Samsung Galaxy Book vs Surface Pro 4

Price When Reviewed

From $629.99

Best Prices Today: Samsung Galaxy Book 12in

Samsung stopped making Windows laptops back in 2014  but with these new Galaxy Book devices, you’ll be able to buy a Samsung ‘laptop’ once more. Here’s how the Galaxy Book stacks up against the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, reviewed.

First, note that there are two models in the new range, one with a 10in screen and one with a 12in screen. We’ve spent a limited amount of time with the Galaxy Book at MWC, and don’t yet know how much it will cost as Samsung hasn’t yet announced pricing, so this comparison is based on our hands-on time and specifications.  Keep up with the Surface Pro 5 launch event live.

The fact Samsung has gone for Galaxy Book is interesting, since Microsoft already has its Surface Book, but the Galaxy book is much more similar to the Surface Pro tablets.

See also : Galaxy Book release date 

Samsung Galaxy Book vs Surface Pro 4: Price and release date rumours

As with many products announced at MWC 2017, there is no word on price or availability from Samsung. This means we can compare the Galaxy Book with the Surface Pro 4 only on specs currently.

However, it’s relatively safe to assume that they’re not going to be more expensive than the equivalent model from Microsoft. And don’t forget that the Surface Pro 5 is expected shortly. Naturally, we’ll compare this with the Galaxy Book when it is officially announced.

The Surface Pro 4 is available in the following configurations:

Samsung Galaxy Book vs Surface Pro 4: Specifications

Here’s how the Galaxy Book 12 compares to the Surface Pro 4 at a glance:

Samsung Galaxy Book	Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Windows 10 (version not specified)	Windows 10 Pro
12in Super AMOLED display, 2160×1440, 216ppi	12.3in display, 2736×1824, 267ppi
7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 3.1GHz	Up to 6th Gen Intel Core i7
4GB / 8GB	Up to 16GB RAM
128GB / 256GB	Up to 512GB storage
2x USB-C	USB 3.0
Video output via USB-C	Mini-DisplayPort
MicroSD reader	MicroSD reader
802.11ac Wi-Fi	802.11ac Wi-Fi
LTE model available	No LTE
Bluetooth 4.1	Bluetooth 4.0
5Mp front camera	5Mp front camera
13Mp rear camera	8Mp rear camera
Pogo Keyboard case included	TypeCover not included
S Pen included	Surface Pen included
291.3×199.8×7.4mm	292x201x8.45mm
754g (tablet only)	766g

Samsung Galaxy Book vs Surface Pro 4: Design and features

Keyboard

Clearly, the Galaxy Book is aimed squarely at the Surface Pro, and Samsung is clever to have bundled both the S Pen and keyboard case in the box.

Few people buy a Surface Pro 4 just to use as a tablet, so rather than feeling relief at saving money on a peripheral you don’t need, the extra £109 cost of a TypeCover hurts as – in reality – it is an essential purchase.

Samsung’s keyboard is improved over last year’s version – as included with the TabPro S – thanks to a 50 percent larger trackpad, individual keys (with decent travel) and backlighting.

Also, the stand allows you to alter the angle of the screen, although we still prefer the kickstand on the Surface Pro. (But it’s one advantage over the fixed-position iPad Pro keyboard.)

Screen

Both tablets have similar size screens, but the Samsung’s has a slightly lower resolution. This won’t be noticeable in general use, however, and the screen also supports HDR. 

The Surface Pro 4’s screen has an aspect ratio of 3:2, and Samsung has gone for the same, albeit using the same resolution as the Surface Pro 3 rather than the higher pixel count of the Pro 4.

Processor and performance

Given that the Surface Pro 5 is due out very soon, it’s slightly unfair to criticise the Surface Pro 4 for not having the USB-C ports of the Galaxy Book, or the latest generation of Intel Core processor. We’re sure that Microsoft’s next 2-in-1 Windows device will be bang up to date.

Performance is another area where we’ll have to wait for benchmark results, but the fanless, low-voltage Core i5 in the Galaxy Book – combined with 8GB of RAM if you opt for the top model – should be powerful enough for most people. Samsung says it will run Photoshop, but we’ll reserve any judgements until we’ve tried it for ourselves.

We already know how the Surface Pro 4 performs, and you can read our full review of the Pro 4 to find out specifics. Of course, there are many different models, including the range-topping Core i7 version with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. That’s sure to beat the 12in Galaxy Book, but then again, Samsung is sure to price the Galaxy Book appropriately.

The Galaxy Book has four speakers, but we’ve yet to have a chance to properly listen to these. 

Battery life

Samsung claims up to 10 hours of battery life, and we recorded 11 hours when testing the Surface Pro 4. Whether the Samsung’s 10 hour battery life figure is conservative or not, we don’t yet know, but we’ll have to factor in performance before we can say which device has the best performance-to-battery life ratio. 

Best Prices Today: Samsung Galaxy Book 12in