Suppose there’s even talk of a high-quality Chromebook manufacturer list; one can’t help but mention Samsung in their conversation due to its versatile variety of top-quality Chrome OS laptops. The South Korean tech tycoon dazzled the Chromebook space when it launched the excellent Galaxy Chromebook that housed a 4K display and plenty of other brilliant features. It’s needless to say that Samsung has a knack for creating Chromebooks that pack a sizable punch in terms of quality and performance, so getting our hands on the Samsung Chromebook Pro felt likewise at first as well.
However, to keep the atmosphere unbiased and by the books, it makes sense to take the Chromebook Pro for a spin and gauge how it measures up against its competitors. The device had its MSRP slated for $549.99 when it was first released, but you can grab it now for $399 directly from Amazon.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the Samsung Chromebook Pro by highlighting its significant strengths and weaknesses, so if you’re out in the market looking for a brand-new Chrome OS laptop, this device can fall under your list of potential candidates. So without any further ado then, let’s jump right in.
Samsung Chromebook Pro specifications
- CPU: Intel Core m3 6Y30 processor
- Display: 12.3″ QHD (2400×1600) 3:2 aspect ratio LED touch-enabled display
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515
- RAM: 4 GB
- Hard Drive Size: 32 GB eMMC flash storage
- Camera: 720p HD camera
- Ports: x2 USB-C ports, 3.5 mm headphone jack, microSD card reader slot
- Battery Type: 2-cell Li-ion 5140 mAh battery, 9 hours runtime
- Charging Speed: 50% in 50 minutes
- Weight: 2.38 pounds
- Price: $399.99
Samsung Chromebook Pro in-depth review
Samsung Chromebook Pro
1. Design
The Samsung Chromebook Pro is a flat-out sleek and stylish unit that employs intriguing build quality and a state-of-the-art pen for you to jot down creative ideas whenever they pop up and draw pieces of art if you’re a creative designer. Furthermore, unlike most other Chromebooks in this price bracket, this device packs an all-metal body that feels firm and sturdy when picked up, speaking volumes of this Chromebook’s high durability and quality.
The Samsung Chromebook Pro has some of the best displays for a mid-range Chromebook. It employs a 12.2-inch (2400 x 1600) 3:2 aspect ratio screen that looks taller and wider than most average Chrome OS laptops. Moreover, the device’s brightness is maxed out at 400 nits, which is quite impressive compared to other Chromebooks in this price range. This means that you can enjoy a top-tier Chrome OS experience in a wide variety of situations, whether you’re rocking it at work or have taken the device outside on a bright day.
The Samsung Chromebook Pro also has a convertible, 2-in-1 design where the screen can fold back to 360° and let you enjoy an immersive tablet mode. In all honesty, this device feels more naturally built when you use it as a tablet, so there’s this added plus if you’re a frequent television series or anime show enthusiast. What enhances the benefit here is how the Chromebook Pro is lightweight and slim, weighing just 2.82 pounds and measuring 11.1″ x 8.7″ x 0.6″. All of these attributes make this Chrome OS machine highly desirable.
Last but not least, the Chromebook Pro has a pretty good port selection. It employs two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the aforementioned microSD card reader slot. You will, unfortunately, have to settle for the lack of a USB-A port if you choose to buy this device, but alas, finding a USB-C hub for Chrome OS is easy, and you can check out some of the best ones using this listicle. On the right side of the device, you’ll see a dock for storing your stylus. It charges up sufficiently within a matter of seconds, so if you’re worried about the pen running out of battery, don’t be!
To shed some light on the negative aspects of the Chromebook Pro, we have been relatively put off by the quality of the keyboard, which, at Chrome Ready, is one of the components that we’re most eager to review on a Chromebook. Although it’s spill-resistant up to 60 cubic centimeters, the key travel is only about 1.2 millimeters, and the keys require a force of 52 grams to be pressed. These figures aren’t absolute deal-breakers, but they do amount to a reasonably mediocre typing experience at the end of the day. As glamorous as this whole unit is, a better quality keyboard would’ve skyrocketed the overall impressions of the Chromebook Pro.
As for the speakers, they’re bang-average and aren’t too loud. They’ll play their role for the most part but don’t dive in expecting a stereo-quality speakers experience.
2. Performance
The Samsung Chromebook Pro employs an Intel Core m3 6Y30 processor for fast computing speeds, 4 GB of large RAM, and a 32 GB eMMC hard drive storage that can be expanded using the device’s microSD card reader slot. Furthermore, the Intel HD Graphics 515 displays high-res content on your screen and helps you enjoy your streams in excellent quality.
We’re impressed at how the Chromebook Pro handles basic networking tasks on the Google Chrome browser. Still, we tested the optimization of Play Store applications to see how well this device would handle other internet browsers. Again, we found great results and saw that the unit sailed past whatever we threw at it, including 10-12 open Chrome tabs, with some of them being graphics-intensive. However, Linux applications work like a charm, so you can dive into this device knowing that it can run powerful desktop-grade software without breaking a sweat.
The Samsung Chromebook Pro is one of the pioneers of those Chrome OS units that came out with the Google Play Store enabled by default. It has received constant updates over the years and is now a commendable package that lets you enjoy the world of Android applications painlessly. Therefore, it’s customary for one to fire up some awesome Play Store apps and relish the experience they provide.
3. Battery life
The battery runtime of the Samsung Chromebook Pro isn’t that impressive and not up there with the likes of the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook or the ASUS Chromebook Flip C436. However, it will last for somewhere around 8-9 hours on a single full charge, which is enough to get through the whole day without charging interruptions. It appears that the Intel Celeron m3 6Y30 processor isn’t too big on preserving battery life.
Samsung has managed to fit a 2-cell, Li-ion 5140 mAh battery inside the Chromebook Pro that charges up to 50% within 50 minutes – pretty good timings for a Chrome OS laptop.
4. Final thoughts
The Samsung Chromebook Pro is an admirable mid-range Chromebook that will have you enjoying the Chrome OS experience to its core. It has a build quality that looks and feels terrific, not to mention the 2-in-1 convertible design that makes this device function more like a tablet as well. That is to say; you can slap on multiple viewing modes on the Chromebook Pro and witness its sensational QLED screen. The enhanced resolution reminds you of this device’s high quality from time to time, as video streaming and binge-watching television shows become nothing short of a pure delight.
It’s not only the aesthetics that make the Chromebook Pro stand out from its competition. It’s an efficient workhorse that provides reliable performance day in day out, so there’s that additional perk as well, thanks to the Intel Celeron m3 6Y30 processor and the 4GB RAM setup. If you find the device’s storage not as sufficient as you want it to be, you can always stick a microSD card inside through the dedicated port and expand the 32 GB storage limit.
All in all, we fare that the Samsung Chromebook Pro with its in-built precise stylus is highly recommended for anyone looking for a device that works well, has excellent display quality, and gets through the day with an 8-hour battery runtime. There’s just one con that can upset some people, and that is a subpar keyboard. Still, if you’re not excessively keen on having your keyboards be of the utmost top quality, you’ll do just fine with the Chromebook Pro.
This device can be bought right now for $300 on Amazon, so if you’ve got that much in your budget, and have been prying for a new Chrome OS laptop for some time, look no further than the Samsung Chromebook Pro.
