Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 Review: A Stylish 2-in-1 with Portability Pitfalls

It is quite astonishing that Samsung has waited this long to introduce laptops in India. The company is well-respected and boasts an extensive network of retail locations and service centers. Alongside its successful smartphone and home appliance divisions, Samsung ranks among the leading global names for monitors and solid-state drives. Additionally, it provides components to several of the world’s largest brands. We’ve glimpsed Samsung laptops at global trade shows, and now the initial models have finally arrived in India. Currently, the selection is limited, but the company assures us that more models and variations are forthcoming, ranging from basic to gaming options.

At this moment, I have a high-end ultraportable 2-in-1 unit to evaluate, the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360. It comes in both 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch versions, weighing only 1.04kg and 1.41kg respectively. There’s also a traditional clamshell model, the Galaxy Book 2 Pro, which starts at a mere 870g, catering to those who prefer a non-2-in-1 option. It will be interesting to observe how Samsung differentiates itself in a market with various established and emerging brands, so continue reading.

You can use the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 in «stand» mode, with the screen turned around for easier access

 

Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 (13.3-inch) pricing in India

Samsung has multiple options available on its official site. There’s a single configuration for the 15.6-inch model priced at Rs. 1,29,990 featuring an Intel Core i7 processor, available only in Graphite. The 13.3-inch variants can be obtained solely in Silver, with choices between a Core i7 processor for Rs. 1,20,990 and a Core i5 for Rs. 1,15,990.

The Galaxy Book 2 Pro is available in the same two sizes, but currently, there’s just one choice for the 15.6-inch model. The 13.3-inch units are priced at Rs. 1,06,990 for the Core i5 processor and Rs. 1,14,990 for the Core i7 variant, both in Silver.

During its global unveiling, Samsung noted that both sizes of the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 would be available with either CPU option and in Silver and Graphite, plus an additional Burgundy choice for the smaller variant, which might be available later. With each purchase, you can get a pair of Galaxy Buds 2 true wireless earphones for Rs. 999 and if you bank with certain institutions, a cashback of Rs. 5,000 is offered.

The keyboard layout is straightforward, and the trackpad is generously sized

 

Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 (13.3-inch) design

Generally, 2-in-1 devices can be somewhat cumbersome when folded into tablet format, yet the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 is surprisingly thin and lightweight, making it practical for tablet use. With a weight of merely 1.04kg and a thickness of just 11.5mm (when closed), it competes well with the latest MacBook Air (Review), being noticeably lighter. This device slides easily into a bag or backpack, allowing me to carry it effortlessly throughout the day. The Intel Evo badge signifies that Samsung has successfully passed Intel’s qualification process to meet specific performance and portability standards.

The build quality is impressive as well. The all-metal chassis feels robust, and the hinges are both stiff and smooth. The lid can be flipped open with a single motion, requiring only one finger to lift it. Unlike many ultraportable laptops, you don’t need to press down on the base to raise the lid, although the strong magnets keeping it closed require some effort to open.

The rear of the keyboard section descends where it meets the hinges, while the monitor’s lower edge curves forward to rest flat against it when closed. However, this design results in a pronounced edge when the device is flipped to tablet mode, which can be uncomfortable to hold as it digs into the palm slightly. Additionally, this edge features a large exhaust vent – more on that later.

The thin chassis allows only for Thunderbolt and USB Type-C ports, but the inclusion of a microSD slot and 3.5mm jack is beneficial

 

Samsung has opted for a completely understated matte brushed metal finish for the lid, complemented by a relatively small off-center brand logo, imparting a premium feel to the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360. After a week or two of regular use, the lid did show some smudges, but these can be easily wiped clean with a damp cloth. Two dots on the narrow edge of the lid are stereo microphones.

The 13.3-inch touchscreen has a somewhat thick black chin, and Samsung could have opted for a 16:10 display instead of 16:9 to utilize this area more efficiently. The top and side bezels are fairly slim, providing room for a webcam nestled at the top. While the device is too thin for most connectivity options, it contains one Thunderbolt and one USB Type-C port on the left, along with a charging status LED and another Type-C port on the right, in addition to a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The keyboard layout follows a typical design. The arrow keys are consolidated into a single row, yet they are adequately wide and spaced apart. The power button situated in the upper right corner incorporates a fingerprint sensor. This positioning is a bit unusual since most 2-in-1s place their power buttons on the side for easy access in tablet mode and to avoid accidental presses in stand mode. The keyboard gets disabled when the hinge is pushed beyond 180 degrees, including the power button and fingerprint sensor.

A stylus pen is included in the box, but there’s no mechanism to attach it to the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, making it necessary to keep it separately and avoid forgetting it. Additionally, it comes with a 65W wall charger and a fairly long USB Type-C cable. Unfortunately, the charger is rather wide, which hindered adjacent sockets on my power strip.

The Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 is surprisingly lightweight and slim but maintains a solid feel

 

Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 (13.3-inch) specifications and software

You have the option of choosing between Intel Core i5-1240P and Core i7-1260P processors, both of which are 12^th Gen processors based on Intel’s ‘Alder Lake’ architecture. The P-series targets high-end thin-and-light laptops, aligning perfectly with the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360’s focus. This is a part of a new naming convention that signifies a target TDP of 28W (which can be configured by laptop manufacturers). Notably, both Core i5 and Core i7 options share the same core configuration – four «performance» cores with Hyper-Threading and eight «efficient» cores. The Core i7 in my review unit operates at a higher speed of up to 4.7GHz and comes with an expanded cache and a stronger integrated Intel Xe GPU with greater execution units, making it faster than its Core i5 counterpart.

Samsung provides 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD as a standard across both variants. Being soldered, the LPDDR5 RAM cannot be upgraded, but the SSD appears to be a standard M.2 module (manufactured by Samsung, of course). The battery capacity is 63Wh. Additionally, it features Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6E. The webcam has a resolution of 1080p.

The 13.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen boasts a standard resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. While Samsung’s specifications don’t mention HDR compatibility, Windows 11 offers settings to enable it for video playback and enhance gaming experiences. I managed flawless HDR video playback on YouTube, although other streaming services might have different compatibility needs. Audio-wise, the device features stereo speakers supporting Dolby Atmos.

The Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 (13.3-inch) comes pre-installed with Windows 11 and a considerable amount of software. Firstly, you receive a complete Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 license. There’s also a trial of McAfee Live Safe, which persistently bombarded me with annoying ads encouraging a subscription. Clip Studio, an app for sketching with a stylus, is also included on a trial basis. Other pre-installed applications include Facebook Messenger, Spotify, Prime Video, Instagram, Google Duo (as a pinned link), among others.

The primary issue lies in the multitude of Samsung-developed applications and features cluttering the system. Many run in the background and several appear unnecessary or duplicate Windows functions. My device had over 20 Samsung applications, including Bixby, Notes, Gallery, Flow, Studio Plus, Air Command, Galaxy Book Experience, Smart Switch, S Service, PenUp, Private Share, Quick Share, Quick Search, File Tracker, SmartThings, and Second Screen.

While I didn’t delve into each app’s functionality, I had to interact with some – for instance, after initial setup, Samsung Update suggested a few driver updates that Windows Update did not provide. Some apps aim to deliver features common in mobile applications, while others integrate with Samsung’s other hardware, including tablets and smartphones, resembling an Apple-like ecosystem. I see the potential for Second Screen and Quick Share, but I wish the user experience were more cohesive rather than fragmented.

The inside of the lid has a slightly thicker portion at the bottom, noticeable when you grip the device by its edge in tablet mode

 

Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 (13.3-inch) performance

The Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 represents one of the most compact laptop designs available today without significantly compromising on performance or features. This indeed catches attention – just lifting it displays how convenient it will be for daily transport, in contrast to any standard laptop from recent years. The keyboard and trackpad offer satisfactory comfort. While I wasn’t particularly impressed with the webcam quality, it suffices for work-related video conferencing.

However, a notable usability concern surfaced after only a few minutes of casual usage. Even when idle, the middle of the Fn key row and the metal area above the keyboard became notably warm. Routine tasks, such as browsing Windows Explorer or transferring files from an external SSD, caused the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 to heat up considerably. Working on my lap became uncomfortable compared to using a MacBook Air, for instance. Under significant load, even when charging, some areas of the laptop became too hot to touch for more than a short duration.

As mentioned earlier, the exhaust vent’s positioning causes hot air to blow directly onto your palm if you hold this device by the longer edge while in tablet orientation. The warmer areas around the keyboard end up resting against your body when folded. It became somewhat challenging to use the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 while lying down or at ease; it’s best used on a flat surface in either laptop or stand mode (with the keyboard as a base).

Consequently, despite its remarkable portability, it’s not the most convenient device to use while on the move, and it falls short compared to a tablet regarding usability. Nevertheless, it is a relief not to carry around extra weight, allowing you to have it at hand in situations where a laptop might not typically be practical, although there are still some boundaries to its applicability.

On the other hand, performance is responsive and sufficiently powerful for everyday tasks along with some casual entertainment. Today’s PC users often need to multitask extensively, engage in video calls, and spend considerable time online. My experience with the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 confirmed its capability to handle all these demands quite effectively.

The Galaxy Book Pro 2 360 exhibits a simple yet elegant metal design

 

The AMOLED touchscreen provides adequate clarity without excessive reflection, showcasing vibrant colors and offering wide viewing angles. Videos displayed impressively, and manual HDR activation allowed me to enjoy HDR content too. Unfortunately, the audio from the stereo speakers is somewhat thin and can sound harsh when playing music, although dialogue remains clear.

Windows has a default UI scaling set to 150 percent, which is effective if you intend to utilize it as a tablet, but I preferred a more condensed 125 percent for better content density. Touching the screen causes it to wobble slightly, which is typical for thin laptops. Although there are ergonomic challenges, the device remains responsive and user-friendly in tablet mode. The stylus provided is not active, thus doesn’t require pairing or charging. It serves well for making notes and doodling, but professionals may desire something more precise. I also found the narrow screen borders could inadvertently trigger Windows 11’s edge gestures.

Regarding performance benchmarks, the results were fairly impressive across the board. PCMark 10 yielded scores of 4,487 and 4,176 in standard and extended tests, respectively. Cinebench R20 recorded 527 points for single-core performance and 2,500 points for multi-core execution, which is noteworthy given the device’s dual-core nature. POV-Ray’s integrated render benchmark completed in 1 minute, 58 seconds.

The included NVMe SSD performed admirably, with CrystalDiskMark revealing random read speeds of 856.4MBps and random writes of 1,075.2MBps. Compressing a 3.24GB folder of various files with 7zip took 2 minutes and 8 seconds, and transcoding a 1.3GB AVI file to H.265 was completed in 1 minute and 58 seconds.

However, playing demanding 3D games is not advisable. The Unigine Superposition benchmark averaged 40.61fps but could only achieve that at the 720p Low preset. Shadow of the Tomb Raider, despite its modest demands, resulted in an average of only 20fps at 1080p on the lowest quality setting, improving to 26fps at 1280×720 resolution during its built-in benchmark. Similarly, Middle Earth: Shadow of War reached an average of 37fps using its Low preset at 1280×720. Casual gaming is feasible, however.

Notably, the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, despite being a slim and lightweight 2-in-1, performed exceptionally well in terms of battery life. I navigated through an entire workday filled with extensive web surfing, online app usage, some video streaming, and various tests, with about 20 percent battery remaining. Samsung has integrated its own power-saving features, and you can toggle between High Performance, Silent, Quiet, and Optimized modes using a keyboard shortcut. The rigorous Battery Eater Pro test lasted an impressive 3 hours and 11 minutes before depleting the battery completely. Using the included charger, the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 charged from zero to 42 percent in 30 minutes and reached 83 percent in an hour, provided it was not in use during charging.

The vent blows hot air backward in laptop mode but can complicate holding the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 in tablet mode

 

Final Thoughts

While Samsung is new to the Indian laptop scene, it is certainly no stranger to the realm of premium devices. The design of the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 is exceedingly commendable, exuding a modern, sleek, and futuristic vibe, and I was continuously surprised by its lightweight feel during the review period. Its specifications fulfill numerous requirements, and the 2-in-1 capability is a welcome addition, even for those who may not specifically seek it.

Performance is impressive for an ultraportable, and the battery life deserves special commendation, yet several minor issues and one significant concern – overheating – hinder actual usability. I encountered difficulties when using the laptop on the go, as it became too hot to operate comfortably on my lap. Frequent breaks were necessary when typing. When relaxing and using it as a tablet, I had to hold it in specific ways and limit myself to simple tasks.

Even considering its lightweight nature, this 2-in-1 cannot rival the sheer convenience of a tablet. For those weighing the options between the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 and its non-2-in-1 counterpart, the Galaxy Book 2 Pro, it’s crucial to reflect on how and when you intend to use your device, as the latter model is slightly lighter and more affordable.

I am pleased that Samsung has finally entered the laptop market in India, but I hope to see more mainstream options at accessible price points in the future. It’s also possible that the 15.6-inch version of the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 may provide better airflow and more effective cooling solutions. If you are in search of a high-end ultraportable 2-in-1 and are intrigued by the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 or wish to have a device closely integrated with your Samsung phone, I encourage you to experience it firsthand at an authorized retail location to see if it meets your expectations.