What does it take tobeat the MacBook Prothese day ? More than you might assume . After all , I ’m not talking about the measly 14 - inch M3 model . With its novel Galaxy Book4 Ultra , Samsung has its centre on the big boy – the M3 Max 16 - inch MacBook Pro .
Very few non - gaming laptop computer have seek to challenge theM3 Max MacBook Proon the graphics front , but the Galaxy Book4 Ultra , with up to an RTX 4070 and a Core Ultra 9 185H central processor , is one of them . At least , on paper .
alas , it missteps in a couple of important agency that keep it out of orbit of its rival .
Specs and pricing
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra comes in just two preconfigured models . The cheaper model be $ 2,400 and includes a Core Ultra 7 155H , RTX 4050 , 16 GB of RAM , and 1 TB of storage . The more expensive model , which I am retrospect , include a Core Ultra 9 185H , RTX 4070 , 32 GB of RAM , and a 1 TB SSD . It costs $ 3,000 , which is quite a lot for this circle of specs .
you’re able to get plenty of back laptops with like carrying into action for much less . For instance , theROG Zephyrus G16sells for $ 1,750 , and it come with an RTX 4070 , 16 GB of RAM , and 1 TB of storage . And sure , that ’s less Aries than my review unit of measurement of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra , but it ’s well over $ 1,000 less – and it even come with an OLED screen . Or there ’s theAlienware m16 R2 , which can be configure to match the Galaxy Book4 Ultra ( exterior of the OLED screenland ) for $ 750 less .
It ’s considerably loud than the Dell XPS 16 , however , which might be its most direct challenger . When those two are similarly configured , it ’s $ 550 tacky .
TheLenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16is the laptop computer that creates the biggest pricing problem for the Galaxy Book4 Ultra . Itsells for just $ 1,900 , come with the same processor , RAM , and storage , and an RTX 4060 . Despite having a purportedly “ infirm ” GPU , though , performance is surprisingly equal ( more on that later ) .
Design
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra is n’t in particular tawdry . It ’s a introductory silver laptop computer without a luck of zing . If it were n’t for the Samsung logotype on the lid , you ’d be heavily - pressed to key this from any other . You might exact Samsung is striving for a simple , MacBook - similar pattern , but it come across as a mo ho-hum .
It does have a couple of noteworthy elements , however . One of the design flourish I do like is the rounded quoin of the screen . This fits well with the vibration of Windows 11 , matching the residuum of the Galaxy Book4 lineup and the MacBook Pro . It also has a fairly thin bezel across the top of the concealment . But aside from that , this is as apparently - looking a laptop computer as you ’ll find .
The size of the laptop is an important aspect of the excogitation too . It press 4 pound and is just 0.65 inch deep , which is very lean for a laptop with this much power . It ’s quite a bit slender than theDell XPS 16and is even marginally thinner than the 16 - column inch MacBook Pro . You wo n’t find a more portable laptop computer that can also be configured with an RTX 4070 . That ’s an accomplishment all on its own .
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra also palpate well - build up . Samsung call it a “ uncompromising , yet lightweight metal frame , ” which fathom a bit right . It ’s not a single chunk of machined aluminum , but there are n’t any detectable spots of flex or impuissance in rigidity .
Display
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra show boast a 2880 x 1800 resolution with a 16 - inch screen sizing , for a pixel denseness of 212 ppi ( pixels per inch ) . That ’s not quite as pixel - impenetrable as the 16 - column inch MacBook Pro or Dell XPS 16 , but you wo n’t probably complain about the sharpness of the screen . It also has a 120Hz varying refresh rate , matching the MacBook Pro . That ’s all good clobber .
But remember — this is an OLED panel , similar to the Dell XPS 16 . This means that not only do you get unbelievable contrast , but fantastic colors as well . It has all-embracing coloring material contrast , hitting 96 % AdobeRGB and 100 % DCI - P3 , as well as fantastic color accuracy with a Delta - E of 0.74 . All of that is supremely of import for a laptop computer made for creator .
Samsung has also included an anti - reflective finishing , resolving a problem with a lot of older OLED laptop screens . You ’re not constantly gaze at your own reflection — and even limelight is n’t too trouble . A max of 376 nits of light is n’t to a fault bright , of course , but it ’s distinctive for OLED . Both IPS and mini - LED silver screen can get shining , with the MacBook Pro being the brightest laptop computer screen with the most impressive HDR effect . The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 get close , however , hitting 652 nit of SDR light and up to 1,000 of peak HDR luminance .
The MacBook Pro has the overall best screen , but the Galaxy Book4 Ultra ’s display is still impressive .
Ports
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra has a solid option of port wine . There are two USB - nose candy ports , a USB - A port , HDMI 2.1 , and a headphone jackass . That ’ll give you everything you need without having to recur to dongles .
There ’s one exception , though . It ’s overlook an SD card expansion slot , which is something the XPS 16 lacks as well . There intelligibly is n’t enough way on the side given the shape of the edge , which is based on the placement of the vents and speakers . Still , it ’s a detriment to those who oft need to transfer files immediately from a tv camera .
It does include a microSD notice slot , however , which could be useful for storage enlargement or uploading from a poke .
Keyboard and touchpad
The keyboard is one of my braggart hang - ups with the Galaxy Book4 Ultra . The key change of location feel very light , reminding me a bit of the old butterfly mechanism MacBooks . It ’s just not a very comfortable typing experience . I would n’t call it a deal killer , but it take a while to get used to .
Also important to note is the add-on of the number pad on the right . Samsung continues to be driven to admit the extra keys , despite the fact that most laptop manufacturers have moved on from including them – even on laptops of this size . I contend that the figure pad of paper has a fairly recess use suit these days , and that the downside of having to position the trackpad off - center just is n’t deserving it .
Speaking of the trackpad , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra practice a decorous one . It ’s quite big and does a good enough job , with smooth trailing and palm rejection . The click is a bit stiff and meretricious for my taste , though . I ’ve really enjoyed the move to tactual feedback trackpads .
On the security system front , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra includes both a fingerprint lector integrated into the power clit and an IR camera build into the top bezel next to the webcam for Windows Hello .
Webcam and speakers
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra come in with a 1080p webcam and a quad - speaker setup . unluckily , both are somewhat disappointing . The telecasting timbre is very grainy and full of artifacts — and that ’s even in relatively decorous kindling . It can get by for the episodic video call , but this is n’t the variety of laptop computer I ’d commend for someone who pass all day on camera .
The speakers are n’t much better . Despite the with child flesh , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra ’s speakers go pretty tinny and lacking in bass . You ’ve gravel two upward - facing speakers and two along the sides , but the reasoned visibility is passably subpar .
Next to even a 13 - inch MacBook Air ( never mind the 16 - column inch MacBook Pro ) , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra sounds pitiful .
Performance
As mentioned earlier , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra has very limited configurations . That being tell , I like how Samsung has specced these out . It removes some of the expert determination put on emptor needing to take between a Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 9 . It also helps people invalidate mistakes such as buying too little or too much memory . The $ 600 cost difference feel mediocre too .
But it ’s the RTX 4070 and Core Ultra 9 185H that I ’m most interested in . After all , there have been wad of exchangeable Samsung laptop computer in the past tense without this much GPU horsepower . That ’s the act that make this laptop particular – at least , in theory .
There ’s a couple of of import broad statements to make before become into the details . First of all , the RTX 4070 in the Galaxy Book4 Ultra is n’t as sinewy as it is in gaming laptops like the HP Omen 16 or Alienware m16 R2 or thickheaded Almighty laptop computer like the Asus ProArt Studiobook Pro . It can only deliver 80 Watt of power to the GPU , meaning this RTX 4070 wo n’t always outstrip a lower - class GPU . A great example is the RTX 4060 in the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 . Despite using a similar - sized chassis , the Yoga Pro 9i ’s artwork public presentation is often just as beneficial as that of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra — and sometimes even undecomposed .
That ’s specially dead on target when testing in the Galaxy Book4 Ultra ’s nonremittal optimize mode . The laptop can regain a lot of that difference ( around 15 % ) when you bump it back to the High Performance mode found in the Samsung options app , which makes it much more private-enterprise . Most carrying out modes in laptops only make around 5 % of difference , but Samsung has clearly held back the performance considerably in the default option Optimized mode . The result is a quieter , cool laptop , but one that is hamstrung in GPU performance in particular if you do n’t modify that setting .
The other important point to make is that the Galaxy Book4 Ultra is still behind the M3 Max MacBook Pro , even while using the Samsung ’s High Performance mode . It does n’t really matter what bench mark you compare , the M3 Max MacBook Pro is faster . Take Cinebench R24 , for example , where the M3 Max is 23 % quicker in single - Congress of Racial Equality , 46 % faster in multi - heart , and 38 % quicker in GPU .
Again , toggle on the Galaxy Book4 Ultra ’s High Performance , and both the multi - core and GPU scores increase by 15 % . That makes the equivalence closer , but the M3 Max takes the cake regardless . I like I had data on the M3 Pro form to see how it compares , as that ’ll probably end up being a faithful challenger .
With those two notes out of the way , it ’s interesting to take a look at how the Galaxy Book4 Ultra compare to a closer competitor like the Dell XPS 16 . The two machines are comparatively exchangeable in size and thickness , and both manikin we tested came with a Core Ultra 9 185H and RTX 4070 . It ’s a perfect comparison .
In general , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra ’s performance is behind the XPS 16 in the default style , but has a prominent upper range on the top end . That ’s true across semisynthetic benchmarks and also in games . In bothRed Dead Redemption 2andCyberpunk 2077 , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra can get decent frame rates , though you ’ll want to stick to 1200p resolution and utilize frame generation . But again , only with the High Performance turned on will you get frame rate remotely satisfying for this GPU .
For example , inCyberpunk 2077 in 1200p solvent at the Ultra preset ( which twist FSR 2.1 on to Auto ) , the frame rate jumps from just 49 frames per second ( fps ) up to 79 fps . liken that when test those same preferences on the XPS 16 , which begin at an average of 68 Federal Protective Service in its Balanced mode and can hit 78 fps in its execution manner .
Whether or not that ’s a smart move or makes for an overall better laptop is debatable . I have a opinion not many people will bother go to trace for the Samsung preferences app to find the High Performance toggle switch — and therefore they will never have the full performance you’re able to get out of this laptop computer . When you ’re attempt to act as a game or render a video timeline , that ’s a shame , especially render how tune down the fans are in the optimise setting .
On the other manus , if you use it smartly , the Galaxy Book4 Ultracangiveyou the best of both worlds : Quiet carrying into action for web browsing and worldwide work or all fans ablaze when you need it to speed up intense workflows . That ’s kind of ideal if you fuck how to make it work for you .
Battery life
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra has just a 76 watt - minute battery , and yet , it has surprisingly beneficial barrage spirit . It lasted 11 hours and 45 minutes in our web - browsing battery mental testing , which cycles through a series of heavy site until the battery perish .
While this is still significantly behind the 16 - inch MacBook Pro , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra still has the best battery life of any Windows laptop of this type . And by that , I intend a laptop that has a discrete GPU . Samsung ’s underperform optimise mode could be why the Galaxy Book4 Ultra endure so long , but either path , I ’m impressed . It ’s the one clear advantage it has over the XPS 16 and Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 , which both last near half as long .
Should you buy the Galaxy Book4 Ultra?
I ’m really happy the Galaxy Book4 Ultra survive . We call for more right MacBook Pro alternatives that can contend on a higher level . Now , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra ca n’t equal the M3 Max in carrying into action verbatim , but it undercut it in price . It ’s still an expensive laptop , of trend , but it still number in hundreds of dollars cheap than the 16 - inch MacBook Pro .
It ’s also cheaper than the XPS 16 . And while it ’s not as premium - look as the XPS , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra offers a more conventional blueprint at a lower price . It also squeezes in more eminent - end features than something like the cheaper MSI Prestige 16 . The Galaxy Book4 Ultra finds a square maw to fill in the mart . In a plenty of ways , it produce more sensory faculty than some of the other Galaxy Book4 laptop in the lineup , which are often overpriced .
The existence of the Yoga Pro 9i is the primary trouble with the Galaxy Book4 Ultra . It ’s just not worth that extra $ 1,000 , especially since Lenovo has the near keyboard and port selection . Unless extra shelling spirit is a high priority for you , the Galaxy Book4 Ultra is tough to advocate against some of its competitors .
