Samsung wowed everyone at the International Consumer Electronics Show 2020 (CES 2020), when it released the first Galaxy Chromebook, which is a powerful Chrome OS laptop with the best specs, stylus, and S Pen stylus. The dazzling price tag of $ 999. Chromebook finally entered the market with two defining features: an incredible 4K display and extraordinary battery life. Samsung restored priority with the Galaxy Chromebook 2. It gave up the 4K display and other features, boosting battery life throughout the day and lowering prices. Is it worth the deal? Found in Tech Markup’s Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 review.
| Laptop Configuration | USD | Euro | GBP |
| Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (Intel Celeron) | $549 | €449 | £399 |
| Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (Intel Core i3) | $699 | €599 | £499 |
Everything that you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
It’s a bit misleading to refer to the new Galaxy Chromebook 2 as a sequel to the first-gen Galaxy Chromebook. Without the iconic original 4K display, stylus, and fast Core i5 processor, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 looks more like a second try than an actual follow-up. In addition to the naming convention, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 retains the (mostly) high-end, two-in-one design, reliable specs, and the must-see color red. If you’re leaning toward conservatives on computer hardware, you can also use gray.
Two basic variants are provided, one with an Intel Celeron processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage space, and the other with an Intel Core i3 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage space. The smaller model will cost $549, while the updated model will cost $699. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 can be purchased at Best Buy and Samsung.com. It can compete with options from Google, Acer, and other companies.
Design of Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is a square machine. Like the original Galaxy Chromebook, it is not as thin, sleek, and light but still has its charm. For example, the new machine can use the super bright red option, and the aluminum cover and striking side edges can also provide a high-end look. The Samsung logo is deeply etched into the metal, making it easy to stand out. The gray model also looks very stylish, although it lacks the visual effects of the red model.
In addition to its beauty, the Chromebook 2 is a spinning convertible. It can work both in laptop mode and on the tablet. The top and bottom halves of the device are connected by two metal hinges and are strong enough to hold the Chromebook at whatever angle you set. I have complete confidence in the hinge, which is smooth and easy to operate, yet stiff and strong. The Chromebook 2 doesn’t come with a stylus, just like the original device. If you are willing to provide your own display, the display supports active digitizers.
Due to the 13-inch screen size, the Chromebook 2 is quite compact. It measures 305 x 203 x 15 mm (12 x 8 x 0.59 inches) and weighs 1.23 kg (2.71 pounds). I hope its weight is reduced a bit, but the size is good. The sharp corners are embarrassing, and if your backpack lacks padding, it will hit you on the back.
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Display and keyboard of Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
It’s not 4K OLED, but the Chromebook 2’s Full HD QLED is still impressive. This is a 13.3-inch touchscreen with an aspect ratio of 16: 9 Those users who are more interested in productivity may prefer the aspect ratio of 16:10, but lovers of media will prefer the traditional 16: 9 set. There are thin edges at the top and sides of the screen, but there are a lot of black edges at the bottom of the screen.
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How powerful is the battery?
Samsung equipped the Galaxy Chromebook 2 with a 5920 mAh 45 Wh battery. The nominal lifespan of the four-unit power supply is one full day and it can pass without a problem.
Samsung said the battery should last 13 hours. Over the five days of using the Galaxy Chromebook, I logged an average of 12.8 hours of battery life per day. It only reached the full 13 hours once and never got over it.
A modern Chromebook may require you to spend 13 hours, which is enough to get you through a day at work or school. The only downside is that it takes about two hours to charge from scratch.
How powerful is the Galaxy Chromebook 2 itself?
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook has two settings. The entry-level Intel Celeron model has 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage space, while the powerful Intel Core i3 model has 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage space. We tested the latter. Both models can use eMMC instead of SSD drives, but unless you’re copying large files, it shouldn’t be a problem.
For any Chromebook, Intel’s Core i3 chip is a reliable engine. We recently tested it on the Asus Chromebox 4 and found that it performs excellently. The same goes for the Core i3 on Samsung’s Chromebook. Throughout the entire process, it provides excellent daily performance. I’m particularly pleased with how quickly the Android app opens and runs. The performance of the Chrome browser is very good.
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When running some benchmarks, the Chromebook scored very high. It encompasses the Acer Chromebook 513 with Qualcomm 7c technology and is comparable to the Core i3-compatible Asus Chromebox 4.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 can be said to have enough features to meet daily computing needs. Of course, this only applies to the Intel version we tested. The smaller version of the Celeron, which has reduced RAM, may only be suitable for light browsing and higher productivity.
Additional Features
Ports: The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 has just two USB-C ports, one on each side of the laptop. It also has a microSD memory card slot and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack. I wish there is at least one USB-A port available.
Speakers: This unit has two speakers that emit downward and emit very loud sounds. Chromebook 2 sounds best when placed on a hard surface, such as a table or desk. I’m concerned that putting them on a soft surface (like a sofa or bed) will ruin the sound, but no matter how you use the device, you can get enough sound through the keyboard.
Camera: Chromebook 2 is equipped with a 720p webcam. I hope to see Full HD at this price. In other words, even in low light, the camera can perform well.
Chrome OS: Chrome OS is an enhanced platform that runs fast on this computer. Samsung and Google will continuously provide security updates for five years. Android apps are fully supported and the Google Play store is integrated.
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Price and competition
In Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 review, we found that it is an expensive machine. It’s not the most profitable machine, but the preferred Intel variant at $ 699 is a reasonable price for the features the device offers. It has an excellent Full HD display, a powerful battery to use the whole day, and stable daily performance. The 360-degree rotation allows the device to be used in various modes, further increasing its value. With high-quality sound and Wi-Fi 6, the Chromebook in your hand will be great.
In this area, one of the main competitors you will find is the Google Pixelbook Go, which uses the Intel Core m3 version and costs $649. Asus Chromebook Flip C436 is also there, which is equipped with a Core i3 processor and is priced at $ 799. C436 is currently one of the best.
You’ll also find that Samsung used its original Galaxy Chromebook to compete at a price of $ 799, which has received a permanent discount from its original price of $ 999. Galaxy Chromebook may offer you a clearer screen and faster processor.
Article and images Source: AndroidAuthority
