There is a growing demand on thin and light laptops that offer outstanding performance and battery life. And the new Samsung Galaxy Book S laptop seems to tick all the boxes.

In this post we will be exploring all the perks the Samsung Galaxy Book S laptop has to offer. And if you are interested in other laptops Samsung has to offer, we suggest you to check out our other Samsung Galaxy Book laptop models comprehensive review. 

Galaxy Book S: Super Light and Portable

Being a 13.3-inch laptop, it weighs only about 2 lbs! The model is encased in a lightweight but durable aluminum chassis. Because of this, The Samsung Galaxy Book S is perfect for traveling, as it allows you to take your work on the go, with barely taking any space in your luggage. Another great perk this little laptop has to offer is an outstanding battery life, but we will talk more about that below.

Overall Performance

Samsung calls this model a featherweight heavyweight. And we have to say, Galaxy Book S performs surprisingly well for being such a thin and small unit. What’s even better, an optional LTE gives you an ultra-fast internet access everywhere, so you are no longer dependable on Wi-Fi networks in range. We tested the Samsung Galaxy Book S high-speed LTE feature and we have to note that it allows us to download rather large files in under a minute.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Processor

The laptop is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core 1.8GHz base speed chip, another reason for fast system performance. It’s the same ARM based processor that can be found in cell phones and tablets, and is exactly the reason why Samsung was able to build such a thin and light laptop in the first place. 

Memory and Storage

The model comes pre-configured to 8GB RAM memory (LPDDR4X) with 256GB internal storage. It is an on-board RAM chip, therefore, it cannot be replaced or upgraded down the line. But the Galaxy Book S is equipped with the MicroSD card reader, so it’s storage can be expanded up to 1TB. 

Miscellaneous

The Samsung Galaxy Book S laptop offers Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ax network and Bluetooth v5.0 connectivity. It is equipped with a Fingerprint sensor, AKG stereo speakers and optional LTE Cat.18 capability.  

As to I/O ports, you get: two (2) USB 3.0 ports (one on each side), a headphone mic jack combo, and, as we have mentioned above, the MicroSD reader. The laptop has a built-in 720p HD camera, positioned above the display.

Galaxy S is a Windows 10 Home based computer. 

Samsung Galaxy Book S Display

The laptop is a 13.3-inch model with a 10-point touch digitizer. This is an FHD 1920 x 1080 screen, which offers surprisingly vibrant and bright colors. With that said, its bezels could be narrower, especially considering that competitors with similar lines, like the Dell XPS laptop models, have already incorporated near-edgeless panels. We think this Samsung model, being so thin and light, definitely calls for an edgeless type screen too. 

The touchscreen feature is a great perk, which makes the laptop a great productivity and entertainment device. We should note that the Galaxy Book S model does not have a 2-in-1 capability. Samsung does however have a convertible option available in their Galaxy Book Flex line.

Battery Life

One of the main features of the Galaxy Book S model is its outstanding battery performance. The model is equipped with the 42Wh li-ion battery and Samsung promises up to 25 hours (!) of video playback time. This means you can easily leave the house with just your laptop, leaving the power adapter behind, and you will be fine using it all day. In fact, some people report they get two work days (8-10 hours of usage per day) on a single charge. Of course, if you are streaming and playing music on the background, that number can quickly drop, but even with continuous use and maxed out screen brightness, you still can get solid 10 hours of use. Which is beyond impressive for any laptop, but especially for a laptop this size.

Options and Pricing

The model comes in two color options: Earthy Gold, which is more of a cool pink, and a Mercury Gray:

As to pricing, the Wi-Fi only model starts with $449.99 if you have an eligible device to trade in and $749.99 plus tax if you choose to forgo the trade-in option. 

The LTE version starts at $899 for the Sprint model and $999 for the Verizon one. Devices are not attached to a contract, if purchased directly from Samsung, although Verizon offers their customers a 24-month contractual commitment with $41.66 monthly charges.

Reselling value of a Used Galaxy Book

Galaxy Book S is a fairly new Samsung laptop model and therefore holds great resale value. 

So if you were to trade-in the model in exchange for a newer laptop model, you’d definitely get a sizable credit towards your upgrade. But if you’d prefer to get rid of your pre-owned Samsung laptop all-together while making a few extra bucks for it, selling it yourself or via buy-back companies is the way to go. 

For example, current reselling price of a used Galaxy Book S LTE is up to $237.00*. 

And if you are considering selling any other model, Samsung trade in is a good place to start. If you like your estimate, you can checkout in a matter of minutes, get a prepaid shipping label to send your device in and get paid via the method of your choice in as quickly as two days**. 

Final Thoughts

Samsung Galaxy Book S is a great high-performing laptop with an impressive battery life. To top it all, it is ultra-light and portable, which means you can take it on day-long adventures, leaving the charger behind. And the laptop hardly takes any room in your bag. Price-wise, the Galaxy Book S model is definitely not cheap, but it is among the low-cost computers Samsung has to offer. And for the specs you get, this little laptop is still one of the more affordable options out there.

*Priced on 05/04/2021. Subject to change.

**Total turnaround time depends on customer’s location and a preferred payment method.