge-to-edge keyboard with a dedicated number pad. I have been dabbling between the M4 MacBook Air, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro, and my good old Dell laptop. I enjoyed the fluidity that Book 5 Pro's keyboard endows. My typing experience has been comfortable, and it did not take me long to get acquainted with the key placements. Moreover, the fully customisable backlighting will be appreciated by many. The laptop features a massive touchpad offering responsive control. However, it lacks some advanced gesture capabilities as seen on some of its competitors. The Galaxy Book 5 Pro includes a touchscreen functionality which can also be used with an S Pen (not included in the package). Personally, the touchscreen was of not much use. On rare occasions, perhaps to zoom in or close tabs, the touch functionality came in handy. Since I am accustomed to standard screens, I am oblivious to the touch screen most of the time. When it comes to security, the power button also integrates a quick fingerprint sensor that unlocks the device within a second. For additional security, Samsung has leveraged the Samsung Knox security platform, which includes a discrete security chip within the hardware that safeguards the system in real-time. This ensures that your critical data remains secure from potential threats. The Galaxy Book 5 Pro features a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that offers 3K resolution, up to a 120 Hz refresh rate, and 120 per cent colour volume. In an everyday sense, the Book 5 Pro doubles up as your personal multimedia device. From image editing to endlessly streaming shows from across OTT platforms, the display offers a rich and immersive experience. It delivers excellent contrast and deep blacks, and I think the OLED panel is one of the main highlights of this laptop. The laptop boasts a peak brightness of 500 nits. Although the laptop features an anti-reflective coating and tech that enhances visibility in bright environments, I would recommend sitting away from direct light to avoid glares. The refresh rate of up to 120 Hz makes for smooth visuals. When it comes to the audio, the laptop does not disappoint. It features a quad-speaker system tuned by Dolby Atmos surround sound. The sound quality is immersive and handles music and videos with ease. There is also a 2MP full HD webcam that rests in the top bezel and supports Windows Studio effects, including eye contact correction, background blur, automatic framing for videos, etc. I found the webcam output to be passable. The Galaxy Book 5 Pro is powered by Intel's Core Ultra 5, which handles all your productivity tasks with ease. For this review, I have been using a 16GB RAM and 512 GB storage version. You can also opt for the 32GB RAM and 1TB storage option. The Book 5 Pro comes with an integrated NPU which allows users to take advantage of some nifty AI features such as Samsung's AI select. One can also summon Copilot with the dedicated key to assist with various tasks such as writing mails, running grammar checks, and brainstorming for ideas. The integrated ARC GPU is good for light gaming. Samsung claims that the Galaxy Book 5 Pro offers 21 hours of video runtime. During my use, I found the battery life to be impressive; I could work, stream, and play without care. With the 65W super fast charging, you can power up to nearly 50 per cent by just charging the device for about 30 minutes. If you are an ardent fan of Windows and are looking for a laptop that can boost your productivity, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro offers a compelling package. It comes with an exceptional display, a premium build, and promises smooth performance. Although this one is no gaming powerhouse, it handles everyday tasks like a breeze, making it a reliable choice for professionals and students. As of now, the Book 5 Pro is a strong contender in the competitive Windows premium laptop space. It arguably works well for those active in the Samsung ecosystem. Bijin Jose, an Assistant Editor at Indian Express Online in New Delhi, is a technology journalist with a portfolio spanning various prestigious publications. Starting as a citizen journalist with The Times of India in 2013, he transitioned through roles at India Today Digital and The Economic Times, before finding his niche at The Indian Express. With a BA in English from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, and an MA in English Literature, Bijin's expertise extends from crime reporting to cultural features. With a keen interest in closely covering developments in artificial intelligence, Bijin provides nuanced perspectives on its implications for society and beyond. ... Read More
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Business Standard
21-04-2025
- Business Standard
Galaxy Book 5 Pro review: Best of Samsung, Microsoft, Intel rolled into one
Samsung has begun integrating its suite of artificial intelligence (AI) features into its Intel-powered Windows PCs. Case in point is the recently launched Galaxy Book 5 Pro, certified under Intel's Evo platform and equipped with the first wave of Galaxy AI features for laptops, alongside Microsoft's Copilot Plus platform. With this combination, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro presents the best of Intel, Microsoft, and Samsung. But does it qualify as the best Windows-based PC? Let us explore: Design The Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro (14-inch review unit) features a premium metallic chassis and a lightweight build, aligned with the Intel Evo platform's form factor requirements. Samsung's build quality stands out, particularly in its resistance to fingerprint smudges—preserving the metallic finish over time better than most, including Apple. The laptop adopts a wedge-shaped profile—tapering towards the front and thicker at the rear. While this design became prominent with Apple's MacBook Air, which moved to a flatter design in 2023 with the M2 iteration, its inclusion here is both nostalgic and practical. From a functionality perspective, the wedge design allows for the inclusion of mainstream ports such as a full-sized HDMI and a USB-A port—features that are becoming increasingly rare in thin and light laptops. Display and Audio The Galaxy Book 5 Pro has a 14-inch 3K resolution Dynamic AMOLED 2X touchscreen (review unit). The 8-bit panel supports an adaptive refresh rate, dynamically switching between 48Hz, 60Hz, and 120Hz depending on content requirements, optimising battery consumption. While not natively compliant with high dynamic range (HDR), it supports HDR streaming and features always-on HDR. Samsung has also implemented an adaptive colour tone feature, akin to Apple's True Tone, which adjusts the display's hues based on ambient lighting conditions. Features aside, the display is a highlight. It is vivid, bright, and boasts a productivity-oriented 16:10 aspect ratio, offering more vertical space. Touch functionality adds convenience, especially with Samsung's AI features such as AI Select—a Windows PC variant of Google's Circle to Search on Android—enabled via Microsoft Edge. It allows one-click information extraction and web search from any selected screen area. One limitation, however, is the restricted hinge movement—the display does not open a full 180 degrees, which is unexpected for a touchscreen laptop. The audio system features four speakers with Dolby Atmos support for spatial sound. The speakers offer clear, well-balanced output with decent loudness. However, audio lacks richness at maximum volume. For the best experience, volume levels of 70–80 per cent are recommended. Additionally, Dolby Atmos is supported on wired audio accessories, but not wirelessly. Camera and Microphones The laptop sports a 2MP front-facing camera with support for 1080p full-HD video. While it lacks hardware-based features like Windows Hello facial recognition or contextual enhancements, it complies with Microsoft's Copilot Plus requirements. As a result, it offers features such as auto-framing (to keep the user centred), background blur (with options for standard and portrait bokeh effects), and eye contact correction. The camera is sufficient for everyday use, though not exceptional—images appear soft, and quality degrades noticeably in low-light conditions. While Copilot Plus features improve the experience, they are imperfect. Background blur occasionally struggles with subject separation, and the eye contact feature appears slightly unnatural and in need of refinement. The dual microphones positioned above the camera deliver surprisingly effective noise suppression, particularly beneficial in outdoor environments such as cafes and shared workspaces. Keyboard and Touchpad The Galaxy Book 5 Pro features a full-size, backlit keyboard with function keys offering secondary roles—such as brightness and volume adjustment, camera shutter toggle – and a dedicated Copilot assistant key. A separate key incorporates a fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication via Windows Hello, Passkeys, and more. Key spacing is optimal, and key travel provides tactile feedback without excessive noise. The touchpad is moderately sized, supporting gesture controls as offered by Windows 11. While suitable for general use, the presence of defined left- and right-click zones may be inconvenient for users accustomed to pressure-sensitive touchpads that support haptic feedback and force clicks with greater precision. Software The Galaxy Book 5 Pro boots Windows 11 Home with integrated Microsoft Copilot Plus and Samsung's Galaxy AI features. It comes preloaded with a lifetime licence for Microsoft Office 2024, offering access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Unlike Samsung's Android devices, which are heavily customised, this device offers a mostly unaltered Windows experience. Microsoft's Copilot Plus features are integrated at the system level. However, Samsung's Galaxy AI features are delivered via proprietary apps, resulting in certain overlaps. For instance, both native Windows and Samsung settings apps are present, each offering control over similar parameters such as display, sound, battery, and performance. While this may initially cause confusion, it becomes manageable with regular use. Samsung's ecosystem integration allows seamless synchronisation of settings, Wi-Fi credentials, connected earbuds, and supports clipboard sharing across devices—provided users are signed in with the same Samsung account. In terms of ease and functionality, this ecosystem rivals Apple's in many respects. AI features AI functionality on the Galaxy Book 5 Pro includes features from both Microsoft and Samsung. While Microsoft's Copilot Plus capabilities are standard across compatible devices, Samsung's Galaxy AI offerings provide a point of differentiation. Beyond AI Select, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro includes Photo Remaster (for image enhancement) and Object Eraser (to remove unwanted elements)—both accessible via the Samsung Gallery app. With the touchscreen, these tools are intuitive and efficient to use. However, the range of Galaxy AI features on the laptop is narrower than on Samsung smartphones. Useful capabilities such as audio transcription, text summarisation, webpage extraction, and writing assistance are absent. While some of these are partially addressed by Microsoft's Copilot, the integration lacks cohesion and feels disjointed. Performance Powered by Intel Core Ultra 5 (Lunar Lake), with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD (as per the review unit), the Galaxy Book 5 Pro delivers a full-fledged Windows 11 experience with full compatibility for Copilot Plus features—originally exclusive to ARM64-based PCs with Qualcomm processors. In performance terms, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro competes strongly with Qualcomm-based alternatives and offers comparable, if not superior, power efficiency. It handles daily tasks effortlessly and supports demanding workloads, such as multimedia editing, without performance dips—provided it remains plugged in. On battery, performance drops are noticeable, though enabling high-performance mode mitigates the impact to some extent. Battery The Galaxy Book 5 Pro is powered by a 63.1Wh battery and supports 65W USB-C fast charging. A compatible adaptor and cable are included in the package. Battery life is commendable for a Windows device, rivalling Qualcomm-powered PCs, though it does not match the longevity of Apple MacBooks. With moderate usage, a full charge comfortably provides over 15 hours of operation—impressive for a Windows machine. Verdict At Rs 149,900 onwards, the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro offers the best from three leading technology companies: Samsung, Microsoft, and Intel. With a high-quality display, strong performance, long battery life, and an expanding suite of AI features, it is well-positioned among the best Windows-based AI laptops currently available. While there is scope for refinement in camera quality, software integration, and AI feature set, the overall experience remains positive and well-balanced.
