Samsung's Galaxy Book4 series is available for pre-order and its product list shows features that were not known until now or were only hinted at.
We briefly covered the laptop line in the previous months. In December, some of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra's hardware specifications came to light. They revealed that the model would house an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card and a 2TB SSD. That batch of information also included details about the Galaxy Book4 Pro that indicated the device may come with a 14-inch display and the option of an Intel Core Ultra 5 or Core Ultra 7 processor.
Then in January, the tech giant hinted that the laptop would become the center of an ecosystem of Galaxy devices. Everything we've learned so far barely scratches the surface of what the Galaxy Book4 can do. Below, we highlight the top five features that we think will make the line stand out from the crowd.
1. Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem
The Samsung Galaxy ecosystem is quite fascinating. Allows users to connect other Galaxy devices to the laptop. For example, you can turn your GRAMalaxy S24 Ultra in a detachable webcam. This is quite important because the Galaxy Book4 has a 2MP camera, while the S24 Ultra has a much superior 200MP wide-angle lens. Instead of struggling with a poor experience, your smartphone can offer “amazing clarity.”
Additionally, users can connect a Galaxy Tab to the laptop to use it as a second monitor for work. There is one problem with this ability: you will need to have a recent model like the Tab S7 Plus, Tab S8, or Tab S9 Ultra.
2. Improved connectivity
Samsung has also improved connectivity between the Galaxy Book and other hardware, allowing them to be more intertwined. Multi Control allows you to seamlessly send files or images from a phone to the laptop. Quick Share behaves similarly, although it differs in that it allows you to move files from a computer to Book4. Of course, Phone Link returns, as it will transfer recent notifications, calls, and messages from your phone to the laptop's larger screen.
In addition to these, the company introduces the new Buds Auto Switch feature. This allows you to switch the audio source coming through your Galaxy Buds2 Pro from your computer to your smartphone if you receive a call. It will do it automatically.
3. Artificial intelligence technology
As expected, the Book4 Ultra adds a couple of AI-powered features. The one that impressed us the most is called Photo Remaster. Using an “intelligent algorithm,” the software can clean up blurry photos and adjust the lighting in the images. This way, the images will not be too bright or too dark.
Artificial intelligence will also play a role in driving the hardware forward. The internal microphone features AI noise cancellation to improve audio quality. Additionally, the combination of Intel Core Ultra CPU and GeForce RTX GPU is backed by an NPU (neural processing unit) that enables optimal performance.
4. Room-filling speakers
Speaking from experience, laptop speakers are largely not great. They lack depth. Manufacturers seem content to equip their models with tinny-sounding drivers, but not Samsung. The company considered it appropriate to install a four-speaker system consisting of two tweeters and two woofers in the Galaxy Book4 Ultra. The matrix has been tuned by Austrian audio brand AKG to ensure clear and crisp sound.
Also present is Dolby Atmos which, if you are not familiar with it, is a type of audio format capable of immersing the user in a bubble of sound. It's something you see appear on the best home theater sound bars.
5. Top-notch display
Saving the best for last, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra has a stunning 16-inch display with 3K resolution (2880 x 1800 pixels). It features a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, enabling velvety performance and supports the entire DCI-P3 color gamut. Visually heavy content, whether work or entertainment, requires a machine capable of handling that type of workload. And it seems that Samsung's laptop can handle it with aplomb.
It's important to mention that the Galaxy Book4 is a thin and light model, so most people will probably carry it outside. To ensure visual fidelity, the company has equipped the screen with anti-reflective glass to reduce annoying reflections and Vision Booster software to further improve color contrast even outdoors.
Pre-orders for the Galaxy Book4 series start at $1,099 for the standard model and top out at nearly $4,000 for the Ultra version. You even have the option to customize the hardware configuration to suit your needs. The shipping date depends on what you receive. The Book4 Ultra ships on February 26, the Book4 Pro ships on March 4, and the standard model won't come out until March 25.
In the meantime, check out TechRadar's list of the best laptops for 2024.
