That, along with its solid-state drive, means you’ll have no problem with web browsing or … Despite being a lower-tier model, the Plus retains its QHD display and other specs. One other unfortunate side effect of the boxy proportions it it ends up making for a cramped keyboard. It was only a matter of time before we would see a laptop finally utilize the convergence of Chrome OS and Android to its full potential. The consumer Chromebook onslaught starts with Samsung’s Chromebook Plus and Pro, which are on paper the most well-rounded Chrome OS devices ever. Without the numerous multi-touch gestures seen on macOS Sierra and Windows 10, you’ll only be moving around the cursor and clicking on things anyway. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. Bright screen. Again, a proper review with a video is being worked on and will likely be a bit different than standard reviews… Regardless, it’s a solid hybrid that brings us one step closer to the perfect marriage between Chrome OS and Android. That feels a bit like a throwback to older laptops of the prewidescreen era, but it also gives you more screen real estate for some things like books or presentations, and feels more like a drawing tablet when using the included stylus. Adding support for the Google Play app store means this Chromebook can access a wide range of software. It's too sensitive to the slightest movement, especially when you have the system folded into its tablet mode, leading to some jarring visuals as the screen shifts orientation back and forth rapidly. Lenovo fine-tuned its formula for the Yoga C930, adding a trio of useful features that... Want a laptop that stands out in a coffee shop, conference room or airport lounge? CPU: 0.99Ghz Intel Core m3-6Y30 (dual core, 4MB cache, up to 2.2GHz) The Pro is coming in the next few months, but a less expensive version, called the Chromebook Plus, is shipping in mid-February. Russia accused in massive hack of US: What you need to know, US blacklists DJI and dozens of other Chinese companies, The iPhone 12 is great, but not because of 5G: Our speed test results, Discuss: Samsung Chromebook Pro review: The Chromebook for the Chromebook skeptic, Windows laptops and tablets in that price range (or lower). Android app compatibility. Samsung aims to change that perception with the Chromebook Plus ($449), arriving February 2017, and the Samsung Chromebook Pro ($549), arriving April 2017. Weight: 2.38 pounds (1.08kg) Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. We love the look of our silver unit and it only looks even more “pro”-fessional (if you will) with a darker paint job. While this review will focus on the Samsung Chromebook Pro, there is also the Chromebook Plus that is aesthetically and functionally identical. Here are some of the best Netflix has to offer. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Great gifts you can still get in time for Christmas, 6 streaming services you can give as gifts (including Disney Plus), Get it there by Christmas: 2020 holiday shipping deadlines, The Chromebook for the Chromebook skeptic. Running too many apps and browser windows at once eats up the RAM quickly, leading to slowdown. Finally, the accelerometer that flips the screen between portrait and landscape modes feels poorly tuned. © 2020 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Here are some of the best movies Netflix has to offer. Diving into the Play Store opens up a world of possibilities. Two-finger scrolling worked fine, but to tap-and-drag as one would on a Windows laptop, you have to find a semihidden checkbox to enable this feature. Granted, that still makes it far more digestible than the aforementioned Pixelbook, which starts at $999 (£999, about AU$1,295), albeit with noticeably upsized specs. CNET may get a commission from these offers. Samsung also went with … The Samsung Chromebook Pro will make a believer out of many Chromebook skeptics by offering great value, features and performance for a budget-priced laptop. But don’t mistake its lightweight nature for a flimsy laptop. Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! We’ve determined this mainly on the principle that, in an attempt to appease both appease laptop owners and entice fans of  tablets, Samsung has accomplished neither without foibles. The all-aluminum build of this Chromebook makes it sturdy and flex free. One key difference of our pre-production review unit, is the retail-ready model’s exterior should actually be jet black. Unlike many of Samsung’s other laptops, the Pro features a 3:2 display that you would more regularly see on tablets. To this end, it comes equipped with gyroscopes and accelerometers we used to great effect to drive through courses in Asphalt 8. The Bottom Line The Samsung Chromebook Pro will make a believer out of many Chromebook skeptics by offering great value, features and performance for a budget-priced laptop. Todd used it between January 26 and February 9, … Our review configuration comes priced at $549 (about £440, AU$720), which is a smidgen more expensive than the $499 or £599 (about AU$650) Asus Chromebook C302 that earned our Editor’s Choice award. Chromebooks run Chrom… There's a passive stylus included, which tucks into a slot on the right edge -- both big pluses. All that predictive software comes baked into the Chromebook Pro, so don’t worry about Google logging your strokes or needing an Internet connection for a smooth writing or drawing experience. Chromebooks don’t run Windows or Mac Os and none of the software designed for these platforms (at least for now, but that might change with Campfire in the near future). The touchpad was similarly just OK, and one of the more budget-feeling aspects of the system. The sleek metal body of the Samsung Chromebook Pro is as comfortable to carry as a tablet and easy to fit in your bag while you’re on the go. Two USB-C ports. If you're looking for a solid all-around laptop for roughly $500, the new Samsung Chromebook Pro should at or near the very top of your candidate list. And both have a keyboard by default -- something you have to pay extra for with iPads or Surface Pro tablets. Not sure what to watch on Amazon tonight? Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, What’s more, you can save everything you pen to Google Keep, which then can scan your handwriting to create a searchable index. Here's how to play it in Dolby Atmos for free, iPhone 13 tipped to be launching in September 2021 as normal. With a device as thin as this, though, we couldn’t ask for much more key travel than this. … Review: Samsung Chromebook Pro vs Plus v2 Among the top Chromebook manufacturing companies, Samsung is one with a high reputation for high-quality devices it produces. Visit our corporate site. And you'd be right about some or all of that -- if it wasn't 2017. Apple AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700: how do they compare. Storage: 32GB eMMC Key travel is disappointingly thin at about one millimeter at best, but they at least offer a bit of resistance and spring back up immediately. Comes with Samsung Pen stylus. It’s clear Samsung’s design for the Chromebook Pro centers around portability. The … The Samsung Chromebook Pro skews a little too heavily towards being an Android tablet. While it’s lighter than the HP Chromebook 13, it can’t win the thinnest award with an 0.55-inch high frame that’s just five-hundredths of an inch thicker. So you can play a game, chat with your friends comfortably, or watch a … Current page: It’s an uncomfortable typing environment, but one you can get used to after several days with the Chromebook. Size: 11.06 x 8.72 x 0.51-0.55 inches (28 x 22.2 x 1.3-1.4cm; W x D x H). It goes without saying that the Samsung Chromebook Pro is that notebook, and its charm is only partly the result of its multifaceted set of features. Disclosure: Samsung and Google provided us with a pre-production review unit of the Samsung Chromebook Pro. Bluetooth 4.0, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n The metal body isn't going to make anyone think this is a MacBook, but it still feels sturdier than the plastic laptops that usually cost just as much. Connectivity: 802.11ac 2 x 2 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 As with most app ecosystems, curation is an issue, but some of the low-hanging fruit is very appealing. Camera: 720p HD webcam Yes, Chrome OS -- while significantly evolved over the past few years -- is still essentially the Chrome web browser with a laptop wrapped around it. It's $100 cheaper, has a silver finish instead of … Weighing in at a scant 2.38 pounds (1.08kg), this all-metal Chromebook is the lightest device in its class and a featherweight compared to most laptops we’ve ever used. Samsung fine-tuned the friction between the glass and pen to make it feel like writing on paper. That, plus the touchscreen, hybrid and stylus features and decent performance and battery life are why the Chromebook Pro feels like a very smart buy at $549, which is admittedly on the high end for a Chromebook. The Samsung Chromebook Pro in its final production color The all-aluminum build of this Chromebook makes it sturdy and flex free. For those that don’t need the all the processing power of an Intel Core m3 processor, the OB1 ARM chip-powered Samsung Chromebook Plus is also available for $449 (about £360, AU$590). Meanwhile, the HP Chromebook 13, the previous frontrunner when it comes to cost, can be found for $599 or £729 (about AU$800). The trackpad is as serviceable as they come, with a plastic feel and accurate tracking. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Samsung calls the Chromebook Pro a new class of device designed with the Play Store in mind. Despite the hybrid design, this is still a laptop first and a tablet second. Introduction, value and design. (That's not necessarily a bad thing, but we won't have head-to-head benchmarks until we get our hands on the Plus.). The Good A very long list of features for the price, including a QHD touch display, hybrid hinge and included stylus. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. The company has a line of best models coming with superior structural as well as operative features for all user categories. Without the wide form-factor of a 16:9 screen, the keyboard has almost no room to stretch out, resulting in smaller overall keys, snipped shift keys, and – worst of all – a delete key that’s one-fourth of its normal size. The Samsung Chromebook Pro is a convertible laptop/tablet that comes with an excellent touch display and a built-in stylus, making it useful for a variety of tasks. There's no official UK or Australian pricing yet, but that works out to roughly £440 or AU$720. Searching for a great show to binge? The system, while very slim, has an oddly squared-off look to it, because the 2,400x1,600 display has a 3:2 aspect ratio, while most laptops have a wider, shorter 16:9 screen (the same as an HDTV). Here is a laptop that scores points not only for its fascinating emulation of Android apps found on the Google Play store but also for its unequivocally easy to understand design that knocks the vast majority of 2-in-1 laptops out of the water. View full Samsung Chromebook Pro specs on CNET. TV shows and movies letterbox heavily, leaving you with thick black bars above and below the picture. With its beautiful high-res … For the opposite approach, an iPad plus a snap-on keyboard would cost about as much. For example, Snapchat downloaded, installed and launched fine, but I could never get past the login screen. For starters, it measures 0.55 by 11.06 by 8.72 inches (HWD) and weighs a mere 2.3 pounds. You will receive a verification email shortly. Unfortunately, this squarer aspect ratio doesn’t jive with wide-screen video in 16:9 and 21:9 aspect ratios. Uber got me past the login screen, but I was unable to enter any location or destination info, rendering it useless. Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515 Both have 2,400x1,600-pixel touchscreens, dual USB-C ports, 32GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot. Still, during those first few days with the device, we had to backspace many accidental characters  when we meant to hit that very backspace key. RAM: 4GB LPDDR3 However, that extra 50 bucks nets you a sharper QHD 2,400 x 1,600 display, plus the built-in stylus, but half as much storage as inside the Asus Chromebook. The Samsung Chromebook Pro comes with an Intel Core m3-6Y30 CPU, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage, and it has a black aluminum chassis. Minding its pros as well as its cons relative to cost, let’s first explore your options. Despite the extra fractions of an inch, the Chromebook Pro is one incredibly thin and light device that feels like it’s almost filled with air. For a faster system, the Samsung Chromebook Pro is a better choice with its intel core processor. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, The Samsung Chromebook Pro in its final production color, Where to buy PS5: all the latest restock updates, Cyberpunk 2077 at 8K proves that Nvidia's DLSS tech is the ultimate hack, Got Cyberpunk 2077? Light weight and thin body. Having said that, the Samsung Chromebook Pro isn’t without its faults (what laptop is?). For now it appears the Samsung Chromebook Pro has only been announced in the US, but we can't imagine that it won't be be coming to UK and Australia in the near future. The Chromebook Pro's main competition comes from Samsung itself in the form of the Chromebook Plus. Looking for a great show to watch tonight? Again, the Asus Chromebook 302 is its closest competitor, meeting it at the same $449 or £499 (about AU$590) price with an Pentium processor and 32GB of storage. A very long list of features for the price, including a QHD touch display, hybrid hinge and included stylus. Not sure what to watch tonight? Moreover, the Chromebook Plus comes with a 12.3 Inch IPS display which has a … Thin, light, and sleek, the Samsung Chromebook Pro ticks off a lot of design boxes. I know what you're thinking: "But wait: Chromebooks use Google's weird browser-only operating system. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook review: Performance Strong PC speed in a Chromebook shell is the kind of proposition I love, and the Galaxy Chromebook’s … More importantly, though, this is the first Chromebook with a built-in stylus. There was a problem. Using the power of the search company’s cloud and machine learning technology, the two companies analyzed thousands of handwriting and artistic strokes to predict where the pen will go. Please refresh the page and try again. When pulled out from its home, the system presents a quick pop-up menu, offering to let you grab a section of the display for a screenshot or launch Google Keep to draw or take a note. As with Samsung’s Galaxy Note line, pulling out the stylus out of the side immediately gives you a few options to add a new note, take a screenshot or use the pen to direct an on-screen laser pointer during presentations. Big Android games, including Pokemon Go and Fire Emblem Heroes, gave me a noncompatible device error message. Samsung also went with all rounded edges and a softer metal that feels much more inviting to hold for long stretches than most hybrid notebooks. It's now easy to get the full Instagram experience on a laptop, including the ability to take and post photos. And Samsung’s latest Chromebook, the $549 Chromebook Pro launching in April, is a particularly compelling option — especially if you’d like a laptop that can work as a tablet, too. It’s an incredibly useful tool, and we’re more impressed it can actually make whole words out of our illegible chicken scratch. There is no doubt in our minds the Samsung Chromebook Pro influenced the Google Pixelbook as well, what with its touch-heavy inputs and business casual presentation. Plus, it doesn’t skimp on Chromebook features with a full-size keyboard and trackpad. Samsung Chromebook Pro Review Launched at CES 2017 during the Samsung press conference, the Samsung Chromebook Pro is a 12.3” thin & light laptop that introduces two “firsts” to the Chrome OS world: the ability to run Android Apps acquired via the Google … © The Bad The keyboard and touchpad both remind you this is a budget laptop, and the accelerometer is way too touchy. For writing and sketching, the stylus feels on par with everything we’ve used on Microsoft’s Surface devices – which is to say it feels extremely natural and precise. The keyboard and touchpad both remind you this is a budget laptop, and the accelerometer is way too touchy. It's finally happened. Both fit right into the normal-person laptop budget. The Bottom Line The Samsung Chromebook Pro will make a believer out of many Chromebook skeptics by offering great value, features and performance for a budget-priced laptop. In practice, it's not as universally useful as it looks on paper, but it's also incredibly satisfying in surprising ways. To find the checkbox (which took me a long time), launch the settings menu, search for "accessibility" and you'll see it. Samsung Chromebook Pro The Samsung Chromebook Pro works at the speed of life. Other stylus-friendly apps, such as ArtCanvas and Autodesk Sketchbook, offer more fine-tuned drawing options, and it feels a lot like drawing on the Microsoft Surface (where we've used the Windows version of Sketchbook). Adding support for the Google Play app store means this Chromebook can access a wide range of software. Other apps just didn't work right on a nonphone device. Screen: 12.3-inch, QHD (2,400 x 1,600) LED display Our review unit, the Samsung Chromebook Pro, was powered by an Intel Core m3-6Y30, a dual-core chip with a 900MHz base clock, 2.2GHz Turbo … The Samsung Chromebook 3 has a 1.6GHz Intel Celeron dual-core processor. However, Google and Samsung developed software that reduces latency while using the stylus. The Plus starts at $450 and is available next week, and the Pro will be $550 when it ships in March. Among its key ones are the Pro and the v2. Let's round up Amazon's best gems. But, Samsung and Google are using this new model, and its sister system, the Chromebook Plus, to showcase an important new Chrome OS feature coming to all new 2017 Chromebooks, as well as a handful of older models. These new systems are compatible with the Google Play Android app store, allowing you to download, install and run millions of Android apps, much as they would on any Android phone or tablet (with a few exceptions). Typing was acceptable, but not a real selling point, with smallish keys and especially tiny backspace and tab keys that threw off my rhythm. Running too many apps and browser windows at once eats up the RAM quickly, leading to slowdown. At $549, the Samsung Chromebook Pro is roughly half the price of the Google Pixelbook and offers nearly the same performance. Sure, there are plenty of Windows laptops and tablets in that price range (or lower), but none that I can think of offer this combination of a decent design, mostly metal construction, lag-free performance, long battery life, better-than-HD touchscreen, built-in stylus and a hybrid hinge that transforms the system into a tablet. Any location or destination info, rendering it useless Pro a new class of device with. 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