At a look
Knowledgeable’s Score
Professionals
- Excellent 120Hz AMOLED show
- Compromise-free design
- Stable efficiency
- S Pen included
Cons
- Not the perfect typing expertise
- So so battery life
- No discrete GPU possibility
Our Verdict
Samsung has produced its greatest 2-in-1 but, with an incredible 120Hz AMOLED show and a strong, refined design. It’s not fairly the right package deal, however anybody who favours flexibility and enter choices above all else could have discovered their ultimate laptop computer.
Value When Reviewed
From $1,699.99
Greatest Costs Right now: Samsung Galaxy Book3 Professional 360
$1699.99
$1899.99
Samsung is basically getting again into the swing of issues following its return to the laptop computer enterprise in 2020. With final yr’s Galaxy E-book 2 Professional and Galaxy E-book 2 360, it provided extraordinarily light-weight laptops that got here up just a bit brief with just a few key specs.
The category of 2023 sees Samsung stepping issues up on the spec entrance. Sure, the Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 is one other light-weight laptop-cum-tablet with an extremely versatile show hinge. However it additionally packs a 120Hz 3K 16-inch AMOLED panel, Thirteenth-gen Intel Core processors, and an S Pen stylus as normal.
All of it means that Samsung might need produced an all-round champ that may be, if not all issues to all individuals, then definitely most issues to the vast majority of individuals. Wishful considering, maybe?
It’s one other good piece of engineering from an organization that has gotten superb at this kind of factor
Design & Construct
- 12.8mm
- From 1.66kg
- Aluminium construct
At 12.8mm thick, the Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 isn’t as appealingly skinny as final yr’s 11.9mm Galaxy E-book 2 Professional 360, however it’s fractionally. The payoff is that it feels extraordinarily strong. Regardless of the core design characteristic being that you could flip that show proper round from a closed place to being back-to-back with the keyboard, it appears like a ‘regular’ laptop computer.
Speaking of that hinge, it’s one other good piece of engineering from an organization that has gotten superb at this kind of factor with its varied laptops and foldable telephones. The sturdiness issue has apparently been upped with this yr’s mannequin, which might clearly take months or years to check fairly than a few weeks. However like I mentioned, the truth that it appears like a traditional laptop computer is a testomony to Samsung’s work.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
No, this hinge doesn’t cross the one-thumb take a look at, which means I had to make use of my different hand to regular the chassis while opening, lest it skid off the again of my desk. However given the 360-degree feats that it’s able to, I’m inclined to present Samsung a cross – particularly on condition that a variety of costly non-convertible laptops fail the take a look at too.
To be clear, the Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 display doesn’t flatten proper up towards the keyboard when absolutely open, with both the rubber ft or the loosely connected S Pen sustaining a slight hole. However it nonetheless feels fairly strong when used as successfully a super-sized pill. The hinge additionally presents ample resistance when propped at a 135-degree angle, although any flatter and also you would possibly discover that gravity takes a maintain over time.
At 1.66kg for the Wi-Fi-only variant (which is what I examined) and 1.71kg for the 5G mannequin, it’s appreciably gentle for a full-sized laptop computer. It’s nowhere close to as gentle because the 1.16kg non-convertible Galaxy E-book 2 Professional, however then few laptops are. In fact, that is additionally very heavy for a pill, so that you received’t be wielding the Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 like an iPad when it’s absolutely opened out – not for lengthy anyway.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
You’ll be able to specify the E-book 3 Professional 360 in Graphite or Beige, each of that are constructed of premium aluminium. The latter color may not sound all that interesting, nevertheless it is likely to be price contemplating should you’re averse to mucky fingerprints throughout your devices. Inside just a few days of dealing with this Graphite mannequin, I noticed a seemingly everlasting patina of grease throughout the lid.
The Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 is effectively provisioned on the connectivity entrance in comparison with many skinny rivals, beginning with two USB-C ports obtainable on the left-hand aspect (at the least give us one on every, Samsung). However they’re full Thunderbolt 4 ports, which is one thing.
In any other case, you get a single USB-A port, a microSD slot (an everyday SD slot would have been extra helpful), an HDMI slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It’s a strong provision for a 2-in-1, maybe, however not a lot for a 16in laptop computer within the wider market.
There’s a 1080p webcam proper above that show, too, which is at all times good to see.
Display screen & Audio system
- 16in AMOLED
- 120Hz
- 3K decision
We’re used to Samsung providing OLED shows in its laptops by now. What we’re not used to, and arguably this technology’s greatest contribution, is a 120Hz refresh fee.
It’s set to scale dynamically between 60- and 120Hz by default, however flip it into 120Hz solely and it’s silky clean scrolling all the best way. It’ll hit your battery life one thing continual, as I’ll go into later, however the possibility is most welcome for once you’re plugged into the mains.
Arguably this technology’s greatest contribution, is a 120Hz refresh fee
Whereas this refresh fee is probably the most eye-catching a part of the Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 show, it’s not the one factor that impresses. This can be a massive 16in panel with a 16:10 facet ratio, offering a large canvas for every little thing from picture modifying to sketching.
It’s extraordinarily sharp too, with a 2880 x 1800 or 3K decision, which is a giant enchancment over the 1080p Samsung Galaxy E-book 2 Professional 360.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
This being an AMOLED panel, you’ll be able to anticipate deep blacks and eye-poppingly vibrant colors. I recorded a gamut protection of 99.9% sRGB, 95.3% Adobe RGB, and 99.4% DCI P3 within the default Auto color profile, which may be very sturdy and makes it appropriate for almost all of artistic work.
A peak brightness of 358 nits is nothing to put in writing residence about, so this isn’t the laptop computer to get should you’re planning on working exterior lots in the summertime months. It’s simply wonderful for indoor utilization, nevertheless.
By way of sound output, there’s an AKG-tuned quad-speaker system on board, with two 5W woofers and two 2W tweeters, in addition to Dolby Atmos help. The sound is crisp and clear, nevertheless it lacks the bass and the wealthy spaciousness of a MacBook Professional, such that I didn’t really feel inclined to hearken to any music on it with out hooking up a set of headphones however its extra audio provision than many laptops.
Keyboard, Trackpad & S Pen
- Restricted journey chiclet keyboard
- Massive however off-center trackpad
- Bundled S Pen stylus
The typing expertise on the Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 may be very achieved, with a full-sized keyboard that features a numerical pad and correctly distinguished arrow keys. That’s an awesome begin.
As for the precise keys, the low degree of journey on these chiclet keys implies that it falls slightly in need of the easiest within the enterprise. I a lot most well-liked typing on my MacBook Professional and certainly the non-chiclet Dell XPS 13 Plus, each of which offer a greater really feel resulting in fewer typing errors. It’s nonetheless a good provision, particularly for a 2-in-1.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
You additionally get a good fingerprint sensor constructed into the bodily energy button within the prime proper nook, which proved extraordinarily dependable throughout my time with the laptop computer.
I’m not totally proud of the E-book 3’s trackpad, although. It’s a lot massive sufficient, however the truth that it’s set barely to at least one aspect actually messed with my sense of what was a left-click and what was a right-click. I believe I might adapt given extra time, and it’s technically in step with the QWERTY keyboard (blame that lopsided numerical pad), nevertheless it’s not a completely pure expertise out of the field.
Mechanically talking the trackpad is simply clicky within the decrease part, with bodily fairly than haptic suggestions. Additionally, whereas the touchpad is sufficiently responsive on the whole broad sweeps navigation, I discovered it slightly imprecise when doing subtler issues like attempting to finesse the place of a cursor in a doc. I used to be relieved to hook up my mouse.
All in all, it will get nowhere close to the delicate brilliance of a MacBook touchpad, which is the extent Samsung must be judged towards given its pedigree and pricing.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The place Samsung knocks it out of the park on the enter entrance is with its S Pen stylus, which comes bundled with each Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360. It stashes away on the lid of the laptop computer utilizing magnets when not in use, which isn’t probably the most reassuringly safe becoming while you’re out and about.
If you find yourself utilizing it, nevertheless, the stress sensitivity and sheer responsiveness make for a genuinely pen-like expertise. Mixed with that superb show, it’s an awesome system for scrawling notes or sketches.
Specs & Efficiency
- Thirteenth-gen Intel chips
- No discrete GPU possibility
- As much as 1TB storage
The Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 runs on a Thirteenth-gen Intel Core processors My take a look at mannequin ships with an i7-1360P and 16GB of RAM, whereas the bottom mannequin comes with an i5-1340P with 8GB of RAM.
No, it’s not a match for the powerhouse that’s the Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Extremely, however then few laptops proper now are.
The generational benefit to its chip sees the Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 besting these aforementioned Home windows rivals fairly handily
I had no issues utilizing the Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 for basic work duties. It zipped by means of a number of Chrome tabs, emails, 4K video streaming and extra with out breaking a sweat. I solely seen the followers kicking in every now and then, they usually weren’t distractingly loud once they did.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Naturally, that is no gaming laptop computer, with not one of the discrete GPU choices of the Extremely mannequin. Older 3D titles like Portal 2 run simply wonderful, however something vaguely latest received’t run in optimum trend. I used to be in a position to play by means of the open part of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order on the default Medium settings, however there have been frequent halts and stutters as varied cinematic parts loaded in.
Within the CPU-focused Geekbench 5 multi-core take a look at, the highest variant of the E-book 3 Professional 360 pips the Samsung Galaxy E-book 2 Professional and the Dell XPS Plus 13 with their twelfth gen Intel Core i7 processors. It additionally matches the MacBook Air M2, however predictably will get obliterated by the MacBook Professional M2 Professional.
In terms of our regular GPU benchmarks, the generational benefit to its chip sees the Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 besting these aforementioned Home windows rivals fairly handily.
Storage choices are suitably diversified, with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB all on the desk. You’ll have to take the sooner processor and better RAM allotment at 16GB not 8GB if you would like the extra capacious SSD choices, nevertheless.
Battery Life & Charging
The Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 packs a fairly large 76Wh battery, which broadly offers the type of stamina we’ve come to anticipate from a contemporary Home windows 11 laptop computer. In different phrases, not horrendous, however nonetheless not fairly ok for a full working day, definitely nothing to bother an Apple silicon MacBook.
In gentle work situations, which concerned predominantly Chrome-based looking and Google Doc utilization, a smattering of YouTube movies, and common e mail and Slack utilization, I discovered that the E-book 3 Professional 360 would present the crucial battery warning (at round 6%) after 7 hours of utilization, with a lunch break thrown in.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
This was with the display set to an adaptive refresh fee and with HDR turned off, which is the default state. With 120Hz and HDR energetic, the laptop computer would solely get by means of 4 hours of such a typical work day.
Our regular looping 720p video take a look at, with the display brightness set to a reasonably dim 120 nits, ran for 14h 26m earlier than powering down. That’s about half an hour lower than the Samsung Galaxy E-book 2 360, and is effectively in need of the LG Gram 16 (to not point out these MacBooks), however is in any other case removed from the worst consequence we’ve seen.
Come recharge time, Samsng bundles in its regular 65W brick. I clocked the charging fee at 37% over the primary half-hour from a powered down state. That’s not as speedy because the Galaxy E-book 2 360, nevertheless it’s about proper for the scale and spec of the laptop computer. A full cost will take just below 1 hour 45 minutes.
All in all, that is maybe the one elementary space that holds the Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 again from being the all-round nice it could possibly be. If Samsung can engineer a 2-in-1 that may reliably get by means of a full working day on a single cost, they’d actually be in enterprise.
Software program & Apps
- Home windows 11 Professional
- Galaxy E-book Expertise
Samsung doesn’t mess with the Home windows 11 software program on its laptops half as a lot because it tinkers with its smartphones, however you continue to get slightly Samsung bloat.
Essentially the most helpful apps embrace Samsung Notes, which mixes an everyday word taking app with S Pen integration. It might even precisely translate handwritten notes to digital textual content, which feels faintly magical, to not point out genuinely helpful. Samsung Noteshelf locations much more of the onus on utilizing Samsung’s good stylus, with added amenities like automated form creation.
Elsewhere you get the likes of Fast Search, Fast Share, Bixby, and Samsung Gallery, that are various shades of inessential, relying on how invested within the wider Samsung ecosystem you’re.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
By way of third celebration preinstalled functions, there are hyperlinks to obtain Adobe Lightroom and Clip Studio Paint, which is sensible inside the context of that included S Pen stylus and beautiful AMOLED show. This actually is a superb software for budding artists.
Value & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 is available in a lot of variants for the UK market, all obtainable direct from Samsung. Costs begin at £1,549 for the entry mannequin, which supplies you a Thirteenth gen i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, and Wi-Fi solely.
You’ll be able to bump that spec as much as a Thirteenth gen i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage – which is the mannequin examined right here – for £1,849. Or you’ll be able to prime out at 1TB of storage for £2,049.
There’s additionally a 5G possibility, which supplies you the baseline spec plus cell community connectivity for £1,999. I’m unsure why there isn’t a money-no-object possibility that provides you the highest spec with 5G connectivity.
You should buy it from Samsung in addition to retailers like Amazon, AO, Currys and John Lewis.
Within the US you get simply the one spec possibility from Samsung, with an i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage for $1,899.99. Nevertheless, BestBuy has the 512GB mdoel for $1,699.99.
Try the next charts for extra choices such because the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED:
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy E-book 3 Professional 360 is maybe probably the most compromise-free 2-in-1 convertible we’ve examined. Its refined design makes the laptop computer feel and appear like an everyday full-sized laptop computer, but the show can rotate by means of 360-degrees, and the bundled S Pen turns it into an artist’s delight.
The important thing element right here is the brand new 16in AMOLED show. With a 3K decision and a 120Hz refresh fee, it’s as fluid as it’s sharp and vibrant.
Efficiency doesn’t let the aspect down, although the battery will barely get you thru a working day. Making full use of that stunning 120Hz AMOLED show will actually take its toll, too.
It’s a disgrace the typing and trackpad expertise isn’t fairly on the elite degree, which means energy customers will nonetheless profit from going for a non-convertible possibility over this one. However Samsung has produced its greatest 2-in-1 but, no doubt.
Specs
- Mannequin examined:
- Home windows 11 Professional
- 16in 3K AMOLED show (16:10 facet ratio, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz)
- Intel Core i7–1360P
- Intel Iris Xe graphics
- 16GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Full-size keyboard with backlighting
- 1080p FHD Digicam
- Quad audio system (2 x 5W, 2 x 2W)
- Fingerprint energy button
- 1x HDMI
- 2x Thunderbolt 4
- 1x USB 3.2
- MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader
- 3.5mm jack
- 76 Wh battery
- 65W charger
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 5.1
- 355.4 x 252.2 x 12.8mm
- 1.66kg