Tech

Samsung’s Galaxy Book range has been considered one of the perfect MacBook alternatives thanks to its portability and versatile character. Last year’s Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 even won our in-house NDTV Gadgets 360 awards in the Best 2-in-1 laptop category. This year, Samsung has taken the all-new Galaxy Book 5 series a step further by incorporating Galaxy AI features into the mix.

The range comes in three SKUs – Galaxy Book 5 Pro, Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360, and Galaxy Book 5 360 – all packing Intel’s Lunar Lake processor. Talking about the prices, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro launched in India at a starting price of Rs. 1,31,990, while the cost of the Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360 model starts at Rs. 1,55,990. The Galaxy Book 5 360, the cheapest in the range, launched at a starting price of Rs. 1,14,990.

I got the Galaxy Book 5 Pro for this review. And what do you get out of the box? A reliable package that should suit all work demands and packs in an excellent display and decent speaker setup for your multimedia needs. But does it beat others in the same price segment? Let me answer that in this review.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro Design and Display: Designed for everyday productivity

• Weight – 1.23 KG (14-inch)
• Thickness – 11.6mm
• Screen resolution – 2880×1800 pixels WQXGA+ AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro is Samsung’s latest offering in the premium, thin-and-light category. At 1.23 kilograms, the 14-inch machine is lightweight, prioritising mobility for target consumers. Measuring just 11.6mm, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro can slip into some of the smallest backpacks. It comes in a single Grey colour option, and it is minimalistic in design. It should be loved by those who love muted colours.

The laptop weighs 1.23 kilograms

The retail box includes a Type-C to C cable alongside a charging adapter, and I appreciated the overall packaging of the Galaxy Book 5 Pro due to its understated branding. At first glance, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro feels like a premium laptop and means business. The lid is easy to open with just one hand, and the metal finish provides a solid feel. Compared to the 16-inch version of the Galaxy Book 5 Pro, the 14-inch is way easier for portability and on-the-go tasks. While reviewing the laptop, I had the opportunity to use it while on the move in the Delhi metro, and it was easy to handle during the commute.

The hinge feels solid as well and doesn’t wobble while typing. Overall, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro (non-360-degree) model has been designed with work professionals in mind, and it doesn’t disappoint.

One of the reasons people would prefer this laptop is its display. The 14-inch 3K AMOLED display is top-notch and flagship-grade. Samsung is known for its displays, and the Galaxy Book 5 Pro doesn’t disappoint either. The display supports touch, which is an added advantage at this price point – a feature that’s missing in the entire MacBook lineup. To top it off, Samsung has added a 120Hz refresh rate, making the display on the Galaxy Book 5 Pro ideal for multimedia. It also has an anti-reflective coating, which means using it under direct sunlight will be smooth. The panel is bright, the text appears sharp, and colours pop – making the Galaxy Book 5 Pro an ideal choice for binge-watching or browsing the internet for your work assignments. The bezels around the display, though, are still same as Galaxy Book 4 Pro. 

At 11.6mm, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro is slim

Long story short, if you’re in the market for a laptop that offers a solid design and uncompromising display quality, then look no further than the Galaxy Book 5 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro Keyboard, Touchpad, speakers, and webcam

• Keyboard – Full-size with numeric key (Backlit keyboard)
• Touchpad – Clickpad
• Speakers – Quad Speakers (woofer max 5 Wx2 and tweeter 3.3Wx2) with Dolby Atmos
• Webcam – 2-megapixel (1080p FHD) camera, Internal dual array digital mic

Moving on to the keyboard experience, the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro features a full-size keyboard on the 14-inch model. The 16-inch model, on the other hand, offers a number pad to the right of the keyboard, thanks to the additional real estate. It provides a white backlight that can be adjusted and even turned off. For typing, the keyboard feels nice thanks to good key travel, although it isn’t as good as some of the thicker models available on the market. For example, Lenovo’s ThinkPad models pack a better keyboard.

The trackpad area is huge, and there’s enough area to rest your palm while typing. The trackpad is nice, offering quick action and not getting in the way of typing – extra brownie points for this.

The 14-inch model gets an AMOLED 3K display with a 120Hz refresh rate

Samsung says that the Galaxy Book 5 Pro features a quad-speaker setup, which is sufficient for streaming or watching videos on YouTube in a medium-sized room. It also features Dolby Atmos, which is reassuring. However, due to the laptop’s slim profile, the audio output lacks bass, although it is loud, and I had no issues with clarity. I guess manufacturers have to compromise on some aspects in order to keep devices slim.

Talking about the webcam, the 2-megapixel camera is decent for work calls, and you also get additional tools from Samsung to enhance the quality. I wish Samsung offered a physical shutter to disable the webcam – it could have been a neat addition for privacy. It is one of the best webcams available in this price bracket and is significantly better than what Macs offer at the same price.

The microphone on the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro is great for meetings and can handle ambient noise in the background.

The laptop is available in a single Grey colour option in India

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro Performance: Matches everyday needs

• Processor – Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor (Series 2)
• RAM and storage – 16GB RAM and 512GB
• Supports Copilot (Dedicated key)
• Graphic – Intel Arc 140V GPU (8GB)
• Ports – 1xHDMI 2.1, 2xThunderbolt 4, 1xUSB3.2, MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader, and 1xHeadphone out/Mic-in Combo

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro is an ideal everyday companion, meaning it can withstand all that you throw at it related to your workflows, whether it’s multitasking, multiple tabs in the browser, a bit of Photoshop editing, or more such tasks. The Intel Core Ultra Series 2 (Lunar Lake) processors are renowned for their task mastery for these purposes.

The laptop gets a Copilot+PC experience

However, the moment you try graphic-intensive AAA titles, you see the Galaxy Book 5 Pro stuttering and struggling to catch its breath. This one is not strictly made for gaming purposes. The laptop can handle light games, but the moment you try loading AAA titles onto it, you will see how quickly the laptop gets warm, and even the fan noise becomes audible.

I tested the Galaxy Book Pro using our suite of synthetic benchmarks, and here’s how it performed.

Apart from regular tasks, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro also excels in functions that you can continue from your Galaxy smartphone. Yes, the seamless connection enhances the overall workflow when in the same ecosystem. Features like Multi Control, which enables drag-and-drop functionality across your Galaxy smartphone and laptop, Quick Share, AI Select, and File and Call Syncing make the Book 5 Pro a true everyday companion. Most of the AI features are gimmicky and won’t be something you will use often. The AI Select is a Circle to Search-inspired feature for your laptop, enabling search with a single click. Photo Remaster, on the other hand, uses AI to enhance images when enabled.

If you’re already using a high-end Samsung Galaxy device, it’s much better to opt for the Book 5 Pro, as it offers numerous continuity features on the laptop. The Samsung Settings app on the Book 5 Pro will remind you of the One UI Settings screen on your Galaxy phone. Familiar toggles and options make it great for everyday use. If you don’t have a Galaxy smartphone, then you will miss out on most of these features. In that case, you can only use features like Phone Link, which allows you to mirror your screen and receive notifications from your phone. The battery setting in the Samsung Settings screen enables battery protection and allows you to set the charging stop at 80%. You can also choose modes on the same settings page, including High Performance, Optimised, Quiet, and Silent.

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro comes with a decent number of connectivity ports, so you shouldn’t feel a lack of them. The fingerprint scanner on the power button is quick, and it is one of the most reliable biometrics we have used on a laptop in a long time.

The laptop gets a quad speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support

Overall, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro is an ideal work machine for all your professional needs, and you can bet on it.

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro Battery: Decent, at most

• Capacity – 63.1Wh (Li-ion)
• Charger – Fast charging adapter (included in the box)

The 14-inch model packs a 63.1Wh battery that lasts 6-8 hours at max. It’s good enough to get you through your entire work shift, and that’s not bad. However, when compared to the Mac with Apple silicon then, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro lags behind.

However, the addition of a fast-charging adapter means that the Galaxy Book 5 Pro can charge from 0 to 60% in under 60 minutes, which is impressive. In multiple charging tests I conducted, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro managed to charge up to 35% in less than 30 minutes. The Galaxy Book 5 Pro takes approximately 80-90 minutes to fully charge, according to my internal tests. A bonus is that the charging adapter is lightweight and not a hefty brick, which is usually the case with laptops in this price bracket.

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro gets a full-size keyboard

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro Review: Verdict

The Galaxy Book 5 Pro is a great work laptop for all your professional needs. It is even an excellent pick for students working on assignments related to their studies. The laptop offers a great combination of a solid build and an impressive display, while the Intel Lunar Lake processor will not let you down in everyday tasks.

However, if you’re into gaming, then look elsewhere, as the Galaxy Book 5 Pro has its limitations, and gaming is its biggest Achilles’ heel. It is currently retailing at as low as Rs. 126,990, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro is an excellent Windows 11 machine for those looking for Mac alternatives. It ticks all the right boxes and emerges as a laptop designed for users who are always on the go. The battery life isn’t the Galaxy Book 5 Pro’s biggest strength, but it’s not a deal breaker in any way.

For those already in the Galaxy ecosystem, the addition of the Galaxy Book 5 Pro will be a bonus, and you will love the continuity features. For alternatives, you can consider the 15-inch MacBook Air, available at Rs. 124,900, or the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i, available at Rs. 125,000 running Windows 11.

Asus is one of the few players that have continuously tried to bring about change in the PC industry. With the All-in-One PC or AiO lineup, the company is trying to eye the home or office space. The brand has been consistently launching AiO in the market for a while now, which comes loaded with a set of premium features and decent performance. Banking on this success, the company recently introduced the ASUS V400 series of AiO PCs to the market. I was fortunate enough to use the ASUS V470VA model for a while now to understand if it still makes sense to buy an AiO at a time when sleek and premium laptops are taking over homes. So, here’s what you need to know.

Asus V470VA All-in-One PC Design: Sturdy and Colourful

• Dimension – 210 x 447 x 613mm
• Weight – 9.0kg
• Colours – White

The Asus V470VA surely looks modern and minimal. The moment you take the device out of the packaging, you will notice its elegant appearance. And setting it up is also not a hassle. You just need to screw the base plate to the AiO, although, due to its size, you might need some extra hands. Once done, plug in the adapter, place it on a table, attach the bundled wireless keyboard and mouse, and voilà, you’re good to go.

The Asus V470VA is available in White colour option.

That said, the chassis feels premium compared to its predecessors. The AiO is also sleeker compared to the previous models, which makes it look more modern. The AiO features rounded corners and a sleek profile, making it easy to place comfortably in a home office or even in your living room.

The hinge also appears sturdy, and you can tilt the screen as you prefer, which is a welcome feature. Interestingly, this AiO also comes with an IR-based retractable webcam, which is neatly tucked inside the chassis. This also allows a physical level of privacy. The rear panel of the device is equally refined. The ports are located at the bottom of the rear panel, making them easily accessible. And more importantly, you can easily manage the cables through the metal-finish stand.

That said, the AiO is not the lightest all-in-one available on the market, but moving it from one place to another is not a daunting task.

The Asus V470VA comes with a plethora of connectivity ports.

Coming to the ports, the Asus V470VA offers a plethora of port selections. You get a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, a LAN port, a DC-in port, an HDMI-in port, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and one HDMI-out port. There are also some ports at the bottom of the right side, including a USB 2.0 Type-A port, a 3.5mm audio jack, an HDMI mode button, and a Kensington lock slot.

There are plenty of ports on this, and I really liked the fact that the company has included both HDMI-in and HDMI-out ports, meaning you can easily connect any external device, such as your PlayStation, to this AiO and use it as a monitor. At the same time, the HDMI-in makes it easier to use the screen as an external monitor.

Asus V470VA All-in-One PC Display: Big Screen Experience Makes it Worth

• Display – 27-inch IPS LCD
• Resolution – Full HD (1080×1920 pixels)
• Refresh Rate – 100Hz

One of the major highlights of this AiO is the display. The 27-inch IPS panel is likely to be one of the best I’ve used in this price segment for a while now. The display features an impressive 93 per cent screen-to-body ratio and offers 178-degree viewing angles. The thin bezels give an edge-to-edge feel, which is a good thing. More importantly, the company has added an anti-glare coating, which makes it easier to use even if the light source is just behind you.

The Asus V470VA features a 27-inch Full HD IPS display that offers 100Hz screen refresh rate.

The large display delivers good colour reproduction. The company claims that the display comes with 100 percent sRGB and 72 percent NTSC coverage, which further enhances colour reproduction. The colours appear to be natural, and the dynamic is decent as well, though not as great as an OLED panel.

You will not get those inky blacks, which are particularly noticeable when you are watching dimly lit scenes in a movie or series. That said, Asus offers two different modes, Splendid and Vivid, which provide some degree of control over saturation and contrast. That said, the 100Hz refresh rate surely makes the animations and scrolling much smoother. However, it is still advisable to keep it at a distance so that you don’t strain your eyes.

Asus V470VA All-in-One PC Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, and Webcam

• Keyboard – Full-sized wireless keyboard
• Webcam – 1080p IR camera
• Speakers – 5W x 2 with Dolby Atmos

Asus provides a wireless keyboard and mouse with the V470VA, both colour-matched to the unit. The keyboard features a full-sized layout, including a numeric keypad. That said, I was pretty disappointed with the keyboard and mouse combination, to be honest. Typing on the keyboard was a poor experience.

The Asus V470VA comes with a wireless keyboard and optical mouse.

First of all, the key travel feels a bit off, and the whole typing experience was not the smoothest, to be honest. It would be better if you purchased a better keyboard for your daily usage. The same can be said for the mouse as well. The optical mouse is basic and feels somewhat cheap when held.

Speaker quality is where the V470VA pleasantly surprises. The AiO comes with two 5W speakers that Dolby Atmos power. The speakers provide a louder output than the previous models and easily outperform the tinny audio you might expect from an all-in-one form factor. The sound was decent enough (even at high volumes ) to fill a medium-sized room easily.

The retractable 1080p IR webcam, which features Windows Hello support, is also a notable highlight. AI enhancements such as motion tracking and lighting correction help users maintain a professional appearance during video calls. That said, the webcam’s quality in low-light environments wasn’t that outstanding during my testing.

Asus V470VA All-in-One PC Software: Does It Job

• Operating System – Windows 11 Home
• Other Features – AI Camera, AI Noise Cancellation

The Asus V470VA runs on the Windows 11 operating system. Since an older chipset powers it, this machine is not a CoPilot+ PC. However, there are also some useful AI features. To start, the device features AI-powered noise-cancelling technology to enhance the audio experience. A significant bonus is the inclusion of Microsoft Office Home 2024 (lifetime license) and one year of Microsoft 365 Basic, which is a good addition.

Asus V470VA All-in-One PC Performance: Reliable for Daily Usage

• Chipset – 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H Processor
• RAM – 16GB LPDDR5
• ROM – 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD

The Asus V470VA is powered by an older 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor that offers 10 cores and a clock speed of up to 4.90GHz. The chipset is equipped with Intel UHD Graphics. Moreover, this device offers up to 16GB of DDR5 and up to 1TB of NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, both of which are expandable. However, it is advisable to get it expanded from a service centre to ensure its smooth operation.

That said, the performance of AiO is decent for daily usage. Whether be it streaming, scrolling, or using multiple Chrome tabs, the device glides effortlessly through these tasks. This is also reflected in the synthetic benchmarks, which are as follows:

The lack of a discrete GPU means that it cannot do heavy 3D rendering or gaming. The Intel UHD Graphics is sufficient for lightweight editing, but it fall short for demanding creative applications. So, if you’re someone who wants a big-screen experience and doesn’t heavily multitask or use it for creative purposes, then you can still consider this one.

Asus V470VA All-in-One PC Verdict

The Asus V470VA is a decent AIO for this price segment.

To conclude, the Asus V470VA is a refined all-in-one (AiO) from the brand that fills many gaps in the previous generation of models. The device is lighter and looks more modern compared to the older models. The ample ports also ensure that you can plug and play almost everything on this device. Moreover, with HDMI in and out ports, you can even use it to connect external devices or use it just as an external monitor.

The display looks good and offers natural colours, while the performance is decent enough to handle most daily tasks, except for gaming workloads. That said, the keyboard and mouse combo is a letdown, and the camera may feel lacking on such a large screen. Still, for its price, the all-in-one PC offers a good value-for-money proposition.

Asus V470VA
Price: Rs. 50,990 (starting); Rs. 87,990 (as reviewed)

Pros

• Sturdy and premium design
• Bright display 
• Snappy performance 
• Good range of ports

Cons

• The keyboard and mouse combo could be better 
• Webcam could be better

Ratings (out of 5)
Design: 4
Display: 4
Performance: 4
Software: 4
Value for Money: 4
Overall: 4

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