In the spring of 2021, Samsung stepped forward with a renewed vision of what a personal computer could feel like — lighter than expectation, more vivid than memory, and woven into the broader fabric of a connected life. The Galaxy Book, Book Pro, and Book 360 are not merely thinner machines; they are an argument that the laptop, long considered a mature and settled form, still has room to evolve. Launched amid global chip shortages and fierce competition, Samsung's move signals that the pursuit of the ideal portable tool remains one of technology's most enduring human projects.
Samsung Launches Thinner, OLED-Equipped Galaxy Books with Intel Evo Platform
Light enough to barely register in a bag
Mark
Why move to OLED now, when QLED was already working well?
Mimi
OLED gives Samsung more control over the display experience. Each pixel produces its own light, so blacks are truly black, and the company can do things like the Super AMOLED treatment on the Pro 360. It's a signal that these are premium machines.
Mark
The weight numbers are striking—under two pounds. Does that actually matter to people buying a $1,200 laptop?
Mimi
It does if you're carrying it every day. That's the difference between feeling like you have something with you and forgetting it's there. It's the same reason people obsess over phone weight.
Mark
I notice the cameras are still 720p. That seems like a miss in 2021, when video calls are everywhere.
Mimi
It is. But Samsung added intelligent noise cancellation to compensate, at least for audio. The camera quality is the one place where these machines feel like they're playing catch-up rather than leading.
Mark
What's the SmartThings integration actually for? Can you really control your home from a laptop?
Mimi
Yes—lights, thermostats, locks, whatever's on your network. It's Samsung betting that people want their devices to talk to each other seamlessly. It's a small thing, but it's the kind of detail that keeps people in the ecosystem.
Mark
The pre-order incentives are generous. Does that suggest Samsung is worried about competition?
Mimi
Or it's just smart marketing. You're moving inventory fast, building goodwill, and getting people to commit before they've seen what Apple or Dell announce next. In a tight market, that matters.
Der Puls
- Samsung enters 2021's laptop wars with three distinct machines — a clamshell, a premium clamshell, and a convertible — each priced to challenge Apple and Lenovo on their own ground.
- The shift from QLED to OLED displays marks a quiet but significant break from Samsung's own past, betting that richer color and deeper contrast matter more to buyers than familiar branding.
- At just 1.92 pounds, the Galaxy Book reframes what 'carrying a laptop' feels like, while military-grade aluminum ensures lightness doesn't come at the cost of resilience.
- A three-way collaboration between Samsung, Intel, and Microsoft layers Evo-certified efficiency, intelligent noise cancellation, and SmartThings ecosystem control into a single Windows 10 experience.
- Pre-order incentives — including free Galaxy Buds Pro and $150 credits — create a narrow window of urgency, with shipments set to begin in May 2021.
In the spring of 2021, Samsung stepped forward with a renewed vision of what a personal computer could feel like — lighter than expectation, more vivid than memory, and woven into the broader fabric of a connected life. The Galaxy Book, Book Pro, and Book 360 are not merely thinner machines; they are an argument that the laptop, long considered a mature and settled form, still has room to evolve. Launched amid global chip shortages and fierce competition, Samsung's move signals that the pursuit of the ideal portable tool remains one of technology's most enduring human projects.
Samsung unveiled three new laptops in April 2021 — the Galaxy Book, Galaxy Book Pro, and Galaxy Book 360 — each designed around a shared obsession with thinness, display quality, and ecosystem connectivity. The standard Book and Pro follow traditional clamshell forms, while the 360 folds fully back on a minimalist hinge. Prices begin at $849.99 for the 360, $999.99 for the Book, and $1,199.99 for the Pro, with pre-orders opening immediately and shipments expected in May.
The most striking departure is Samsung's wholesale move to OLED panels, abandoning QLED entirely in favor of deeper blacks and more vibrant color. The Book Pro 360 receives Super AMOLED treatment, while the other models benefit from OLED's inherent brightness advantages. The lightest model tips the scale at just 1.92 pounds, and all three are built from aerospace-grade 6000-series aluminum with military durability ratings. Under the hood, 11th-generation Intel Core processors with integrated Xe graphics power the lineup, with up to 16GB of RAM and Wi-Fi 6E across all models. Only the Pro variants offer optional 5G.
Samsung didn't build these machines in isolation. Intel's Evo platform certification brings improved battery endurance and thermal efficiency, while Microsoft's involvement shaped the Windows 10 experience. Samsung added its own software layer — an Intelligent Color Engine for automatic blue light reduction, system-wide Quick Search, AI-driven noise cancellation for calls, and Galaxy SmartThings integration for smart home control directly from the laptop.
For early buyers, Samsung sweetened the deal through May 13 with incentives including $150 in Amazon or Best Buy credit, a Samsung eCertificate, or free Galaxy Buds Pro. The launch, arriving despite industry-wide chip shortages, signals Samsung's intent to remain a serious force in a laptop market that, by every measure, is still far from settled.
Samsung has rolled out three new laptops for 2021, each designed to be thinner and more capable than what came before. The Galaxy Book, Galaxy Book Pro, and Galaxy Book 360 represent the company's latest push into a market where weight, screen quality, and battery life have become the primary battlegrounds.
The three models arrive at different price points and with different form factors. The standard Galaxy Book and Book Pro are traditional clamshell designs, while the 360 variant folds back on itself using a minimalist hinge mechanism. Starting prices are $849.99 for the 360, $999.99 for the Book, and $1,199.99 for the Pro. Pre-orders began immediately, with actual shipments expected to arrive in May.
What sets these laptops apart is their obsessive attention to thinness and display technology. The Book weighs just 1.92 pounds, while the 360 comes in at 2.29 pounds—light enough to barely register in a bag. Samsung has moved away from QLED screens entirely, opting instead for OLED panels that allow for deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The Book Pro 360 gets Samsung's Super AMOLED treatment, while other models benefit from the brightness advantages that OLED technology provides. The company did stick with glossy finishes and 16:9 aspect ratios, choices that some might argue left performance on the table—a matte finish or wider 16:10 aspect ratio could have pushed these displays closer to the best available in 2021.
The construction itself reflects Samsung's commitment to durability. All three models use 6000-series aluminum, the same alloy trusted by aerospace manufacturers, and carry military-grade durability ratings. Inside, they run 11th-generation Intel Core processors with integrated Xe graphics, paired with up to 16GB of RAM. The Pro and 360 models come in both 13 and 15-inch sizes. Only the Pro versions offer optional 5G connectivity, though all models include Wi-Fi 6E. Battery capacity reaches 63Wh and 68Wh depending on the model.
Samsung didn't work alone on these machines. Intel and Microsoft collaborated to optimize performance, battery life, security, and usability. Intel's Evo platform certification ensures longer battery endurance and more efficient thermal management. Samsung added its own software layer on top, including an Intelligent Color Engine to reduce blue light exposure without requiring manual adjustment, a system-wide Quick Search function, intelligent noise cancellation for video calls, and automatic pinning of Samsung Recorder and Studio Plus to the Windows 10 Start Menu. The laptops also support Galaxy SmartThings integration, allowing users to control smart home devices directly from their machines, and Galaxy Book Smart Switch makes transferring data from an old device nearly as seamless as switching browsers.
For those willing to commit early, Samsung offered incentives through May 13. Pre-order customers could claim $150 in Amazon credit, a $150 Best Buy gift certificate, or either a $150 Samsung eCertificate or free Galaxy Buds Pro through Samsung's website. The color palette runs conservative—Mystic Navy, Mystic Bronze, and Silver—reflecting the professional positioning of the line.
The timing of this launch matters. Despite ongoing chip shortages rippling through the industry, Samsung is pushing forward with a full refresh, signaling that laptop competition in 2021 will remain as fierce as it was the year before. These machines represent a clear strategy: make them light, make them beautiful, make them connected to the broader Samsung ecosystem, and price them to compete directly with established players like Apple and Lenovo.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
Samsung collaborated with Intel and Microsoft to optimize performance, battery life, security, and usability across the lineup.— Samsung announcement
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