The updated Galaxy S23 version was accompanied by a brand-new Galaxy Book Ultra at Samsung’s February 2023 Galaxy Unpacked presentation. However, this is only one of four new computers unveiled by Samsung, and the other three, less expensive choices are likely to be more popular. On this Galaxy Book 3 Pro review, They include a standard hinged notebook with a 14in or 16in screen.
None of these are touchscreens, and they lack the S Pen functionality that we’ve come to expect from the Galaxy Book line. And, even though I just said ‘cheaper,’ the Book 3 Pro isn’t precisely cheap. Is there enough here to warrant the hefty price tag? The quick answer is no, but it’s still a great notebook for daily use, so keep reading.
Design, build & ports
Slick, premium design
Impressively thin and light
Good port selection
Since relaunching its laptops in 2020, Samsung has stayed with the same fundamental design, and there’s no indication of that changing anytime soon.
It means that the Galaxy Book 3 Pro shares the same aluminum frame and understated design as its forerunner, with a silver logo punctuating an otherwise very simple exterior.
Some may find it dull, but I adore Samsung’s simple design. It comes in two colors: Graphite and Beige, and the Beige variant I tried to look the part.
This choice of materials also contributes to the Book 3 Pro’s remarkably lightweight for its dimensions. The 14in model weighs 1.17kg, while the 16in type is only 1.56kg heavier. It means that both are very portable, particularly since the body is only 12.5mm thick.
Some may see it as boring, but I love the minimalist design Samsung has gone for
A thin and light notebook often compromises longevity, but this does not appear to be the case here. The mix of premium materials and a sturdy hinge design results in an incredibly robust Book 3 Pro. The wobbly display will be noticeable at times, particularly while typing, but there is no evidence that it will cause long-term harm.
I’m also pleased to see a robust port variety that is consistent across both sizes. Both USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4, allowing for quick data transmission and simple attachment to a variety of other devices and peripherals. One USB-A port, one full-size HDMI port, a microSD card reader and a 3.5mm headphone jack connect them.
If I had to be fussy, another USB-A connection would have been helpful – you may still need a converter or hub – but I can’t really grumble. Many slim and light computers do not have a port at all.
Great fingerprint sensor and webcam, but no face unlock
The Galaxy Book 3 Pro in both versions can easily fit a full-size keyboard, but only the 16in variant has a separate number pad to the right. A tool like this is a ‘good to have,’ but I wouldn’t have missed it if it wasn’t there.
The buttons themselves have a ‘chiclet’ design, which means they are separated, flatter, and have considerably less movement than on other computers. This may appear to be a negative, but working on the Book 3 Pro is fantastic. Each letter feels very clicky and responsive, which increased my typing speed and precision.
Backlighting is available in three categories from Samsung. At the dimmest level, it’s bright enough to use in a totally black room, and at 100%, the light is noticeable even when there’s more ambient light.
The array of function buttons at the top of the keypad is the primary source of the complaint. They provide fast access to audio controls, brightness controls, and other critical options, but you must press down the Fn key to use them. This is a problem with all Samsung computers, but it irritates me every time.
A large touchpad is located beneath the keypad. On the 1the 6the in the model, it spans half the breadth of the keyboard and almost the complete distance between the space bar and the device’s edge.
This provides the impression of greater control, but I discovered the reverse. Surprisingly, it lacked the accuracy of smaller variants found on other Galaxy Books. I frequently had difficulty selecting a particular region of the screen or highlighting specific text. The pointer also moved strangely at times.
Furthermore, the sheer size of the device resulted in a few accidental clicks due to the restricted room to easily rest your hands. That may sound like a lot of critique, but it isn’t.
A power button that also serves as a fingerprint reader can be found at the top-right corner of the keypad. It’s simple to set up, quick, and dependable – exactly what you need.
That is, however, your only biometric choice for accessing the Book 3 Pro. It does not enable Windows Hello facial recognition because it lacks an IR camera.
Instead, a solitary 1080p webcam is located above the monitor. It’s one of the finest built-in sensors on any notebook, with excellent clarity and exposure management. Along with dual studio microphones, the Book 3 Pro is an excellent notebook for video conferencing.
Screen & speakers
Excellent 120Hz AMOLED display
No touchscreen or S Pen support
Decent quad speakers
Samsung understands how to create an excellent display, and the screen on the Galaxy Book 3 Pro is one of the best on any laptop. It provides a rich, detailed, and lively watching experience that you’ll want to return to.
On both the 14in and 16in versions, the AMOLED screen is 28801800, resulting in the first time that the aspect ratio is 16:10. Most people will benefit from this change because the taller screen provides slightly more information. Photos and movies in 16:9 aspect ratio will have black bands above and below (letterboxing), but they will still appear good.
Color clarity is also very good. Internal testing revealed that it covers the complete sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts, as well as 98% of Adobe RGB – one of the finest findings we’ve seen on any notebook.
That’s before you consider the refresh rate, which can be set at 60Hz or 120Hz or switched between the two automatically. I’d suggest the latter for most people because it strikes a good balance between additional fluidity and battery life. The high refresh rate isn’t as noticeable as it is on a smartphone, but it still makes everything feel fluid and sleek.
The Galaxy Book 3 Pro’s screen is one of the best you’ll find on any laptop
With that in mind, it should come as no wonder that the top-of-the-line Galaxy Book Ultra has the same monitor specifications. On a commercial notebook, it doesn’t get much better than this.
However, neither of these products is a touchscreen, so there is no S Pen compatibility. Samsung produces plenty of computers that do, but it’s worth noting if you’re thinking about purchasing this model.
In terms of luminosity, a test result of 405 nit matches Samsung’s stated limit of 400 nit. It implies that you can use it outside, but not in direct sunshine.
The audio isn’t quite as remarkable, but the Book 3 Pro can certainly compete. It has four speakers and Dolby Atmos compatibility, so it can produce crisp, room-filling sound. However, it is best adapted to voice-based material rather than music, with bass-heavy music files sounding slightly washed out.
Nonetheless, these speakers are adequate for informal applications such as video chats.
Specs & performance
Intel 13th-gen P-series CPUs
Solid performance, but not for demanding workloads
512GB or 1TB SSDs (microSD expandable)
Despite the Pro moniker, the Galaxy Book 3 Pro’s speed specifications aren’t noteworthy. It provides the 2023 Raptor Lake Core i5-1340P and Core i7-1360P processors from Intel.
While it’s exciting to see 13th-generation processors appear in notebooks so soon after they were revealed, these are only from the P-series, not the more powerful H-series found in the Galaxy Book Ultra. You also lose the Core i9 choice.
However, when it comes to Memory, Samsung is liberal. You get 16GB or 32GB of DDR5 memory, which helps keep everything operating efficiently – even if you use Google Chrome a lot.
As a consequence, performance is very excellent, with even the Core i5 model excelling at a variety of daily chores. I mainly used it for online browsing, social media, video watching, and file management, all of which it handled flawlessly.
However, you’ll run into problems with more demanding tasks, where the absence of a discrete GPU becomes more apparent. Because the device utilizes Intel’s Iris Xe integrated graphics, it is unfit for activities like video editing or gameplay.
To summarize, the Book 3 Pro is more than strong enough for the majority of users. However, it cannot manage the kind of intensive tasks that the ‘Pro’ moniker implies.
However, it more than holds its own in the standards listed below.
Unlike some computers, there is plenty of internal storage available regardless of model. The Book 3 Pro comes standard with a 512GB SSD, but you can increase it to 1TB if you want. If that isn’t enough, it also allows microSD card extension up to 2TB.
The gadget supports both Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 communication. Only the earlier is the most recent standard, but you’re unlikely to regret not having Bluetooth 5.3. However, a dearth of 5G (or 4G) may be more vexing.
Battery & Charging
63Wh battery on 14in, 76Wh on 16in
Superb battery life
65W charging is slightly underwhelming
The battery capacity of the Galaxy Book 3 Pro differs considerably depending on the size. The 14in variant has a respectable 63Wh cell, but the 16in edition boosts that to 76Wh.
That’s because of the bigger display, though I can’t speak to how it impacts the 14in Book 3 Pro. What I can say is that the battery life on the 16-in variant is exceptional.
It shows in our 720p video repeat test, where the Book 3 Pro endured an astounding 18 hours. That’s one of the highest marks we’ve ever seen, only surpassed by ARM-based products.
Battery life on the 16in the model is truly excellent
Video playing does not always represent real-world utilization, and 120 nits of luminance are considered low. However, setting the energy saving to 20% (rather than off, as was the case for this test) will help it last longer.
Even with maximum brightness and the display set to 120Hz, it can easily last an entire eight-hour workweek on a single charge. Three or even four days are possible if you only use it in your free time.
Battery capacity is important here, as is the increased power economy of 13th-generation Intel CPUs.
When you do run out of juice, Samsung provides a 65W charger in the package. This can charge any Galaxy device that uses USB-C, but the rates on the Book 3 Pro are mildly disappointing.
I achieved 33% in 30 minutes and 66% in 1 hour. That’s acceptable for most individuals, but it’s not the quickest.
Software
Windows 11 Home out of the box
Several pre-installed Samsung apps, but not disruptive
Will get updates throughout Windows 11’s lifespan
The Galaxy Book 3 Pro comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home.
However, unlike on its phones, Samsung’s firmware updates are minor unless you own other Galaxy devices. The user experience is the same as on any other Windows 11 device, with only a few additional applications pre-installed.
These are as follows: Flow (for synchronizing between devices), Recovery, Account, Bluetooth Sync, Camera, Notes, Quick Share, Second Screen, and Galaxy Book Experience (quick access to key features). Samsung has its own Settings app, but it is nothing like the complete Windows 11 edition.
The good news is that all of these can be uninstalled at any moment, and it’s simple to prevent interacting with them entirely. However, if you own a Samsung phone or tablet, some functions will be extremely helpful.
Another plus is that all Windows 11 machines are anticipated to receive updates for the life of the operating system. Microsoft has yet to clarify how long this will last, but it typically maintains (popular) major versions for about a decade – which would take us to 2031.
Price & availability
The Galaxy Book 3 Pro isn’t Samsung’s most expensive notebook for 2023, but it’s still not inexpensive.
You’ll have to spend at least $1,449 for this.
The 14in variant costs $99/£1,349, while the 16in edition costs $1,549.
If you don’t have the gadget to trade in, you can get it for 99/£1,449 instead.
However, because Core i5 versions aren’t accessible in the US, like-for-like costs in the UK are considerably higher.
These are prohibitively expensive rates for a consumer notebook. Many of the options in our best laptop chart are either better value for money or provide additional utility, but that doesn’t mean you should dismiss the Book 3 Pro completely.
It’s a fantastic laptop, but it’s a little pricey, so keep a watch out for any deals and reductions.
Specs
Display: 16:10 AMOLED, 14in or 16in (both 2880×1800), 120Hz
